Best large torch/lamp

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pcatterall

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We need a high power torch for illuminating sails spotting lobster pots, mooring buoys etc.
We have a torch on board which is fine but needs recharging from the mains ( I guess I could use an inverter)
We recently had to motor for some time in an area where we knew there were pots around.
We had a spotter up front with the hand held and torch, this worked ok ( one pot avoided) but the torch soon went flat.
So the existing torch is fine for short periods but no good for extended use.
As we were motoring I guess we could have used a lamp on direct boat battery but would need a long lead ( we found spotting from the cockpit area causes too much glare at the helm)
Just get another rechargeable and recharge via an inverter while using the other torch is one possibility I suppose?
Any ideas on inverter size required and charging time versus depletion time?
What is your solution please?
 
mains and 12 volt

pcatterall said:
We need a high power torch for illuminating sails spotting lobster pots, mooring buoys etc.
We have a torch on board which is fine but needs recharging from the mains ( I guess I could use an inverter)
We recently had to motor for some time in an area where we knew there were pots around.
We had a spotter up front with the hand held and torch, this worked ok ( one pot avoided) but the torch soon went flat.
So the existing torch is fine for short periods but no good for extended use.
As we were motoring I guess we could have used a lamp on direct boat battery but would need a long lead ( we found spotting from the cockpit area causes too much glare at the helm)
Just get another rechargeable and recharge via an inverter while using the other torch is one possibility I suppose?
Any ideas on inverter size required and charging time versus depletion time?
What is your solution please?
Click to expand...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwqJn_EpIQw
 
I have one of these (click for link):



(the halogen version as the LED one didn't exist when I bought it.)

It's bloody bright - I could cast a spot on a house down the road in broad daylight.

I extended the cord on it (make sure to use something thick enough). If I wanted to use it from the bow I'd probably add a second socket there, but they do also do a version with a battery pack (and if you fitted a matching socket to the boat you'd be able to use it as a plug-in light instead if the battery was flat).

Pete
 

It's bloody bright - I could cast a spot on a house down the road in broad daylight

that's the sort of information I like; forget the zillions of candlepower in the tech blurb, I can imagine this sort of calibrated output...:)
 
The led torches have really superseded the plug in spotlights. They are brighter, and the battery life is long so there is no need to fuss with cord. The multitude of adjustable brightnesses means you can find the right balance to pick up objects ahead without totally destroying your night vision.
Something like this TK 60 would be a good choice
http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-tk60.html

It will go continuously for 4 hours on high. Most of the time high will be too bright you will be using it medium high with a 12hour life. On low it will go for 400hours, or about 16days.
With these. Sort of run times their is no need to have the restriction of something tethered to a cord. The torch is regulated so the brightness will remain the same throughout the run time.
 
Last edited:
noelex said:
The led torches have really superseded the plug in spotlights. They are brighter, and the battery life is long so there is no need to fuss with cord. The multitude of adjustable brightnesses means you can find the right balance to pick up objects ahead without totally destroying your night vision.
Something like this TK 60 would be a good choice
http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-tk60.html

It will go continuously for 4 hours on high. Most of the time high will be too bright you will be using it medium high with a 12hour life. On low it will go for 400hours, or about 16days.
Click to expand...

That looks spiffing, but at £105.00 will remain on the back burner for now, the Homebase giant conventional job will do, as long as I keep it charged; I admit not ideal.

In case anyone is thinking of alternatives, I had a night vision monocular a while ago; it packed up afer a few hours looking at foxes in the garden, meanwhile the suppliers had gone bust; I'd avoid 'Yukon' devices.
 
I have the old fashion rechargeables (2m and 5 m candlepower) which only last 20 minutes or so before you have to charge them again, which is a pain. I also have one search light which connects to the yacht batteries via a plug in the cockpit, which is OK.

However, my favorite search torch is the Nightsearcher Trio LED (google it); it will last 10 hours on full beam, very bright, the beam will reach over half a mile, will recharge quickly, does not discharge if you leave it for a while, very light; has been working for the last 2 years without problems.; approx £28; good quality.
 
I used to keep two cheap 'lantern' battery style spot torches aboard for emergency use. Two because I suspect there's a fair chance of dropping a torch with a panic on. I have a head torch for every day use so figured the 'emergency' torches would remain reliable if unused. I was wrong! One disintegrated internally and the other suffered a blown halogen bulb.

So I bought a Lenser T7 for £40. Tiny but ludicrously bright. If I were planning a long trip I would buy a spare.
 
I use one of the three d cell aluminium torches with an LED bulb conversion, cant look at the torch and lights up a bouy at at least 250 meters, never seen anything like it. We are talking blindingly bright and the batteries (I use lithium) last ages, a lot longer than normal bulbs.
 
Torch/spot light

Hi Pete.
My guess is that your battery powered spot light has halogen bulb so is very bright however draws 20w or nearly 2 amps. My guess is that the batteries are getting tired. Replacement batteries for troches drills etc are reasonably cheap from China. You probably need Sub C cells or 4/5subC type for search on Ebay. Newer batteries have grater capacity than original and will last much better than dud old ones.
With the light opened up it should be easy to bring out wires to a connector for 12v charging. If it has 12v battery 10 cells then that should charge up OK if you have the engine running. Use an amp meter to check charge current and a resistor to limit charge current if it is too high. More than 10% of AH rating of batteries. And of course you could run the light when on charge even with engine not running.
Those LED torches look lovely but I could not relax with a crew leaning over the bow with that value torch just waiting for a chance to drop it in the sea. Cheap is best for that job. olewill
 
pcatterall said:
We need a high power torch for illuminating sails spotting lobster pots, mooring buoys etc.
We have a torch on board which is fine but needs recharging from the mains ( I guess I could use an inverter)
We recently had to motor for some time in an area where we knew there were pots around.
We had a spotter up front with the hand held and torch, this worked ok ( one pot avoided) but the torch soon went flat.
So the existing torch is fine for short periods but no good for extended use.
As we were motoring I guess we could have used a lamp on direct boat battery but would need a long lead ( we found spotting from the cockpit area causes too much glare at the helm)
Just get another rechargeable and recharge via an inverter while using the other torch is one possibility I suppose?
Any ideas on inverter size required and charging time versus depletion time?
What is your solution please?
Click to expand...

We bought something similar to this at Halfords years ago.

Best I've seen in action and doesn't break the bank (guess that's due to the lack of the prefix 'marine' ;) )
 
William_H said:
Hi Pete.
My guess is that your battery powered spot light has halogen bulb so is very bright however draws 20w or nearly 2 amps. My guess is that the batteries are getting tired. Replacement batteries for troches drills etc are reasonably cheap from China. You probably need Sub C cells or 4/5subC type for search on Ebay. Newer batteries have grater capacity than original and will last much better than dud old ones.
With the light opened up it should be easy to bring out wires to a connector for 12v charging. If it has 12v battery 10 cells then that should charge up OK if you have the engine running. Use an amp meter to check charge current and a resistor to limit charge current if it is too high. More than 10% of AH rating of batteries. And of course you could run the light when on charge even with engine not running.
Those LED torches look lovely but I could not relax with a crew leaning over the bow with that value torch just waiting for a chance to drop it in the sea. Cheap is best for that job. olewill
Click to expand...

My two have lanyards on them, as do my binoculars, rule on my boat, lanyard around the neck if leaving wheelhouse, seems to work, especially when told and emphasized with a two by four!
 
Another vote for a LED-based torch... genuinely, they are to old style torches like iPods are to tape recorders.

I got a small Klarus torch that gives out 800 lumens and it's too bright for indoor use even in daylight. Recently, could light up boats across the bay from our 5th floor appartment. Cost around £60 and uses camera batteries which is a pain. (I keep it next to my bed since it has a "tactical" strobe effect which I'm sure will put off any intruder. It's also good for breaking glass windows with.).

Given the above's brightness, I bought this one from Amazon, it's only £14 and still lights up the neighbour's house. It's very small and runs for hours using three AAA batteries. Much brighter than any non-LED torch we had in the house before.

Or, if you want more, look at this one here. 1300 lumens in a small hand-held torch, again using camera batteries. This one includes a strobe and SOS signal which, hopefully, you will never need.

Alternatively, there's a 1200 lumens "bike light" which runs for 4+ hours at £36.99 only, here. Maybe connect that to your 12v supply through a suitably-sized voltage regulator?
 
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