Welcome all divers!

[pmerc]

Hi All, Have been checking the forum for a little while.
Long time diver but still new to the dive light arena.

My first real project involved fiber optics and selective lighting techniques for uw photography about 2 years ago.
Lots of fun and experimentation on the lounge room floor with a rubber ducky. I got the setup underwater and enjoyed the results.

My second project was a hid to led canister light mod and inspired by another forum member.
I'd rather not embarrass the individual by name but the mod was something I had been thinking of for some time.
He wrote about it on a local dive forum and included so much info it was hard not to follow in his tracks.
Have been thinking about upgrading the cree's to the latest and greatest.
Went on a slightly different focus with the project which was more for an uw photography focus light rather than the
main torch. I used warmer leds and wide optics and have mounted the light head to the camera. While it still has some disadvantages including an umbilical, the burn time and light intensity is fantastic especially when compared to the costs and burn of off the shelf products.

My main reason for joining was to post a topic/question yesterday about a light I am interested in as an alternative to the canister light mentioned above.

Cheers,
Phil Mercurio

 

[greasycajun]

I am new to CPF. I am an OCD researcher and am always learning about new things. I have recently taken up diving and noticed that most lights are very expensive.

I am new to this forum and am interested in building or modifying a light that can handle going 100' underwater.

 

[Deeperdiverdude]

Hi All,

Been lurking on here a while trying to get my head around leds, forward voltages, drivers etc with a view to upgrading my current Birchly video light.

I am a UK diver based in the NW, part of a club called Icicle Divers.

If you want to see a bit of the type of diving we do check out this video which is footaged edited together from me and my buddy in an old slate quarry called Dorothea in North Wales.

Hope you like (now just need to get more lumens on the job)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=UU3CUzjq_DBWWKM8c9mle_iA&v=hVklORtESJE

Cheers

DDD

 

[mavno1]

Hey guys,

I'm new to CPF and can wait to start researching. I'm reasearching DIY canister dive lights with hopes of building my own. I'm in the proccess of building a triple XML mag with OMS canister. Currently I can't decied what optics to use. Anyone want to point me in the direction of a good dive light optics thread?

 

[undrwater]

I started a thread before posting here! I dive almost exclusively in the oceans of Southern California. Kelp forests, submarine canyons, rock reefs make for some interesting dives. My weekly dive usually finds me at the submarine canyon which is a bit of a mudhole, but still very interesting in terms of topo and life.

For lights I have a Salvo 10w canister HID, an Intova and UK backup (not sure what models). I'm attempting to breath life into a flooded LED canister light. This is my first foray into light modification (unless you count buying the led bulb for the Mag light).

I'm happy to be here, and have a few projects in my mind!

 

[fazerfreak]

Hi.
Fresh member from Norway, Tec,Wreck and Cave is my thing, made a few Lightprojects try the years, mostly Big Hid lights 35-75w/9-18Ah.
Just started 2 play with Led projects,.
Don't have any fancy DIY equipment, but hoping to get me some.

@ the moment i have a 35/50w HID main light and several small 10W HiDs.. looking into LEDs since i´w got a Diverite Led light thats totally flooded..

 

[Darker View]

Just have to put in a thank you for all of the information! Currently building a light, with another planned. I found the forum while searching for info.

The light in work is a single XM-L emitter, 18650 powered light with control and charging built-in. Stainless body is complete, working on the circuitry. No optics, useful for close-in photo and video work, a modeling light, I do a lot of macro photography. The second light will be a multiple emitter video light using some of the same tech. Post later when the project is more advanced?

The information here has already saved me some trouble, hopefullty resulting in a succesful project.

 

[Tambjaman]

Hi All,
I live in Sydney Australia, and have done approximately 1000 dives, locally and overseas
I am a keen U/W photographer mostly macro on local shore dives, as my name "Tambjaman" suggests
A few years ago I sold my expensive HID on Ebay & converted my old Alpha 2000 into a Led, with a cut down canister
a few of friends liked this conversion so I have also modified Ocean Graphic & Aquasea halogens to leds
Additionally I modify W200 to use 2 x 18650 lithium with either a T6 or U2 Xm-l emmitters, I ve modded more than 30 of these for local scuba club members
2 recent challenges were modifying a dead Greenforce HID to Led plus a Diverite Led 500 into 1000 lumin using a W300 reflector and a Xm-l
Thanks to the many members on this forum who have provided me with lots of interesting & helpful ideas that have broadened my dive light modification hobby

 

[W0wbagger]

Hi all - just joined - budding freediver although not managed to get anywhere interesting yet.

Is the general diving light solution handheld or head mounted? I'd probably want some kind of lanyard if it was the former - is this standard?

What kind of throw can you get from a decent light underwater - can it drastically increase your view distance in murky waters or is the main use in night diving?

 

[Packhorse]

Im not a fan of head mounted lights for underwater. They can produce a lot of backscatter.

A light will not allow you to see further in murky water since lack of light isnt the problem.

 

[MichaelW]

Are dive lights designed to be neutral to negatively buoyant?
I found an old UnderwaterKinetics SL6, that I'd like to convert to a pool light. If I replace the alkaline C-cells with AA lithium (in C holders), that should reduce weight enough to make it positively buoyant, right?
Thankx

 

[Griffo_au]

Are dive lights designed to be neutral to negatively buoyant?
I found an old UnderwaterKinetics SL6, that I'd like to convert to a pool light. If I replace the alkaline C-cells with AA lithium (in C holders), that should reduce weight enough to make it positively buoyant, right?
Thankx

I personally would never dive with a postively buoyant light. Some people do, but i've seen what happens inside a wreck - not pretty. Lights also form part of my ditchable weight system - i'm more than happy to throw away a $1000 light to save my life. Why not just try the light with no batteries? That will pretty much tell you straight away whether it's every going to be positively buoyant.


Anyway, i'm new here too I know nothing about modding lights but about to try my first mod on my DiveRite can light.

 

[Jerrybboy]

Hello Divers,

Im Jerry I live in holland and I'm currently diving for 1 year now.
I have a Gopro Hero 2 and I want to make a video light for it because I currently use
some chinese flashlights but they keep flooding.
I registered to this forum to learn how to make one because the electric part is hard for me.
I'm able to work with a Lathe so if my light will be ready ill post it in here ill think.
I also have a hartenberger which I converted to a 2300 Lumen light with a SST90.
But the electrical part is being done by a fellow student.

 

[Pizeer]

Hello to all you divers and LED light enthusiasm.
I do most of my diving in the St-Lawrence River, wreck diving.
With low visibility and often dark areas, I need a good light.
I started a Thread to get to know more about LED and what is needed to built my own light. Thread: DIY Powerfull LED Dive Light
I'm starting to have an idea of how I should start but it's not that easy.

I'll keep reading.

Thanks.

 

[Pizeer]

Hello Divers,

Im Jerry I live in holland and I'm currently diving for 1 year now.
I have a Gopro Hero 2 and I want to make a video light for it because I currently use
some chinese flashlights but they keep flooding.
I registered to this forum to learn how to make one because the electric part is hard for me.
I'm able to work with a Lathe so if my light will be ready ill post it in here ill think.
I also have a hartenberger which I converted to a 2300 Lumen light with a SST90.
But the electrical part is being done by a fellow student.

Watch this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/201...ive_light.html

 

[BlackAngel-SCUBA]

Hey everybody,

Im new to cpf, been wading through the knee deep sea of leds, drivers, resistors batteries, electrical math...ect. What im looking to do is build my own dive light from scratch. Im diving with a tektite expedition star 175 led and its just not cutting it. I dive in some of the worst viz imagionable(1ft viz was the worst!). I mainly dive a quarry close to home called willow springs. The viz on a good day is anywhere between 10-15 ft. my buddy has an el chepo China 600 lumen light tha does decent but sucks on battery life.

So here is my plan: build a quality torch style led, with 1000 lumen or more, use rechargeble c or d batteries and have a super tight beam. If anyone has ideas for leds or drivers to use let me know
Thanks!

 

[3D87C4]

Hello,

CandlePowerForum newb. 3D diver over on the scuba forum. I've been tinkering with diffusers in a pair of 1000 lumen DRIS lights as video lights for this GoPro 3D rig:

I am currently using 60 degree Holographic diffusers I added inside the lights.

Hope to learn more about dive lighting here.

Cheers.

 

[lucca brassi]

Welcome !

Nice looking setup . I have never view some 3D video from Gopro . This setup is not very buoyant probably? ... and maybe turn foward due to long handle with some weight on ends ?

 

[3D87C4]

Welcome !

Nice looking setup . I have never view some 3D video from Gopro . This setup is not very buoyant probably? ... and maybe turn foward due to long handle with some weight on ends ?

Thank you.

It's a pound or two negative & I've toyed with the idea of adding some bouyancy. It started as rig for getting 3D images using a pair of Nikonos V cameras & weight isn't my highest concern (a couple of folks have critisized it 'cause of the weight). When shooting I use both hands and don't have any tilt/turn issues---it helps my trim a bit having a little weight forward.

Here's a link to my latest video. You can click on the 3D icon to change the viewing mode or disable 3D:

 

[demonic69]

Just watched this side by side like a magic eye picture, looks awesome (though my eyeballs now hurt a bit). Where is it filmed?