Many people test their lights for current, throw, how many of you test all/some/any of your lights for some degree of water resistance?
I've done it inadvertently is some cases and specifically in some cases and have avoided it in other cases.
How about you?
I test all my lights with IPX8 rating in a pond or water container one to two feet deep to see if it is really waterproof. It will just make me feel relieved to know that my light will survive submerging it under water.
Last 3 lights tested
Romisen RC29
XENO E03
Keygos KE05
All survived with flying colors.
Thanks for the laugh , oldbobk !
I took my solarforce l2x swimming with me for an hour. Depths of only6 feet but it had no problem being underwater for an hour:)
The following applies only for "classical" flashlight designs.
1. I usually take apart any new light I get to see if I can reasonably expect water-proofness.
2. If positive I do a "suction test": screw off the tailcap and suck hard at the battery tube. Then screw the tailcap back on and take off the head instead, suck on the battery tube again (this regularly causes mixed reactions in my house from eye-rolling and/or giggling to questions like "Are you hungry?" and concerned looks, so better try this when alone). You should get a good vacuum which does not diminish when you block the tube with your tongue (don't forget to clean your light thouroughly first).
3. If passed I turn the light on and put it in a sink with warm water for about half an hour. After that I turn off the light and let it cool down, then I check for signs of condensation inside the lens.
4. If everything is OK I declare the light waterproof for my needs (various outdoor activities, not including diving)
I'll take my lights out in the rain no problem. I don't have the balls to dunk them in water..
I did only check one of mines, the 502D, but I removed previously the batteries and drop-in, and then I submerged and shacked it for a while, after checking the interior, there wasn't a drop of water inside, so I tested again with batteries and drop-in and being on, but still with a bit of fear I tested it attached to a nylon line, and after that I then used it with my hands hehe.
I will try more of mines, but many are zooming, wich won't be waterproof for sure, I could check the TR1200 which I guess could be easily waterproof/able, and the X9 which is on the way from China.
For me, if the light can keep its internals dry in a heavy rain I'm satisfied. I've submerged a few in the sink for a couple minutes, but that's more than my lights will have to endure in my world.
Of course... now that you have me thinking about it and I want to test some out. Damn you. :)
I go fishing quite often,(sea surfcasting normally) I am not a scuba, but I like knowing what is in my hands just in case haha.
ex10,bc10,x8,stlv2,l2/504b,e03
tried it for 15 mins
The cheap stuff from DX I don't mind testing :) I've even taken a few of them diving (usually with a few mods).
The more expensive stuff has been tested only if it has made it to the washing machine by accident for the most part (Zebralight). Some of the hiking related gear (lights, headlamps) I've tested in the tub and in a 3 foot deep fish pond I have in the back yard.
A twisty light not meant for diving can be taken diving in many cases without leaking. Water pressure will prevent a reverse clicky from working and will eventually (at some depth) flood any clicky unless it's a magnetic switch.
Most cheap DX lights of any type will survive a tub test however.
The good thing about LEDs vs incan bulbs is that if they flood after drying out they will generally still work. Even in salt water they generally survive a flooding with a little scrubbing of the driver...not so with cellphones however :)
All IPX rated lights get dunked per Foy protocol for all reviews. The only failure so far was one L2i (with a bad o-ring) and a cheapie zoomie Lang sent me for review. He says it still works on his bike so, I must have dried it out sufficiently. When I saw the water in there, I thought I might have to buy him a new one. Had it puked on him, I would have.
Foy
i test my new lights if they have a ipx7 or 8 rating. i usually turn them on to max and leave them in a Nalgene bottle until the batteries die.
It something I've never considered doing before but I am considering dunking a few lights.
I have bouhgt one AA/14500 twisty 2 weeks ago from Manafont for that reason, the pressure should not be a problem and it has less parts fixed to each others, so less places where water could get in.
Last time I had a battery replaced in my watch, the jeweler told me he was going to "test it for waterproof" in a tank he had there.
I looked at him and said "test it? And if it fails?" He just looked at me and handed the watch (with the new battery in it) back to me.
If the results will be the same whether the test proves positive or negative, don't do the test.
I’m guessing you don’t want photos of said test circulating on the Internet…
Correct. You have to use your imagination.
On the other hand, her look when she entered the room seeing me with half a flashlight in my mouth sucking hard for the first time was quite entertaining... :bigsmile:
I'm guessing the nicest wisecrack you could get is asking if you're hungry. I know in my house I can think of some others I'd be more likely to get. LOL! They are a brutal crowd but I guess I taught them well. :P
I have run a few SF lights in the pool for extended periods with no leaks.
I toss them in the bathroom sink.
Just about all of them get this treatment.
If it ends up in a depth of water I can't retrieve it from without equipment - it is lost.
So for me, this tells me what I want to know - if it handles the sink treatment, it'll handle what I am going to throw at it.