Dive Rite MR11 Issues

[txapacheguy]

I have a Dive-Rite MR11 light that I obtained about a year ago. I ended up replacing the battery on this light, and then sending it back to Dive-Rite to have it overhauled when a bit of moisture found its way into the light's head during a weekend of diving.

My light quit working a few weeks ago during my Intro to Cave class in Missouri, and I suspected at the time it was the ballast. The battery is fully charged at a little over 13 volts. The voltage from the battery is making it to the switch. The light bulb emits a tiny blue flicker for a second or so when the switch is turned on, then does nothing else.

I ordered a replacement ballast from a company called interlight.biz
https://www.interlight.biz/light-bulb/B10N002
It is the correct ballast for my light. I installed it this evening, only to have the same issue with my light. A tiny blue flicker, then nothing at all.

Admittedly, I am a complete noob when it comes to HID lights of any kind, including dive lights. I understand that there was a bad batch of these ballasts awhile back.

The bulb on my light has not been replaced, and I currently do not have a spare. I will order a replacement, and install it if not advised to do otherwise.

After I get my light working again, it will be going back to Dive-Rite to have the jam nut on the head replaced since I noticed while reassembling the light that the nut was cracked. I have no idea how it happened (maybe I crossthreaded or over-tightened it when I tore down the light a few weeks ago). The cord, glans, and all related hardware are all new and were installed by Dive-Rite just before the summer.

Any advice from the HID savvy folks here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any information that might help me solve this problem.

[DarkCoffee]

The spark in the bulb indicates the ballast is working and its the bulb that's failing to start. At least that's been my experience.

The current part numbers for the bulbs/ballasts are:

B10R001 Ballast
M10P003 Parab. style (dome) bulb/lamp (6 degree)
M10P004 Parab. style (dome) bulb/lamp (13 degree)
M10N004 Tube style (single ended) bulb/lamp

The B10N002 may be correct (I can't recall the older unit part numbers but it looks right from the photo) but the current replacement ballast most use (B10R001) is a combo 10W/14W unit, all plastic body.

A few may point out the option of converting the head to a LED unit as well via DR.

[sskasser]

<snip>
After I get my light working again, it will be going back to Dive-Rite <snip>

Thanks in advance for any information that might help me solve this problem.

If you're going to be sending it back to them anyway, why not send it to them to get it working?

[crawford]

Many moons ago I flooded an MR11 light. I got all the water out of the light head and continued to have problems. I had to get water out of the cord as well before it would work again (and has worked fine for years since after that). Don't know if the flicker could happen with water in the cord but just an FYI that that needs to be considered.

[txapacheguy]

Thanks for all the replies. I have already been contacted by Dive-Rite, and they are probably going to be replacing the cord and glans again since the jamb nut is cracked on the head of the light.

As far as the cord being flooded, that is probably not the case. Dive-Rite replaced the cord and glans before the summer, and after the small amount of moisture entered the head. I will get a quote on the LED conversion before I send it back to them, and see if it might be cost effective. I honestly think that since I have the problem pretty much solved now, and will basically have a new light once I get the bulb in it, that it will remain an HID for awhile, and I will keep a spare bulb in my kit.

Here are a few spots that seem to carry the bulb for those who might have this issue later on. I just have to make sure its the 6 degree version(not too sure which one trailtech carries).
http://www.bulbtronics.com/%28A%28dB...ookieSupport=1
http://www.elightbulbs.com/Ushio-100...=GoogleBaseCSE
http://www.amazon.com/Ushio-10001-M1.../dp/B004K303PA
https://www.interlight.biz/light-bulb/WA-M10P001
http://www.trailtech.net/HID-SP-R.html

As far as fixing the bulb before it goes back to Dive-Rite, I just prefer to solve all the problems that I can myself. All the folks that I have dealt with at their shop have been great and have bent over backwards to help me out any time I have needed anything from them. I will continue to buy their stuff and use their repair services in the future.

[Slüdge]

I just have to make sure its the 6 degree version(not too sure which one trailtech carries).

If you get the 13° bulb, I'll happily swap you a 6° for it.

[txapacheguy]

If you get the 13° bulb, I'll happily swap you a 6° for it.

Will do. Is the 13° version a better option for the MR11 light?

[Slüdge]

I have three 10w HIDs with different bulbs in each - a 13°, a 6°, and a 4°. I love the 13°, am indifferent about the 6°, and hate the 4°.

I also have two bulbs, both of which I believe are new, but I have no idea which bulb is what. Does anybody have a chart where I can match the numbers on the sides to what they are?

[txapacheguy]

I have three 10w HIDs with different bulbs in each - a 13°, a 6°, and a 4°. I love the 13°, am indifferent about the 6°, and hate the 4°.

I also have two bulbs, both of which I believe are new, but I have no idea which bulb is what. Does anybody have a chart where I can match the numbers on the sides to what they are?

I will take a picture of the numbers on mine when I break it down again, and try to find some 13° bulbs. Thanks!!!

[txapacheguy]

It looks like my light is going back to Dive Rite tomorrow for a new bulb and replacement of the cord and glans. They can do it cheaper right now than I can, and I am out of time on this project.