Flashlight request: waterproof, small, bright, relatively cheap

[Fallingwater]

I need a light for a friend. It has to be fully submersible (so clickies are out), with a Cree or SSC (so no arrays of 5mm emitters), and it can't be too expensive ("too expensive" is anything above €40 or so). A low-power mode would be better but it isn't absolutely required.

AA cells are ok, but the light would have to use at least 2 since 1W isn't bright enough. Primary CR123s are not ok due to high prices, but he says he's ok with rechargeables (and he is a rather careful person), so RCR123s are fine (as are rechargeable AAs, of course).

Oh, and we're in Italy, so US-only shops, or those that charge ludicrous amounts for overseas shipping, won't do. DX would be good, but I can't remember them selling any submersible light.

 

[jbosman1013]

I could think of alot of lights that would work but needing it to be "fully submersible" really limits your choices, what type of work will this light be doing.

 

[Omega Man]

You might want a dive light then? I can't think of anything else that I'd trust working underwater other than the Arc.

 

[revolvergeek]

I would check out the Underwater Kinetics eLed 4AA lights.

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/uk_q40p.htm

 

[GPB]

Underwater Kinetics, Pelican and Princeton Tec all make a wide range of lights specifically for diving. I don't have one, but have read good things about the Princeton Tec Surge. It comes in either incan or LED, uses 8 AA batteries, but can run on 4, and is supposed to be quite bright.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Underwater Kinetics, Pelican and Princeton Tec all make a wide range of lights specifically for diving. I don't have one, but have read good things about the Princeton Tec Surge. It comes in either incan or LED, uses 8 AA batteries, but can run on 4, and is supposed to be quite bright.

The LED version of the PT Surge (now the Torrent) is over $50.00 on BrightGuy.com. The xenon version is $35.00. Xenon puts out 115 lumens but is not regulated. LED puts out 47 lumens for 4.5 hours, 30 hours total on alkalines.

As these lights take 8 AA's it is not "small." It's about 7 inches long.

I have the incan Surge and like it a lot.

 

[Tremendo]

I need a light for a friend. It has to be fully submersible (so clickies are out)

My question would be fully submersible in case of accident or planned to be used that way? I have many waterproof lights that I have taken swimming in pools & the Ocean and I have not had any leaks, but they are not made to be constantly used underwater. I have no problem throwing all my good lights in a pool, but I wouldn't want to scuba dive with them.

A truly "fully submersible" light limits it dramatically. "Waterproof", there are many options.

 

[Gunner12]

There aren't many dive lights with the current gen LEDs. But for some of them, you could use a P60 drop-in to convert them to LED.

Are you looking for a dive light?

What would the flashlight be used for?

 

[Fallingwater]

Yep, a dive light is what he needs. Says he does breath-held diving.

I'm not familiar with P60 drop-ins or lights that use them. Can you give me more details please?

 

[Buck91]

I have a PT Solo with the Terralux TLE-1F drop-in. Its only 1W, but even at that I tend to worry about heat build up. Seems most dive-rated lights are plastic/resin bodied, so that would be a common concern.

That said, the TLE-1F is quite bright for 1W and provides a very nice flood beam with the stock OP reflector. It is maybe a little brighter than my 2AAA UK pocket light, but lacks throw (OP and high led mount).

 

[Gunner12]

Something like this might work. Pelican Stealthlight + P60 LED drop-in. There is space around the drop in in which you could add addition metal to provide more heatsinking mass.

 

[BabyDoc]

The Novatac 120 EDC are rated waterproof to 66 feet. I am not sure how deep you need to go. This light may be out of your budget, but sometimes you can find some good deals on the non programmable models.

 

[GPB]

Heat buildup won't be a problem if the light is being used in the water. When I used to do a lot of diving, I recall a few buddies who had lights that could only be turned on in the water because they would overheat if used in air. I don't know why, but there has to be a reason that LED Dive lights aren't all that popular. Diving seems to be an incand. kind of activity. Since you can only hold your breath for a few minutes at a time, I would stick with an incandescent light since you don't need multiple hours of run time, shouldnt have to worry about the bulb surviving a sharp impact while underwater, and I think the physics of light and water give LED's a disadvantage under water. ( but that's just a hunch...I can't back that up with anything )

 

[jenskh]

..., and I think the physics of light and water give LED's a disadvantage under water. ( but that's just a hunch...I can't back that up with anything )

This is not correct. Light with a high color temperature penetrates water better than typical incans. That is why HID lights for long have been considered the best, but new LED lights are giving them more and more competition. I have and use, several lights from this manufacturer: www.dragonsub.com . They are very good, but quite expensive.

 

[Cheapskate]

I think the physics of light and water give LED's a disadvantage under water. ( but that's just a hunch...I can't back that up with anything )

No, the physics favours LED lights in terms of range/throw. Water filters out the longer wavelengths more readily, so the deeper you go, the bluer the light. Since LED's have a strong blue component in their output, this should give them an advantage in throw.

However, for this very reason, one might consider it advantageous to have an incandescent light source for colour perception. Also, if there is much turbidity in the water, I think you might have worse back scatter from the suspended particles with LED's.

I did some night diving ages ago, and I would not hesitate to use an LED light, it would be my preference.

Someone posted a link to a French manufacturer of hi-end diving lights that used from one to several crees, but I suspect they would be out of the price range mentioned. Diving lights tend to be very expensive to start with, making them with LED's just makes them a lot more expensive, which is probably the main reason they may not be as popular