Is an PCa lite suitable?

[EddieB]

Hi

Am going on a liveaboard trip to Southern Egypt in the New Year. Want to take a small dive torch to use on night dives. I don't want a big torch as I'm unlikely to get much use out of it due to the weight in my backpack on future dive trips. I plan to only use it in the tropics.

Is an Ikelite PCa lite going to be suitable? I want a light that uses AA batteries.

Any advice would be great. Cheers!

 

[Charlie99]

Works great for me on relatively clear water dives.

It's a 7.2W light, a bit on the low side, but the bulb is driven prettty hard and therefore puts out a lot of light.... more than enough for me.

I use NiMH batteries and bring a small, lightweight charger, since the battery life is only about 2 hours.

Make sure you have a backup light. The 4AA Q40 light is my preference. Not great as a primary light because of the tight beam, but that same tight beam is good for signalling a boat or your buddy.

Charlie

edit: Both the PCa and the PC Lite are 7.2W bulbs in what appears to be the same reflector housing.

 

[fedexguy]

Hi

Am going on a liveaboard trip to Southern Egypt in the New Year. Want to take a small dive torch to use on night dives. I don't want a big torch as I'm unlikely to get much use out of it due to the weight in my backpack on future dive trips. I plan to only use it in the tropics.

Is an Ikelite PCa lite going to be suitable? I want a light that uses AA batteries.

Any advice would be great. Cheers!

Hey, I have an Ikelite PC Lite, that uses 4 C batteries. It only weighs a pound or so, and it's bright as hell....I do night dives with only that light, and it works fine. You aren't going to get tonnes of light, but it does the trick. Hope that helps!

 

[SubMariner]

Moved from Introductions & Greets forum.

 

[Bob3]

Watch out for the voltage on those liveaboard boats, it can vary considerably, and even be DC (smoking charger).
Check with the folks running the boat to see if your charger will make it through the trip alive.

 

[Nomaster]

Good heads up Bob!
Thanks,

Tom

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Works great for me on relatively clear water dives.

It's a 7.2W light, a bit on the low side, but the bulb is driven prettty hard and therefore puts out a lot of light.... more than enough for me.

I use NiMH batteries and bring a small, lightweight charger, since the battery life is only about 2 hours.

Make sure you have a backup light. The 4AA Q40 light is my preference. Not great as a primary light because of the tight beam, but that same tight beam is good for signalling a boat or your buddy.

Charlie

edit: Both the PCa and the PC Lite are 7.2W bulbs in what appears to be the same reflector housing.

I'd advise against using rechargable batteries in this light, because of the way it's built. The light head isn't a screw-on type, but is rather held on by a sliding "lock" mechanism. Rechargable batteries offgas, and the pressure that builds up inside the housing can be just enough to push the head out away from the sealing o-ring and let a little water seep into the battery compartment. Once the water reaches the batteries it will literally blow the light head off the housing.

Had this happen to me once already.

Nice light, but I'd recommend using conventional batteries with it.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Canada-Dan]

I did a live-a-board around Saba/St Kitts and I used a PCa as my primary night light. I took a big D-8, but I never even got it wet. It was a waste of space and weight with all the batteries. The PCa is bright enough at night but small enough to take during the day to peek into holes.
Just take lots of batteries. A PCa goes through batteries pretty quick.

 

[EddieB]

Thanks for all the advice folks

 

[matt_unique]

Hi

Am going on a liveaboard trip to Southern Egypt in the New Year. Want to take a small dive torch to use on night dives. I don't want a big torch as I'm unlikely to get much use out of it due to the weight in my backpack on future dive trips. I plan to only use it in the tropics.

Is an Ikelite PCa lite going to be suitable? I want a light that uses AA batteries.

Any advice would be great. Cheers!

I have had a great experience with the PC Lite. It is small but it provides a small, penetrating beam with good power. Nothing beats a crazy canister light but for modest purposes and cost I really like the PC Lite.

--Matt