HI I’m in need of some recommendations of the more knowledgeable here. I’m looking for a new caving light to mount on my helmet (by steel ties or I will fabricate a bracket). I’m currently using a Xtar H3r which is decent but I would like to upgrade as it is more useful to have more illumination in large cave passages (as the mind makes more mental checkpoints if more is seen and this help to not get lost too). Basically i will list my requirements below, thank you. Also I will be happy to get 2 lights instead of one if it works out cheaper/more practical and mount them either side of my helmet.
Do you like the beam size/shape of your current headlamp and you just want it to be more intense? Or would you want the beam to be wider or narrower?
How long do you need it to run, and what brightness mode do you usually use with your current light? You might become limited by the energy in your battery. 1500 lumens might require about 6-7A so that is 30 min runtime. Not to mention the light would prob get very very hot at that output. This all depends on how bright you currently run your light and how much brighter you want it to be. Getting a second light might be a good option.
So you might have to move to a light with multiple cells (or a remote battery pack) or be ok with changing it the cells when they get depleted.
One light to look at is the fireflies PL47 which has the potential to be very bright and uses the larger 21700 sized cell for more energy.
Hi, I like the output profile of my current light but more flood would also be better I use it on high which if I remember is about 600lumens which lasts for over 2 hours. I don’t mind swapping batteries as I keep 2 spare 18650s in my caving suit in waterproof box so they are quick at hand. I would just like a little more power, or keep my xtar on my helmet and just mount an additional light to combine them on roughly medium setting for higher overall combined output. 2 hours is the average trip I do but some may take over 12 hours but obviously I carry many spares in my bag for longer trips and a spare light. Thank you.
Also I would like it if the light is for sale in the UK cheers
Hi Johm, yeah I think I will pair the next light I get with the xtar already on the helmet, carry one is out of question though as sometimes I encounter strong streamways in caves, big climbs or descents and many other obstacles. Also I don’t think weight would be a problem as many cavers also equip a light on their helmet with a battery pack at the back. Also I have a strong neck from using welding quipment many hours of the day. Cheers
I agree a second similar light sounds like the best solution. You could have both lights at the ~600 lumen mode (~1.5A) and double your output while keeping the 2 hour runtime. Or depending on the temperature and airflow in the cave you could run both at 3A and quadruple your output with a 1h runtime. This option is easy to do if you can customize the driver, but most stock lights would not keep the output at 3A, they would have a stepdown.
I understand about the heat, most of the time I use around 500 or so lumens, but it’s nice to have high power sometimes. If I get another which can happily do 500 or more added into my current xtar would be great I think.
I live in Nevada and I am always exploring mines throughout the Sierra Nevada range. I use the Armytek Wizard Pro and love it. I carry my Acebeam L30 as backup along with extra 18650 cells. I switch between main 2 at 165 lumens for 10.5 hours and main three at 390 lumens for 4 hours according to Armytek. On turbo 2 it puts out 1800 lumens. I rarely ever use the two turbo settings on it, that’s what my L30 is for with momentary tail switch. Its also rated at 10 meters for two hours underwater. There are a tone of great lights out there at your price range. Good luck with your search and happy caving.
i used to say that the D4 Ti was the last light i would buy coz for me it was unbeatable… have 3 of them… now comes the V2, took a while for me to fall into the trap… a week ago i got my order…
