Adios
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They are made in Portsmouth and I just bent the ear of the CEO of Daniamant over why its not mentioned clearly on their website. Hopefully it will be soon.
Led flares
- Thread starter masterofnone
- Start date
Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
I do try to patronise GB products. I have tried with steel strip - no possibility.
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Stemar
Well-Known Member
I don't mind paying a bit more for decent quality control on something like that - I'd quite like it to work when I need it, which is less than certain if you get it from Wish. Equally, I'd pay a bit more for a genuine Made In GB mark.
There's also the question of how much you'd have paid for a set of inshore flares - almost £50 a pop, then thrown them away over the 14 year life of the battery in the LED job.
Jodel
Well-Known Member
Just found this video of the Sirius 1002 & 1003. I'd like to see what they look like at distance but to me the flash rate for the SOS is too slow on the 1003 and way too fast on the 1002 although the multi colo(u)r is certainly eye-catching.
thinwater
Well-Known Member
The white standard was written when incandescent bulbs were a leading technology. Speed, energy consumption, and heat dissipation were all limiting factors. The multicolor standard was written resently and reflects resent LED developments.
It seems everyone has a different opinion on the best flash rate, so there it is. But I agree, something in between seems best. I would also like a slightly longerseparation between repeats.
No idea if these will become international standards. But in the US they meet carriage requirements.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
I don't seem to be able to find a distributor in the UK for the Sirius 1003
Adios
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I looked earlier and found this Sirius Signal C-1003 SOS LED Flare Electronic Visual Distress Signal Kit with Daytime Distress Flag and Whistle - CG Approved - Legally Never Buy Flares Again: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors about 3x the USA price though and coming from Turkey. Better to find a USA seller willing to ship it here and pay the import charges.
Not sure its worth paying the extra for this over the Odeo flare which is supposed to be visible for over 3 miles. When near the water the horizon will be more of a constraint so the 10 mile range of the other might not give that much value. Last night sail I carried my odeo in a pocket unnoticed which wouldnt be possible with that Sirius, along with a DSC handheld (I now have a PLB as well), I never felt I could rely on a couple of parachute flares and the good luck of someone spotting it so considered an LED flare more a device to help people who are looking rather than a means of raising alarm.
Adios
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The Odeo certainly can take new batteries, twist off and pop in new AAAs. The Sirius can too
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Adios
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Just found this video on presumably a linked product to the Sirius. Has the same lens over the single LED. Major weakness is the 10 miles must be if the light is on exactly the right very narrow plane. Off the plane there is so little light its not even dazzling when held a few inches from your eyes, no squinting required:
Hoist it up for increased visibility he says. Well it doesn't look like it to me
Best I can find the Sirius is pretty much the same. Thats really a deal breaker. No way is it going to be 10 miles off axis. If anything it seems to almost completely block any light escaping, focusing it all on the narrow plane and some out the top.
With the Odeo its the basic light output of the LEDs that is visible for 3 miles, no lens needed
Hoist it up for increased visibility he says. Well it doesn't look like it to me
Best I can find the Sirius is pretty much the same. Thats really a deal breaker. No way is it going to be 10 miles off axis. If anything it seems to almost completely block any light escaping, focusing it all on the narrow plane and some out the top.
With the Odeo its the basic light output of the LEDs that is visible for 3 miles, no lens needed
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thinwater
Well-Known Member
The Orion light hangs straight.
The Sirius light will hand straight if you slide the foam ring down, remove the existing stupid string, and tie a new sling (takes only a few minutes). There are two properly spaced clips, the string just does not go through them. Go figure, the factory was just stupid about that.
JPN
New Member
Have you frequently checked the battery status of your LED-flares?
I noticed that the batteries where dead after two year storage.
I noticed that the batteries where dead after two year storage.
thinwater
Well-Known Member
You should inspect any gear of this type annually and replace the batteries annually. That's in the instructions.
Big-Bang1
Well-Known Member
I'm fortunate enough to work with a gent who has recently left the search and rescue team, he likes LED flares at night as they are easily visible from a long distance away when using image intensifying night vision, however, unless turned off when the helicopter was close - they dazzle the crew. Unlike a handheld flares there is also no smoke to indicate wind direction to the pilot. During daylight he described them as 'Best part of useless', So to my mind they are a useful addition to traditional flares rather than a replacement.
