AE W30 NEW IMPROVED VERSION?

[Richie086]

Hi,

Has there been any information on the upcoming AE W30 Dive Light that's on the way? My friend needs to purchase a new dive light for 2009 and I may just purchase one for myself too so I can dive with him this year.

I'm hoping it'll run on 18650's or something better than primary batteries.

 

[MattK]

More info coming soon.

 

[Richie086]

More info coming soon.

Thank you Matt. Please keep us posted.

 

[Gene]

AE has the "improved" version up now on their website. It looks to be the same light as the W30 model except it's now called the "LifeLight". I can't see any "improvements" except for the name change but they did lower the retail price substantially, (around $80.00).

Maybe Matt can correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[MattK]

I know the price drop was going to be sonsiderable - I'll check on other improvements etc.

 

[Richie086]

AE has the "improved" version up now on their website. It looks to be the same light as the W30 model except it's now called the "LifeLight". I can't see any "improvements" except for the name change but they did lower the retail price substantially, (around $80.00).

Maybe Matt can correct me if I'm wrong here.

Hi Gene,

Is this what you're referring to?

http://www.aelight.com/product.php?category=24&id=158

 

[woodrow]

I have owned 2 of these. Never owned a tougher light... Ever.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Hmmm I'm liking the price. If it has improvements as well it may be quite worth my while to pick one up. Keep us posted.

 

[Patriot]

I hope 18650 battery compatibility made it into the improvements. The L91 requirement for best performance was a bummer.

 

[Gene]

Yes, that's the one. It looks like the exact same light with just a lower price. It still uses 3XAA and I don't see any so called improvements but I guess you could say the lower price is an "improvement". Like woodrow said, it is the toughest light I've ever owned and possibly my favorite. It's one I'll never get rid of.

I don't think you're going to see these types of lights anytime soon using eclectic cells such as the 18650. These lights are meant for divers and the general public and they want lights that use easily obtained cells like AAs.

We here on CPF would love to see 18650s used but believe it or not, we're in the tiniest minority of folks that buy most lights.

 

[Richie086]

I like the color temp of 5500k, but at only 300 lumens, how well do they perform under water? I'd hate to have to spring for a HID diving flashlight. Those things cost a fortune.

 

[woodrow]

I think it was primarely designed as a backup dive light (although many divers use dimmer primary lights) but it cannot compete wth a 35w single unit or 2x10w units.

But, throw a few lithium AA's in it and hang it off your gear and you should have a backup light you could count on for years with no fuss...no muss. (keep the seals lubracated though!!!