UK Light Cannon 100 HID - Performance

[TheAce]

** Please excuse me, but I posted this same question in another thread. I need an answer quickly, this is the reason for posting again... **

Hello,

I need a light that would be bright enough to be used while diving during daylight hours. It should be bright enough to light up between rocks and such from a distance of up to hmm.. 10 feet or so.

I have been looking at the UK Light Cannon 100, but it is not rechargeable. Can I use it with NiMh rechargeable batteries? Someone told me that the light will under-perform with rechargeable batteries as rechargeable batteries are 1.2v each and regular alkaline batteries are 1.5v each. Is this true?

Is the light cannon the best I can get with a reasonable price? Is this the brightest I can get? Is it brightter than the UK D8?

Or should I look elsewhere?

What I need is: Primary use: diving during daylight, must be rechargeable, brightest light I can get, for a reasonable price.

Thanks

 

[jonnythan]

I'm not sure about tossing rechargables in there, but...

The Light Cannon is a 10watt HID lamp, and it's VERY bright. It's far brighter than the 13 or 14 watt D8. The only non-video lights I've seen that are brighter are the 18 watt HID canister lights, and those will cost 3 to 4 times as much as the Light Cannon.

Can I ask why you're trying to see between rocks from 10 feet away in broad daylight?

BTW: The UK web site says of the Light Cannon:

"Powered by disposable alkaline, rechargeable NiCad or rechargeable NiMH batteries"

I'd still think about an HID canister light if I were you. Several models, including the Halcyon, have a focusable light head that would be ideal for looking between rocks in daylight from a distance.

 

[NITF]

The light cannon should work just fine with nimh batteries, the firs thing the batteries are attached to is a ballst that upconverts the 9.6-12V from the batteries to 2000-3000V to spark the bulb to life and shorten its warmup time.

The bulbs are Welch Allyn Solarc bulbs and they use the appropriate ballast for nimh cells.

NITF

 

[The Chairman]

It's in the ridiculously over priced bulb that doesn't last very long.

 

[Cherry]

And whatever you do DO NOT turn it on out of the water or the bulb will burn out ( found out the hard way) If superbright isnt absolutely nessasary then go for the D8 Its a very good lite at 1/2 the price.

 

[BlueDolphin]

Bulbs are supposed to be VERY easily broken/damaged, and are also very expensive to replace. Just INSIST the company stand behind their warranty, and don't let your LDS try to screw you on replacements. These bulbs are supposed to last 1000 hours I believe...... it should not be our problem if the design causes the bulbs to break easily or damage to occur prematurely. Of course this is my opinion. I will likely be purchasing one of these myself.
Ebay has them often for $100.00.

 

[Genesis]

bawahahahahah!

The bulbs are $80. The problem, according to my LDS, appears to be in the reflector design that allows the bulb to strike it if jarred significantly, thereby fracturing the glass.

Now why, given that this is a poor design, should the customer eat the bulbs? Good question - but you can bet that you WILL eat it if you break one; the LDS will simply cower behind the "you dropped it" excuse.

 

[Mo2vation]

Went on a night dive this weekend on Catalina. Sunday night, on the stairs at Casino Point.... Had the light cannon clipped to my BC, turned it on, released it and started to adjust something.

Of course, the clip on the spiral retractor wasn't clipped...

From waist high, full on slam to the concrete. Light went out and I was sooooooooooo pissed. I mean I was stomping around like a big baby. Turned it off, waited a few minutes, turned it back on - fired right up, worked like a champ. Unreal. I hear all the time about how fragile they are. Guess I got lucky.

PS: I have it on all the time out of the water. In September a bunch of us were watching Sealions off of Casion Point from the deck. Two of the guys burned out their lights. The light cannon worked great. I use it camping, I use it in the shed - no worries so far.

K

 

[The Chairman]

it's the filament. You have to, have to, have to leave it burning for three minutes BEFORE turning it off... five to be safe, and then another minute or two before re-striking. It's a piss poor design, and I will NEVER buy another one. EVER!!!

 

[DIVERDREW]

NetDoc once bubbled...
it's the filament. You have to, have to, have to leave it burning for three minutes BEFORE turning it off... five to be safe, and then another minute or two before re-striking. It's a piss poor design, and I will NEVER buy another one. EVER!!!

NetDoc

I am not sure I get what u r saying. when do u leave it burning 3 min. before turning off? The another 2 befor re-striking? Does this mean don't turn it back on again for 2 min. Would like to hear u elaborate more because I am also looking for a new light and that was one of my options? Good to hear some honest opinions and experiences with the HID lights/bulbs? What about HID bulbs in canister light heads, is there similiar concerns? Thanks for your responses, much appreciate the info.
DIVERDREW