Brightest LED that uses AA batteries for night snorkeling

[YuccaPatrol]

I don't need a massive light for the big depths, but do need to buy a couple smaller dive lights that my wife and I can use for shallow water night snorkeling.

I want the newest generation LED that can be powered by rechargeable AA batteries because all of my field gear has been chosen to use the same power source.

My options seem to be the following:

1) Princeton-Tec Torrent LED: 8 batteries
2) Ikelite PCm: 4 batteries
3) Ikelite PCa: 6 batteries
4) UK Mini Q40 eLED plus: 4 batteries
5) other models I don't know about?

Which of these will give me the brightest light with the most flood? Do any of these have known problems or reasons to avoid?

 

[M_Bipartitus]

1) Princeton-Tec Torrent LED: 8 batteries
2) Ikelite PCm: 4 batteries
3) Ikelite PCa: 6 batteries
4) UK Mini Q40 eLED plus: 4 batteries
5) other models I don't know about?

The Priceton-Tec is rated at 47 lumans.

The Ikelites are not LEDs, so they have only a few hours of charge and I believe you will find the website claims not to use rechargeable batteries with the PCa/PCm.

The UK Mini Q40 eLED plus is rated at 40 lumans

So of those listed the Priceton-Tec looks to be your best bet.

If you want really high power the Dive Rite LED 500 is about 10 times the light on AA batteries, but also about 10 times the cost

 

[jimdiverman]

I know you want AA batteries, and trust me, all of my lights camera equipment, etc. is setup for AA too, but the Intowa 3W LED is one sweet little light for a reasonable price.

 

[fletcher]

Tillytec W30 is a single 5 watt led torch. +/- 240 lumens 160 euros

Barbolight U-04 is an edixeon led +/- 240 lumens 220 euros

Both are superb and indestructible lights.

Can be uses as a backup or main torch during night dives.

 

[bperrybap]

The Priceton-Tec is rated at 47 lumans.

The Ikelites are not LEDs, so they have only a few hours of charge and I believe you will find the website claims not to use rechargeable batteries with the PCa/PCm.

Actually Ikelite has a new PC series of lights that are LED based.
(I haven't had a chance to see one yet)
I loved the brightness of the halogen Ikelite PCa but I never really liked the light
because of the short battery life. (And my wifes exploded underwater when
we used rechargeable batteries)

The LED version seems to have solved those problems.
The battery life is extended and the current drain is reduced as the battery runs down
which dramatically reduces the hydrogen off gassing of the rechargeable batteries.


--- bill

 

[YuccaPatrol]

Thanks everyone. I ended up ordering the PT Torrent LED and the new Ikelite PC-a LED. I have a strong feeling that the Ikelite will be the superior model, but am also hopeful that the PT model will be easily modifiable with a brighter LED emitter similar to other PT lights that I have modified.

I'll return the lesser light to the dealer and replace it with the better one.

I can't find any specifications for the new Ikelite, but the "5Watt" LED sounds like it might be one of the newer versions and no modifications will be necessary. . .

 

[Nocturnal Lights]

Check out our SLX LEDs, they're pretty bright compared to most of the conventional LEDs out there. There's lots of happy users on Scubaboard, just do a search on the SLX and you'll be able to see what people are saying about it.

 

[YuccaPatrol]

I received my PT Torrent and Ikelite PC-a over the weekend. The Ikelite is the better light when stock, but it is very easy to modify the Torrent with a more modern LED. I swapped the stock LED (47 lumens) with a Seoul P4 (180-200 lumens) and the difference is incredible.

The light is now at least three times brighter if not 4 times brighter, and removing the clear plastic lens in the stock optics makes for a much cleaner looking beam. Nice center bright spot and good floody spill, putting out somewhere at or above 180 lumens.

Anyone with this light and the ability to solder at the most basic level can upgrade the PT Torrent for about $10.

And a comment about LeisurePro where I bought my new flashlights. Both of my new lights came in packaging that had obviously been roughly handled and previously opened. One light had the batteries installed in an odd way, suggesting that at some point somebody had been using this flashlight and couldn't get it back together right. One light had a missing lanyard strap and the user's manual folded incorrectly and inserted upside down.

Both of the lights work fine and I don't have the time to risk not having lights on my upcoming trip for me to bother calling them to complain. But it is very annoying to be shipped used goods when I ordered new stuff. I'll probably shop elsewhere for my future diving needs. The $5 neoprene mask strap thingys from them are nice though.

 

[lofish]

Hi YuccaPatrol,

Do you mind giving me details in how to upgrade the stock led to P4? thanks

lofish

 

[YuccaPatrol]

lofish, I don't have any photos, but this post and the links included to a how-to for another PT headlamp will walk you through the process and let you know where to order your parts.



I wasn't happy with the currently available smaller and affordable AA powered dive lights, especially now that I am spoiled by my Fenix L2D and other current generation LED lights.

After modifying my Princeton Tec Apex headlamp with the Seoul P4 with great results, I had a hunch that the PT Torrent LED likely had the same exact type of stock LED and might be suitable for the same mod since they both were advertised to have "regulated 3 Watt LED's".

Modifying this light was even easier than the Apex.

I don't have a pictorial walkthrough, but it is easy enough to describe and is essentially the same as the Apex headlamp how-to's that can be found here:

Princeton Tech Apex Mod - Step by Step - CandlePowerForums
Cree and pt apex? - Page 2 - CandlePowerForums


1) Remove the top 4 screws on the head of the light. This will allow you to remove the stock optics.
2) The stock optics consists of a chrome reflector and a transparent "lens"
3) Once these are removed, you can remove two silver colored screws to separate the head from the battery holder (this will make it much easier to work with when soldering)
4) You can also remove the black plastic insert that centers the LED emitter on the board.
5) There are just two solder connections to desolder and remove the old emitter from the board.
6) Add a bit of thermal paste to the bottom of your new emitter and solder it into place. I found this was easiest if you place the new emitter in the plastic insert to ensure that it is properly centered.
7) Re-assemble light.

I tossed out the transparent plastic lens piece from the stock optic and it gives a much cleaner beam, wider angle flood with a decent bright center spot. For night snorkeling in shallow water, this will be a perfect flashlight and I am thrilled.

When compared to my Fenix L2D, the modified PT Torrent is brighter than the L2D on High and just a bit dimmer than the L2D on turbo. I'd say this is easily 150 lumens and perhaps a bit more because the increased flood pattern is much brigher outside the center spot than the L2D. Certainly a LOT better than the pitiful 47 lumens advertised by Princeton Tec.