Can Lights - answer I can't find

TobyFish · April 5th, 2007, 04:37 PM

Hi guys

can't find the answer to this one.

Why is the can worn always on the belt?

Is it really just about streamlining? and if so, does that streamlining benefit disappear with a big can? (which I assume doesn't lay perfectly in line with the body when in horizontal trim)

It's nearly time to buy a can-light see... so while I'm here, maybe some general advice.

I don't do long deco-dives and I won't be spending time in caves. So I've kind of come to the conclusion that a 10w HID would be a good all-rounder light for me, with modest battery pack for 2-4 hour burntime. Is 10 watt an adequate light for my kind of diving or a peashooter at a gun-fight?

Also, is it worth the extra for a focussable head or is this not usually worthwhile?

*Brian Allen* · April 5th, 2007, 04:53 PM

I remember someone telling me it's because the cannister can be removed easily to sort out "key holing" in caves, and can be reached easily to deal with snags, problems etc.

With stages left, scooter right and a long hose it couldn't really go anywhere else without having to change quite a few other things / procedures as well.

I don't cave dive, spend most of time diving in the UK, some deep trimix and find the 10w Focusable Halcyon Proteus 3 perfect. My buddy uses the unfocusable and we have no issues communicating, and while i'm fiddling around on the decent getting it focused just right he just gets on with diving. I think i'd still recommend the focusable tho it has a much brighter spot.

Yes yes... i know i'm biased, and yes i do have one in stock.

Divingniknaks · April 5th, 2007, 05:53 PM

As Brian said, a 10W light should be OK for what you describe you're doing.

Unless you want to join the Mine's Bigger than Yours Club, in which case a 35W light should do nicely Sir !

Funnily enough we have one of those in stock now as well

And it's MAD ! Truly MAD!

Seriously though, focusable all the way, wayyyy better for passive signalling, and you get the best of both worlds.

Hope that helps.

***Bob Cooper*** · April 5th, 2007, 06:04 PM

Well, I'm not biased in any way.....

I have both 10W and 18W HID lights and would recommend a 10W as being perfectly adequate for the majority of UK wreck diving.

My 18W only gets used in caves where matching lights is important. Caves seem to swallow up light..!

Bob

LCF · April 6th, 2007, 10:24 AM

The one thing I would say is that the needed wattage varies with what your team is diving. If your teammates have 21W lights and you have a 10, your light will be hard for them to see, and that impedes team communication.

I have the 21W Salvo with the 4.5 amp battery. I made that decision based on the idea that having two batteries meant that, if I flooded one, I'd still be able to use the light while replacing the ruined battery. But I've found that I generally can't get two good dives out of one battery, despite the advertised burn time. I sort of wish I'd gotten the 9 amp setup to begin with (especially now that I'm thinking constantly about caves), but I'll probably break down and get the LiIon battery instead, because it fits in the smaller canister.

With the 21W, the focusable light head is nice to have for night diving, because you can make the beam more diffuse. 21W is really too bright for good critter-spotting at night.

ianmc · April 7th, 2007, 11:30 AM

Why is the can worn on the belt?

well i suppose the question would be where else woud you put it? mounting it on the tank is not great due to steamlining and entaglement. It also means you can reach the switch and remove it if you need to. Lastly it has another function of acting as a hook for the long hose to go under.

As others have said 10W is plenty, I have an old halcyon 10W with the test tube head but ive changed the reflector to the WKPP one which makes a small but noticeable improvement bring it to near standard 18W strength to the naked eye.

Ian

***Bob Cooper*** · April 7th, 2007, 12:07 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by TobyFish)

Why is the can worn always on the belt?

It's so that you can......

1. reach the switch to turn it on and off
2. take it off if you need to (remember it is ditchable weight)
3. use it to anchor the long hose

Bob

TAZA · April 9th, 2007, 03:07 PM

Had mine for twelve months its been perfect for UK diving
Proteus 10w focusable.
Isles of Scilly
Scapa
Oban
Anglesey
Dotty every other weekend in winter

paulwlee · April 9th, 2007, 11:13 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by TobyFish)

I don't do long deco-dives and I won't be spending time in caves. So I've kind of come to the conclusion that a 10w HID would be a good all-rounder light for me, with modest battery pack for 2-4 hour burntime. Is 10 watt an adequate light for my kind of diving or a peashooter at a gun-fight?

I dive in Northern California. I used to use a 10W Halcyon (Proteus head) and then switched to an 18W Halcyon. I find it slightly more effective when getting my buddy's attention, but the difference isn't huge. My buddy still uses the 10W, and I have no issues keeping track of him and AFAIK he has no issues getting my attention. The difference is more noticable when it's shallower and brighter.
I understand that the visibility is worse in the UK, so in that case the difference in useability for you will be even less.

Divingniknaks · April 10th, 2007, 12:46 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by paulwlee)

I understand that the visibility is worse in the UK, so in that case the difference in useability for you will be even less.

Now I might have misunderstood that one but in poor viz an 18/21W light is gonna be more visible than a 10W surely ?

Or you could go the whole hog and grab a 35W

Cheers

April 5th, 2007, 04:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
TobyFish(Offline) Fine Upstanding Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Telford, UK Posts: 799	Can Lights - answer I can't find Hi guys can't find the answer to this one. Why is the can worn always on the belt? Is it really just about streamlining? and if so, does that streamlining benefit disappear with a big can? (which I assume doesn't lay perfectly in line with the body when in horizontal trim) It's nearly time to buy a can-light see... so while I'm here, maybe some general advice. I don't do long deco-dives and I won't be spending time in caves. So I've kind of come to the conclusion that a 10w HID would be a good all-rounder light for me, with modest battery pack for 2-4 hour burntime. Is 10 watt an adequate light for my kind of diving or a peashooter at a gun-fight? Also, is it worth the extra for a focussable head or is this not usually worthwhile? __________________ Rude-boy Volvo "Gangsta Rollin' in me nine-six-oh"

April 5th, 2007, 04:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brian Allen(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London & Plymouth Posts: 594	I remember someone telling me it's because the cannister can be removed easily to sort out "key holing" in caves, and can be reached easily to deal with snags, problems etc. With stages left, scooter right and a long hose it couldn't really go anywhere else without having to change quite a few other things / procedures as well. I don't cave dive, spend most of time diving in the UK, some deep trimix and find the 10w Focusable Halcyon Proteus 3 perfect. My buddy uses the unfocusable and we have no issues communicating, and while i'm fiddling around on the decent getting it focused just right he just gets on with diving. I think i'd still recommend the focusable tho it has a much brighter spot. Yes yes... i know i'm biased, and yes i do have one in stock. __________________ ...dive planning again ... GUE fundamentals and Halcyon Equipment Online www.ocean-explorers.co.uk Last edited by Brian Allen; April 5th, 2007 at 04:58 PM.

April 5th, 2007, 05:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	As Brian said, a 10W light should be OK for what you describe you're doing. Unless you want to join the Mine's Bigger than Yours Club, in which case a 35W light should do nicely Sir ! Funnily enough we have one of those in stock now as well And it's MAD ! Truly MAD! Seriously though, focusable all the way, wayyyy better for passive signalling, and you get the best of both worlds. Hope that helps. __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

April 10th, 2007, 12:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Quote: (Originally Posted by paulwlee) I understand that the visibility is worse in the UK, so in that case the difference in useability for you will be even less. Now I might have misunderstood that one but in poor viz an 18/21W light is gonna be more visible than a 10W surely ? Or you could go the whole hog and grab a 35W Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

April 5th, 2007, 06:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Bob Cooper*(Offline) Moderator - "Don't stop me now!" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South East London, UK Posts: 684	Well, I'm not biased in any way..... I have both 10W and 18W HID lights and would recommend a 10W as being perfectly adequate for the majority of UK wreck diving. My 18W only gets used in caves where matching lights is important. Caves seem to swallow up light..! Bob

April 6th, 2007, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
LCF(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 623	The one thing I would say is that the needed wattage varies with what your team is diving. If your teammates have 21W lights and you have a 10, your light will be hard for them to see, and that impedes team communication. I have the 21W Salvo with the 4.5 amp battery. I made that decision based on the idea that having two batteries meant that, if I flooded one, I'd still be able to use the light while replacing the ruined battery. But I've found that I generally can't get two good dives out of one battery, despite the advertised burn time. I sort of wish I'd gotten the 9 amp setup to begin with (especially now that I'm thinking constantly about caves), but I'll probably break down and get the LiIon battery instead, because it fits in the smaller canister. With the 21W, the focusable light head is nice to have for night diving, because you can make the beam more diffuse. 21W is really too bright for good critter-spotting at night.

April 7th, 2007, 11:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
ianmc(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 14	Why is the can worn on the belt? well i suppose the question would be where else woud you put it? mounting it on the tank is not great due to steamlining and entaglement. It also means you can reach the switch and remove it if you need to. Lastly it has another function of acting as a hook for the long hose to go under. As others have said 10W is plenty, I have an old halcyon 10W with the test tube head but ive changed the reflector to the WKPP one which makes a small but noticeable improvement bring it to near standard 18W strength to the naked eye. Ian

April 7th, 2007, 12:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Bob Cooper*(Offline) Moderator - "Don't stop me now!" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South East London, UK Posts: 684	Quote: (Originally Posted by TobyFish) Why is the can worn always on the belt? It's so that you can...... 1. reach the switch to turn it on and off 2. take it off if you need to (remember it is ditchable weight) 3. use it to anchor the long hose Bob

April 9th, 2007, 03:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
TAZA (Online) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Warrington Cheshire Posts: 115	Had mine for twelve months its been perfect for UK diving Proteus 10w focusable. Isles of Scilly Scapa Oban Anglesey Dotty every other weekend in winter

April 9th, 2007, 11:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
paulwlee(Offline) New Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern CA, USA Posts: 14	Quote: (Originally Posted by TobyFish) I don't do long deco-dives and I won't be spending time in caves. So I've kind of come to the conclusion that a 10w HID would be a good all-rounder light for me, with modest battery pack for 2-4 hour burntime. Is 10 watt an adequate light for my kind of diving or a peashooter at a gun-fight? I dive in Northern California. I used to use a 10W Halcyon (Proteus head) and then switched to an 18W Halcyon. I find it slightly more effective when getting my buddy's attention, but the difference isn't huge. My buddy still uses the 10W, and I have no issues keeping track of him and AFAIK he has no issues getting my attention. The difference is more noticable when it's shallower and brighter. I understand that the visibility is worse in the UK, so in that case the difference in useability for you will be even less.