hid light

[budcris]

has any one built a hid canister light using an automotive ballast and bulbs

[steevke]

Check out hiddivelights on yahoo.

You need to speak to Thor Arthur (spelling).

HTH

Steven

[pepe]

I have created a dive light using a 1.5 million candlelight power light I purchased from Costco for $30. The remaining parts cost me about $20. In my opinion this is the cheapest dive light I have seen and the cheapest light that I have seen anyone make. All that is needed is a VectorLite, J.B Weld, silicone, some PVC treading, cap, waterproof switch, drill, and dremil tool. Approximate time to make the light is 6-10 hours--that's because it takes so long for each section of glue to dry. Overall it took about 5 days because I took it step by step. I will include pictures if anyone is interested. The bulb that comes with the light is Halogen but can easily be replaced for HID.

[ENikS]

Pepe,

Would you care to share more info. I like your idea and would be interested at your implementation details.
More pictures?

Eugene

[pepe]

Eugene,
The light I put together has not yet been tested (except in my bathtub). I am still crossing my fingers that it will hold up to the pressures at 60 feet. I know the J.B. Weld will hold up and keep out the water but what I worry about is the thin plexiglass at the head of the light that came with the original housing. I recommend that if you make the light as I did that you replace it for something thicker. Other than that I'm sure it will do just fine. As I tested the light in the tub with the light on I told my wife that I hope the light isn't too bright because I don't want it to scare the fish away. I dive in the Pacific Northwest where the water get very dark. I can't wait to see how bright it really is.
The VectorLite (found at Costco, hardware stores, automobile stores, etc.) good for viewing in the dark at object 3000 feet away. I read all the other chats on how to build one but found the overall cost being $100+. This light will cost you $30 plus maybe $20 for parts.
Parts include: single pull/single through switch for off road vehicles found at any hardware store or autoparts store. It cost about $6. The 1" PVC male-male threaded piece (2.5" long) and cap with PVC washer is about $2. This is epoxied in the plexiglass plate I also epoxied onto the back so that I have access to the plug in on the inside for recharging. The plug in was re-sottered from the existing plug in from the light (because I didn't need the car adaptor plug in). The switch was also epoxied into the plexiglass back plate light the PVC. I just drilled two large holes in the plexiglass and epoxied both with J.B. Weld. I then took a dremel to re-shape plastic from head one light to better pack in the battery (included with VectorLite). You will see what I am talking about when you get started. I then silicone the hamp housing so it would be water tight. That's it!
Here's one more photo. If you would like I can send more photos.

[pepe]

Eugene,
One more picture of the light end off light. Original VectorLite also has rubber protective housing that I put back on (not shown in picture). I will also drill a hole in handle to attach a string to attach to my B.C. I also recommend either painting on a plastic coating or spray painting with a protective finish so that the aluminum will not corrode.

[ENikS]

Thank you for the pics and info. This weekend I'll go to my local Costco to see if I can get one of these for myself.

Eugene

[kmorley]

Have you figured out what the actual output of the bulb is that 3 million candlepower number sounds pretty bogus. If it isn't at least 25 watts you might as well just buy a cheap light from UK or someone.

it's possible to build a 25 or 50 watt canister light for about what you spent, going with the Maglite head and instant canister from the Divelite compnaion book. I like canisters a lot better than oversized one-peice lites. The mag head uses MR16 bulbs so the wattage color and beam pattern can be changed just by swapping bulbs most general purpose lites have too wide a beam to work good underwater.

[pepe]

The light from Costco is 55 walts. Burn time is obviously shortened but this light will fit the needs of most diving that I do. Unfortuneately there is somewhat of a wide angle on the light but then again, it is a spot light so the focus is relatively narrow. Normal usage on land the box claims the light can be seem 2 miles away. I would agree that canister lights are easier to handle underwater, but making this light was incredibly easy and inexpensive. Besides, the great thing about this light is it's use for camping as well. Next step once the light burns out is to replace the H3 halogen with HID or Xenon for longer burn time.

[el-ninio]

budcris once bubbled...
has any one built a hid canister light using an automotive ballast and bulbs

I had looked into this a while back, but it seems the standard for car HID lights is around 100W, and that's a tad bit too much for diving. If you do come up with some setup that makes sense, please post.

[pepe]

The light requires a H3 55W bulb. These come in many different varieties. There are places on the internet that you can order them if you type in the search for "H3 55W HID" something should come up. I believe these spec. match a BMW vehicle, a set of light will run you around $8 on the internet with around $8 for shipping. If I can locate a good web site for you I will.

[kmorley]

Automotive HID bulbs are 35 watts but need a special ballast. Ballast and bulb cost $200+. You cannot just unplug a halogen and plug in an HID, its a whole different ballgame. You cannot put a HID bulb in your light. The cheapest HID bulb and ballast you can buy is about $100.

The bulbs you are talking about are plain old halogen bulbs colored to look like HID and sold to the gullible or car nuts who want to look like they have HIDs


pepe once bubbled...
The light requires a H3 55W bulb. These come in many different varieties. There are places on the internet that you can order them if you type in the search for "H3 55W HID" something should come up. I believe these spec. match a BMW vehicle, a set of light will run you around $8 on the internet with around $8 for shipping. If I can locate a good web site for you I will.

[DeepScuba]

Kmorley's right. There's no way you're gonna buy an $8.00 HID bulb.

It's for those cheap "Chicano" mobiles. Coloured "Blue" Halogen so all your buddies THINK you have HID.

I would like to know where you're gonna find an HID bulb/ballast for $100.00 though!

Auto HID's are $$$$$ too. No-where's close to $100.00 either.

[pipedope]

Last I checked you can get the eval kit from WA of the 10W HID.
The problem is that it is 5 bulbs and ballasts for $500.

[DeepScuba]

I'd opt for the 18W if I was spending that much already.

[pipedope]

If you plan to dive with a regular group of people (team) you want to have the same type (HID, halogen or ???) and the same wattage so that the lights match.

This makes tracking and signalling easier.

[RichLockyer]

pepe once bubbled...
set of light will run you around $8 on the internet with around $8 for shipping. If I can locate a good web site for you I will.
Don't be fooled.
That is not an HID.
An HID burner and ballast will run you close to $500 for a pair as a retrofit for a vehicle.
What you see on Ebay and on search engines as "HID" for $8 are simply blue-colored halogen bulbs with a little Xenon added.

[NikolaTesla]

Why don't you guys just get a UKE Light Cannon 100? Very cheap for what it is- 10 watt HID and it doesn't leak at all!
Best price I have found:http://www.brightguy.com/detail_int.html?cart=108742699748702&sku=UND44601

Just uses C cells or can be had with rechargeable. Runs better than 2 hours. I love mine.

NikolaTesla

[bcsean]

This is in my future plans, but I'm just finishing my halogen MR16 setup with maglite head. Getting the fittings for the cable and will be diving it within a few weeks if all goes well. Once it's dialed in and working, I'll probalby start building a HID setup, and the automotive bulb and ballast is the current plan. It doesn't seem to be that easy to find a single bulb and ballast though. Most people want to sell them as a pair. Imagine that.

I was planning on researching it better and heading down to my local autowrecker to find a car that was sideswiped and only has one functional HID ballast/bulb left.

[mddolson]

has any one built a hid canister light using an automotive ballast and bulbs

I have been looking for HID parts for some time.
Welsch Allen want an arm and a leg for their MR11.

I found these 13 watt MR11 's made for ATV's

http://www.trailtech.net/hid_light_parts.htm

They have both spot and flood, and will sell replacement lamps and ballast parts for $39.00 US each.

regards

Mike D

[RichLockyer]

Just uses C cells or can be had with rechargeable. Runs better than 2 hours. I love mine.
Some of us need more than 2 hours.
Some of us need more light.
Some of us need to be able to change the focus on the beam.
Some of us prefer to reduce fatigue and NOT have the battery in our hand.
Some of us need the ability to use all digits on both hands while still holding a light.

[oxyhacker]

They are Welch Allyn too. Good price, though.


I have been looking for HID parts for some time.
Welsch Allen want an arm and a leg for their MR11.

I found these 13 watt MR11 's made for ATV's

http://www.trailtech.net/hid_light_parts.htm

They have both spot and flood, and will sell replacement lamps and ballast parts for $39.00 US each.

regards

Mike D

[digger]

I did a quick check on MR11 lamps - just in case I'm wrong on this point.
I came up with this - it was one of the first on a google search
www.gilway.com/pdf/mr11-mr16.pdf
These are Halogen NOT High Intensity Discharge.
Are you sure you guys are not confusing the two - REAL HID's don't come that cheap.

[oxyhacker]

I should probably have mentioned in my last post, these are the same W-A 10Ws that Sartek, Halcyon, DR et al use - the bulbs take 10W but the ballast uses another 3W so some people call them 10W lights and others call them 13W. So they can be used to build a light, or as replacements for most commercial 10Ws.


They are Welch Allyn too. Good price, though.