Portable 12v Halogen Spotlight

bedouin said:
I guess it is the "SOLAS Approved" bit.

Not sure many of the cheap options are submersible.
Click to expand...

That's the point. I've got two open self-draining side-lockers in the cockpit, one of which has a Dri-Plug socket fitted. In heavier conditions these can flood, so my current 12v searchlight (which overheats anyway despite the large ventilation gaps) is useless. Also, the 12v 50W halogen beam packs a serious punch - better than any battery-operated LEDs I've tried.
 
U2-led-light-1-1.jpg

30w LED-
I use a CREE cycling head torch on the boat and for dry caving- beats every other light underground.
 
Babylon said:
That's the point. I've got two open self-draining side-lockers in the cockpit, one of which has a Dri-Plug socket fitted. In heavier conditions these can flood, so my current 12v searchlight (which overheats anyway despite the large ventilation gaps) is useless. Also, the 12v 50W halogen beam packs a serious punch - better than any battery-operated LEDs I've tried.
Click to expand...

If you decide to buy one, it's only 115 euros at SVB - http://www.svb24.com/en/portable-search-light.html
 
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Babylon - Hi, we have one of the Aqua Signal Bremen searchlights on board..

ISAF rules required us to have ... "a watertight high-intensity heavy duty searchlight powered by the ships' batteries, instantly available for use on deck and in the cockpit, with spare bulbs. The searchlight shall be capable of continuous use. If rechargeable the searchlight shall be capable of operating whilst being charged." ... so it was there for a reason.. and the rechargeable units we tried were not able to be used whilst being charged..

Just checking the ISAF rules for this year, the requirement seems to have been dropped... Strange.. Ah, but it's been added to the RORC prescriptions so would still be an offshore racing requirement.

As to the light itself - It was the only one we could find at the time that really seemed to be fully waterproof.

Spare sealed beam bulb units - rather dear - but we found you can buy spares for just over a tenner from theatre lamp suppliers.

As to others suggesting CREE LED torches - they didn't fit the permanently powered requirement... I do however have photos taken at night showing a comparison of the Aqua Signal Bremen and the Fenix TK15 S2 beams.. I'll try and find the photos - or you can test them out yourself one evening..

(FWIW - The Fenix was actually a slightly brighter beam.. more light.. brighter and better distance..)
 
Southsea marina... Taken just a few minutes apart...

Night view - Fenix TK15 S2

http://1drv.ms/1hTgLdY

Night view - Bremen 12v/50w searchlight

http://1drv.ms/1L3LkUZ

Still glad we have the 12v searchlight though - It's always there in handy bag, ready connected... Although we have a Fenix velcro'd to the pedestal.. so both lights to hand at night..
 
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If the O/P decides on a rechargeable battery powered searchlight then I have found the Nightsearcher Trio to be excellent, not the brightest perhaps but the torch with its battery was left on my boat from 2011 to 2015 without being used or charged and it still seems as good today as when I bought it. Also, it comes with a car style charge adaptor as well as a mains powered one which is convenient. Widely available, see here for example : http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p30...23&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=CLmekIyz2McCFUFmGwodcSoKCA

Hth,

Boo2
 
Boo2.. I'd not be sure I could rely on an IP4 (splashproof) searchlight when trying to find something in the dark and pouring rain.. For just twice the price you can get something IPX8 (suitable for continuous submersion).

I'm really not trying to sell the Fenix but two more good things about them are that the battery compartment has springs at both ends (thus more resilient to drops) and you get advanced warning that the batteries are getting low by the torch not supporting the highest power setting... then when batteries lose more power, the highest two power settings are not supported and so on.. So good advanced warning.

TBH - I really don't like the on-off switch on the end.. or the small power adjustment button... but they seem to survive well in the pockets of crew waterproofs.
 
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