UK SL6 -- energy consumption

[Kaneda]

Hello flashlight-fans,

I recently bought a Underwater Kinetics SL6 in order to use it as a dive lamp occasionally.
It looks pretty tough and was not too expensive, but there's a problem: the beam-intensity decreased quickly after a runtime of about an hour. Well, I have used cheap batteries I might add, but is this quick energy drain normal ?
Did anyone use a UK SL6 as a dive light in the past ? What do you think of the UK SL6 ?
I'd be glad to read your opinion.

Greetings from Germany,

Kaneda

 

[jtivat]

I have gotten about 3 hours of good light from mine (with Duracell's). It works great as a dive light b/c it cuts through the water with its tight beam.

 

[BrightShadow]

I have one and LOVE it. I can't say I have ever had the problem you describe.

 

[Ratso]

I bet your using heavy duty batteries. Use some good alkalines. Also, you may want to try using rechargeable batteries since they discharge at a lower voltage reduction.

 

[rlhess]

I've had mine for about three months and am still on the original set of duracells. Use alkalines.

The light output dropped from a new peak of 13,000cd to about 9,500 cd now but is still white.

I had great fun with it this weekend in Cambria CA in the fog. It was a bit brighter than a 5D mag light AND lit up about 2x the area...and the 5D mag's cells had MUCH less use than the SL6's.

Of course, the Vector rechargeable spotlight took the prize... <smile>...

Richard

 

[MR Bulk]

Uh, Rich -- which Vector would that be...?

 

[BuddTX]

Kaneda,

I do not know what the battery situation is like in Germany, so with that in mind . . .

The general feeling at CPF, is that the best bet for Flashlight batteries is the Ray0vac maximum, or newly released maximum plus.

Not only are they the best, but they are inexpensive too!

They can be purchased in any Wal-mart.

It is suprizing that they can perform better than the Duracell's and Energizers!

That said, try Duracell Ultras or the Energizer max batteries if you cannot access the rayovac's.

Are you running the light in extreme cold? Alklines do not like cold.

 

[rlhess]

Originally posted by MR Bulk:
Uh, Rich -- which Vector would that be...?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">The 137CO that you sold me ... aka "the banana"

By the way, that LEO with the flashing flashlight is really gaudy! I can't look at CPF at work with that thing flashing away!

<smile>

Cheers,

Richard

 

[MR Bulk]

Ahah! I thot so. And you can thank Roy for the "flasher" LEO -- he found and sent it to me...