Inexpensive Umbillical

[lloydwatkin]

Hi all,

I'm off to Scapa soon and am looking for an umbillical type torch. I've got a big beefy handheld as well as several smaller backups, but I'd like something where I can keep use of my hands, and have the bulk out of my way. Problem is I didn't put enough away for one (only decided recently) so I've got about £250, is it possible? What would people recommend?

Thanks for any input, Lloyd.

[Finless]

eBay.co.uk: Custom Divers HID,umbilical dive torch, light,, diving (item 120032989250 end time 24-Sep-06 15:46:30 BST)

I don't know how the above fits in with your plans time wise.

One thing to consider is that a dive light is a fairly hefty investment and spending up to £250 now to get a light that you'll want to change again when you have more money might not be such a good idea?

NiteRider (USA) do a good light - I have the double header (12½/25 watts?) - ///:::...NiteRider Dive Lights International...:::\\\

A very tricky choice to make.

Also, why do you especially need 2 hands in Scapa and not want to use your usual light?

[lloydwatkin]

The big torch was a freebie from a friend that upgraded to a greenforce. It's like carrying a couple of housebricks around which isn't what I particularly enjoy. If it comes to it, then I'll stick with the big boy and a couple of bold snaps so I can let it hang to a certain extent.

Was hoping to get some use of my camera in scapa (only used camera on shallow shore dives so far - apart from in warmer climates). Probably only on some of the shallower dives though (which I suppose means that I wouldn't need the big torch ).

I was hoping that there were other modular systems like greenforce where I could eventually buy a better head, battery over time so somewhat reduce the problem of kit becoming obselete.

Cheers, Lloyd.

[Mark Davies]

You could try the Greenforce flexi-funstar, which I think sells for about £175 and then add an umbilical for about £70. It's no lightsabre but it is a very adequate torch for the time being and in future would make a good holiday torch with its 16 hour burn time.

And as you've identified yourself, with this system you can upgrade, swapping and changing heads and battery packs as you need it or as you can afford it.

A reasonable place to start with your budget.

[bob wippin]

As something of an expert on the matter of torches my advice should be considered accordingly

I would recommend taking a look at the greenforce range, it can be as simple or as complex as you like.

Personally I don't think you will be getting the best value in terms of flexibility for future use by getting a greenforce around £250. You will probably not be able to get an F2 battery pack included at this sort of price, therefore the future use is somewhat limited in terms of being able to upgrade the head to thumping great HID's, whilst still retaining a decent burn time (more than 1 dive per charge)

I recommend the F2 with the new fancy head, this comes out at £350 I think on godive.net.

From what I have read about the new head it is damn near HID ilumination at LED prices.

Personally I would go against the advice about getting a funstar and then putting an umbilical on it. It does not have the juice to run the bigger heads if/when you want them. This means you will have to buy a whole new batt pack in order to upgrade!

[Mark Davies]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

This means you will have to buy a whole new batt pack in order to upgrade!

I agree with you there, so my first upgrade would be the battery pack and then whatever choice of head after that.

My recommendation is based primarily on budget, but also that after upgrading the battery and head you are then left once more with the original Funstar which will be more use as a back-up or holiday torch (because it's not a rechargable that's going to trickle charge and has a very long burn-time) than any other collection of Greenforce bits and pieces.

When I complete my upgrades the Funstar will be permanently in my dive bag, ready and waiting for any eventuality of main torch failure. Because it runs on batteries I know it will have the same charge as when I last used it, with a total of a full 16 hours. Ideal for that job.

[hyweldavies]

For what it's worth, ie a "comparison" of one, I bought a £300 greenforce umbilical F2 batter and pro halogen head. I've very pleased with it, even more so now I've upgraded to a 50W bulb. I was put off the HIDs because they are said (rightly or not) to be a bit delicate, which would screw your dive quite apart from expense. Spare standard domestic halogen bulbs (which fit the pro-head) are a couple of quid each from non-diving shops. Can't really see the value of LED since they are a poorer light (experience of caving rather than diving ones to be fair), but last longer - which is hardly an issue for normal diving since there's plenty of electricity in the socket when you get home. Still works a year or so later, so no regrets.

Hywel

[bob wippin]

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

You could try the Greenforce flexi-funstar, which I think sells for about £175 and then add an umbilical for about £70. It's no lightsabre but it is a very adequate torch for the time being and in future would make a good holiday torch with its 16 hour burn time.

And as you've identified yourself, with this system you can upgrade, swapping and changing heads and battery packs as you need it or as you can afford it.

A reasonable place to start with your budget.

just seems a bit of an expensive way of doing it, bearing in mind that a back up light is no good in the dive bag and the flexi-funstar is not really the sort of size you would be after for a backup.

I just kind of thought it is a bad idea to spend £175, to find out you really want a good burn time and a better head. £350 for the F2 and tristar head seems like a much better way to go. O.K initialy you are spending twice the price. But surely that is better than buying a funstar and then thinking 'need a better torch', as the funstar is basically non upgradable. Then out comes £350 ontop of the previous £175. Total = £525. That is without taking into account the batterys you will have to keep buying for the funstar.

Please don't try and tell me the funstar is in anyway better for holiday diving than an F2 without the umbilical. They are pretty much the same size except you won't need to take replacement batteries.

Just thought, if you want a back up then get a dual umbilical and have 2 light heads out of the same battery pack. Could work out cheaper than a flexi-funstar and another 'proper' umbilical

[MartinS]

As another funstar owner, I have looked lots into the options lots since converting it to an umbilical, and the only heads the standard battery pack will take are:
Star (LED) - 960 (480 min. at 100% capacity + 480 min. at 50% capacity)
TriStar Plus (LED) - 220 minutes
Mini Pro 10W (Halogen) - 120 minutes
HID 50 10W - 120 minutes
The info is HERE - click 'Flexis' then 'Technical Info'
Now, I have both the Star and the Tristar heads, and will at some point purchase a HID head for it as two hours burntime is for me more than enough for a two dive day, and I can either buy 8 more batteries or recharge (if using rechargeables), so to my mind, the funstar is ideal as an all round torch - I can remove the umbilical and take on holiday as a standard torch, and even with batteries, it weighs less than half a kilo - much less than some other torches.
HTH
Martin

[Mark Chase]

Halcyon Lead Acid Protious 10W fixed beem HID

A little more expensive but a great torch

Or have a private word with Knackers and see what price he will do on a 10W Nimh HID


Alway get the best torch you can afford. In the UK it makes the diferance between a good dive and a bad one

ATB

Mark Chase