Salvo 12 Watt LED Umbilical Review: Part 2

[jpatmore]

Originally Posted by divingniknaks

Right the 12W LED now has the option of the Hard Handle on the website.

HTH

How does the it attach to the light head. Just it attach to the bottom of the current c clip, or does it fix directly to the light head ?

Thanks
John

[divingniknaks]

Originally Posted by jpatmore

How does the it attach to the light head. Just it attach to the bottom of the current c clip, or does it fix directly to the light head ?

Thanks
John

Goes on the C clip.

HTH

[drunkdiver]

Took my 12 Watt LED away for a trip to cornwall this weekend. Was supposed to dive Porth Kerris but due to Easterlies dive out of Mullion Cove instead. Some very nice dives though and flat sea. It was the first sea outing for my new Torch.

Points to make:

1. It was in a whole different league to my buddies green force tristar. So much brighter and great penetration.

2. The stated battery life of 5 hours is miles off . I did 4, 45 minute dives and the batteries went flat about 30 mins through the last dive. This means I got about 2:45 mins which is a mile off 5 hours. Also when the battery runs out its goes straight away, no going to a low power mode like most other LED torchs. Anyone else tested battery performance one of these. Being a bit out is expected but getting only just over half the stated duration sucks.

Now seeing as I have just developed system for my work using lithium Ion batteries I know a fair deal about them.

So in theory a 12Watt LED torch, running from a 11.1 volt pack would draw about 1.08 Amps. So to last 5 hours in theory you would need a 5.4 Amp Hour battery pack. So Im assuming (judging by the shape of the battery pack and its voltage) they are using 6 Li-Ion Cells, 3 by 2 configuration. This sounds about right as the batteries I use at work are 2.6 Amp Hours, 3.7 volt. So this would give 11.1V 5.2 Amp hours. Which is not far off what is needed. Salvo might use slightly different batteries.

However, as my torch doesent even come close, so I excpect a couple of things are wrong here. Firstly does the torch use more than 12 Watts ? I can probably measure this at work easily. Secondly, the stated Amp Hourage of a battery is only true at a certain current. For example you might get 10 hours at if you draw 260mA from one cell but (2.6A / 10) but if you draw 2.6Amps you would get less that 1 hour as the batteries dont operate as effeciently. So do these cells each provide there specified amp hourage at 1.08Amps ? So has salvo given the theoretical duration based on battery specs and not actual measured duration ? Temperature could also come into play as they have an optimal working temperature (the sea was a balmy 12 deg C). Im not sure what batteries they use but I expect is something like a Varta LIC - 18650 26CC ?

Or maybe I have a dodgy battery or charger (this was only its second charge so should be good) ? I hope NikNaks / Salvo can give me an explanation / solution ??? I shall be running some more tests myself !

3. Got a second hand goodmans from a friendly YDer. This is the same one Niknaks provide now. Great except for the C clip which the torch came out of multiple times again. I tried cable ties as well but they slid off. Gonna make some more drastic mods soon to the C clip

I still love the torch, its great. But the large different between specified duration and actual duration may mean that the torch may fall short of my requirements.

[jpatmore]

I have recently bought the same light ( 12w LED ), and everything in your post is sounding familiar. I have done three dives with it so far, 2 daytime, one nightime, and the performance of the light is outstanding. Buyt I am with you on the c-clip, its crap !! It has fallen out at least once during every dive I have done, and again when gearing up. The option of the solid goodman handle wouldnt solve it either, as I believe this just bolts onto the c-clip in place of the elastic handle. I am in Australia, and the dealer I bought from said they ( salvo ) are working on an alternative to this clip ...

Intersting point about the battery, I will try and run mine down, and see how long it lasts. I have currently been recharging after every dive. Will post back with results.

Overall I am very pleased with the light, it is awesome. I believe the problem with the clip is fixable, and then i will be very happy ( unless the battery life is an issue with mine too !! )

John

[drunkdiver]

When you try an run it down, make sure its fully submerged in water else it will go into low power mode to stop it overheating (and last much longer !).

Im going to run a controlled timed test in the bath when I get chance. Not sure when this will be though as very busy.

[drunkdiver]

Just run a test with my torch in bucket of cold water. From fully charged I got 2.5 hours which is half the stated runtime !

[Whoji]

Originally Posted by drunkdiver

Just run a test with my torch in bucket of cold water. From fully charged I got 2.5 hours which is half the stated runtime !

4.5hrs from 10w HID

[AlanP]

Other wise there could be recourse under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

I am sure this a one off, however if this was the case through out the batch then the company making these claims could be liable under this act.

May be they need some sort of small print. Like cars do for MPG?

I would be a rather more annoyed than you if I had just spent £500 on some thing that does not perform to specs.

It does say on the Nik Naks website "5 hours of burntime" so if you are not getting that then send it back.

[jpatmore]

Originally Posted by drunkdiver

Just run a test with my torch in bucket of cold water. From fully charged I got 2.5 hours which is half the stated runtime !

I will make an effort to try mine this weekend to see what results I get.

Cheers
John

[drunkdiver]

I am getting rather more annoyed as I already had to send it back once due to getting one from a bad batch. Left me without a decent torch for quite some time !

This time I will be expecting a replacment torch to be sent to me before I send mine back !!!