I think my addictive nature has found a new genre of dive-gear on which to fixate – dive-torches. The marketplace seems to be flooded with them, so much so that choosing the right model for your specific needs could be mindboggling.
There are Swiss Army-type torches with more functions than you can wag a stick at, or single-mode models designed simply to provide illumination. The XRE510 from Metalsub does the latter but with a few extras thrown in.
I’ve been taking one under water over the past few months to see if it cuts through the darkness.
Ang disenyo
The XRE510 is a small handheld torch with a robust marine-grade, Teflon-impregnated, anodised aluminium body. It is 108mm long with a 39mm-diameter double-O-ring-protected screw-in head housing a polished reflector behind a toughened glass lens.
The torch-head has an orange EDPM rubber band to add some shock resistance and help stop it rolling around on the boat deck. A single multi-function push-button switch at the base turns the light on or off, scrolls through the light levels and activates the flashing modes.
Ang pag-iilaw ay ibinibigay ng isang Cree LED na naghahatid ng output na 500 lumens sa isang masikip na 10° spot beam. Apat na AA alkaline o ang katumbas sa mga rechargeable na baterya ang nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan.
There are four light output levels, a flashing SOS mode and a one-second-interval strobe mode. An overpressure valve stop the torch exploding if there’s any gas leakage from the power-cells, and it comes with a wrist lanyard.
Sa paggamit
Magsisimula ako sa pagpapaliwanag sa switching system. Mayroon lamang isang pindutan na haharapin, at ito ay gumagana sa maikli, mahaba o dobleng pagtulak. Ang ilaw ay nakabukas sa isang solong pindutin nang matagal, ang mga maiikling push ay mag-scroll sa apat na antas ng liwanag, at isa pang mahabang push ang nagpapatay ng ilaw.
Two successive quick pushes while the torch is on activate the steady flashing mode, the next single press changes this to SOS, and another double tap changes it back to a solid beam. The process quickly became intuitive but, as with most dive-torches, it’s a two-handed operation.
Sa ilalim ng tubig ang gitna ng sinag ay pinutol sa dilim tulad ng isang mainit na kutsilyo sa pamamagitan ng mantikilya. Itinuon ng reflector ang sinag sa isang maliit na hotspot na napapalibutan ng mas malambot na pool ng liwanag.
Ang maliwanag na center beam ay may kalamangan sa hindi pag-iilaw ng mga peripheral particulate upang bigyan ang pakiramdam ng pagmamaneho sa makapal na fog sa pangunahing beam.
Burntimes varied with the type of battery I used. The best I achieved was just over two hours on 100% output using Duracell Ultra Power alkaline batteries, while the worst was 90 minutes using rechargeable ni-mhs.
On a couple of dusk dives in poor visibility I used the XRE510 as a locator beacon, looping the lanyard round the exit shotline and leaving it in situ with its steady strobe flashing so that we could always see our exit route. Thankfully I didn’t need to use the SOS mode during the tests, but knowing it’s there adds a bit of confidence.
The torch doesn’t have a travel lock, so to be on the safe side and comply with current aircraft baggage regulations the batteries need to be removed from the outer case. To do this you simply unscrew the head.
Konklusyon
By today’s standards 500 lumens is a bit on the low side, but in fact it’s more than the average diver should ever need, especially when it’s delivered in a tight beam. The output proved ideal on night-dives and didn’t destroy my night vision or temporarily blind my buddies, yet it was plenty bright enough to use as a primary torch.
If you want to turn your dive-site into the equivalent of Wembley Stadium on match night this isn’t the torch for you, but if you want to see your way round a reef or wreck in poor visibility after the sun has set, it’s the tool for the job.
Ginagawa ito ng mga karagdagang mode kaysa sa isang simpleng handheld na ilaw, at ang unit ay tila kasing tigas ng mga pako. Sa katunayan, sigurado ako na maaari mong martilyo ang mga pako na iyon sa isang deck ng bangka gamit ito, sa pakiramdam na ganoon katatag.
SPECS
COST: £119
OUTPUT: 500 lumens
SETTING: 100/50/25%. Kupas na liwanag. Panay flash. SOS
PINAGKUKUNAN NG LAKAS: 4 x AA alkaline o rechargeable na mga baterya
BURN TIME: Higit sa 2 oras 100%, hanggang anim na oras na may kumukupas na liwanag
DIMENSIONS: 108 x 39mm diameter
Timbang: 342g na may mga baterya
DEPTH RATING: 100m
CONTACT: www.cpspartnership.co.uk
DIVER GUIDE: 10/10
Lumitaw sa DIVER Nobyembre 2016
