Still on the Sten myself as well. Albeit a 1,000 lumen pre-production version of the uprated lamp that Sten never got their collective arses into gear to manufacture.

Fookin Hell :o

... I have the mark 2 which I think is 240 lumens?

1000 ?!?!?!??

Fookeroonies !

Yup, it's nice and bright, although the 1,000 is peak, it does the thermal limiting trick as it heats up; and it heats up quite admirably.

I would be most of my internal organs that it'll never see the light of day. To the best of my knowledge there haven't been any Stens manufactured for a while.

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I use a Retro XP with an imported Li-ion cell from the US. Gives me more than enough light for 2 days underground with out a charge. But I still use my Petzle carbide when the mood takes me. There is nothing to mach it for a lovely flood light in large open spaces 🙂

There is nothing to mach it for a lovely flood light in large open spaces :)

I agree completely and one reason I go with the dedicated caving lamps that have the flood light feature.
I had never been a fan of mixing until the X_Lamps, now I am converted. The right mix of flood and beam gives a fantastic overall illumination.

Of course, where bare emiiters really score is photography.

On subject of carbide, it would be interesting to compare effect with bare LEDs.

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We have done some comparisons, and yes the lumens are there but I like the color of the Acetylene.

If you're just going to the Ballroom or Moel Fferna or somewhere then that's probably fine if you've got a back up. At a rebelay or up to the eyes in ochre on the far side of the back of beyond then you would hope for something you know is reliable!

That is why I went for a Scurion, being the cheapest out of the field of Sten, Scurion & Rude Nora, to replace my AyUp mountain bike light set.
It has to be said the AyUp is pretty reasonable, light and waterproof but as with most bike lights, the light level control is fine for riding through the woods but not so good underground.

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Some carbide lighting...

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/hodgsonslow/hodgsons_low_level_050610/hodgsons_low_level_050610.htm 

Mr Pete's in fact.

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I am currently using one of Mr Biff's Omni Rat conversions 'tis good, one day I'll have to get my sten going.

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Have been looking at eBay; I reckon a lot of the lights on there are waaaaay overstating the lumens produced.

Ie this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Lm-CREE-XM-L-T6-focus-LED-Headlamp-Headlight-Head-Torch-Lamp-2X-Battery-/331101626612?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item4d1731e0f4 

There's no way a single LED, rated by Cree as 600-1000 lumens (max), is able to put out 2000 lumens :p

I would not be surprised if it's actual output was more like 200 lumens.

So, has anyone bought any of these cheapo eBay lights, and would someone recommend a good light for multi-hour trips underground, please?

All I have atm is 2x 105 lumen PT headtorches, which aren't really sufficient.

A friend used something very similar as a backup on a trip to Wales recently (not sure if it was that one exactly, but the price and look are about right)

On the surface in his hand it was undeniably bright (although clearly not 2000 lumens and with some unusual beam patterns from the reflector) so he was feeling very smug.

Underground he discovered the light went out whenever he pulled it tight over his helmet, and only worked when the wire was hanging loose.

So in summary, it will be bright, but the build quality will be poor and you shouldn't rely on it alone.

Yeah I have really no intention of buying one of those cheap Chinese knock offs :p

Would like to buy something half decent, for a budget of <£50. I imagine I want something with a lot of flood and not much throw.

As for batteries, I'm a bit of a newb there. Some say C/D batts are best, some CR123, etc, etc. Minefield!

So what is a good main light source for mines? The PT EOS headlamps will be my backups.

A friend used something very similar as a backup on a trip to Wales recently (not sure if it was that one exactly, but the price and look are about right)

On the surface in his hand it was undeniably bright (although clearly not 2000 lumens and with some unusual beam patterns from the reflector) so he was feeling very smug.

Underground he discovered the light went out whenever he pulled it tight over his helmet, and only worked when the wire was hanging loose.

So in summary, it will be bright, but the build quality will be poor and you shouldn't rely on it alone.

And I would totally disagree with that....

Mine has been in to the most squalid conditions imaginable (and then some), and compared to a mr fellows lamp (eco star maybe? Tamarmole will confirm) is easily brighter.

Batteries last for days, lamp has never failed after numerous submergings, ochre fillings, swimmings and generally been abused.

It is a brilliant bit of kit, and probably at least 750+lms...

I barely charge it from one week to the next and it will do multi day trips easily. Even on low light there is plenty of illmination, I very rarely use the high setting.

If I haven't killed one yet, I am fairly confident it is a very good bit of kit. I am overly hard on the lamp and it gets no tlc at all.... I have on the other hand killed all my other lamps, petzls etc etc

Would like to buy something half decent, for a budget of <£50. I imagine I want something with a lot of flood and not much throw.

Have a look at the Nitecore HC50. I've been using one for a few months and like it a lot. The only gripe I have is that all the weight's at the front of the hat. But for the price, that's a minor grumble.

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Petzl Duo (yeh, a bit feeble these days) and as a backup I have a Halfords USB-rechargeable bike light cable-tied to my lid:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/accessories/lights-reflectors/rechargeable-bike-lights 

Not quite a Mike/Roy Bat Sizzler but it works for me... ::)


Mark

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A friend used something very similar as a backup on a trip to Wales recently (not sure if it was that one exactly, but the price and look are about right)

On the surface in his hand it was undeniably bright (although clearly not 2000 lumens and with some unusual beam patterns from the reflector) so he was feeling very smug.

Underground he discovered the light went out whenever he pulled it tight over his helmet, and only worked when the wire was hanging loose.

So in summary, it will be bright, but the build quality will be poor and you shouldn't rely on it alone.

And I would totally disagree with that....

Mine has been in to the most squalid conditions imaginable (and then some), and compared to a mr fellows lamp (eco star maybe? Tamarmole will confirm) is easily brighter.

Batteries last for days, lamp has never failed after numerous submergings, ochre fillings, swimmings and generally been abused.

It is a brilliant bit of kit, and probably at least 750+lms...

I barely charge it from one week to the next and it will do multi day trips easily. Even on low light there is plenty of illmination, I very rarely use the high setting.

If I haven't killed one yet, I am fairly confident it is a very good bit of kit. I am overly hard on the lamp and it gets no tlc at all.... I have on the other hand killed all my other lamps, petzls etc etc

Bright and bomb proof - I am very impressed.

Oldham.;D

[photo]85909[/photo]

Petzl Duo

Whack a few squids worth of Mr Biff's Rat upgrades and you'll have a tip top lamp mate!

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Petzl Duo

Whack a few squids worth of Mr Biff's Rat upgrades and you'll have a tip top lamp mate!

Yes I agree. I used one for years with both of the CustomDUO upgrades installed and it never let me down. Battery charge life is a little down now but after several hundred charges that's reasonable to expect. I have passed it on to Sinker Jnr (aged 11) who now uses it permanently fixed on his climbing helmet. He has an adaptor to take AA batteries in case he uses up both of the rechargeable batteries.
The cheap way to get this spec of lamp is to buy it 2nd hand in the first place, which is fine seeing as you are then going to junk all the LED's and get upgrades. Buy the upgrades separately to spread the cost.

I currently use a Roy Fellows EcoStar with small battery pack to keep the weight down and carry a spare battery pack. I find it bright enough for most occasions and based on an Oldham it is pretty bombproof. If it broke down, blew up or got nicked tomorrow then I would buy another without hesitation. Cheers Roy. :lol:

Having said all that, I have recently dragged my Oldham T out of retirement and used it a couple of times, just for the sake of nostalgia.....you stop worrying about "lumen envy" when everything out-guns you! :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Following 2 oldhams, a Miles Cree Wonderlamp (plastic lens thing) which I took into Tywarnhayle with RM (Trigon) and RF (Magnumstar), I thought my lamp was broken. I picked up a Trigon and have recently (hearing RF was discontinuing oldham conversions) augmented that with a Magnumstar (as he had his own one S/H...I would have had another Trigon).

Anyway, the Trigon is a hell of a tool it's like the turbo version of the normal lights, without being a dragster (with the associated unreliability, caining batteries, etc).

I was cycling to weirdybeardies from Carharrack to Comford and was overtaken by a VW Passat (newish). I wouldn't say he chucked a shadow, but my head torch was most certainly brighter. I do use the loud settings quite a lot, just for a quick photo (daytime mode on camera) or for seeing detail somewhere huge or dark-rocked.

I was looking forward to the MS and it's a different animal looks wise, it's like something Lamborghini would come up with if they made head torches. I was expecting even more of the same and was mildly disappointed by "more than enough light".

The trigon lights everything up enough, the MS just makes your pupils go smaller for the same result!

I do very much like my RF lamps and if I had to buy something with not-an-oldham, I'd be more interested in light quality and would consider a Scurion (I don't like wasting money, but they do seem quite good). It would probably be a toss up between a loud scurion and whatever RF is building now in the 2000L order.

The light from the Scurion I was with the other day was very very crisp. Everything seemed to be in high definition, like the point source was very "pointy" (if you catch my drift). This was a good thing.

What is important for me is longevity. I like the idea of carrying a big battery around, because I don't want the firkyfoodling of playing around with batteries and connectors, having seen my chum struggle with his Speleo Nova.

I think I would quit the hobby if I had to go back to an oldham. I went on a dig a while ago and used my mates oldham and had a headache when I came out. I realised this was due to eye strain!

Petzl Duo

Whack a few squids worth of Mr Biff's Rat upgrades and you'll have a tip top lamp mate!

Enlighten me...... :o

MARK

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Petzl Duo

Whack a few squids worth of Mr Biff's Rat upgrades and you'll have a tip top lamp mate!

Enlighten me...... :o

MARK

Try this link:

http://www.customduo.co.uk/Pages/cdshop.aspx 

Phil.

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