Princeton Tec Shockwave LED now 400 lumens

[Cavelightchris]

I just wanted to let people know that the Shockwave LED by Princeton Tec is now 400 lumens, and available at brightguy.com for $109.99.

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Princeton_Tec_Shockwave_LED.php

Another great thing about this light is that it is waterproof up to 100 meters.

I am guessing they stuck Seoul p4s in it just like they did to the Apex headlamp.

It sure seems like a great light to mod, I would love to turn it in to a 8AA bike light.

It's hard to believe it's only $109.99 when they want $350 for the switchback III: http://www.brightguy.com/products/Princeton_Tec_Switchback_3.php. It looks like they haven't even updated the switchback III with Seouls yet, since in the description it only says 255 lumens instead of 400 like the Shockwave LED.

I want this thing to film in caves; it would be great to drop in to a pit cave, and then film people coming down. Since it's so heavy with 8 c batteries and all, you could just leave it at the bottom of the drop as you explore the rest of the cave. The great thing about pit caves is that you don't have to worry about spelunkers coming along and stealing it since they can't drop a pit cave anyhow. See spelunkers are just amateurs, and the saying goes: cavers save spelunkers. We think the term spelunker derived from the sound they make when they fall in to the water.

My friend brought this big ole plug in to the wall rechargeable incandescent flashlight for us to film people making the drop on this last trip, and by the time the second person made the drop it was almost dead, and it was totally dead by the time the forth person made the drop. And we only turned it on when we were filming, but then again what do you expect from a $20 flashlight at Walmart.

 

[Illumination]

Don't plastic lights have a problem with overheating? Many of PT's lights were designed for use underwater where this wouldn't be an issue.

 

[richardcpf]

I wonder if you can use 8xC Nimh, 9.6v instead od the 12v without loosing brightness. Also, heat wont be a problem since it drives the emitter at low current (400/3 = 133lms each led, I would say less than 600ma).

Would be nice to have some comparisons with the Coleman 530lms 3xCree rechargeable spotlight, it costs half but you cant change batteries when they drain.

 

[kramer5150]

Don't plastic lights have a problem with overheating? Many of PT's lights were designed for use underwater where this wouldn't be an issue.

x2... many (but not all) dive lights must be used while submerged to maintain sufficient cooling.

 

[276]

Seems cool but their site only says that there using MAXbright LED's which is ? I sent an email to find out I hope.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Seems cool but their site only says that there using MAXbright LED's which is ? I sent an email to find out I hope.

It's Princeton Tec's own name for high-powered LEDs such as the SSC-P4/Rebel/Cree XR-E. They will NOT tell you what manufacturer makes that LED.

 

[Swedpat]

Cavelightchris,

Very interesting flashlight actually! Using NiMh cells the output will be quite flat at maybe 6-8 hours as claimed. That's very good for such a high brightness.

Regards, Patric

 

[Cavelightchris]

Ya that's what I was thinking. But now the only wuestion is: can you use the thing when it's not submerged?

I would like to call Princeton Tec and find out.

Richard, Thanks for the heads up on the Coleman 530lms 3xCree rechargeable spotlight, that seems like a better alternative considering it is cheaper, and I know it does not need to be submerged in water and all.

The Shockwave LED said it can use rechargables. does anybody know what voltage rechargable C batteries normally run at? Are the like AA's where they only run at 1.2 volts?

Well if you used Eneloop AA's in it instead, that would be 1.3 X8 = 10.4 which is 3.46 volt going to each LED, is that considered decent? But if this thing has a boost driver in it, then it shouldn't make any difference with the lower voltage.

Ya Outdoors Fanatic is right, even though the new Apex is using a Seoul P4, Princeton Tec has not changed it's description of where it says MAXbright LED. When called a sales rep even said it was using a MAXbright LED, when in fact it was a Seoul P4. At least they are using a nice bin, because someone said the light was whiter and easier on the eyes then his P4 modded Apex was.

 

[jzmtl]

Ya Outdoors Fanatic is right, even though the new Apex is using a Seoul P4, Princeton Tec has not changed it's description of where it says MAXbright LED. When called a sales rep even said it was using a MAXbright LED, when in fact it was a Seoul P4. At least they are using a nice bin, because someone said the light was whiter and easier on the eyes then his P4 modded Apex was.

They call everything maxbright, just like streamlight's C4 LED it's an umbrella marketing term and will not be changed.

It's not described as regulated on their website.

 

[276]

It's Princeton Tec's own name for high-powered LEDs such as the SSC-P4/Rebel/Cree XR-E. They will NOT tell you what manufacturer makes that LED.

In the past they told me some of ther eled's just never asked about the maxbright.

Ya that's what I was thinking. But now the only wuestion is: can you use the thing when it's not submerged?

I forgot to put that in the email, I'll just have to call from work.

A little of topic if this quote looks weird it cause i still can't figure how to use the multi quote function.

 

[richardcpf]

A little of topic if this quote looks weird it cause i still can't figure how to use the multi quote function.

Click this

at every post you want to multi-quote.

I think it is little bit absurd to have this flashlight working only when it is submerged, since it must have very thick plastic body (for 100m WR) probably made from ABS which is not a good conductor, so the difference between operated in and out the water shouldn' t be huge.

 

[Yucca Patrol]

. . . . . . so the difference between operated in and out the water shouldn' t be huge.

except for the fact that water is 800 times denser than air. . . .;)

 

[Illumination]

I think it is little bit absurd to have this flashlight working only when it is submerged, since it must have very thick plastic body (for 100m WR) probably made from ABS which is not a good conductor, so the difference between operated in and out the water shouldn' t be huge.

Plenty of dive lights are advertised for use only in the water (including some UK plastic dive lights). I am not sure about this one, but it is worth checking.

For the same reason a human can live comfortably in 50 degree weather for a long time. Jump into 50 degree water and hypothermia will set in very very fast. Water is a very good transmitter of heat...something like 20x faster than air.