Ukd4r

[machiavelli]

Originally Posted by daz1701d

I dont dive very often at the moment, maybe once or twice a month, so buying rechargeable batteries should be OK.

I've checked the UK website and they say that normal batteries will give a 7-10 hour burn, whereas the D4R will only give 1-2 hours. However, they also say that the high power (18W) lamp is only available if you use the D4R and not the D4!!

Getting confused now!

Daz

Alkaline cells store much more energy than NiCd or NiMH rechargables, but can not deliver the same current. The 18W lamp is not available for the D4 non-R because the battery couldn't power it. But useful burn time is usually limited by dive length anyway - unless you are in a remote location and don't have power available to recharge overnight.

If you buy a second hand 'R', ask how the battery has been treated. It is delivering a substantial current and I don't really expect mine to last for more than a thousand dives (500 charge/discharge cycles) or so.

You could build your own battery pack - tagged cells are available from RS and Maplin, and you can download the datasheets from their websites and do the charge/discharge rate sums.

There's other cool technology available including very efficient LED torches. I've seen one which is incredibly bright but equally incredibly expensive. Wonder what the LEDs cost though. Maybe time to upgrade my bike lights.

[Lou]

Forgetting any other options, the answer to your original questional - is the D4R going to be good enough for recreational diving, the answer is yes. I really is a very good torch indeed. It has a nice flood beam, that is perfectly bright enough for everything up to and including the insdie of Scapa wrecks. I really liked the light it gave out.

The only downside is that it is bulky, and that alone was what turned us, finally to umbilicals, but you are talking 3+ times the cost then.

Juz's suggestion of a Light Cannon instead is good, but they are dearer (although not so much these days). You do have the downside of the cost of a HID bulb if it goes though - something that you don't need to worry about with the D4R.

[daz1701d]

sounds like the D4R is the one to get for my needs. Time to visit my LDC!

Thanks for the advice

Daz

[jon wright]

I have a Light Cannon 100 HID and bought the best Ni-MH batteries I could find for it as they are far better than the the Ni-CD battery pack UK offer. I have been very impressed with this light, admitedly it's bulky, but is super bright and I get over 3 hours burn time off it. The light, batteries and charger cost 280 Euro from memory, which is, imo, good bang per buck.

[MFSSAC]

UK4R or 400R bloody good torch had them for years 70m+ never a moments trouble and cheap at the price