Intrinsically safe LED torch

[supasparky]

Hi everyone.
I service petrol station pumps and am looking for a torch (or headlamp) that is intrinsically safe for use with explosive gasses.
It will be used for close range work under 5 meters to inspect machines for leaks etc.
Size isnt a big factor but something palm size or smaller would be handy.
powered by Nimh or alkaline AA batteries would be preferrable.
oh and as this is going to be a trial unit , it needs to be fairly cheap (like under $60 but the cheaper the better at this stage to see how it works out)

i have seen people recommend the pelican 3175 but am still unsure of its suitablity? thats about as big as i want to go.

any ideas

 

[subwoofer]

A very specialised topic.

I believe one of the key factors it that the batteries used are themselves unable to start a fire, so li-ion are out as far as I know. It has to be low energy cells (in case you drop it and the light smashes to bits) so AAA, AA, C or D and no boost circuits. Strangely, most IS lights are still incans, but there are some LED ones. You need to check this yourself as each light will be certified for particular hazards and types of environment.

99.999% of lights talked about on CPF are not Intrinsically Safe.

 

[mattevt]

edit: nevermind

 

[AnAppleSnail]

Mattevt, those are NOT intrinsically safe torches. An employee improperly using a non-safe light can be terminated at best.

Check out Streamlight. They're the first one I know of. I don't know of any impressively-bright intrinsically safe lights. The 3AA ProPolymer may meet your needs. Good luck!

Edit; Certified IS, not just probably-IS.

 

[fyrstormer]

See if you can get your hands on a Nitecore D11 v2. That light uses an AA battery, contained in a sliding piston inside the main shell (so it's effectively double-walled), and the design of the light is such that power is *always* flowing to the driver. Pressing the end of the sliding piston completes a secondary circuit which tells the driver to turn the emitter on or off; the main power is never interrupted, so there is no possibility of a spark when switching the light.

 

[papabear]

Make sure you ask for the certificate and verify what certification you actually need ("Intrinsically Safe only tells you what protection method was used to make the device safe; It DOES NOT tell you what types of areas it is approved for). I've ran into many cases where companies advertise or tell people their product is I.S. but they are unable to produce the actual certificate. If it's not marked on the device itself or there's no easy way to download a certificate I would be wary. For your application you probably need Class I Division 1 certification with at least gas groups C-D. You're going to need to verify that with your safety officer though (I would look for something that covers all the gas groups A-D).

Plenty of manufacturers will have something that will work for you. I would recommend ecom instruments. Lots of certified options with both US and ATEX certifications (different classification standard from Europe used in most places outside of North America).

 

[supasparky]

thanks guys,,,,,,,,,,,,keep the suggestions coming..

it needs to be certified IS with paperwork to show it. we have safety audits on site and if i cant produce the paperwork its a no-go

it doesnt have to be zone zero. but class 2 zone zero for explosive gas atmospheres is what i need

 

[GRunner]

Hi,

Besides Streamlight check out Pelican and Underwater Kinetics. They have the safety certifications printed on the body of the lights.
Good Luck.

 

[Spin]

Google coal mining equipment/flashlights. Coal miners need specific flashlights that don't "spark" when turned on & off. Dust explosions from static electricity is a very big consideration in that profession.

 

[papabear]

Google coal mining equipment/flashlights. Coal miners need specific flashlights that don't "spark" when turned on & off. Dust explosions from static electricity is a very big consideration in that profession.

Intrinsic Safety is more than just a device that won't spark. Intrinsically Safe means that the energy the device can give off is limited to below the ignition threshold for the types of hazards it's approved for; Even in the event of a fault (i.e. short circuit in the battery cell).

Remember, the certifications list the types of hazardous area a device is approved. A light approved for coal mining isn't necessarily approved for use in a oil refinery. Chances are a device approved for a coal mine would be perfectly safe, but the regulations are often different and in many cases have separate certification standards. In other words, all intrinsically safe devices are not created equal. It has to carry the certification for the specific type of hazardous area you are working in.

 

[supasparky]

so ive decided to go with a streamlight as they are class 1 division 1 rated which is perfect.... BUT

does anyone have experience with the different propolymer versions?
Cant decide between the LUX version and the LED version. does anyone have any experience with these?
most of our work will be close up at under 20 feet under petrol tanker trucks and looking into petrol pumps...
would the LED version be brght enough??

do these dim down to a med or low power?? or is it all or nothing?

also cant decise between the 4XAA and 3XC as they seem to have similar run times???

 

[subwoofer]

so ive decided to go with a streamlight as they are class 1 division 1 rated which is perfect.... BUT

does anyone have experience with the different propolymer versions?
Cant decide between the LUX version and the LED version. does anyone have any experience with these?
most of our work will be close up at under 20 feet under petrol tanker trucks and looking into petrol pumps...
would the LED version be brght enough??

do these dim down to a med or low power?? or is it all or nothing?

also cant decise between the 4XAA and 3XC as they seem to have similar run times???

Can you provide the names of the two exact models you are considering.

Will you be using rechargeable cells or disposable ones?

 

[supasparky]

not sure if i can post a link..the mods will probably delete it.

[h=2]4AA ProPolymer® Lux Div 1 and[/h][h=2]3C ProPolymer® Lux Div 1[/h]3C LED ProPolymer

 

[Norm]

not sure if i can post a link..the mods will probably delete it.

You should be clear about links in this sub forum it clearly states what's allowed at the top of the page.

• Linking to sales threads in the Dealer's Corner and Manufacturer's Corner at the MarketPlace is permitted in this forum. However links to Dealer's or Manufacturer's websites or other sellers outside of the CPF MarketPlace will NOT be permitted in this forum and such links stand to be removed by a moderator. Persistent violations of this policy may result in the loss of posting privileges.

Norm

 

[subwoofer]

3C version 15oz, 44 lumen output
4AA version 7.6oz, 100 lumen output

So bigger heavier and less bright with longer total runtime (20hrs)

or

Lighter and brighter with less total runtime (6hrs)


The other difference is the 'out-of-regulation' runtime. They both give a full 4 hours at maximum output, but the 3C then gives 16 hours of declining output vs 2 hours for the 4AA.


With the price and availability of AAs I wouldn't even be pausing to think. I would get the 4AA one, but if you might need that extended runtime of the 3C then choose that.

 

[supasparky]

thanks, yes my first preference was the 4AA lux version as we can always bang in some aa's easily or even some rechargeable nimhs verses harder to obtain C cells. We dont do long period jobs. most are over in under 1 or 2 hours time so flipping batteries between jobs is easily done.

 

[Vortus]

Energizer makes them, dunno bout quality but they are cheap. As mentioned Streamlight and Pelican. FoxFury makes them, but more than double your price. Fulton used to, probably have to contact them and I think theirs are all D cell lights.