I got on here braggin about how bright it was a while back and it is.But the reliabilty of it in a cave has proven unsatisfactory!!!
I got on here braggin about how bright it was a while back and it is.But the reliabilty of it in a cave has proven unsatisfactory!!!
Those things are bright. My Torpedo LED has been pretty much bulletproof as a backup. Definitely needed last week, had a primary failure...a real one, not simulated....
Definitely need a dependable backup. That is a shame, those lights really looked awesome.
I have an original Raider (Raider I maybe?). Other than the paint has peeled badly and as long as I hit it regularly, mine works great. Mine is about 6 months old. Got it in Ponce DeLeon and had forgotten one of my backups at home. When it burns right the light is fine, but I constantly have to hit it with my other hand.
Mine really sucks also, never stays on, hard to turn on when you want it too but will turn its self on when you move it around. Next time i'll be going to a Rat Jr.
I've been using OMS Vega LEDs as backups for over a year now. One got run over by a truck, and then the trailer(w/boat) it was pulling. Its solid aluminum and held up fine, no leaks, plenty bright for a backup, and they've been quite reliable.
I have wondered about this...the O-ring has the potential to be exposed to some grit, especially if you are like me and never put it someplace safe when you are not diving with it. Has anyone using these lubed the O-rings/threading? It seems like that might eliminate the hard to turn on problem. And to the OP, why are they unsatisfactory in the cave? Not enough light? Can't turn them on? I don't think you listed your specific problem.
Elisha Gibson
PADI OW Instructor
NACD Full Cave
"Backmount takes the most flexible part of your body and makes it inflexible" - Me
I have a Raider R1 as well and same problem, you have to hit it sometimes to get it to turn on (and off). There is a multiple page post on TDS regarding this issue and there was some fixes for it. Oxycheq released the Raider IV which is a lot nicer light. Same wattage, takes 2 CR123 batteries and has a twist collar for activation. 3 Different power settings and the S.O.S. mode.
http://thedecostop.com/forums/showth...oxycheq+backup
If I'm not mistaken, it was mostly the first run models of the R1 that had problems. I dive with two of the R1 lights currently (newer model) and they work wonderfully for backup lights. Plenty of light and I've never had a problem with them turning on by themselves. I will say the paint comes off of it fairly easy, I tore it up pretty bad during my basic cave training. Only bad thing I can say is bad about them is their length, its touching the top of my can light on my right side.
-Tony DC
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"Cave diving is deceptively simple."
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