Correct way to deploy backup light?

jasonmh · April 19th, 2006, 10:42 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use.
I do this:
- If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light.
- Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end.
- I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free
- Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on
-Then I unclip it from the D-ring

I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it.
I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites.
Just wondering how everyone else does it.
Thanks,
Jason

__vader · April 19th, 2006, 11:07 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh)

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use.
I do this:
- If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light.
- Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end.
- I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free
- Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on
-Then I unclip it from the D-ring

I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it.
I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites.
Just wondering how everyone else does it.
Thanks,
Jason

Well I don't think there is a special way / procedure for deploying the backup.
Its pretty simple, so keep doing it the way you described, top notch.
Just remember to turn it on before clipping it off

sasdasdaf · April 19th, 2006, 11:33 PM

Too many details. There are many ways to do it. The important points are that you can do it quickly when needed, and that you turn on the light before unclipping. I take the light out of the bungee before turning it on but I don't know what anyone else does.

MonkSeal · April 20th, 2006, 09:01 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh)

I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it.

I've never heard that light had to be turned on while bungied. It has to be turned on before unclip the bolt snap.

*peter_steinhoff* · April 20th, 2006, 04:02 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh)

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use.
I do this:
- If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light.
- Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end.
- I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free
- Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on
-Then I unclip it from the D-ring

I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it.
I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites.
Just wondering how everyone else does it.
Thanks,
Jason

Jason,

When I teach tech or cave I swim around in the dark most of the time

so I usually deploy and stow my backup light everytime I want to check time, depth, heading or gas.

I use a variation of what you do. The same procedure but when you have the innertube hooked with your thumb, use the other fingers to push the light out of the innertube instead of pulling the innertube down. I found that to be faster.

To stow the backup light I do:
1. Hook it to your d-ring.
2. Slide the thumb down the harness until you hit the innertube.
3. Lift the innertube and put the backup light in with the other hand.

I also very much prefer the use of a rubber band (innertube) instead of bungie or o-rings because it doesn't slide. I also use the same procedure wearing no gloves, wet gloves, regular dry gloves or dry mittens.

Best,
Peter

jasonmh · April 20th, 2006, 09:11 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff)

Jason,

... when you have the innertube hooked with your thumb, use the other fingers to push the light out of the innertube instead of pulling the innertube down. I found that to be faster.

To stow the backup light I do:
1. Hook it to your d-ring.
2. Slide the thumb down the harness until you hit the innertube.
3. Lift the innertube and put the backup light in with the other hand.

Cool, thanks for the advice Peter.

**neilh** · April 24th, 2006, 09:25 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff)

...I swim around in the dark most of the time

Damn that sent a shiver down my spine reading that!

April 19th, 2006, 10:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
jasonmh(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 125	Correct way to deploy backup light? Hi Everyone, I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use. I do this: - If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light. - Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end. - I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free - Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on -Then I unclip it from the D-ring I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it. I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites. Just wondering how everyone else does it. Thanks, Jason __________________ My Space

April 19th, 2006, 11:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
__vader(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 87	Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh) Hi Everyone, I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use. I do this: - If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light. - Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end. - I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free - Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on -Then I unclip it from the D-ring I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it. I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites. Just wondering how everyone else does it. Thanks, Jason Well I don't think there is a special way / procedure for deploying the backup. Its pretty simple, so keep doing it the way you described, top notch. Just remember to turn it on before clipping it off __________________ All the best Ilhan Vardar "Vi gør det på den Norske metode - Jonas Lüttichau"

April 20th, 2006, 04:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
peter_steinhoff(Offline) Instructor candidate Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden & Florida Posts: 205	Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh) Hi Everyone, I was wondering if there is a recommended way to deploy a backup light, or if someone has a better way than I use. I do this: - If I want to deploy the left light, for example, I lift up my left hand (bending the elbow) so that my thumb is up against the body of the light. - Then I slide my thumb down the side of the light until I hit the band that is securing the bulb end. - I hook my thumb under the band and pull down until the light head is free - Now, with it hanging by the boltsnap, I turn the light on -Then I unclip it from the D-ring I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it. I know this is one of those simple things, but sometimes when you are used to doing things one way you don't think about other possibilites. Just wondering how everyone else does it. Thanks, Jason Jason, When I teach tech or cave I swim around in the dark most of the time so I usually deploy and stow my backup light everytime I want to check time, depth, heading or gas. I use a variation of what you do. The same procedure but when you have the innertube hooked with your thumb, use the other fingers to push the light out of the innertube instead of pulling the innertube down. I found that to be faster. To stow the backup light I do: 1. Hook it to your d-ring. 2. Slide the thumb down the harness until you hit the innertube. 3. Lift the innertube and put the backup light in with the other hand. I also very much prefer the use of a rubber band (innertube) instead of bungie or o-rings because it doesn't slide. I also use the same procedure wearing no gloves, wet gloves, regular dry gloves or dry mittens. Best, Peter __________________ Peter Steinhoff GUE DIR-F, Tech1, Tech2, Cave1, Cave2, Cave3, RB80-1&2, DIR-F/Cave Instructor Candidate. NAUI Tec Instructor (Trimix, Technical DPV, Technical Wreck Penenetration etc) WKPP Support Diver, Halcyon Product Development Team, Gavinscooter Representative. Various IANTD, NSS-CDS, NACD, PADI & NAUI. ---------------------------------------------- http://dir-diver.com http://peter.steinhoff.se (swedish only)

April 20th, 2006, 09:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
jasonmh(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 125	Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff) Jason, ... when you have the innertube hooked with your thumb, use the other fingers to push the light out of the innertube instead of pulling the innertube down. I found that to be faster. To stow the backup light I do: 1. Hook it to your d-ring. 2. Slide the thumb down the harness until you hit the innertube. 3. Lift the innertube and put the backup light in with the other hand. Cool, thanks for the advice Peter. __________________ My Space

April 19th, 2006, 11:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
sasdasdaf(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 375	Too many details. There are many ways to do it. The important points are that you can do it quickly when needed, and that you turn on the light before unclipping. I take the light out of the bungee before turning it on but I don't know what anyone else does.

April 20th, 2006, 09:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
MonkSeal(Offline) Old Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 475	Quote: (Originally Posted by jasonmh) I do it this way because I find it nearly impossible to turn the light on with it still bungied, but I know it is supposed to be turned on before unclipping it. I've never heard that light had to be turned on while bungied. It has to be turned on before unclip the bolt snap.

April 24th, 2006, 09:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff) ...I swim around in the dark most of the time Damn that sent a shiver down my spine reading that!