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 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.