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Looking to be "enlightened"

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2007 4:06 pm
by Squirrel Girl
I'm looking for light.

I'm looking for a cave lantern, in essence. Something that is, of course, not bulky and efficent. It should cast a nice glow of decent light. More than a candle or two. Ideally it would be about half a hemisphere of light, i.e, a reflector behind half of it, and it needs to be waterproof.

Anyone got any suggestions?

TIA, SG

PostPosted: Jun 17, 2007 5:05 pm
by Scott McCrea
Is this a camp light, for when sitting still, for ambient light? Or for moving thru the cave?

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 7:25 am
by Adam Craig
This sounds like the perfect descriptor for a carbide lamp... May I suggest a good Auto-Lite? :carbide: :cavingrocks:

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 9:59 am
by Squirrel Girl
Adam Craig wrote:This sounds like the perfect descriptor for a carbide lamp... May I suggest a good Auto-Lite? :carbide: :cavingrocks:
I guess you missed the "waterproof" requirement!
:scuba:

I'm talking about for kitting up for a sump dive. When you're waist deep in water, trying to hook up your tanks and all the other gear, it's really great for some ambient light. Dive lights have very tight beams and are good for what they're designed for. But you don't have your hands free to be pointing the dive light where you want it. And even a headlight isn't that great when you're trying to reach a bungee here and a snap clip there.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 10:53 am
by JoeyS
If you aren't diving more than a few feet or so down, how about using the tried and true mini maglight? You know, the old 2 AA style, non LED version. Those can all be converted to an area light by uncrewing the head completely off. Sure, they wont be waterproof when in use, but I'm guessing it just needs to be carried underwater with you and the used again once on the surface? They are pretty water resistant when completely screwed tight. Not sure about full immersion though.. For 10 bucks might be worth trying.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 11:01 am
by Scott McCrea
I can think of a couple options. The easiest (may not be the most efficient, depending on battery life) is to use a dive light and a sheet of aluminum foil. Set the light off to the side somewhere and point it at the foil that you have shaped into a reflector. You could do the same with any light, actually. There are also those little LEDs that you can snap to the top of a 9v battery.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 11:10 am
by hunter
Do a google search for floating LED lantern. The first non-sponsered link is advertised as floating and waterproof(35$) and I'm sure there are more down the list. These things are getting cheap and impressive quickly. REI and wal-mart also sell various models and sizes (not sure about waterproof model)

James

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 11:13 am
by barcelonacvr
I have the Sten light with the after market reflectors that disperses light nicely (kind of carbide ish) I can send down for you>> ?

I also have dual 13 watt HID's (that can run in air)you could just set up as flood lights for the staging area.



I use a LED lantern for dig areas , a nice soft all encompassing light.



One AWESOME little light I use for survey and sketching is this.

http://www.police-equipment-worldwide.com/earlight.html

It gives an AWESOME soft cone of light that won't blind but had usable light.If any are of use,I will send them down for you to use.

IF you do want any of these and use them make sure they have lots of mud to return with so I vicariously participate in a more tangible way.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 11:26 am
by Adam Craig
Last time I checked, all my caplamps were quite waterproof... :big grin:

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 2:07 pm
by Squirrel Girl
Ponorplumber wrote:IF you do want any of these and use them make sure they have lots of mud to return with so I vicariously participate in a more tangible way.
Dood, you've already vicariously participated! You vicariously participated when I was practicing in FL yesterday!!!

:grin:

Heal up quickly!!!! U da MAN!

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 2:09 pm
by Squirrel Girl
Adam Craig wrote:Last time I checked, all my caplamps were quite waterproof... :big grin:
Ever read a book called Beyond the Deep? It's got a few episodes about taking caplaps through sumps and some experiences I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT on the far side!!!!!

Before LEDs came along I was a died in the wool carbide fan. I have fondness for them still. But they don't mix with sumps. Thanks, but no thanks.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 2:35 pm
by Adam Craig
No I haven't... Would you care to elaborate or do I have to read the book?

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 2:46 pm
by Squirrel Girl
The short version is that the felt got wet and the light didn't work well. We conserved on light, I tried to squeeze the water out and it didn't work well. The flint cap/spring/flint also sproinged off into the breakdown.

Cap lamps aren't made for submersion. And if you've lit one to kit up. Then there you are all kitted up, 5 mm neoprene gloves on, in 54 degreen water and then you have this carbide light over on a bank that you have to fetch and do something with. What? Stuffing it in a mesh dive pouch would be very convenient. But that's not what I would want to do with my carbide light. Then you get to the far side. You've wrecked your charge/wet your felt, and wouldn't it be better to just have a little LED lantern that's waterproof? Besides, the reflector isn't very trim for stuffing in a dive pouch.

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 2:58 pm
by Adam Craig
Thanks!! :grin:

PostPosted: Jun 18, 2007 3:36 pm
by Dwight Livingston
Adam Craig wrote:No I haven't... Would you care to elaborate or do I have to read the book?


Oh, but do read the book! Among the two or three best books about a cave trip. Maybe the best.

Dwight