Differences between the LED and halogen diving lights

[scubacom]

We're staring to compare Semi trucks to skate boards here. Cree makes a great product, but they don't make them for scuba applictions, so the point is moot. Maybe one day they'll make a bulb for smaller, handheld applications but until that time some of the best performing lights for divers would be the UK Aquasun light or maybe the L.E.D. lights from Big Blue. Both are remarkably brighter than other similar sized hand held diving lights and will offer you years of service!

[lazerusmfh]

@scubacom

Any CREE Led can be adopted for underwater use. It has been done, and is being done.

[scubacom]

@lazerusmfh Yes, that is true. And in a pinch I once filled a normal flashlight that the Air Force issued me with silicone grease and got it to work for a dive as well. But, adapted for use and commercially and readily available are different things. Cree makes amazing products but at this time for the average recreational diver we are still talking a product not readily available or within most budgets.

[Nettikturbo]

and uhh.. there isn't nearly the same projection with the LED as there is with the Xeon. So... Xeon or HIDs it is.

[gorodph]

I don´t know what you mean by "projection" and I don´t know what´s "Xeon". Maybe you don´t know the newest news from LED industry but Luminus made a single LED with output up to 6000 lumens. It´s more that you can get from a 50W HID bulb. So, you can have extremely powerful light from one little LED. It´s reality now. The time of HIDs is almost over.

[scubacom]

The L.E.D. lights are constantly improving. The UK AquaSun Rechargeable eLED is one the best LEDs out there and is giving the HID lights a run for the money. 026613

[waterworkss]

@scubacom Really....... I would love to see a led come close to a hid globe. If I could replace my hid spot lights on my car for led's I would. AquaSun hey......i'll check it out

[gorodph]

Halogen is history. Nothing can beat LEDs today. The best high power LED on the planet today has an efficiacy of 186 lumens per Watt. Halogen has the efficiacy of approximately 20 lumens per Watt. LEDs are also much much cheaper than halogen bulbs.

[jcisbell]

Light bulb guys are like religious zealots. Sheesh.

[AmericansSexualPreds]

he is a retard LED are not expensive go on dealextreme>com and u can buy 900 lumen CREE P7 for 30 dollars

[jcisbell]

Is it necessary to say "retard"? $30 IS expensive compared to $4 or $5 for a brighter halogen. Don't have a fit either. I love LED's. But even if he thinks it's expensive and you don't, does that really make him a "retard"? What kind of person do you want to be?

[AmericansSexualPreds]

yeh but think about it halogen die and after u buy a few bulbs ur at the same place, plus the battery savings is triple so is still cheaper, now what u say my friend

[jcisbell]

You have a good point. But only IF one uses the light long enough to exceed the initial cost right? Now ask yourself, how many people do you know who've replaced halogen bulbs 7 times? Not many I'd bet. Now, point two, you didn't answer. Care to?

[scubacom]

Replacing a halogen bulb 7 times is not going to be the case. However, have you ever had your halogen bulb burn out on you while you were diving or when you were just about to go diving or while you were on vacation? By the time you spend $15 on the bulb (if you can find it) and another $5-$10 in shipping it is just not worth the headache. LEDs are great because the bulb lasts 10,000+ hours and if you happen to drop or throw your light the bulb still works!

[jcisbell]

As I said. I love LED's! I'm just saying that the instructor was not a "retard" for saying led's are a little more expensive. They are. Are they worth it? Probably yes, but that's a different question.

[AmericansSexualPreds]

nah man u stil have to replace it it burns out pretty quirck if u use it,a nd batteries man it taks up 3 Times more battries

[ZmannR2]

@jcisbell the bulb isnt the point......its battery life...period

[jcisbell]

@ZmannR2 2 things: First, for me as a bicycle rider, YES run time IS the main thing and 2. I don't think I was talking about that. My halogen system was cheap and easy to build is still brighter than most LED's, even the ones that claim to be brighter (total output and wide spread) and the battery pack I matched to it lets me run 3hrs which is more than I need for most rides. Now - it will be very nice when I get an LED setup and gain the longer run time. But it's not apples vs apples.

[jcisbell]

@ZmannR2 I don't have the knowledge to use my big 12 volt battery pack with LED's. I know I ought to be able to use some kind of step down, but then - am I still getting full use from the batteries? I don't know. The batteries that seem to work best with the bright LED's don't have the run time. I guess I can put them in parallel right? But, then I have to start over with the cost of new battteries and take the time to build a new case. So for now, I'm happy being super bright 20 watt halogen.

[AmericansSexualPreds]

CZINON thans what is he saynf wtf he he doest know squat

[TheGeek1028]

I think you mean Xenon. And these are halogen. Halogen filament and xenon lamps are completely different.

[scubacom]

Note: Both Halogen and Xenon bulbs are commonly used in diving lights. The light in the demonstration does indeed use a Xenon bulb.

[TheGeek1028]

Yes, I know. But you were pretty much saying that Xenon and Halogen filament bulbs are the same.

Halogen uses gasses from the halogen group combined with an incandescent filament. Uses a quartz envelope.

Xenon uses gasses from the xenon group that has electrodes on both side of the arc tube. Uses a glass/quartz tube.

LEDs use a diode with no gasses or envelope. Uses its own assembly as an envelope.

[scubacom]

Ah yes. I understand now and see how our instructor makes it seem that way. What he's trying to say is that Xenon and Halogen lights get lumped into the same category in terms of functions, features and benefits to the divers and the L.E.D. light gets put into another new category by itself.

[TheGeek1028]

Yes, but the fundamental differences put them into 2 different classes altogether.

[RyuDarragh]

Both CREE and Luxeon make LEDs in the 200 to 400 lumen range in all colors and several "color temperature" whites. I have a flashlight running off 2 #123 batteries and using a Luxeon Rebel Star that outputs 210 lumens. And EarthLED makes replacements for 60W and 100W incandescents using the CREE modules that are just as bright (680 and 1120 lumens). They have now crossed over the break even hump with CFLs.

[RacerXGTO]

LED manufactures make white leds with different color temperatures, the most common and annoying is the "cool blue" led that China barfs out by the ton.

5000K - cool white

4000K - White

3000K - ultra white

[STARZFAN31]

you might have that backwards.  the higher the temp, the "whiter"the light. The lower the number, the more yellow, or incandesent, the light looks.

[fwynn]

3000k is yellow

[bloodseedrums]

i think your confusing Xenon (hid lights) with regular halogen lights they are very different

[marlonsroad]

led sucks for real lighting.. i tried them on the beach and you just see a white spot in the sand but you dont see the texture or the holes (you will probably fall)

anyway i like how they look

[xixiSKILLZixix]

leds r much better for lighting than xenon or halogen u just used a light with too low a wattage a halogen light with the same wattage would be less bright anyway

[STARZFAN31]

Led ,lights put out a very focused beam, Thats why you arent seeing detail or getting alot of area lighting. Where a filament bulb, be it halogen, xenon, standard tungsten, or hid, puts out more of a radiating cone of light, unless tightly focused with a lens.  Just fyi. I, however, am amazed at how much light they can get out of a tiny LED these days. Pretty good for something that was discovered on accident. Lol

[alaskanealge77]

wow. That was pretty one sided with no mention of how bulb lights put out the full spectrum & show color better.  I'm going with bulb main light & led backup. This guy sucks at explanations though.

[coastale]

Thanks Scuba Steve! But seriously, what is the ideal color temperature of bulb to have underwater. More cheap light with the LED might not translate into better illumination underwater. Over and out.

[sonicaab]

Great video, but i'm a bit confused. Are Xeon lights the same as halogen lights?

[blauwepiet]

no, xenon and halogen are 2 diffrent gasses that have diffrent properties

[sonicaab]

Thanks for replying.

Now I need to find a video that compares xenon and halogen lights, because I don't know which one is better.

[blauwepiet]

theres alot info about the diffrences but all i know is that xenon is brighter then halogen

[LuminolBlue]

Very informative; thank you for sharing.

[TransfusionSB]

good informative video

[Garywonit]

From specs I've read, battery consumption is a little better with LED for the larger 8 D-cell lights. But regarding bulb life... it's true that the LED lasts much longer than a halogen/xenon bulb, but this would only be of concern for a frequent night diver. LED's are on a fast pace of improvement. I'd hold off on getting a $100 LED light for another year or two, until LED's are better priced.

[VTXnME]

lol, maybe label the video right. A xenon bulb is WAY different then a halogen. One is filament which runs current through it, the other is a gas charge which works like neon tubes.

[hamrzlawnlake]

I just got a mini maglight LED. After 15 yrs with a traditional on my belt, I can tell you I'll NEVER go back. (especially on candle mode).

[kingj0n]

but the xenon lights are way brighter, maybe not whiter but brigher.... I want to see what I point at...