Newbie Lamp advice re Duo upgrade...

[frawleyh]

So I've bought an old Petzl Duo- the one with 2 halogens in the front (!)- and as you can probably guess I have no clue what I need to get now to make it into a half decent lamp. I know I want LEDs but don't know what I should go for/best combination etc.... Any help would be much appreciated 

 

[cap n chris]

http://www.littlemonkeycaving.co.uk/Pages/CustomDUO.aspx

 

[Wayland Smith]

Something for the weekend sir?
(One of Roy's lamps.)
The Dragon D1800
This sets a new standard from a small 2 cell battery with 250 lumens for 12 hours and then diminishing output up to 24 hours, and with a maximum output of over 1800 lumens. Only ?135
Small, light, efficient and powerful

http://www.ledcaplamps.com/

 

[Spike]

http://www.littlemonkeycaving.co.uk/Pages/CustomDUO.aspx

The Cap got there before me, but with not the most helpful link...

These are the CustomDuo inserts to look at - the brighter, all-singing, all-dancing Omni v5 for ?70 and the simpler Simple at ?55

There's a fitting guide here too....

Other people may make Duo conversions, but I've never used them. Can't recommend these highly enough...

</fanboi>

 

[alastairgott]

perhaps consider bisun as well, I have now got a customduo which I bought from Hitch n Hike at the RRP ?55 (as shaun doesn't make a profit from these as he says it's nice to have them in case anyone wants to buy an insert as well as a duo).

in case your interested information from Bisun on their flexitwin can be found here: http://www.bisun.co.uk/flexitwinv4_main.html

The cost of the Bisun upgrade is ?70 http://www.bisun.co.uk/ordering.html

 

[cooleycr]

if you are in the market then you might prefer to fork out an additional ?15 and get the Omi V5 with programmable output settings - I bought one after the TSG AGM and haven't had the opportunity to test it fully as yet but in my mancave the spot was particularly good.

 

[MJenkinson]

another vote for customduo - Biff appears very friendly so maybe send him a mail, explain what you want from your light and see what he says.

 

[Cartwright26]

customduo omni v5 i have the v3 and its brilliant very reliable, very bright and great customer service from a reputable caver they have good reviews and are the most common duo upgrade turning a bad lamp into a great lamp. i loved it and since upgraded to the rude nora 2 which is made by the same person but still use my due for digging trips

 

[frawleyh]

Thank you very much for your help! I will probably get the cheaper one as unfortunately I am only a poor student caver but I'll have a think first!

 

[PeteHall]

The cheaper one is excellent. You don't need daylight in a cave!

I run both my Duo's on Biff's older "warm" LED modules, possibly not so bright as the blue LEDs, but much more pleasant underground.

If your budget is tight, its worth emailing, as he might have some old stock for cheap 
Though obviously he might not...

 

[Badlad]

So I've bought an old Petzl Duo- the one with 2 halogens in the front (!)- and as you can probably guess I have no clue what I need to get now to make it into a half decent lamp. I know I want LEDs but don't know what I should go for/best combination etc.... Any help would be much appreciated 

If your lamp will take one of the original 14 led bulbs some of these models came with then I may be able to help.  I'm sure I kept mine when I converted to custom duo and if I can find it you can have it for nowt.

 

[cooleycr]

If you are on a really tight budget then look no further than your local Wilkinsons store- they have some excellent head torches for less than ?5 that run off 3 AAA cells (included!).
These lamps have a huge adjustable magnifier and the beam is nicely focused.
They don't have helmet fixings but the head-straps slip over the helmet and with a couple of cable ties can easily be held in place, or you could remove them and simply drill a couple of holes into the adjustable plate and bolt it to your helmet.
Naturally they are NOT guaranteed waterproof (though the casing is very well formed and seems to be a good fit) but with some silicon grease and self-amalgamating tape I am sure they would survive most scenarios, I might even buy another next time I am near the shop and carry out some tests ...

 

[royfellows]

Beware of self amalgamating tape.

It looks new and sexy for electrical work but sticks to absolutely nothing, bar itself. The only way it forms a watertight seal is where its compressed by say a cable gland, which actually makes it excellent for Oldhams.

 

[RichardB1983]

I went and got one of the Petzl Spelios helmets with the Duo several months ago - and am thinking about getting the CustomDuo upgrade. How easy is it meant to be to get the Duo's casing open? I can't seem to open mine. The grey bezel around the edge hardly wants to budge. Any ideas?

 

[cooleycr]

Sorry but I have to disagree - self amalgamating tape sticks to itself and if applied correctly forms a completely watertight seal - I work for BT and for years we have been using it to seal/reseal underground joints that are often totally immersed in water for long periods with no issues...
but it must be applied correctly to work...this includes ensuring the surfaces to be sealed are cleaned and that the tape is pulled VERY tightly around and the edges lovingly caressed so ensure that it does indeed "amalg" 

 

[ALEXW]

Silicon grease and self amalgamating tape do not work well together. The smallest trace of silicon will stop any tape from sticking. Self amalgamating only works when stuck to itself. I have joints in amateur radio antennas that I made 15 years ago and they are still good.

 

[alastairgott]

I went and got one of the Petzl Spelios helmets with the Duo several months ago - and am thinking about getting the CustomDuo upgrade. How easy is it meant to be to get the Duo's casing open? I can't seem to open mine. The grey bezel around the edge hardly wants to budge. Any ideas?

get nearly all your fingers around every little bit of grey you can and turn anti clockwise.

Be aware the Bezel is actually round but the yellow casing with the grooves on it is actually oval, so it may require just a little bit of pushing down on the top and the bottom of the bezel to ensure it creates slack at the curved edges.

I'm probably going to open up another debate, but you'll probably need some Vaseline to make sure the bezel, the case and the glass are reasonably watertight.

 

[alastairgott]

reasonably watertight... when resealing.

 

[cooleycr]

I should've made this clear, sorry for any confusion....
Silicone grease on the internal threads - ensure the external surface is clean - apply well stretched SA tape firmly smoothing all edges...

- job done...


Ali and his Vaseline....another thread indeed....

 

[wormster]

ensure the external surface is clean - apply well stretched SA tape firmly smoothing all edges...

NONONONONO!!!

Don't put SA tape round the outside you'll be fusked if you ever want to get inside the housing!!

A good way to get the grey bezel ring off the head of a Duo is to dunk it in a bowl of relatively warm water for 5 mins and then use an oil filter wrench (inapinch you could use a fabric belt) and unscrew ANTI clockwise.

I've used this method on at least 4 duo's that I've converted from 5's&14's to Onirats.

In no way am I associated with Biff (apart from the fact I live at the other end of the village and bought 4 of his inserts) - BUT - even for an impoverished student drop the booze for a week and you'll have enough to get an upgrade.