New light
- Thread starter Mr Fell
- Start date
Various things come into play:
Budget, although mentioning Nora and Scurion it would appear it's not too much an issue.
I personally use a Sten, been fine (apart from one battery issue) - the only thing I don't like is the battery case - needs a better design IMO. I've caved with a few people who own Noras, they seem pretty happy with them. Likewise I know people that own upgraded Duos, again, they seem happy although battery changes come in to play if used on long trips or on different trips. Which leads to...
Do you want something supplied with own rechargeable battery (most likely Li-Ion) or do you want to use your own charger for AAs?
How much light do you want? I quite often cave on medium, have more than enough to use high setting on most trips I do but only occasionally use it, that's just my personal preference, I can't see the point in lighting everything up, a bit of dark, a bit of mystery is interesting - if i wanted to see everything I'd stay on the surface and go scrambling!
Budget, although mentioning Nora and Scurion it would appear it's not too much an issue.
I personally use a Sten, been fine (apart from one battery issue) - the only thing I don't like is the battery case - needs a better design IMO. I've caved with a few people who own Noras, they seem pretty happy with them. Likewise I know people that own upgraded Duos, again, they seem happy although battery changes come in to play if used on long trips or on different trips. Which leads to...
Do you want something supplied with own rechargeable battery (most likely Li-Ion) or do you want to use your own charger for AAs?
How much light do you want? I quite often cave on medium, have more than enough to use high setting on most trips I do but only occasionally use it, that's just my personal preference, I can't see the point in lighting everything up, a bit of dark, a bit of mystery is interesting - if i wanted to see everything I'd stay on the surface and go scrambling!
SpeleoTrog
Member
Beware of buying a duo, even if it's just for the shell and you plan to add an upgrade module. I have it from a reliable source that Petzl are no longer making spares for the Duo. Historically, when Petzl do this, it's only a very short time after that the product itself is discontinued.
pwhole
Well-known member
If there's one thing that's consistent in my caving trips, it's watching people bang their Duos to get them to come back on, rip open the battery case at shaft tops to get them to come back on, etc. Watched one of those happen only two weeks ago. After seeing all those problems and more, I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole personally. Only bit of Petzl kit I don't trust - so far.
I've got a Sten, and haven't had any problems at all in 18 months, apart from minor abrasion of the battery case, as I mounted it vertically to keep it central, and I tend to scrape my head on the roof a lot! Great color light for photography too. The so-called 'notorious' Molex connector is bomb-proof in reality - it just tucks away under the headstrap/shell and you never think about it again until charging - which is seamless.
Can't speak for any other lights that I don't have experience of, but there's enough tales of Scurion battery pack problems to make me wonder whether it's a little overpriced. Do batteries need to be removed from a pack? Seems a bit pointless to me, and a definite risk of damage if done repeatedly.
I've got a Sten, and haven't had any problems at all in 18 months, apart from minor abrasion of the battery case, as I mounted it vertically to keep it central, and I tend to scrape my head on the roof a lot! Great color light for photography too. The so-called 'notorious' Molex connector is bomb-proof in reality - it just tucks away under the headstrap/shell and you never think about it again until charging - which is seamless.
Can't speak for any other lights that I don't have experience of, but there's enough tales of Scurion battery pack problems to make me wonder whether it's a little overpriced. Do batteries need to be removed from a pack? Seems a bit pointless to me, and a definite risk of damage if done repeatedly.
jarvist
New member
pwhole said:
Just as a counterpoint to this, Imperial College CC moved over to 12 x Duos (with Eneloop rechargeables) in 2007 as our club lights. They've performed absolutely flawlessly since then; they're currently in the process of being upgraded to the new 400 lumen Bisun Flexitwin units (which are stunning).
Any 'flickering light' problems were solved by gentle cleaning of the battery contacts with the eraser tip of a pencil. The helmets were always stored with the battery case popped open + the metal flanges tucked in to hold it open to dry fully. Most problems with contacts were caused when a helmet had sat with batteries in it for a week or two, particularly if the batteries had been changed underground (thus damp).
We're now moving the Duos onto new Edelrid Ultralites as the cradles of the Petzl Vertex helmets are failing.
Caving lights get a lot of abuse. They will all fail, eventually.
The FX3s our Duos replaced were on their last legs - the battery contact sockets were losing leafs of copper, the connection blocks were developing continuity problems inside (we were swapping cables with our even older FX2s to keep them running) and the speleotechnics headsets were corroding internally (loosing the mirror coating) after leaking around the perished gaskets.
blackshiver
Member
Hmmm used Duo's since they came out, now with a Biff update. Only recently (last trip but one) had your dreaded light goes out, panic, bang the battery box - come back on scenario, which happened half a dozen times. Checked the batteries and being erm...well used and a little corroded at the ends (very slight) replaced them. Cant get it to go out now, so looks like it might be due to Duo's being so reliable that batteries get used + abused until they themselves become unreliable. Might be wrong, but have never used any other lamps since I stopped digging the cells out of Oldhams and dumping ex ministry Ni Cads in there....that gives you an idea of my timeline. Personally, I really like the new Nora by the way.
heard the rumour too from a couple of sources that the duo won't be around for that much longer... I love my duo with the biff insert for digging which i have been using for quite a few years now as it is a robust light that seems to cope with a lot of bashing around and abuse that it gets from digging trips and was thinking it may be worth considering getting a spare duo while they are still available just in case mine does die eventually as i do like that set up for digging and don't want to abuse my shiny new Nora by taking it digging! My experience of when you get a problem with them flashing on the duos is it is usually the batteries themselves on their way out and mine are all well used rechargeables so i generally have got my money's worth out of them when they start failing. Top tip with using the pencil eraser to clean the contacts though as they are damned awkward to get at.JessopSmythe said:
Leclused
Active member
I'm caving already 5 years with a sten and very pleased with it (before that I used, petzl zoom/duo/fx-2) I use it as well for digging/caving in Belgium as on expeditions on the PSM. Aside some problems with the cable I never had problems with the lamp. I recently bought an extra battery pack for expeditions purpose.
But if I look at the newer lights I might chose for another (nora/scurion/elspeleo/...) nowdays
On cavechat (nss forum) there is the following topic with a list of a lot of lamps.
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14881&sid=fff9bc5c108bcb397999efdba0767289
BR
Dagobert (SC Avalon - Belgium)
But if I look at the newer lights I might chose for another (nora/scurion/elspeleo/...) nowdays
On cavechat (nss forum) there is the following topic with a list of a lot of lamps.
http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14881&sid=fff9bc5c108bcb397999efdba0767289
BR
Dagobert (SC Avalon - Belgium)
alastairgott
Well-known member
Mr PWhole i'll have you know it was more than two weeks ago :ras: . I've seen just as many problems with scurions it's just there are less around and most are quite young in age. My duo has been going for 5 years with only minor issues and i've managed to fix one with cardboard and electrical tape http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=15037.0
Sten's i've only ever seen two, one of which was mark sims of york uni and the other is mr wolstenholme of tsg.
Doubt any of this is useful but i just thought i'd stick up for the DUO's as i own one
Sten's i've only ever seen two, one of which was mark sims of york uni and the other is mr wolstenholme of tsg.
Doubt any of this is useful but i just thought i'd stick up for the DUO's as i own one
After a good few years with a Sten and having done a few fairly moist trips, I've had no issue with the contacts - but then I do unplug, maybe give a quick blow to both ends as soon as possible, sometimes when I'm getting changed or when I get home.estelle said:
I would say the contacts are by far the weakest part of the system, the battery with case is an improvement on the previous battery. The contacts and cable are fairly cheap to purchase, or so I believe.
I've known people with Scurions and Duos having problems - luck of the draw and all that.. No light is perfect and no light will suit everyone.
badger
Active member
I know of people who have had problems with duo's. stens and scurions. I also know of people who swear by said lights. I caved on a duo for 10 years with no problems at all, then changed to a scurion which I have had a few issues, which for the cost are quite niggly. for the money I would say the best light around at the moment is the rude nora
