Stenlight Reflectors

[steelwool]

Is it easy to mess up seal and compromise the waterproofness?

[JonSidneyB]

It is pretty easy to get it sealed again. I have got the gasket a little crooked once but just started over and got it sealed again just fine.

[JonSidneyB]

I got some emails from a couple of you letting me know my website was down.

It is back up again.

:)

[JoeyS]

Is it easy to mess up seal and compromise the waterproofness?

If you are careful when you disassemble the lense, the gasket will stay seated against the lense. That's how it worked for me, anyway..

I plan to post a couple of amateur beamshots if I ever get a chance. It clearly shows the before and post-mod difference in the beam pattern.

[steelwool]

The gasket also stayed on the lens. I also have the square inductor. Jon mentioned to me over the phone that only the first 100 stenlights have square inductors. All the stenlights have there model numbers printed inside. The model numbers can be easily be read through the optics without disassembling the lamb.

If your model number <= 100 then you probably have a square inductor.
If your model number > 100 then you probably have a round inductor.

[JonSidneyB]

I will get a reflector for the square inductor out to you.

[paul]

FWIW, the reflectors were delivered on Saturday (thanks Jon) and I gave them a try yesterday (Sunday).

They are certainly a big improvement over the stock collimators as supplied for the reasons already given above: wider spread of light, lack of dark banding, more uniform spread of light, etc.

I would add that, as you can see in the first photo above, the edge of the pool of light is much sharper so that the effect is more like a "normal" electric caving light, with a large disc of bright light with a definite dark border. Also with the central bright spot quite a lot larger than you get usual electric lights.

The throw of the beam appears still at least as far as before, if not further.

Definitely a worthwhile upgrade.

[steelwool]

The square inductor reflectors fits perfectly. I can't wait to go caving with them!

[JonSidneyB]

Steelwool,

Did you ever take them underground?

[steelwool]

Yes, I took them underground and compared them to another Stenlight. I'm really happy with the peripheral but the sten now lacks the throw that it once had. I think I'm gonig to put the 5 degree optic back in but leave one of the reflectors in. Using the 5 degree optic should give me the penetration that I want. I noticed that I couldn't see things far away while sketching. The reflectors also light up the book better. The reflectors give the sten more of a carbide lamp effect. I like the peripheral light because I allows me to cave faster and see holds in the corner of my eye.

[JonSidneyB]

hmmm, That is strange. All the ones I have tested have more throw and a wider beam at the same time. Are the reflectors fully seated over the leds?

[steelwool]

Yes, the reflectors or fully seated over the LED's.

[yvonnedroms]

I'm really happy with the peripheral but the sten now lacks the throw that it once had.

Mark Minton and I tested the lights after we installed the reflectors and we both found that it had more throw and more peripheral. We were able to do a side-by-side comparison, so it was quite visible.

[driggs]

I tested mine this weekend with one reflector and one (15deg) lens.

I loved the diffuse glow when looking just in front of me or working up close. It was very pleasant when walking over blocky breakdown.

I spent more time than usual in High and Turbo when looking down long stream passages (none more than 75' long line-of-sight). In other words, it seemed to have less "throw". Disclaimer: I did NOT do an A/B comparison with a stock StenLight, and I had never been in this cave before (will be completing the survey next month and will do more testing).

Next weekend I'll test both reflectors installed in my lamp for comparison.

It seems like a violation of the laws of physics to expect both a wider, more diffuse beam AND longer throw at the same time.

[yvonnedroms]

It seems like a violation of the laws of physics to expect both a wider, more diffuse beam AND longer throw at the same time.

Not really, when there is a separate reflector for each... :) The reflector for throw focuses the light better, while the reflector for spread creates a circle of light with a definite cut off, but concentrates more of the light where you want it, at your feet, for ex.