This instructional video by Scuba.com explains the difference between the two major types of lights. They are the Halogen (Xeon) and LED. The Halogen has a single glass bulb just like any other light we are used to seeing and the ledlight has a diode with no glass involved. The significant difference between the two is that the led is much more durable and the light is a different spectrum. It is more of a white light unlike the halogen that has a yellow light. The led also has a longer burning time than the Halogen bulb too. The major advantage to an ledlight is the amount of battery life you get. If you change your batteries three times with ledlight you will end up changing your batteries nine times with halogen lights. Although the led is about three times as much, in the long run you will save more money on batteries and bulbs. Video Rating: 4 / 5
@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
@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.
@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.
@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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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
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?
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.
@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
@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.
@scubacom
Any CREE Led can be adopted for underwater use. It has been done, and is being done.
@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.
@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 the bulb isnt the point……its battery life…period
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!
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
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.
and uhh.. there isn’t nearly the same projection with the LED as there is with the Xeon. So… Xeon or HIDs it is.
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.
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
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.
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!
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?
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
Light bulb guys are like religious zealots. Sheesh.
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?
he is a retard LED are not expensive go on dealextreme>com and u can buy 900 lumen CREE P7 for 30 dollars
CZINON thans what is he saynf wtf he he doest know squat
Yes, but the fundamental differences put them into 2 different classes altogether.
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.
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.
Note: Both Halogen and Xenon bulbs are commonly used in diving lights. The light in the demonstration does indeed use a Xenon bulb.
3000k is yellow