Internally lit clinometer/compass

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Internally lit clinometer/compass

Postby Wayne Harrison » Mar 16, 2006 10:30 am

After fumbling with a light over the clinometer and compass and trying not to get too close so that it affects the readings, my daughter finally went to internally-lit devices made by Brunton. I'm just wondering why I don't see more people using them. They seem to be a heck of a lot easier to operate in a cave because they have built-in lights.
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Postby hewhocaves » Mar 16, 2006 10:58 am

my old suunto is internally lit. the light was never bright enough to read by, though. kinda pointless, huh.

with all the button sized lights out these days, i wonder if someone has ever come up with a nonmagnetic one. you could literally tape that to the top of the compass and use it.

but yeah, illuminating your compass is very annoying. just one of the reasons why i sketch instead of read instruments :-)
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Postby Scott McCrea » Mar 16, 2006 11:14 am

We have had good success with glow sticks. Just rubber band one on top of the instrument so you can move it from side to side to not get in the way of sighting.

I have seen, but never tried, the mini glow sticks. The ones they make for novelty ear rings or even for fishing bobbin lights. Don't know if they are bright enough but it is worth a try.
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Postby Rick Brinkman » Mar 16, 2006 7:54 pm

I have a set of internally let Bruntons. They were GREAT, until the batteries went dead. Have to send them of to change the batteries.
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Postby Squirrel Girl » Mar 17, 2006 4:59 am

Somebody on some caving forum (it was so long ago now I've forgotten which one), posted about a Brunton sale. I bought an internally lit set at half price. It was either the compass or the clinometer that arrived with the light non-functional. The instruments were so cheap, I didn't send them back, and just used them with an external light. I think eventually the other intrument got enough mud in the button that it wouldn't depress.
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Postby cavescom » Mar 27, 2006 5:23 pm

Fishing bobbin mini glow sticks work great. We use two on each and tape them on prior to getting in the cave.....just snap em and they provide plenty of illumination.

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glowing success

Postby cavewine » Mar 27, 2006 7:19 pm

I have used the small glo-sticks, and it is so much easier than moving lights around. Usually they're 2 for a dollar, sometimes you can even find them in vending machines on your way out of a store. Tape on and forget - as long as your trip is less than 12 hours of surveying.

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