back up lights

[Richard]

Considering 4 AA battery backup lights vs 3C battery backups. But are the 4 AA lights sufficient for cave diving? Would appreciate any thoughts/experience comments.

[Tegg]

Considering 4 AA battery backup lights vs 3C battery backups. But are the 4 AA lights sufficient for cave diving? Would appreciate any thoughts/experience comments.

I have used my Princeton Tec 40 more then once to exit a cave. Several times in VERY low vis situations.

I like it for all my dives <150ft after that they start to flood every so often.

[Sid]

Mini Q-40's, cheap lifetime garantee and much brighter than the 3-C lights machined out of a solid bar of delrin, now if it were machined out a solid bar plutonium I might pay 80.00. Sid

[Bobby]

I have the Pca 6AA lights for back up. Never had a flood and very bright and sufficient for back up. Have had them to 300+ and you can turn on and off. They also have a lock on the switch so they don't turn on accidently. Pca also makes a 4AA unit but you loose the switch lock, the upside is that it is very slim profile.

[Jay M]

Mini Q-40's, cheap lifetime garantee and much brighter than the 3-C lights machined out of a solid bar of delrin, now if it were machined out a solid bar plutonium I might pay 80.00. Sid
Ever made an exit on those? I'm looking for a smaller light, really something shorter than the 3C cell lights.

[FW]

Ever made an exit on those? I'm looking for a smaller light, really something shorter than the 3C cell lights.

I have used Mini Q40s for exiting, and they are fine. Maybe not at full scooter speed, but plenty for normal exits.

[Webmaster]

Sid, I thought the guverment issued you guys self powered plutonium flashlights up there. Gotta do something with all that aging fissionable stuff right?

I like the 1W LED lights like the PrincetonTec 4AA. They put out quite a bit of light in a good beam, and have both longer run times and much less bulk than the larger 3-4 C lights. Very usable as long as someone doesn't sweep you with their HID.

[MikeH]

I have 6 Tec 40's. None of them have ever flooded. They've all been to at least 290'. I normally carry 4 per dive - 2 on the harness, 2 in a drysuit pocket. I've exited on them a few times. A couple times scootering. No big deal. It helped that it was a cave I knew very well, so I didn't even have to slow down.

I have one of the new Princeton Tec single LED lights(I think they call it the Impact). It puts out a brighter, whiter, and more focused beam than the Tec 40's. I think I'll end up with another one of those in the not too distant future and make them my primary backups. I'll still keep a couple of Tec 40's in my drysuit....but that's because I'm paranoid and dive solo often.

Mike

[Genesis]

I've exited on a Q40 before, and it was fine... nice and small too.

[nwade]

I have the Pca 6AA lights for back up. Never had a flood and very bright and sufficient for back up. Have had them to 300+ and you can turn on and off. They also have a lock on the switch so they don't turn on accidently. Pca also makes a 4AA unit but you loose the switch lock, the upside is that it is very slim profile.

FWIW :arrow: I have, and have been happy with, my PCa Lites (1400' exit from Telford), but they are bulky(wide), will flood if you're not careful to keep the o-ring clean, and I believe the 7watt halogen bulb has an projected life of 20 hours. I keep a small 2AA cell LED light in a pocket as an ultimate backup.

[tanto]

I've used Princeton Tec Tec40 lights for many years, never flooded them, never experienced bulb failure. But being back-up, I only really use them once in a while to practice just before battery substitution. I like the powerful beam, the size and handle shape.
Brought them below 330 a few times, but I've read about them being used as deep as 550. they're rated 500ft now, not 2000ft like they were initially; I contacted PT about this and they said 500 was more realistic!
I would suggest to add some silicon grease to the o-ring upon purchase, all of them came insufficiently lubed.

My tec40 worked great till it stopped. Wouldnt take new batteries for some reason, but the old ones worked fine. I replaced with the new DR Led light (4aa), which I love, though I havnt tried to exit on it yet. Not sure its beam is good enough for signaling. My other backup, a Pelican mini sabre is a 2C light, and puts out a very tight beam, but not much else.

[Sid]

Mini Q-40's, cheap lifetime garantee and much brighter than the 3-C lights machined out of a solid bar of delrin, now if it were machined out a solid bar plutonium I might pay 80.00. Sid
Ever made an exit on those? I'm looking for a smaller light, really something shorter than the 3C cell lights.


Yeah I have exited on them, they are fine, besides you got the buddy lighting you up from behind with their big light most the time. Sid

[Bobby]

FWIW :arrow: I have, and have been happy with, my PCa Lites (1400' exit from Telford), but they are bulky(wide), will flood if you're not careful to keep the o-ring clean, and I believe the 7watt halogen bulb has an projected life of 20 hours. I keep a small 2AA cell LED light in a pocket as an ultimate backup.[/quote]

You are right about them being a bit bulky. I like the profile of the new 4AA unit but have turned off a buddy's back up so many times I like the switch lock. I have not had any flooding issues with mine but I am pretty good about keeping the oring lubed and clean. I have thought about the led's but have not bought one yet. I will waite for my dive buddy's to do so then try thiers first.

[MikeH]

My tec40 worked great till it stopped. Wouldnt take new batteries for some reason, but the old ones worked fine.

I've found that....for some reason...Engergizer Max batteries won't work in the Tec 40's. I think it's due to the size of the "tabs" on the batteries...they don't make good contact. All other types of batteries work fine.

What type were you using?

Mike

[MikeH]

Yeah I have exited on them, they are fine, besides you got the buddy lighting you up from behind with their big light most the time. Sid

But...but....but....what about those of us that dive SOLO?! :o :P

Mike