Head torch opinions

[Madness]

Why do people always associate inexpensive with poor quality and unreliability?

There's numerous posts on here about people having problems with expensive caving lamps.

Whatever you decide to use as a main light, always make sure you have a back up.

 

[cavemanmike]

Good point well presented madness 😉

 

[cavemanmike]

Next time you come up to north Wales keris you Will benefit from your new scurion in those big slate chamber's

 

[royfellows]

I have a Fenix headtorch here from Mike Moore, unsure what model,  if he is around he may care to comment.
It packed up and on examination water ingress to the battery box was the issue

Frankly, the 4 series AA battery box was unfit for purpose. mike is no sump diver and yet water managed to get in. The end rubber seal was easily peeled away even when secured with the screw. The intention now is to mate it with a 4 AA Petzl Duo battery box.

If anyone has done this and there is something I should know about please tell.

A Li Ion pack would be better but voltages don't match.  4 series AAs will give 6V off charge, depleting. Li Ions are single 4.2V depleting, or 2 series 8.4V depleting. I could probably do something with a DC DC converter but its not worth him spending the money.

An idea that has just occurred is to put a USB plug on the end. It would run off any 5V power bank then.
Ideas in action.

 

[andrewmcleod]

I have a Fenix headtorch here from Mike Moore, unsure what model,  if he is around he may care to comment.
It packed up and on examination water ingress to the battery box was the issue

If it's this one:
https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-hp15-ultimate-edt-expedition-headlamp-iron-grey/

then its only rated as IPX6.

 

[Madness]

I've got a Fenix HP12 and would definately trust it as a main caving lamp. The weak point would be the cable from the rear mounted battery housing to the lamp unit. You could protect it with a bitof split tubing though.

I don't use it undergound though, I'd cry when I bashed it on something and scratched the nice anodizing.

I'm quite happy to bash my bastardised Oldham on anything.

 

[royfellows]

Oldham!

You are aware that this is a family website

 

[droid]

He'll be mentioning ex-army NiCad conversions next....

 

[The_quiche_whisperer]

I have a fenix and have had for 3 years. Brilliant light cant fault it but I decided to upgrade and was suggested elspeleo terra. big mistake had problems from day one and had a replacement lamp and still problems. Cant fault there customer service as have been offered a refund. So I'm looking for a reliable upgrade around the the same money that can produce anything from 1100-1300 lumens. Any suggestions

I?ve got the Terra and kind of wish I went with something else. When I ordered and paid for it it was sold as coming with a 7000mah battery and charger but I was told some improvements would be made and mine would be one of the first. I waited 3 months for it to turn up and the ?improvements? appear  to be that it now comes with a box that will only hold a single battery (not supplied) and no charger. Using it with a decent battery I struggle to do a 4 hour trip without changing the battery which I don?t like doing underground. I tried emailing to see about buying the battery pack that it should have come with and I haven?t even received an answer so I won?t hold my breath that it would be replaced if there was a problem. It?s a shame as I?d heard really good things about Elspeleo but with hindsight  I should have paid the extra and gone for a rude Nora 3.

 

[Madness]

Oldham!

You are aware that this is a family website

That would be my 2 x Cree XP-G2, 7 power level Oldham with Roy Fellows inspired 2 x 18650 helmet mounted battery pack

 

[royfellows]

I sell lamps so I take mine out of the equation.

Latest Rude Nora is shear quality and basically buries the Scurion by offering better spec than dive model at around the price of the Scurion basic, Oh and by way, only weighs 110 grams. Whatever you buy you need to go unto things and not get sold on trends, looks, or must be good because so and so uses one. So and so may be getting paid to use whatever.

 

[aricooperdavis]

It?s a shame as I?d heard really good things about Elspeleo but with hindsight  I should have paid the extra and gone for a rude Nora 3.

My Terra flooded after a single trip through Swildon's sump 1, but Elspeleo replaced it for free and I love it. Saw me through a 2 night camping trip in Daren with no battery change and good output throughout!

Having said that, I would not now buy a lamp with a cable as I think they're an unnecessary vulnerability.

I spoke with them on Facebook and they were very prompt to reply.

 

[Loki]

I?ll vouch for the skilhunt H03. Been using it on short trips up to 3 hours. Thought I?d best see how long it actually lasts at the weekend- 26 hours on the first caveable setting. The first setting is a bit too dim and the 4th is for spotting airplanes in the dark. Love it.