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!