Halcyon 10W HID - 'First Dive with it' Report!

[And]

<font color='#000080'>Hi

I don't really understand what you mean about vis. The vis on the wreck or the vis of the torch.

Below 30 metres it was dark with very little ambient light. Lots of shite in the water, especially the salsette, the 18 had a wider and whiter beam than the 10, the difference was prominent, but the 10 was good too and Marks signals were easy to see.

I think the fixed beam 10 will be pretty good, and definitely is a bargain at the price you paid. I haven't seen one in action, but as long as it is an improvement over the torch you had then thats OK isn't it?

Kindest Regards

Andy

[Bob Cooper]

IMO the 10W HID is ideal for UK wreck diving where backscatter is a problem. &nbsp;The 18W really scores over the 10W in very clear, dark water (like in a cave). &nbsp;But of you use the EKPP reflector on a 10W head the light behaves more like an 18W, the difference (in really clear water) is not really noticeable.

The 10W also scores over the 18W because it is lighter and therefore easier to carry on and off boats etc. &nbsp;The Lead acid 10W (pro4) has a 4.5h burn time which is plenty for a weekend of wreck diving, but can be a bit limiting for those really long cave dives.

I seem to have built up my own personal collection of these lights over the years. &nbsp;I have a Proteus (focussable) 10W, an &quot;old&quot; type 10W and an 18W Pro14. &nbsp;I love them all and have never had any problem with them.

[Andy Phillips]

WL

By viz I mean how far in front of your nose can you see, we had 1M ish, I am curious, I kinda talked myself out of the 18W, this was in part because my fears about backscatter were confirmed by the guy selling the torch. I really am not having a pop, but I would be very interested to see one in the water some time.

The 10W is definitely brighter than the Tristar, but that torch had other advantages, partly it's burntime of 12 decades, and it's colour temperature was ideal for medium (5~10M) dives.

It just wasn't bright enough for the 50~70M stuff I have been doing.

I loved the torch yesterday, it cut through the water (for water read tea) in a very impressive way.

As I keep moaning though, I just need to work out where to put it.

Andrew

ps Hi Bob, how ya keeping mate, one day we will end up booked on the same dive boat and not get blown out.

[Davey Willo]

I've been in the same water as an 18w HID and it's mind blowing... me want one big stylee...

[Digger]

<font color='#000080'>Anyone in the market for selling one of these then?

Bob? Want to sell part of the collection?

Go on. I'm just thinking about how many hours at £6 an hour I've got to work to get £300...

[Mark Chase]

I dived with Bob and i am prety sure he was using the mighty impresive 18w HID on that dive. It was very very good but the 10W is very good and I wasent prepaired to pay £900 for the extra very. &nbsp; &nbsp;

The big thing with the little fixed beem 10W is the performance per £ and in that department it beats the 18w hands down.

Its better than my CD Halogen because of the burn time. The colour temp is totaly diferent but not a big advantage IMHO. The weigt of the unit and cost of replacemnet batteries is a big improvement too but in use I have to say my old Halogen CD was very nice too. Like ANdrew I asked my self if I was just getting new kit for the sake of it but thats not the point the point is New for New its cheeper than my CD unit and most other HID tourches out there and its very good value for money.

You have to put up with the DIR asociation but hey, you cant have everything

ATB

Mark Chase

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (wetlettuce @ April 13 2004,13:11)]PS DOn't you have a OPH Mark? Can't you mount it on the waist strap to streamline it a little? You will hit it a lot if its in such a prominent position. Glad you like it though.

Whats an OPH M8 ?

I think its one piece harnes but I am guesing and I dont see the relevance. Most harnes rigs have a webbing waste band.

I dont want to mount it on the waste band as it will be obsured by my stages and will necessitate stripping the rig (  I have a fanny pack on the band and my weights) to get the torch off. Not my idea of fun. i used to bsh my old CD one all the time but it was SS so it never seemed to mind but I am hopeing the new location will offer some protection from the rocks / wreck by my arm and the wrap arrond of the wing.

Its inverted so the switch is protected unless I reverse hard into somthing. My backward finning is a bit crap so thats not likley

We shall see. Its work in progress and its final destination is subject to further experimentation.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Bob Cooper]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mark Chase @ April 13 2004,22:22)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I dived with Bob and i am prety sure he was using the mighty impresive 18w HID on that dive

If I remember correctly, that was a 10W with the EKPP reflector. &nbsp;The reflector makes a 10W look like an 18W in certain conditions.

[scubadog]

Hi Mark...bought the same light at the end of Feb in Barcelona, 435€...which came to 300 BGP. They did confuse me in the shop by saying Halcyon had changed the battery, it was no longer a Lead Acid Battery but had GEL in it instead. I think they may have been telling porkies.
Tried it last week for the first time...found it very comfortable with 5mm gloves.

Pete

[Andy Phillips]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]They did confuse me in the shop by saying Halcyon had changed the battery, it was no longer a Lead Acid Battery but had GEL in it instead

No it is still lead/acid, but the acid part is held in a gel as opposed to a liquid.

Andrew