Re: Lighting · AditNow Community

Bruce
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#1

Can anybody suggest good torches to get for mine visits, i am wanting something that is very bright?

Thanks

Bruce

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#2

Roy Fellows. His lamps are designed for the job.

chris.

james l
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#3

UltraFire 7XT6 7 x CREE XM-L T6 3-Mode 4200LM White Flashlight w/ Strap - Black (4 x 18650) These lamps are real powerful.
I took this hand held on auto using two of them

[photo]Personal-Album-157-Image-95532[/photo]

Stay Away From That Trap Door.

chrisj
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#4

If you're after a caplamp I'd second Roy Fellows. Great lamps. I've got one of his ecostars and it does everything I need for exploring, and deals with most of my photography too.

If you want handheld then Sinker has a fantastic waterproof one. I think it was a Fenix. Really bright and a nice beam.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#5

"chrisj" wrote:

If you want handheld then Sinker has a fantastic waterproof one. I think it was a Fenix. Really bright and a nice beam.

:thumbup: Fenix TK35. Great compromise between quality, output and price.

Oh and I second you on the EcoStar as well. Mine is just great. I bought a spare battery at the same time and can do a full day at mostly full power.

@chrisj: Blimey, I thought you were lost in space or something??! I saw your van in Blaenau on a Saturday two weeks ago but no sign of you!

Sorry :offtopic:

Yma O Hyd....

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#6

It all depends what you want really, you can join the roy fellows fan club (a well deserved fan club I might add.).

Or you can do things a little bit different.

Ebay 1600lm chinese head torch, it is absolutely brilliant and to be hhonest I'm not sure I could justify the cost of roys lamp compared to this.

It is brighter than my friends lamp from roy, the batteries last forever I am still on the same set of batteries after 5 long trips over the course of 2 months.

Personally I think if it hasn't broken on the kind of trips we do, then it is a very tough bit of kit. (Think mud and water to neck deep, tight muddy squeezes etc) for the money you can't go wrong. And if it does go pop you won't be disappointed because it didn't cost a lot 🙂

Drillbilly.
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#7

I suppose it's like the rest of your kit. You pay once and use it for years.

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#8

"Bruce" wrote:
Can anybody suggest good torches to get for mine visits, i am wanting something that is very bright?

Thanks

Bruce

Whatever light you decide on make sure that you also carry an independent back up - even the most expensive lamps can go phutt.

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#9

"Drillbilly." wrote:
I suppose it's like the rest of your kit. You pay once and use it for years.

Not really...? I've had far more expensive lamps that are relegated to the broken torches draw that have lasted far less time, and not been abused like my chinese one.

Because it didn't cost much I don't look after it because I am not fussed if it falls apart or not. But it has stood up to far more abuse than any of the other lamps and is still working that has been over a year now. I broke one but that was due :thumbdown:to 300kg cast iron boiler section falling on it, so I don't think we can blame the manufacturing for that!

My torch has been swimming up the tamar completely submerged and that was with out a waterproof battery pack and it worked fine, for another few months until death by boiler arrived.

You can buy a lot of these (10 to be precise) for the cost of the new x5000 that Roy has released (which is a stunning bit of kit and well worth the money) but for me I am quite happy at the moment with my cheapy torch. It makes mine exploring a cheap easily accessible hobby for everyone. You don't need hundreds of pounds of kit to go and have a look.

It does exactly what it says on the tin, no fuss and if it breaks I definitely won't be upset about it. It is perfect for a begginer/semi serious miner, and once you have decided wether it is something you want to get serious about then it is worth upgrading to something a bit more purpose built.

I have other hobbies that take up my spare income, mainly my race car, so to be able to have something that is very bright, good on batteries and quite robust that doesn't cost hunddreds of pounds is a real winner in my eyes.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#10

"J25GTi" wrote:

I have other hobbies that take up my spare income, mainly my race car, so to be able to have something that is very bright, good on batteries and quite robust that doesn't cost hunddreds of pounds is a real winner in my eyes.

Good point! The way I see it is that if you have a back up lamp then you are usually ok, and like most of the trips we do there are usually between four and eight or more, so if someone's lamp dies/gets destroyed then at least you're not alone! Roy (Fellows) has spent a lot of time on "solo projects" which is probably why his lamps are well made and have redundancy built in.
As with other bits of kit, always remember that this hobby is mainly about having fun so don't get put off by having to spend hundreds on a lamp if fifty quid will do for what you need.

Yma O Hyd....

Drillbilly.
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#11

Race Car? Do tell.....

I've got an old hillclimb/rally mini. It's in the shed because I spend my money on mining stuff.

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#12

"Drillbilly." wrote:
Race Car? Do tell.....

I've got an old hillclimb/rally mini. It's in the shed because I spend my money on mining stuff.

By race car I think he means the pile of bits spread out across his workshop/living room.

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#13

"Tamarmole" wrote:

"Drillbilly." wrote:
Race Car? Do tell.....

I've got an old hillclimb/rally mini. It's in the shed because I spend my money on mining stuff.

By race car I think he means the pile of bits spread out across his workshop/living room.

Haha, you better hope it stays like that Rick, you did agree at one point to go for a drive in it...!

Yes it is in bits for now, but I have as much fun taking it apart as I do driving it 🙂

Stu I have a 535hp impreza, going to look at hill climbing it next season too as its more excuses to use it locally, it shouldn't really be used on the road to be honest, 2.9 second to 60 is just bloody bonkers...

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#14

The Chinese are about to get the stage where they are very viable alternatives - not quite there yet, but the willingness to adapt to changing LED specs and availability is a massive advantage.

The one thing they seem unable to get their heads around for now is the concept of a lamp with swappable rechargeable battery packs.

I've got a 'test' headlamp downstairs which knocks out 365 lumens and is under £50 - the downside (which is pretty substantial) is that it runs off a CR123A rather than a swappable external battery pack.

Okay, they're playing to the wider market, but it's probably only a matter of time before something which produces 1,000 or so lumens and has a swappable battery pack emerges from China.

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

droid
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#15

"J25GTi, it shouldn't really be used on the road to be honest, 2.9 second to 60 is just bloody bonkers...[/quote wrote:

I'd better take my 1200 Bandit off the road then......;D

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#16

"droid" wrote:

"J25GTi, it shouldn't really be used on the road to be honest, 2.9 second to 60 is just bloody bonkers...[/quote wrote:

I'd better take my 1200 Bandit off the road then......;D

.if you can make your bandit do 2.9 to 60 i'll doff my cap ;)

book figures are different to real life figures....!

droid
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#17

"J25GTi" wrote:

"droid" wrote:

"J25GTi, it shouldn't really be used on the road to be honest, 2.9 second to 60 is just bloody bonkers...[/quote wrote:

I'd better take my 1200 Bandit off the road then......;D

.if you can make your bandit do 2.9 to 60 i'll doff my cap ;)

book figures are different to real life figures....!

Snigger.....

J25GTi
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#18

"droid" wrote:

"J25GTi" wrote:

"droid" wrote:

"J25GTi, it shouldn't really be used on the road to be honest, 2.9 second to 60 is just bloody bonkers...[/quote wrote:

I'd better take my 1200 Bandit off the road then......;D

.if you can make your bandit do 2.9 to 60 i'll doff my cap ;)

book figures are different to real life figures....!

Snigger.....

So do you have a timing slip for it? :thumbup:

1.80 60ft, 11.6 sec 1/4 mile with a terminal of 132mph if i remember correctly, on the greasy damp muddy drag strip, will do a 10 on a decent strip 🙂

I would also note that this is on road tyres at road pressures, I might bust out the slicks for the event in august...

Sorry for de railing the OP's topic!

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#19

"J25GTi" wrote:

1.80 60ft, 11.6 sec 1/4 mile with a terminal of 132mph if i remember correctly, on the greasy damp muddy drag strip, will do a 10 on a decent strip 🙂

I would also note that this is on road tyres at road pressures, I might bust out the slicks for the event in august...

Sorry for de railing the OP's topic!

Nice!

With regard to the original topic - another vote for Roy's lamps!

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#20

"Vanoord" wrote:

Okay, they're playing to the wider market, but it's probably only a matter of time before something which produces 1,000 or so lumens and has a swappable battery pack emerges from China.

This is what frightens me, I have thought about it a lot. Its only a matter of time before be see a Hong Kong Scurrion, Nora, El Spelio or whatever clone.
Only comfort is that they will probably mess it up with coloured lights, plastic switches, or flashy modes or other such junk and ruin their own market.

Other comments I also agree, quality is constantly improving, and I find them good people to deal with as well. But then again, I buy quantity and dont bother them on the odd duff item that only cost a quid or two anyway.
Some of the cheaper bike lights though really are rubbish, plastic switches that just push in for instance, they should put drain holes in the bottom.

And while I'm on, thank you people who have made kind remarks about my own lamps.

My avatar is a poor likeness.