POLL on WELSH ALLEN 18watt HID BULB

canucksubmariner · August 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM

Have you had to replace a WA 18 watt HID bulb?

caverkevin · August 28th, 2006, 01:23 PM

Been using mine for a very long time now. Four or five years. Only use it when I need the burn time or cave diving. Take very good care of the light head. All other times I use halogen. If I had a BS, I would use it all the time.

Cheers!!

Kevin

Mark Chase · August 28th, 2006, 01:47 PM

I said yes more than once but on behalf of Pete who dosent post on here but used to have a Halcyon 18W.

I say used to as after it flooded for the third time (imediatly after it came back from repair) he got rid of it.

He replaced it with a Salvo 21W. no problems so far on his or my one. Then he got some massive Metasub units which he is now regretting. He did this so he could run his heated suit off the same battery pack.

ATB

Mark Chase

graham_hk · August 28th, 2006, 03:15 PM

To be fair you should also start threads
"who has a WA dive light and never had a problem"
"who has had a WA light fail and why"
"who has a brightstar and never had a problem"
"who has had a brightstar fail and why"

I don't know numbers but would imagine there are more WA lights out there and the small minority with problems are much more vocal than us happy users.

How often to Brightstar bulbs fail? I don't know. Its always tempting to say a "cheap" and "made in the far east product" is always going to be inferior - but having lived in the far east for 10+ years I know that is often complete BS...

I know I am happy with my Pro6 and Pro14 18W HIDs and I can't ever see me needing another torch

So in summary make your own mind up LOL

Graham

davy · August 28th, 2006, 03:21 PM

I voted Yes since I had to replace one bulb, but it was my own fault.

The bulb got loose in the socket and I wasn't able to focus anymore...
When I removed the test tube to adjust the bulb I accidently slipped and broke it off

That was after 5 years of use, and I don't baby my light...
Even yesterday I dragged it behind me for 2km in a kit bag through a narrow dry cave banging rocks.

canucksubmariner · August 28th, 2006, 03:40 PM

I treat my gear like I rented it.... thus had to replace a couple WA 18 watt bulbs, for my thinking and use a more robust bulb makes sense.

What is interesting is that so far the poll is showing that most don't have issues with the WA bulb. Thus quite a bit of the talk is biased and the poll is proving to be fair.

Little Pete · August 28th, 2006, 03:55 PM

I've not had any problems but haven't had the light too long. Unless it got broken on the Tech 2 course then it's all good.

PS: I treat mine with silk baby gloves

*Brian Allen* · August 28th, 2006, 04:19 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Little Pete)

I've not had any problems but haven't had the light too long. Unless it got broken on the Tech 2 course then it's all good.

PS: I treat mine with silk baby gloves

Nope it's all good very nice torch may i add, thankyou for the loan. To be honest i found it quite sturdy but i won't be telling you how i found that out

Little Pete · August 28th, 2006, 04:25 PM

I though I saw it on the piccie of you with all the stages. I can only imagine your face when martin brought your torch back flooded a week before Tech 2

TobinGeorge · August 28th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by canucksubmariner)

What is interesting is that so far the poll is showing that most don't have issues with the WA bulb. Thus quite a bit of the talk is biased and the poll is proving to be fair.

Anecdotal reports are almost always biased to the negative. It's no secret that the unhappy are more vocal, I suspect humans are hardwired this way.

There is also phenomena of the "early adopter" Often those first to embrace a new or replacement technology tend to be "chearleaders" i.e. they promote the positives of their "new found" solution, and are often very tolerant of any problem. This of course helps to validate their choice. Here again I suspect a trait of human nature is in play.

When you combine these two effects with the relative numbers of an older technology in use vs the numbers of a "new, replacement" technology it can appear from the anecdotal reports that the Old technology is utterly without merit, and the new technology is without fault.

When the numbers in use, and the relative age of the two technologies start to balance, often one discovers that there are indeed pros and cons to each approach.

Of course sometimes the reverse is true, time proves one technology clearly superior, and the competing solutions either adapt or fade away.

Are we there yet?

Tobin

View Poll Results: Have you had to replace 18Watt WA Bulbs?
NO	26	57.78%
YES	5	11.11%
YES more than once	7	15.56%
I did in the past, now I dive a Brite Star!	7	15.56%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll

August 28th, 2006, 01:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
canucksubmariner(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: GA Posts: 72	POLL on WELSH ALLEN 18watt HID BULB Have you had to replace a WA 18 watt HID bulb?

August 28th, 2006, 01:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Chase(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent England Posts: 905	I said yes more than once but on behalf of Pete who dosent post on here but used to have a Halcyon 18W. I say used to as after it flooded for the third time (imediatly after it came back from repair) he got rid of it. He replaced it with a Salvo 21W. no problems so far on his or my one. Then he got some massive Metasub units which he is now regretting. He did this so he could run his heated suit off the same battery pack. ATB Mark Chase __________________ The only DIR Inspiration diver in the village

August 28th, 2006, 03:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
Little Pete(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 509	I've not had any problems but haven't had the light too long. Unless it got broken on the Tech 2 course then it's all good. PS: I treat mine with silk baby gloves __________________ The shortesk pink mask wearing str#ke on DIRx apparently

August 28th, 2006, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brian Allen(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London & Plymouth Posts: 594	Quote: (Originally Posted by Little Pete) I've not had any problems but haven't had the light too long. Unless it got broken on the Tech 2 course then it's all good. PS: I treat mine with silk baby gloves Nope it's all good very nice torch may i add, thankyou for the loan. To be honest i found it quite sturdy but i won't be telling you how i found that out __________________ ...dive planning again ... GUE fundamentals and Halcyon Equipment Online www.ocean-explorers.co.uk

August 28th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
caverkevin(Offline) Doing It Caverkevin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Kackilackie Posts: 363	Been using mine for a very long time now. Four or five years. Only use it when I need the burn time or cave diving. Take very good care of the light head. All other times I use halogen. If I had a BS, I would use it all the time. Cheers!! Kevin

August 28th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
graham_hk(Offline) GUE instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere Posts: 780	To be fair you should also start threads "who has a WA dive light and never had a problem" "who has had a WA light fail and why" "who has a brightstar and never had a problem" "who has had a brightstar fail and why" I don't know numbers but would imagine there are more WA lights out there and the small minority with problems are much more vocal than us happy users. How often to Brightstar bulbs fail? I don't know. Its always tempting to say a "cheap" and "made in the far east product" is always going to be inferior - but having lived in the far east for 10+ years I know that is often complete BS... I know I am happy with my Pro6 and Pro14 18W HIDs and I can't ever see me needing another torch So in summary make your own mind up LOL Graham

August 28th, 2006, 03:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 277	I voted Yes since I had to replace one bulb, but it was my own fault. The bulb got loose in the socket and I wasn't able to focus anymore... When I removed the test tube to adjust the bulb I accidently slipped and broke it off That was after 5 years of use, and I don't baby my light... Even yesterday I dragged it behind me for 2km in a kit bag through a narrow dry cave banging rocks.

August 28th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
canucksubmariner(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: GA Posts: 72	I treat my gear like I rented it.... thus had to replace a couple WA 18 watt bulbs, for my thinking and use a more robust bulb makes sense. What is interesting is that so far the poll is showing that most don't have issues with the WA bulb. Thus quite a bit of the talk is biased and the poll is proving to be fair.

August 28th, 2006, 04:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Little Pete(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 509	I though I saw it on the piccie of you with all the stages. I can only imagine your face when martin brought your torch back flooded a week before Tech 2 __________________ The shortesk pink mask wearing str#ke on DIRx apparently

August 28th, 2006, 05:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
TobinGeorge (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 569	Quote: (Originally Posted by canucksubmariner) What is interesting is that so far the poll is showing that most don't have issues with the WA bulb. Thus quite a bit of the talk is biased and the poll is proving to be fair. Anecdotal reports are almost always biased to the negative. It's no secret that the unhappy are more vocal, I suspect humans are hardwired this way. There is also phenomena of the "early adopter" Often those first to embrace a new or replacement technology tend to be "chearleaders" i.e. they promote the positives of their "new found" solution, and are often very tolerant of any problem. This of course helps to validate their choice. Here again I suspect a trait of human nature is in play. When you combine these two effects with the relative numbers of an older technology in use vs the numbers of a "new, replacement" technology it can appear from the anecdotal reports that the Old technology is utterly without merit, and the new technology is without fault. When the numbers in use, and the relative age of the two technologies start to balance, often one discovers that there are indeed pros and cons to each approach. Of course sometimes the reverse is true, time proves one technology clearly superior, and the competing solutions either adapt or fade away. Are we there yet? Tobin __________________ http://www.deepseasupply.com Last edited by TobinGeorge; August 28th, 2006 at 10:41 PM. Reason: spelling