Dive Torches

[BenB1979]

I'm looking to splurge some cash on a new (second hand) dive torch and have been looking around to try to fully understand them. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to find basic explainations on some of the fairly fundamental features of torches.

Can someone point me in the direction of a thread or website that will help (something like the beginners camera thread would be excellent). Need help on the differences in battery type, bulb type, wattage, equivelant wattage, lumens, hotspot etc etc

Thanks in advance

[Roz]

If you're not doing anything this weekend suggestion you visit DIVE.2011 and seek out GreenForce. They will certainly give you the low down on torch info in a nice manner. Don't know if Deep Ideas are exhibiting. If they are then they will advise you on Light Monkey. Ask questions, both these companies will help you.

[John Bantin]

I'm looking to splurge some cash on a new (second hand) dive torch and have been looking around to try to fully understand them. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to find basic explainations on some of the fairly fundamental features of torches.

Can someone point me in the direction of a thread or website that will help (something like the beginners camera thread would be excellent). Need help on the differences in battery type, bulb type, wattage, equivelant wattage, lumens, hotspot etc etc

Thanks in advance


All you need is here: www.divernet.com

[Dammyla]

Try and borrow some or keep an eye on what other people are using when you dive, you can then look up the stats and compare the specs to observed real life performance

Also, you need to know what you want to acheive with it and what your budget will be before you can look up anything meaningful

[ChristianG]

All you need is here: www.divernet.com

Encouraging people to think out of the box.
Is that last (above) entirely necessary JB? Even when I posted "Torches" into Diver's search field did not elicit much in the way of:

All you need is here

Mind, I was ever the world's worst at instigating an internet search, so what would I know.

[Eddie Clamp]

Is that last (above) entirely necessary JB? Even when I posted "Torches" into Diver's search field did not elicit much in the way of:.

Well he has managed to get two plugs for his mag in :D. So that must be good!

[ChristianG]

Can someone point me in the direction of a thread or website that will help (something like the beginners camera thread would be excellent).
Well, flattery will get you everywhere. ;)

I'll give you what I know from my limited experience, mostly to do with LED technology.

LEDs:

• Burn "whiter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin)".
• Burn considerably cooler, to the extent that you can use them out of the water as well. not an option with some other technologies which require the cooling properties of water to not overheat.
• Give considerably better burn times than most (don't need as much juice (electricity/power).
• Do not give you any warning (worth speaking of) if/when they run out of power. They either work, or they don't, unlike tungstens which dim as the power wanes.
• Hardly ever fail and mostly last considerably longer than tungstens.

I am far from an electrical engineer so take this as advice delivered over t'internet, with all that that may entail.