simonrl
  • simonrl
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10 years ago
Just curious, who's using what these days? There is a an ever-increasingly bewildering array of lamps to choose from.

New on the block appear to be:

Ever-increasingly bright lamps from RF: www.ledcaplamps.com

Biff has just launched the Filthy Edna: www.facebook.com/pages/Rude-Nora/207010959343362?fref=ts

There's the El Speleo which looks like a Scurion knock-off to me: www.elspeleo.com

(the Scurion doesn't seem to have change much for a while: www.scurion.ch/jm/)

There seems to be something new from Greece too: www.phaethoncavinglight.com

There's this: www.pulsarlights.eu

Spotted this on UK Caving: www.stootsconcept.fr/index.php/lampe-frontale/142-stoots-lampe-evo.html

And that's before you get to Petzl, Silva and Fenix; and homebrew of course.


my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
gNick
  • gNick
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10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...
Blober
  • Blober
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10 years ago
I use one of Roys Trigons.

Wow thats a hell of a list now. Wonder whats causing this recent expansion? Newer LED technology? More people going underground than ever before?
FILTH - Think this is a playground? Think again...
RJV
  • RJV
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10 years ago
Haven't seen a single one of those lamps in regular use. The reliable mainstays of the last few years (Sten/Nora/Scurrion) still dominate on the Moors with a few of JCam's lamps thrown in to show them all up...
simonrl
  • simonrl
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10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 



Looks like a bike light?
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
4737carlin
10 years ago
"Blober" wrote:

Wow thats a hell of a list now. Wonder whats causing this recent expansion? Newer LED technology? More people going underground than ever before?



Dunno but there was a advert before on Talk Sport radio for the "award winning" Led Lenser range of torches, maybe the market is more and more competitive to warrant radio advertisements, or maybe they just sell more now its the dark nights.
sinker
  • sinker
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10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 



Looks like a bike light?



That's the one that Rob (novaturbo) has. Very nice lamp, reliable too.
Yma O Hyd....
simonrl
  • simonrl
  • 51% (Neutral)
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10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 



Looks like a bike light?



That's the one that Rob (novaturbo) has. Very nice lamp, reliable too.



Rob's is much more of a Sten shape with two emitters I think?
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
rhychydwr
10 years ago
I still us a candle. It has many uses. :angel:
Cutting coal in my spare time.
sinker
  • sinker
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10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 



Looks like a bike light?



That's the one that Rob (novaturbo) has. Very nice lamp, reliable too.



Rob's is much more of a Sten shape with two emitters I think?



Yes you're right, his is a GlowWorm..... I knew there was a worm involved. His was actually designed as a bike light but with an alternative reflector design.

Yma O Hyd....
simonrl
  • simonrl
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10 years ago
"sinker" wrote:

Yes you're right, his is a GlowWorm..... I knew there was a worm involved. His was actually designed as a bike light but with an alternative reflector design.



That's the one www.crgmoto.co.uk/new-gloworm-x2-led-light-system---version-3---1500-lumens-2182-p.asp rather nice tbh.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
royfellows
10 years ago
http://earthwormcavelight.co.uk/ 



As a producer of lamps myself I never knock the opposition, however exceptional circumstances permit exceptions in my book.

The thing isn't waterproof and the seller even gives drying out instructions on his website.
This is taking the ****.

Sorry

Primary consideration is any lamp considered suitable for underground use is that it should be reasonably waterproof.

Also the sellers website is also a trite economical on fact, the revelations are in the FAQ page.
Check it out.
My avatar is a poor likeness.
jaseredjacket1987
10 years ago
Personally I use a supposed 5000 lm boruit Cree head torch I got from eBay, 3t6 Crees.. I know it won't produce 5000lm but it is extremely powerful and lasts around 5 hours on full chat' so not bad. Only downfall is the spill isn't very wide and as always with jap crap has the annoying strobe effect... Always stuck with Crees as they have always been reliable.
Mr Mike
10 years ago
earthworm light was discussed on UKCaving, (your right Simon, it is a mod'ed bike light) see:

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=16114.25 

page 2.


Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk
royfellows
10 years ago
"Mr Mike" wrote:

earthworm light was discussed on UKCaving, (your right Simon, it is a mod'ed bike light) see:

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=16114.25 

page 2.



If the lamp is assembled in England, from whatever components wherever sourced, then England is country of manufacture in law and therefore it is not Chinese.

Rather like saying that if a cat has kittens in a stable then they are really horses I know, but thats how it is.

I know a couple of people who have bought these and are pleased, but they have only recently aquired them.

Anyway, to move on . This gave me the opportunity to examine one of them. Basically similar to possibly hundreds available from Hong Kong sites such as DX, there was the following notable distinctions.

A very well made, probably CNC lazer cut, mounting bracket of the spade type designed to fit helmets with lamp brackets.

The Chinese bike lamps all seem to have a forward protruding bezel, this lamp appeared to have one that had been machined down flush with two or more tool indents for removal/fitting.

The original tapped drilling for the bike handlebar mount was filled with a kind of stud, I couldn't quite figure this but must interact with the bracket in same way?

Apart from this I could not percieve any other modifications. The switch was original plastic push in job, and mounted on top of the lamp. I believe that this is the component sellers website advises to remove for drying out. A few roof contacts will save you the trouble of removing it yourself.
Seller website states "3 straight forward power settings", actually its five with 2 flashy modes.

I have already touched on waterproof integrity, or lack of it, the LiIon battery is worth mentioning as its sort of shrink wrapped in a way typical of bike lamps. I would be uneasy about this for the undergound, water, roof contacts etc.

It also appears to be offered in a nice presentation case although I cannot see what use this is after fitting to a helemt.

Seeing it in use it is noticably powerful with a very good beam, it is also very small and light, so it easy to see the attraction for the price.

If the manufacturer/seller could have dumped the switch for something better so as to meet IP67 standard it would probably be a reasonable lamp for the money.

I have tried to be objective but feel I have not quite made it
;D
My avatar is a poor likeness.
simonrl
  • simonrl
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10 years ago
On the Earthworm, yes it looks a bit of a compromise with the poor waterproofing and the bike lamp innards; but its bright and cheapish, and probably fine if you mostly do dryish caves/mines. I wouldn't buy one but out of respect to Simon at ISCA (who i've met at Hidden Earth a few times and is a very nice chap) who sell it I doubt very much if they would be selling it if it was a duffer.

I really do like the look of the Greek lamp.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
Mr Mike
10 years ago
Greek one does look good.
Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk
NewStuff
10 years ago
I still use my "unreliable disgusting crap", and have failed to buy a Scurion at the behest of the chap that christened it, as mine has yet to fail, or not be bright enough.

I do have a cheap 2x T6 XM-L which I use for video, and I'm *always* tinkering with new heads, features, drivers.

I do know 2 people still rocking Lupine Betty's, admittedly, they have had cell pack changes. Still fooking bright too.
Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC
John Lawson
10 years ago
Very happy with our DL-16's. You can see things I never knew were there!
We also have a couple of the D-9 's but much prefer the LED's on the 16.

Once an Oldham man always one, and that is from someone who used to live just outside the town of the same name!

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