dr light cords

[wingman]

Does anyone know of a good fix for the dr red light cord? Just had my third failure last night at jb (a 21w). Same failure mode as the others, the light intermittently fires and then goes dark (can this be good for the bulb?). It was at the end of the dive and no big deal except that it was a long dive and my buddy empirically determined his primaries burn time so we came out on back up lights all round. I know dive rite will replace the cord again with no charge but i'm now thinking that it is just going to fail again. Has anyone gotten a permanent fix for this problem? Bill

[Kelly Jessop]

Does anyone know of a good fix for the dr red light cord? Just had my third failure last night at jb (a 21w). Same failure mode as the others, the light intermittently fires and then goes dark (can this be good for the bulb?). It was at the end of the dive and no big deal except that it was a long dive and my buddy empirically determined his primaries burn time so we came out on back up lights all round. I know dive rite will replace the cord again with no charge but i'm now thinking that it is just going to fail again. Has anyone gotten a permanent fix for this problem? Bill

There can be a host of problems other than the cord that can cause what you describe;personally I like the new light cord it fixes a lot of problems I've seen with A** and H****** in the past. I know it puts you out,but I suggest sending the whole thing with battery to D*** R***,they are the best when it comes to customer service. (Hope I haven't violated any esoteric rules)

[Dave]

Order new cord from Barry Miller at www.salvodiving.com

Great stuff, will last a lifetime. While you're at it, replace your cable glands with his as well.

Dave

[wingman]

There can be a host of problems other than the cord that can cause what you describe;personally I like the new light cord it fixes a lot of problems I've seen with A** and H****** in the past. I know it puts you out,but I suggest sending the whole thing with battery to D*** R***,they are the best when it comes to customer service. (Hope I haven't violated any esoteric rules)

I like dive rite as well, I own quite a bit of their gear (and will buy more), consider it first rate and have always found them to be wonderful in the customer service department. This will be the lights third trip back with the exact flicker fail problem and I know of others that have experienced the same or similar failure which is why i'm looking for an alternative fix...will probably send it to dive rite anyway and just start carrying a backup primary light for long scooter dives. My 10w dr slimline should serve that purpose well. Maybe i'll mount it on the scooter. Bill

[Dave]

Im sorry, but as far as Im concerned, first rate gear does not require three trip for repairs. First rate gear works properly.

Dave

[Jordan]

Dive Rite has just started using a new gland that is made for the red silicone cord. The glands that were being used were too small and would pinch the cord until it broke if the cord was overly bent or stressed at the gland.

Cord failures on these lights is still less than 1% of total light sales, and that 1% seems to be from certain individuals time and time again (who are probably doing something to overly stress their cord at the gland). The current silicone cord and NEW sealing glands are the latest in our endeavor to decrease the cord failure rate to even lower numbers. The new glands are shipping on production lights and all service lights as of July 20th, 2005.

So Wingman, give DR another shot at it – you’ll get the new glands and you won’t be in the dark again.

Regards, Jordan from Dive Rite

[Tegg]

Dive Rite has just started using a new gland that is made for the red silicone cord. The glands that were being used were too small and would pinch the cord until it broke if the cord was overly bent or stressed at the gland.

Cord failures on these lights is still less than 1% of total light sales, and that 1% seems to be from certain individuals time and time again (who are probably doing something to overly stress their cord at the gland). The current silicone cord and NEW sealing glands are the latest in our endeavor to decrease the cord failure rate to even lower numbers. The new glands are shipping on production lights and all service lights as of July 20th, 2005.

So Wingman, give DR another shot at it – you’ll get the new glands and you won’t be in the dark again.

Regards, Jordan from Dive Rite

Good to see Dive Rite taking action even with a 1% failure issue like this one...

I have also had an issue with the cord and with my light at DR now, hopefully the new gland will last with my "abuse"... 8)

[wingman]

Dive Rite has just started using a new gland that is made for the red silicone cord. The glands that were being used were too small and would pinch the cord until it broke if the cord was overly bent or stressed at the gland.

Cord failures on these lights is still less than 1% of total light sales, and that 1% seems to be from certain individuals time and time again (who are probably doing something to overly stress their cord at the gland). The current silicone cord and NEW sealing glands are the latest in our endeavor to decrease the cord failure rate to even lower numbers. The new glands are shipping on production lights and all service lights as of July 20th, 2005.

So Wingman, give DR another shot at it – you’ll get the new glands and you won’t be in the dark again.

Regards, Jordan from Dive Rite

Hey Jordan, thanks for the info, will get an rma tomorrow, always nice to know that i am one of those "certain individuals" different from the rest of the maddening crowd. I will dive my light in a kinder and gentler fashion after the fix...no more swinging the lighthead by the canister lid for me! Bill (wearing his dr t shirt and hat)....Dive it all.

[Dave]

Great to see the problem being addressed. Great to also see such a fast response, thanks Jordan

[Angie Reim]

Dive Rite has just started using a new gland that is made for the red silicone cord. The glands that were being used were too small and would pinch the cord until it broke if the cord was overly bent or stressed at the gland.

Cord failures on these lights is still less than 1% of total light sales, and that 1% seems to be from certain individuals time and time again (who are probably doing something to overly stress their cord at the gland). The current silicone cord and NEW sealing glands are the latest in our endeavor to decrease the cord failure rate to even lower numbers. The new glands are shipping on production lights and all service lights as of July 20th, 2005.

So Wingman, give DR another shot at it – you’ll get the new glands and you won’t be in the dark again.

Regards, Jordan from Dive Rite

I take exception to the comment regarding the 1% of failures being from certain individuals who you suggest are repeatedly overly stressing the cords at the gland. I've had my DR light for over 4 years. It has been nothing but reliable UNTIL DR replaced the gray cord with the red one as part of a general maintenance program during a bulb replacement.

I dive one weekend a month. That's only 3-4 dives/month. Since then the red cord failed at the glands twice in two months (once at each end). Hopefully the problem has been solved with the new sealing glands. Hopefully that's what I got during the most recent fix. I have been very happy with the service DR has provided to help with the problem but I believe that you are incorrect suggesting that the users are abusing the equipment. That is simply not what is happening. What is happening is what you stated in the first paragraph and the pinched connection can not handle NORMAL use. Regards.