As I've learned more about current led and battery technology I'm amazed at how behind the times most recreational dive light manufacturers are.
Some of us have ended up buying lights from China with all of the lack of testing that that suggests (and being the guinea pigs ourselves) just because the equivalent products aren't commonly available in any other way.
For example, there is a light frequently reviewed that comes from China...it's simply labeled Cree MC-E dive light. Conservatively speaking using led technology it puts out 500 lumens, uses two batteries not much bigger than AA (specifically lithium-ion rechargeable 18650) and costs for the light, 2 rechargeable batteries and the charger $95 including free shipping.
A UK Light Cannon HID replacement bulb costs $100. A UK rechargeable battery pack costs about $70. I paid $8 for 2 rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries.
UK has a dive light that it just came out with using leds that is comparable in output (which is rare in itself) and it's $400 and using 8 C Cells or a nicad battery pack.
The plastic light is 5 times as heavy and 3 times the size of the Cree light. The burn times are similar as is the output.
The Cree light can be used hands free due to it's size. The UK cannot of course.
No one in the US seems to be interested in selling the 18650 lithium-ion battery since if used incorrectly it can catch fire! However, China, Japan, and Korea manufacture this battery and use it in products all the time. It's internal resistance is much lower than an alkaline battery and is therefore much better at supplying power for higher power applications and also doesn't degrade performance with colder temperatures which is a problem with alkalines.
It is generally sold in a "protected" version with a circuit that limits overcharge and under discharge which is the only time that catching fire would be an issue.
It is this battery that allows a light to go from weighing 2 1/2 pounds to 1/2 pound.
Regarding led's that output 500 lumens. The actual led is $15 or somewhere in that range yet manufacturers continue to produce lights with much less lumens.
Most lights coming out of China are machined aircraft grade aluminum (anodized) which dissipate the heat produced by higher powered leds well as opposed to the plastic lights made here (plastic is an insulator).
Plastic lights if they fail aren't really repairable. Aluminum lights can be fully taken apart and repaired or modified by most anyone.
It is a shame to see a $100 light from one source that is made from machined aluminum, produces 500 lumens, and fits in the palm of your hand put out by one company while another produces a small plastic 130 lumen (at best) light that is no more than a backup light for the same price.
The best scenario would be for dive light manufacturers to get on the ball and produce that same Cree light with proper design work and product testing before product release and sell it for $200.
The irony is that Cree (a world class led producer) isn't a Chinese company. It's based in Durham, NC. Yet, the first products to utilize the latest leds aren't those designed by US dive light manufacturers. It's Chinese flashlight manufacturing plants.
As frequently happens in scuba change is slow and divers take things into their own hands. I'm fairly unlikely to ever buy another light from the recreational dive industry since I'm having to learn enough to deal with the Chinese lights I'll end up knowing how to build my own and won't need anyone else.
I initially bought an aluminum light for $16 that output 100 lumens and easily converted it (using comparatively crude methods) and took it to 100 fsw with no problem.
In my local dive store there is a plastic version for $125.
There really needs to be more innovation in scuba and light manufacturers have no excuse as led technology is improving dramatically yearly if not monthly.
Some are doing a good job such as Intova and others. Most are not.
Some of us have ended up buying lights from China with all of the lack of testing that that suggests (and being the guinea pigs ourselves) just because the equivalent products aren't commonly available in any other way.
For example, there is a light frequently reviewed that comes from China...it's simply labeled Cree MC-E dive light. Conservatively speaking using led technology it puts out 500 lumens, uses two batteries not much bigger than AA (specifically lithium-ion rechargeable 18650) and costs for the light, 2 rechargeable batteries and the charger $95 including free shipping.
A UK Light Cannon HID replacement bulb costs $100. A UK rechargeable battery pack costs about $70. I paid $8 for 2 rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries.
UK has a dive light that it just came out with using leds that is comparable in output (which is rare in itself) and it's $400 and using 8 C Cells or a nicad battery pack.
The plastic light is 5 times as heavy and 3 times the size of the Cree light. The burn times are similar as is the output.
The Cree light can be used hands free due to it's size. The UK cannot of course.
No one in the US seems to be interested in selling the 18650 lithium-ion battery since if used incorrectly it can catch fire! However, China, Japan, and Korea manufacture this battery and use it in products all the time. It's internal resistance is much lower than an alkaline battery and is therefore much better at supplying power for higher power applications and also doesn't degrade performance with colder temperatures which is a problem with alkalines.
It is generally sold in a "protected" version with a circuit that limits overcharge and under discharge which is the only time that catching fire would be an issue.
It is this battery that allows a light to go from weighing 2 1/2 pounds to 1/2 pound.
Regarding led's that output 500 lumens. The actual led is $15 or somewhere in that range yet manufacturers continue to produce lights with much less lumens.
Most lights coming out of China are machined aircraft grade aluminum (anodized) which dissipate the heat produced by higher powered leds well as opposed to the plastic lights made here (plastic is an insulator).
Plastic lights if they fail aren't really repairable. Aluminum lights can be fully taken apart and repaired or modified by most anyone.
It is a shame to see a $100 light from one source that is made from machined aluminum, produces 500 lumens, and fits in the palm of your hand put out by one company while another produces a small plastic 130 lumen (at best) light that is no more than a backup light for the same price.
The best scenario would be for dive light manufacturers to get on the ball and produce that same Cree light with proper design work and product testing before product release and sell it for $200.
The irony is that Cree (a world class led producer) isn't a Chinese company. It's based in Durham, NC. Yet, the first products to utilize the latest leds aren't those designed by US dive light manufacturers. It's Chinese flashlight manufacturing plants.
As frequently happens in scuba change is slow and divers take things into their own hands. I'm fairly unlikely to ever buy another light from the recreational dive industry since I'm having to learn enough to deal with the Chinese lights I'll end up knowing how to build my own and won't need anyone else.
I initially bought an aluminum light for $16 that output 100 lumens and easily converted it (using comparatively crude methods) and took it to 100 fsw with no problem.
In my local dive store there is a plastic version for $125.
There really needs to be more innovation in scuba and light manufacturers have no excuse as led technology is improving dramatically yearly if not monthly.
Some are doing a good job such as Intova and others. Most are not.
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Not the same thing, guns have a constitutional legal basis, exploding batteries do not.
