Caving - How many Lumen for a light is enough?
- Thread starter Bloke28
- Start date
Kenilworth
New member
Not to be lazy and unhelpful, but a quick search of this forum will reveal eighty-four trillion previous threads about lights. Have a look through some of those.
As for lumens, I was happy with 50 until I bought a lamp with 250, and was tickled with those until I bought a lamp with 800. Reasonably though, if you can get 150 with decent runtime, there's no reason that won't work fine. It all depends on what you want, how much money you have, and what your friends have. It seems that the thing to do is for everyone to try and catch up to their companion with the brightest light. I tend to do the opposite, and often turn my light off entirely when caving with a group.
Headlamps are much preferable to handheld ones.
As for lumens, I was happy with 50 until I bought a lamp with 250, and was tickled with those until I bought a lamp with 800. Reasonably though, if you can get 150 with decent runtime, there's no reason that won't work fine. It all depends on what you want, how much money you have, and what your friends have. It seems that the thing to do is for everyone to try and catch up to their companion with the brightest light. I tend to do the opposite, and often turn my light off entirely when caving with a group.
Headlamps are much preferable to handheld ones.
royfellows
Well-known member
I think that much depends on whether you are solo or in a group or caving or exploring a big slate mine. In other words, horses for courses.
Going to the max end of it,....... ah, I was going to say that that 2K of beam is more than enough, but then realised that its only me that offers 2K or more of beam!
I think I'll keep out of it
Going to the max end of it,....... ah, I was going to say that that 2K of beam is more than enough, but then realised that its only me that offers 2K or more of beam!
I think I'll keep out of it
caver.adam@outlook.com
Member
I heard my favorite light source has about 4 x 10^28 lumen output.
cap n chris
Well-known member
What he said.
Antwan
Member
You can borrow 2.35 until tomorrow morning when I need it backbograt said:
Dunno if it will help with the conversion between candle power and lumens though as there measured differently ( I have a milliin candle power spot lamp thats comparable to a 3000lumen buke lamp if that helps?)
TomTom
New member
I'm beginning to think I have nightvison, I've caved quite happily on 20lm in the past. Usually it's 90-180lm these days unless I'm specifically trying to light something up for some reason.
In many ways it's not how much you have, it's how you use it (to butcher a certain phrase). Don't want to be trying to deal with a beam that is good for lighting up a postage stamp but nothing wider. The cheapest option is to just cave with someone with a mammoth lamp, just use their light as it'll be daylight all around them 8)
The Petzl Myo XP/RXP were always good cheapish torches for caving, they have been changed recently though so not sure with the current model.
In many ways it's not how much you have, it's how you use it (to butcher a certain phrase). Don't want to be trying to deal with a beam that is good for lighting up a postage stamp but nothing wider. The cheapest option is to just cave with someone with a mammoth lamp, just use their light as it'll be daylight all around them 8)
The Petzl Myo XP/RXP were always good cheapish torches for caving, they have been changed recently though so not sure with the current model.
royfellows
Well-known member
ChrisJC said:
Yes, his figures are correct, it is lumens not lux.
I have seen his lamp. To the best of my knowledge the most powerful headlamp in existence.
royfellows
Well-known member
As daft as it sounds, with modern Li Ion cells, its not that bad. I do a 12V 10 AH belt mount pack that's about 1/3 weight and 1/2 the size of the old Oldham lead acid battery.
People have joked about running a car off it but Li Ion wont take the hit of a starter motor. Not at the present time, but I think a case of 'watch this space'
People have joked about running a car off it but Li Ion wont take the hit of a starter motor. Not at the present time, but I think a case of 'watch this space'
caving_fox
Active member
royfellows said:
How do Tesla's and the like work then? They're Li batteries (and one of the largest consumers of them in the world)
But yes battery tech is continually improving driven by a huge need for better batteries. There hasn't been as much progress in batteries as in many other comparable fields because it is a hard problem.
royfellows
Well-known member
I know nothing about Tesla's but should have mentioned that charging is part of the equation as well with Li Ions generally restricted to about 0.5 of capacity.
Bottlebank
New member
I don't think Tesla cars have starter motors - they're fully electrical so far as I know.
royfellows
Well-known member
Bottlebank said:
We therefore have the answer to our own question, as an electric how big will the battery be!
