Designing a focusable LED dive light.

I guess lenses in general are the answer to larger dies. Its working like a reversed camera.

Question is: are we able to build a simple zoomlens which fits into a light?
 
Question for Packhorse or for anyone who has used a variable focus lens on a dive light...do you use that feature very much and what are the "settings" that you find the most useful.

Obviously for throw, signaling, cutting through the water ahead of you the tight spot is useful.

When you are looking at marine life right in front of you do you usually put it on full flood or do you find that you prefer only a little wider spot than the full minimum spot?

I'm still trying to determine my preferences for fixed beam as well for night dives in local limited viz waters.

I'm not sure whether the tightest spot is preferred with no spill or whether a little looser spot with a little spill is the best. I think the latter but I don't have a light/reflector like that. I have reasonably tight with a lot of spill and another that is even tighter with a lot of spill.

I have used a low powered light with no spill and at night that's a little difficult.
 
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Depends on diving conditions :

murky water at the bottom of lake or clear water on the see

actually laser beamshoot from aspheric it is normally much too strong for observing life on the bottom ( special if you want make some photos passing by because it is difficult to accommodate human eye to see details when need to fast lower light current or to avoid overexposure )

I think that moderate light current from distance 3 - 4m max that made spot with 1-1,5 m it is most applicable. Also for close DIR drill. That use let's say 85%.

but if you want to light up a wreck from distace or reef, find bottom of the cave it is spot beam very welcome - if you dive in that way .....and special for signalizing between diving groups it is urgency! That use let's say 15%.


Personally I like lights like mb-sub Led cave 2 for fixed focus - two separated leds : one for throw , one for flood , simple switching , combinated power. It is fine because it is also very low with low volume. ( but don't like their backups at all :devil: )

I have idea to put leds in the industrial power connector like ( but problem it is heat managment )
 
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Ive never really used a focusable light except for the few dives last weekend using the miniMAX. For most of the diving I do I much prefer a tight beam.

But then for night diving a wider beam is of benefit and also when exploring the inside of wrecks ( as long as no one has silted it up).

Also for photography and video a wide beam is of great use but it needs to be really wide.
 
Ive never really used a focusable light except for the few dives last weekend using the miniMAX. For most of the diving I do I much prefer a tight beam.

But then for night diving a wider beam is of benefit and also when exploring the inside of wrecks ( as long as no one has silted it up).

Also for photography and video a wide beam is of great use but it needs to be really wide.

I can see your point of a really tight beam in your diving in the daytime when there is some available light. Then you only need the beam to either signal or to illuminate one particular item.

At night a little wider beam is good as that's the only light source.

What about spill? In the daytime with natural illumination you certainly don't need spill (sometimes deeper daytime diving here is no different than nighttime however).

I'm not sure yet whether some spill at night regardless of beam size might not be a good thing. I still need throw so the beam can't be too wide but to just have it go dark just outside of that beam might be too much. I still need to be able to see where I am.

Aspherics seem good for your purposes but I think a reflector with less spill would be great for my purposes but that's rather hard to do something about.

The "ugly light" is pretty good (MC-E) as far as the beam size. It has a bit too much spill. I guess there isn't a way to just cut that spill in half?

Spill is determined by the amont of light that isn't caught by the reflector so reducing the spill in one sense would mean reducing the brightness of the spill but what about reducing the diameter of the spill? Is that just determined by the diameter of the dive light or perhaps by the depth of the reflector?
 
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TillyTecs warp 10 head is focusable from 4-15 degrees... uses 3 leds 1000 lumens.. not sure how 3 leds make 1000..?
http://www.tillytec-shop.com/vmchk/DIR-Light/WARP-10-Ultimate™-LED-Standard/flypage.tpl.html
warp10.jpg

WARP10Ultimate.jpg
 
@ Goldigger

In this LED-head is used a normal triple reflector. That is o.k., but if you want to make a focusable light with this reflectors you must move the reflectors out of the perfect position for a tight beam. By this moving you get a beam with bigger angle, but you lose light. A part of the emitted light goes lost behind the reflector.
If i remember, Packhorse has written the same about this "focusable system".

Michael
 
MB-SUB just giving an example that i came accross..
To be honest i understand what you are saying but then i've never seen the warp ten in use so choose not to comment..

But this snippet taken from Tillytecs site does make interesting reading..
So do tilly tec use electronics or not?
Electronics or not?


The question whether a good diving lamp must have electronics or not is not so simple to answer. There are reasons that speak for electronics and there are exactly so much reasons on doing without electronics . There are manufacturers who claim that it can achieve an even brightness and a long burning time only with electronics. This is wrong. Although it is correct, that in the past, where only halogen bulbs were available, to use electronics because very easy fluctuations of the accumulator let the halogen bulb look very dark. Therefore we should know that a 12 volts halogen bulb used by 11 volts power is already much darker than used at 12 volts power. There is the impression that the halogen bulb would already have lost 30% and more on intensity because it is getting darker even if the accumulator still has to be described as full with 11 volts power. However, this lies generally at halogen bulbs because the degree of effectiveness falls off very strongly even if the accumulator only has lost a little of its tension ( from 12 Volts to 11 Volts ).
However, this is on LED lamps exact different!! The less power a LED must process, the higher the degree of effectiveness is. This means that light fluctuations of a LED by change of the accumulator are not visible with the human eye at all. We take the same example as above. The accumulator has first 12 volts. The LED gets 1.2 amps on power. The accumulator is falling to 11 volts now. The LED gets only 0.9 amps on power now. The halogen bulb would get darker considerably visibly in this place. Not so the LED whose degree of effectiveness increases now. The light loss is measurable but for the human eye not visibly !!
For the human eye the LED lamp still shines just brightly.

Advantages of an electronics
With an electronics an even brightness of the illuminant (halogen bulb) is reached over a long burning time.
With an electronics the accumulator can get specific turned off at the end of the burning time or let e.g. the illuminant flashing.
With an electronics different luminosity intensities can be adjusted, so-called dimming steps are possible. E.g. 66% or 33% of the brightness then make a longer burning time possible.
 
I think there was a similar discussion over at YD sometime Goldigger, although can't find it now. Since Michael is based in Germany, might be better just to link to the Tillytec page in German (http://www.tillytec.de/de/technik.html), rather than trying to translate into German something already translated into English 🙂
 
@ Goldigger

TT dont use electronic in his lamps.
No different power steps and no discharge protection.

Michael
 
I think there was a similar discussion over at YD sometime Goldigger, although can't find it now. Since Michael is based in Germany, might be better just to link to the Tillytec page in German (http://www.tillytec.de/de/technik.html), rather than trying to translate into German something already translated into English 🙂


I got it of the US site..
http://www.tillytec-shop.com/technology.html

I remember the YD thread.. im sure i added my 2 pence worth.. 😀 Page 4 onwards
http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/torches/93626-do-i-need-new-torch.html
 
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@ Goldigger

Sorry, but the first underwater beam shots are only possible in February.

But each order is without risk, because you have of course the right to send back the light, if you dont like it.

Michael
 
@Packhorse

All other positions between the both beam shots looks like the second beam shot, but with smaller diameter and much brighter.

Michael
 
Interesting article, thanks Lucca Brassi. I don't speak German but Google Translate provides a version I could get the basic understanding of. For anyone who is interested here is the begining blurb before the tests (if you can be bothered to read it all!):

Technical Lighting

Technical diving is generally seen as increasingly specialized discipline of diving popular. This is the advance to greater depths, such as wrecks outside the limits of recreational diving not only increased demands on the diver itself, but also to his equipment. An important facet of the Tek Diving equipment is the dive light, from the fundus is usually more than one There. We analyze in this article the market more or less known Tek-Diving lamps look, the lights under the hood, bring to light all the important data and try to demystify entrenched wisdom.

We are pleased in this test, thanks to a wide Involvement of many manufacturers, the technical Dive area play a role, a very large thus showing fairly representative testbed able. Among the usual intensive test conditions Inside, each of Dive Lamp Once that point in her lies and whether the high standards in technical areas may be sufficient.

What are the increased demands now in particular? Deeper dives, as reflected in technical field, everyday, would normally require more or less extensive Decompression. Dive times of several hours are possible. It applies as in Recreational scuba diving here, that a lamp optimally, a complete dive ungedimmt should persevere. Furthermore Security is thought of in this area high importance, so arrive at each dive again extended safety margins added. So that the future does not dive light as slack does, the choice of its own accord on a battery tank lamp that the necessary Energy stocks may provide. Who wants dive with a brick in his hand go? We continue to look at the requirements of Cave diving, then aggravated the above Points once more dramatic. Here is Dive lights when not uncommon to double operates three security, since a complete failure of light in a cave in the worst Case, mean the death of the diver can.

One advantage of the cell tank lamps is possible The lamp head on so-called Goodman Carry handle. The head is fixed on back of the hand and the hand is largely free for other tasks, such as for Stage bottles, scooters, or use the Reel handling. The lamps are one of us, but not limited to Handling, firing time and their burning behavior of investigated the necessary immersion time, but a major emphasis is also on a sound Processing, reliability and redundancy. The latter is essential and is usually made of retained backup lamps. These should be in a position to the main lamp should be replaced as well as possible in order to harsh environments with poor perspective may Bring an end to dive safely.

Moreover, there is the possibility of more than bring a main lamp head, if for example Cave diving in a backup no satisfaction replacement is a satisfactory track record. This must be a light head separated from the battery under high water pressure tank be connected to the replacement of head without any head or battery thereby becomes full. Such Under-water plug system is under the name 'E / O Cord "and is sold by many manufacturers optionally available and can be for existing Retrofit lamps. With an I / O cord can also place the lamp one under the Heizweste Trocki with energy The tank battery will be supplied. However, advisable it is normally used for this purpose a carry self-sustaining battery. The redundancy within the lamp is rare, because it is structurally complex or impossible but we are still an example in this the tests to see. This lamp makes the E / O Cord possibly unnecessary.

A further consideration in light of purchase can the configuration of the equipment according to widely used systems such D.I.R. his or Indi. With the widespread D.I.R. (Doing It Right) For example, the battery system is part of the tank Tube configuration, or its holder. Moreover is the battery tank as part of the weight system used. In the case of multiple-pound tanks not only plausible, but is every Diver after his first dive with a large battery tank struck himself. The tank is So always be factored into the output with, no matter according to which the system can be configured. If He, like D.I.R. usual, on the right side Harness fastened, must be on the other side appropriately counterbalanced e.g. one Stage bottle hanging, otherwise the tank pulls noticeably to one side.

The Test Tube Design

Since most configuration systems as well D.I.R. come from the United States is among the names not saved with Anglicisms. Hence is also the name of so-called "test Tube Design, "which translates means something like "Test-tube construction. Is in fact located in the heart of each lamp, which this Principle follows a protective glass in the form of a truncated Test tube as the mantle serves on the bulbs. The reflector has to direct water contact, since only the burner water and is pressure-tight encapsulated. These Construction has two advantages: First, is the burners in the water separated from the reflector and thus, in combination with an E / OCord during a dive interchangeable. This is especially especially in the sensitive HID burners in Cave diving is an important consideration, since thus not a complete, second light head to be dragged along. Moreover, the burner even simple HID against Halogen back or exchanged. The burner unit There is therefore usually in two variants. Another advantage is the ability to be focussed, as The reflector unit only with a plastic screw fastened to the burner unit and is easily moved against each other is. This allows a relatively wide range be focused.

The Test Tube design has also disadvantages. Since the reflector is in the water, he is dirt vulnerable to damage or and the life expectancy of an encapsulated Not reach counterparts.

In addition, the type of focus is relatively tricky. A small screw must be loosened, the Brenner pi-times-thumb in the right position moved and the screw tightened will. A stop for the best position focus of the brightest do not exist, it must be sought, and each time this procedure wants to dive in thick gloves, once be controlled.

With all these advantages and disadvantages of the test is Tube design as a standard in particular among D.I.R. Divers because it described as highly variable and is robust.

However, you need the interchangeable burners not, can also lamps of this design differ in a D.I.R. Configuration uses will. In particular, the currently held Entrance of LEDs in the technical area is the design of the lamps necessarily a new Wise direction.

New Entw icklungen

The underwater lights in recreational scuba diving have been largely "turned around", the technical Diving starts so slowly: The speech is of the LED. Was previously the HID state-of-the-art "as now recognize many of the technical diver not discussed the benefits away this new type of burner. And particularly in security - technical field should Robustness and reliability of a lamp come first. Here, the HID shines actually the opposite - a filigree Brenner and complicated electronic devices for The ignition and operation. Problem was previously poor focusing ability, and thus the brightness the LED. Now it appears that some manufacturers have overcome this problem. This would require A test that shows how the LED is currently available, also interesting.

In addition to a new type but also has the Battery technology, has progressed (DiveInside reported in detail about this). This new battery types are now of renowned manufacturers offered and include All Lithium-ion models (lithium-cobalt, Lithium-manganese and lithium-iron) and since some time, the nickel-metal hydride cells .. More information about the suitability of the specific technical Diving there is in the info box "battery technology for Tek-diving (page 55). Ultimately, however, any technical divers decide for themselves what is required he has for his equipment. We show you to Here a wide range of what for technical use of the question. Not always go this price and performance together compliant.

Conclusion

If you have read all of the tests, you can easy to see that even now a good selection of underwater lights for alternative Test Tube HID established in the technical diving field has (overall) of the tested lamps. Although we see the lights of course, their Affinity to the sport diving lamps and there are probably still a few development cycles go into the country until the LED its advantages combined with those of the old Test Tube Systems has. But even today has the ambitious Divers enough to choose among all types of burners to find the right lamp for him. It depends heavily on the imaginary application on, whether you prefer the HID or LED There. When in doubt, you should use test events or to arrange trials for the producers. For asking a diver who Lamp he considers to be the best, almost always leads to same answer - the own!
 
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Whitenoise,
Thanks for the effort but to be honest i skipped most of that as it was pretty boring.. 😀
But it was interesting to read that the salvo rebel 9w was not as good as some/one of the backup lights in the test..

Salvo:
The lamp
rewarded with a very long burn time for their
Size, but this at the expense of maximum
Brightness, which already own backup lamps
in the test beat.
The beam, however, is
much wider and the side illumination
better.
 
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