Although diving is not new to me, trying to make my own light head is, so bear with me. I'm going to be spending a lot of time inside the wrecks at Bikini Atoll so want a canister light that will punch through the gloom. I currently have this 50 w halogen Dive Rite head, and will power it with a pair of 4.5 amphr Nimh 12v battery packs but would like to take it to the next level. So far I reckon I need a 64mm outside dia aspheric lens, 50 mm reflecter and led and driver, but there is simply too much information out there. I like this head because it is very heavy aluminium construction and has a double o ring sealed twist on/off switch. Any suggestions on a single mode driver/ led combination, and do I need a reflector? I have access to a lathe and all other tools. Thanks in advance. Brian. PS, just saw that I cannot post attachments.
Modifying a very old Dive Rite head
- Thread starter Bakodiver
- Start date
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
If you upload a pic of it to photobucket or similar you can then link to there so we can see what you have.
Anyway.... If you are using an aspheric you will not want to be using a reflector. 63mm sounds pretty big for an aspheric. OD of light head must be close to 70mm???
Perhaps you are misunderstanding the use of an aspheric lens.
To simplify both sides of the aspheric must be sealed from water.
The bigger the aspheric the tighter the beam at max focus will be but also the further away the lens must be from the LED.
Use of a reflector and a aspheric will result in a very ugly wide beam.
I am a huge fan of aspherics in dive lights. But I recently did a night dive in fairly good vis water with my SST-50/44mm aspheric light and I soon turned it off and used a small XP_G powered back up instead which performed better for the conditions. Mind you on a later dive I used my SST-90 powered light with a reflector in a large cave and was a little disappointed I didnt use my aspheric instead.
Aspherics are good for low vis conditions or for signalling.
Reflectors are good for high vis and night dives.
Im interested in why you will be spending alot of time in the wrecks at Bikini. Are you working there or is it a trip. A local diver is organising some trips there over the next few years.
Anyway.... If you are using an aspheric you will not want to be using a reflector. 63mm sounds pretty big for an aspheric. OD of light head must be close to 70mm???
Perhaps you are misunderstanding the use of an aspheric lens.
To simplify both sides of the aspheric must be sealed from water.
The bigger the aspheric the tighter the beam at max focus will be but also the further away the lens must be from the LED.
Use of a reflector and a aspheric will result in a very ugly wide beam.
I am a huge fan of aspherics in dive lights. But I recently did a night dive in fairly good vis water with my SST-50/44mm aspheric light and I soon turned it off and used a small XP_G powered back up instead which performed better for the conditions. Mind you on a later dive I used my SST-90 powered light with a reflector in a large cave and was a little disappointed I didnt use my aspheric instead.
Aspherics are good for low vis conditions or for signalling.
Reflectors are good for high vis and night dives.
Im interested in why you will be spending alot of time in the wrecks at Bikini. Are you working there or is it a trip. A local diver is organising some trips there over the next few years.
Hi, I'm working as a dive master with the live aboard operation on Bikini. I've spoken with Pete Mesley, haven't yet met him. I can't link to a picture of the light head, but it is based around the 50 mm halogen spots used in display lighting, with an outside diameter of 75 mm. It is very shallow, so would have to either go with a reflector or machine an extension to house the aspheric and flat lens. Water clarity is generally very good so reflector may be the best. I have ample battery capacity so what can I fit in this head?
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hard to say with out a pic.
50mm halogens are usually MR16. There are heaps of options available for you.
You can get a reflector that should fit or use the 44mm aspheric like I did. Either in a tight focus or make it a wider beam by mounting the LED closer to the Aspheric.
The triple XML and optic from Cutter produces a ship load of lumen in a wide beam which may suit your requirements well.
Some pics would tell us alot. If you cant then how about critical dimensions, internal depth/ width etc does it taper inside? is it stepped inside etc.
50mm halogens are usually MR16. There are heaps of options available for you.
You can get a reflector that should fit or use the 44mm aspheric like I did. Either in a tight focus or make it a wider beam by mounting the LED closer to the Aspheric.
The triple XML and optic from Cutter produces a ship load of lumen in a wide beam which may suit your requirements well.
Some pics would tell us alot. If you cant then how about critical dimensions, internal depth/ width etc does it taper inside? is it stepped inside etc.
For a first project, you may want to try the DX XML module complete with LED, reflector and driver. I just got feedback on a few lights I have built with those and the people that have used them love them. One is even a tech diving instructor who uses it in Florida caves.
Thanks for the replies. It is indeed based around a MR-16 bulb. The cavity in the head is 48 mm dia x 24 deep, then tapers over 12 mm to a 25 mm dia x 18 mm deep cavity. I found a pn 10025 50mm mirrored lens in Cutter that should work with a single XML. The modules are too small in diameter to take full advantage of the head size. Still learning, and thanks for your suggestions.
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'd consider the 3x XML ( like 350 used in his video light) and optic from cutter.
This will be a great high vis wreck light. No good for low vis or signalling but will light up the inside of a wreck like nothing else.
This will be a great high vis wreck light. No good for low vis or signalling but will light up the inside of a wreck like nothing else.
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
XML's are rated at up to 3 amp.
It would be a shame to run them at 1 amp.
I have used the 3 amp driver from Kaidomain with the XML triple and it worked great.
TaskLED drivers seem to be worth a look and are available from Cutter.
It would be a shame to run them at 1 amp.
I have used the 3 amp driver from Kaidomain with the XML triple and it worked great.
TaskLED drivers seem to be worth a look and are available from Cutter.
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
Is the XML U2 rated at 3.5amp from Cree? How many lumen? What is the Vf at 3.5?
You may find that given the right VF XML's you could direct drive them from a triple Li Ion pack. Or at least use AMC 7135 drivers to ensure against over driving them on a fresh charge.
It would mean it may only run at full brightness for the first half of the charge but the second half of the charge would then equate to a very long run time with a slowly diminishing light output. I have a few MC-E based lights running the same sort of set up and Im pretty happy with them.
You may find that given the right VF XML's you could direct drive them from a triple Li Ion pack. Or at least use AMC 7135 drivers to ensure against over driving them on a fresh charge.
It would mean it may only run at full brightness for the first half of the charge but the second half of the charge would then equate to a very long run time with a slowly diminishing light output. I have a few MC-E based lights running the same sort of set up and Im pretty happy with them.
Pack, you are right 3 amps... Looks like Vf should be around 3.4 volts.... At 3 amps a Liion battery would drop in voltage fairly quick so should be OK direct drive. I don;t know that I would do that with my brand new $40+ LEDs though! I would spend the extra $40-50 for the Taskled. If you get the H6 Flex, you can get temp control and all the functions you will ever want. Looks like a pain to set up but probably worth it.
Packhorse
Flashlight Enthusiast
I think a AMC driver would be right in its prime with a LED Vf of 3.4 I just wish we could get 2 mode ones of say 100% and 30%.
