Printable View
The last time I dived, as an experiment, I carried 2-10 watt primary lights. One on the belt of my Nomad and the other on the back. I mainly did this because one of the lights had just come back from factory repair and I didn't trust it, but needed to test it. I was pleasantly surprised that having 2 of them caused no problems and instilled an added bit of comfort regarding potential light failure. I imagine that others do this routinely, but have never seen it discussed. Comments?
I do it on big dives that cost money. One less thing to not have to turn/cancel the dive. This is especially important to me if I am doing this dive with someone else that did all the leg work to set it up.
After scootering out from mainland using a backup light on a solo dive I went and bought a 10w handheld primary that i now carry on every dive as a backup primary. Have used it twice (my charger was not giving me a full charge on my 25w) and loaned it three times. Bill
I bought 2 batteries for my new Salvo 10W - the corded one and the uncorded one. Normally I just use the corded 10W, but for dives where it would suck to turn early, I use a 21W as primary and have the 10W stashed away if needed with the uncorded battery.
I also have 2x3W UK LED's on my helmet. It blows me away how much light those little suckers put out. I've carried on a dive a couple of times without turning after a main failure using these little guys.
My buddy Kenny did this all the time. He had a Sartek 21W that would burn about 1hr 45 min if fully charged. He used that as his main primary, and carried a backup primary in his pocket (hand-held 10W HID). We were turning a lot of dives early, or he was exiting on backups, way too often. Rather than get a different light, that was his solution.
Of course, now he has a different light (LED) that burns over 4 hrs, so less of an issue....but he still carries the b/u primary.
Brian
I carry a handheld 10W as a backup primary in addition to two other backups. If my or my buddy's primary goes out, we have another primary to complete the dive without turning early.
I have just one primary, but a couple of Intova back ups. About a year ago, I was having some major issues with my primary and having a light failure almost every dive. My Intova came through every time. No issues, no concerns. Much smaller than another primary, too.
The Intovas are great lights. Mine has been a great stand-in a couple of times.
Since we are talking about lights. I got 2 of those new uk led lights and they are awesome. They come with battery charger and rechargable battery, and super small but super bright. My buddy and I used these to exit from 1500' upstream of friedman.
My instructor was a big proponent of carrying a backup primary. This was back before there were a variety of handheld HIDs so he used a UK Light Cannon or a UK D8 or similar. I definitely learned the value when my primary crapped out and he handed me his backup and we continued the dive.
i carry a sartec with a wet plug. the batteries have a 4-6 hour burn time. i carry an extra light head in my drysuit pocket in case the one in my hand goes out on the dive or doesn't fire when i am already suited up and in the water.
Andrew, what are the UK LED's you speak of?
Thanks!
Danny
called super q eleds
http://www.uwkinetics.com/product/122
names anthony or ant for short :)
I sometimes bring 2 10W HIDs. For most dives I think a conventional Salvo bright backup light (I think it's like 4 W) is enough for a scooter out for a failed primary and is easier to carry. But if I am especially suspicious about the charge/reliability on a battery/light or in extra large cave where more light would be good and/or bottom time limited 2 10W HIDs give a nice combination of more light and redundancy. I've even toyed with the idea of a handle for holding 2 lights at once but I don't use 2 10W HID at the same time that often.
I think Andrew is using these on his helmetQuote:
Originally Posted by atedeschi
http://www.uwkinetics.com/product/9
I have the same backup lights on my side mount helmet and have been using them for almost 2 years now.
They replaced the SL4 quartz halogen model that I had been using happily for many years prior to that.
The lights are identical except for the bulb/led assembly
Very bright for their small size with a nice tight beam.
I have found them to be very rugged and reliable and with lots of burn time.
Not too expensive either you can find them for around $40 online :yawinkle:
Steve,
Thanks for the answers. Anthony, I promise I wasn't screwing your name up, Andrew A. posted a few posts above you about the lights on his helmet. I have a halogen/xenon SL4 on my harness, and i find that it's just a little too big for my tastes, so I was trying to find something to replace it w/o spending a fortune on a Scout/Rat.
Intova's are $30 or so online. Well worth it. I got mine for under $30 awhile back using the "make a deal" thing on US diver supply.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubastud16
o ok, no worries. BTW I those super Q lights are awesome and super small. I think they retial for 115 a piece.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubastud16
I have one in my pocket and one on my mask.
Nice subject...... I can imagine someone getting into cave diving saying, "oh great, the expense of two lights!?" Fast forward a few years, and you're selling older primary lights, wondering how ya got 3? It's much easier now days, with the new line of small hand held backup lights, equal to a 10 watt HID, to carry lot's of light. So, yes, carry a backup. In 7 years with one Helios 10 watt and one bulb, the only called dive was a bad cord, in the gland. I've started using my DR handheld as a primary, because most of the diving I do is sump, and I don't want to haul the extra weight. Not to say, that there's not a need, (especially with scooter profiles) to feel the need for primary backups. Chances are, that in a team situation, one of the divers is going to haul a backup primary, and it can now be used to save a thumbed dive. All things I've mentioned point towards preparing for the loss of what was a good dive. For sumps, and low vis, more light doesn't help, so we're very close to the line, like hugging it, and there's 3 lights on my helmet, and 2 on my harness. Comfort, for me, come's from the line, not the amounts of light I haul, but I do understand the need for backups.Quote:
Originally Posted by Serota
Hye guys,Quote:
Originally Posted by atedeschi
I use the Q40 eLED. They're cheap (just picked one up for about $35) - and btw, use the same light head as the smaller Salvo rat, which might be more expensive but has the advantages of being smaller AND tougher than the Q40 eLED. The light from all of them is awesome.
Ditto. Complicated dives or deep dives.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBoB