Former FLL Now MSP Diver
Contributor
I asked a question a while ago regarding the North 49, a Pelican Super Sabrelite clone light that they sell in Canadian Wal-Marts for C$8.97. There were a number of differing opinions regarding the quality of the light, mostly from folks who had never seen it, so I thought Id compare it and test it side by side with a real Sabrelite.
The first picture shows the two lights side by side. They certainly look the same. The same mold could have been used. The hardware on the clips are the same. The plastic used in the bodies is different however the Sabrelite uses a hard plastic - polycarbonate maybe? The N49 light doesnt feel quite as hard, and has an almost vinyl feel. The SS light also has a pressure relief valve built into it just behind the bezel. Both have similar cords, but the N49s is thicker.
The second picture shows the threads where the bezel screws onto the light body. The threads are different, with the N49 having coarser thread pattern with two more turns than the SS light. The N49 has a second o-ring at the base of the threads where the SS only has one. I dont see the benefit of the second o-ring it never comes into play unless the bezel is screwed all the way down.
Pictures three and four are the light modules, the SS on the left and the N49 on the right. The SS bulb is long, and the reflector is smooth inside and the module is shorter than the N49s. The N49 reflector is multifaceted.
The next two pictures are of the battery trays. The SS red tray had the metal straps along the side that seemed a little long and bulged out. It also had a foam pad glued to the bottom of it. The black N49 tray already showed signs of corrosion on the battery tab in the second picture.
The bezels look similar, but the SS bezel is slightly thinner and of a harder material than the N49s bezel. The plastic lens on the N49 didnt seem as clear as the SSs lens, and the N49 has a sloppy glue job holding it to the bezel.
Lastly the picture light patterns are telling. The SSs pattern on the left is much sharper and defined than the N49s on the right. The N49s light dispersed much faster underwater, while the Sabrelite is aptly named throwing a tight beam a good distance in the water.
I took both lights on four dives to test durability. The first two were day dives, the deepest to 62 feet. I left them in a pocket, so I didnt notice that I didnt unscrew the N49 off enough and the pressure must have pushed the bezel in enough to activate the light because the batteries were dead when I tried to use it on the second dive.
The second set of dives were night dives, the deepest to 69 feet. The SS was used by a buddy as a primary light, and the N49 as a back up. The N49 was activated during the first dive to check the beam at night underwater. It was during a test during the second dive that water was noticed in the reflector. By the time we got back on the boat, the reflector was full of the telltale dark brown water of corroded batteries in a flooded light.
The North 49 scuba light is not a recommended buy.
Marc
The first picture shows the two lights side by side. They certainly look the same. The same mold could have been used. The hardware on the clips are the same. The plastic used in the bodies is different however the Sabrelite uses a hard plastic - polycarbonate maybe? The N49 light doesnt feel quite as hard, and has an almost vinyl feel. The SS light also has a pressure relief valve built into it just behind the bezel. Both have similar cords, but the N49s is thicker.
The second picture shows the threads where the bezel screws onto the light body. The threads are different, with the N49 having coarser thread pattern with two more turns than the SS light. The N49 has a second o-ring at the base of the threads where the SS only has one. I dont see the benefit of the second o-ring it never comes into play unless the bezel is screwed all the way down.
Pictures three and four are the light modules, the SS on the left and the N49 on the right. The SS bulb is long, and the reflector is smooth inside and the module is shorter than the N49s. The N49 reflector is multifaceted.
The next two pictures are of the battery trays. The SS red tray had the metal straps along the side that seemed a little long and bulged out. It also had a foam pad glued to the bottom of it. The black N49 tray already showed signs of corrosion on the battery tab in the second picture.
The bezels look similar, but the SS bezel is slightly thinner and of a harder material than the N49s bezel. The plastic lens on the N49 didnt seem as clear as the SSs lens, and the N49 has a sloppy glue job holding it to the bezel.
Lastly the picture light patterns are telling. The SSs pattern on the left is much sharper and defined than the N49s on the right. The N49s light dispersed much faster underwater, while the Sabrelite is aptly named throwing a tight beam a good distance in the water.
I took both lights on four dives to test durability. The first two were day dives, the deepest to 62 feet. I left them in a pocket, so I didnt notice that I didnt unscrew the N49 off enough and the pressure must have pushed the bezel in enough to activate the light because the batteries were dead when I tried to use it on the second dive.
The second set of dives were night dives, the deepest to 69 feet. The SS was used by a buddy as a primary light, and the N49 as a back up. The N49 was activated during the first dive to check the beam at night underwater. It was during a test during the second dive that water was noticed in the reflector. By the time we got back on the boat, the reflector was full of the telltale dark brown water of corroded batteries in a flooded light.
The North 49 scuba light is not a recommended buy.
Marc
Many people are always looking to save a penny, but at what cost? 
