Best light set-up

[Abrams.357]

I don't have any dive lights but im looking for some good ones. I'm looking for a two good backup lights and one main. my instructer loves U.K. and that's all he uses but i think that pelican and princeton tec are great names too that i would trust.

for my tank light i'm going to get a GloTube FX.

i dont know if i want a LED main or a xenon what are the (dis)advantages of each one?

and i like the UK C and D 8's and the princeton tec shockwaves

i really don't know anything about the backups, LED/ xenon / battery sizes/ etc

i want a plastic body, no AL bodies...

any suggestions welcome! thanks!

 

[gav6280]

If you can afford it get a Can light like the ones from Dive Rite, Halcyon, Salvo etc.

I have a Peli Nemo 8C, and hate it, not bright enough and uses to many batteries. Right now im looking into getting a Tektite Ls5, as a temporary solution as my last creation got stolen....Long story....

But there are lots of other options, particularly if you like the hair dryer style.

I have herd some good things about this cheap ish light: http://www.princetontec.com/?q=node/90 but u havent seen one in the flesh myself yet.

All depends on your budget really £10 - £2000?

Also Packhorse is doing some cool stuff if you talk to him nicely....

 

[Packhorse]

UK lights are OK but nothing fantastic. As are Princeton Tec.

As Gav said, a can light is the way to go. Lantern or hair-drier ( haha) lights are just a pain compared to a can light and goodman handle.

What is you budget for all 3 lights? A good primary and 2 good back ups may cost you $1000us or more. A great set lots more.


When you say xenon do you mean HID?

HID offers 2 advantages over LED. You can sometime focus HID and for power levels over 20 watt (1500 lumen or so ) HID rules supreme. But to be honest I dont think you really need that much light.
Why no ali body lights?
Aluminium dissipates heat far greater than plastic does. This is very important in high powered lights esp LED. Even if its just the head that is aluminium like the AE30/ W200 light.

 

[Abrams.357]

i guess mostly because they (AL bodies) would be hard to find if dropped...

and are there relatively inexpensive can LED lights anywhere, where wold i find those?

my price range is about $250 max for a main light and for the backups about $150 each

can you experts just throw me some links to what y'all consiter good main/bachup lights? or just the name i can look it up

one thing to note, i dont want to be the "new guy" with all the expensive, overkill new gear that won't get a ton of use. you know what i mean?
thanks!

 

[Abrams.357]

and is it more desireable to have more throw (incandescent?) or a flood (LEDs?)? i'm not going to be doing anything special, just normal diving, hopefully night reef diving in the future

 

[Packhorse]

Why would an ali bodied light be harder to find than a plastic one?

$250 US $250AUD $250NZ????? your profile does not say where you are from.
Either way $250 ( even in euro) isnt gonna buy you a great primary ( can ) light.
Incans dont throw more than LEDs and LEDs dont offer more flood than incan.
Infact forget incan all together. They may suit your granddad or his son but they really are last century's technology.
Its either HID or LED.

 

[Abrams.357]

im from new york state (US)

yeah i guess that price range illustrates that i dont really need/wont use a super light huh? haha

i'm prob going to go with a Princeton tec shockwave LED or UK d8 LED al the can lights ive seen are simply too expensive for my needs