18W hid

[meekal]

just became the proud owner of a Halcyon Explorer Pro 14 - mainly because the original owner didn't want to spring for the NEW BULB

http://www.extreme-exposure.com/catalog/order/hid.shtml

now i see why! eeeks.... is there a 'better' source for the same bulb?

thanks in advance

 

[Mo2vation]

just became the proud owner of a Halcyon Explorer Pro 14 - mainly because the original owner didn't want to spring for the NEW BULB

http://www.extreme-exposure.com/catalog/order/hid.shtml

now i see why! eeeks.... is there a 'better' source for the same bulb?

thanks in advance

You have three choices:

1) Spring the $220+ for a new W/A bulb. Casts a wonderful light, but its fragile and expensive

2) Send it to Sartek and for $125 + return freight ($10) they'll put in a BrightStar bulb that will never fail. Have them check the ballast first. It the ballast blew out the previous W/A bulb it will also blow out the BrightStar

3) PM Me. I have a gently loved W/A bulb for less than $225.


---
Ken

 

[meekal]

i'm ALL green around the edges on this stuff.... i know i should do my OWN homework, but since the expertise is lurking around this wonderful thread..... is the BrightStar bulb as good/better/etc etc than the Welch Allyn bulb?

is there a way to test the ballast for a NON-TECHIE type dork like me?

 

[Mo2vation]

The BS bulb is more durable, to be sure.

The BS bulbs come in two flavors: We'll call them original and new (or small and long.)

Sartek is doing BS "upgrades" for $125. They use the small, original style bulb. They fabricate an aluminum extender (about 1/2") and install it on the light post so this smaller bulb sits at about the right spot within the test tube, such that the reflector will deliver the variable wide / narrow adjustable beam.

The good news is you pay about half of what the W/A bulb alone costs, and you get a very durable alternative. The bad news is some people do not like the light this smaller bulb casts. After diving a W/A 18w for several years, I can say it is different. The color temp is different, there is a pinkish cast to one side of the beam, etc. Honestly, I like the light of the W/A better.

That said, I do not regret getting the upgrade. I use my light for night lobstering and on every day dive - so I never dive without it. It gets bumped and knocked around quite a lot - Surf entries and exits, the occasional roll in the sand, etc. So I appreciate the durability of it. The color temp and pink spot are a small price to pay for a light that will last and last, IMO.


The newer, longer BS bulb that Salvo uses is supposed to be even nicer. I just secured a 21 W Salvo, and this Thursday night I'm taking both out for a sort of Bright Star shoot out. I'll let you know what I find.

There are a lot of smart people here that can assist. There are also lots of smart people on TDS that can assist. (www.thedecostop.com) Lots of people have modified their Saturn V / Silo / Duraflame Pro 14's. Cut down the canister, switched out to NiMH batteries, etc, etc.

Keep posting questions - people will respond.

---
Ken

 

[meekal]

what happend to the FLIPPER OFF THE BOAT avatar? that was way cool....

pink eh.... ummmmm..... if i were chasing anemoneFish it'd be a selling point.....

look forward to the HEAD-2-HEAD comparison on the 18W vs 21W.... i'm already over my head going from a UK Light Cannon to 30# of motorcycle batteries strapped to my heinie..... i'm gonna have to start wearing a PONY bottle just so i turtle flip throughout the whole dive!!!

duraFlame - hehehehehe - very appropriate! i guess i might travel down the DIY path on reUsing the head and ON/OFF Lid and having different 'bases' for different scenarios..... do i REALLY need 4.5 hours of light on a 45 FSW night dive in key largo?

 

[limeyx]

The BS bulb is more durable, to be sure.

The BS bulbs come in two flavors: We'll call them original and new (or small and long.)

Sartek is doing BS "upgrades" for $125. They use the small, original style bulb. They fabricate an aluminum extender (about 1/2") and install it on the light post so this smaller bulb sits at about the right spot within the test tube, such that the reflector will deliver the variable wide / narrow adjustable beam.

The good news is you pay about half of what the W/A bulb alone costs, and you get a very durable alternative. The bad news is some people do not like the light this smaller bulb casts. After diving a W/A 18w for several years, I can say it is different. The color temp is different, there is a pinkish cast to one side of the beam, etc. Honestly, I like the light of the W/A better.

That said, I do not regret getting the upgrade. I use my light for night lobstering and on every day dive - so I never dive without it. It gets bumped and knocked around quite a lot - Surf entries and exits, the occasional roll in the sand, etc. So I appreciate the durability of it. The color temp and pink spot are a small price to pay for a light that will last and last, IMO.


The newer, longer BS bulb that Salvo uses is supposed to be even nicer. I just secured a 21 W Salvo, and this Thursday night I'm taking both out for a sort of Bright Star shoot out. I'll let you know what I find.

There are a lot of smart people here that can assist. There are also lots of smart people on TDS that can assist. (www.thedecostop.com) Lots of people have modified their Saturn V / Silo / Duraflame Pro 14's. Cut down the canister, switched out to NiMH batteries, etc, etc.

Keep posting questions - people will respond.

---
Ken

from what i understand, the new BS bulb will not work with the halcyon ballast (i called salvo). so i had to go with the WA bulb.

 

[micbu]

That is not true. The WA ballast will drive the BS bulbs also.


Greetings, Michael

 

[CarlS]

Not all W/A ballasts will drive the Brightstar bulb. The BS bulb is rated for 21 watts and can have some difficulty with being started by a W/A ballast. We select individual BS lamps to insure that they will ignite properly with the W/A ballast. The new BS double ended lamp (which we have also) can have the same start-up problem as the BS "acorn" lamp.

 

[limeyx]

That is not true. The WA ballast will drive the BS bulbs also.


Greetings, Michael

not acording to salvo.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

not acording to salvo.

It depends on which bulb you're talking about.

The short bulb will work with the W/A ballast ... I know this to be the case, because last year Barry refitted my old Helios 9 with a BS short bulb and it worked just fine with the original W/A ballast. However, I was not completely happy with the performance of the light using that bulb.

The long bulb will not work with the W/A ballast ... and to the best of my knowledge, Salvo is presently using the long bulb in all of their lights, due to it's better ability to focus a tight beam.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)