TESTCENTRE
The dive light , reborn
Fusion R Rechargeable Dive Torch
COMPANY : NORTHERN DIVER PRICE : £ 60 TEL : 01257 254444 WEB : WWW . NDIVER . COM
Dive lights come in all different shapes and sizes . They range from very basic , single beam handheld torches powered by AA batteries right through to umbilical torches with separate heads and rechargeable battery packs . Others offer a host of different modes , such as multiple angles , intensities and colour temperatures . Ultimately , you get what you pay for .
If you ' re looking for an inexpensive torch that makes as good an option as a primary light as it does as a secondary light source , then Northern Diver ' s latest offering from its Fusion range will take some beating .
The Fusion R (' R ' for rechargeable ) measures 160mm by 38mm , with an outer case nicely curved to fit the hand . A single 5000Ah / 21700 Li-ion battery is enclosed in this completely sealed unit , so there are no potentially crushed O-rings or crossed threads to worry about .
Charging has been made virtually idiotproof thanks to a clever magnetic port situated on the underside of the casing . Simply plonk the circular end of the supplied USB cable next to it and plug it in to a power supply .
Despite weighing a tad under 200g , the torch doesn ' t feel in the least bit plasticky and being depth-rated to 100 metres will give it appeal to divers of all abilities . A single sliding magnetic switch sits on the top of the casing in exactly the right spot for effortless thumb operation .
Pushing it once , twice and thrice accesses the high ( 2000 lumen ) mode , medium ( 1000l ) and low ( 300l ). Another push powers it down . Its single SST40 LED produces a colour temperature of 5700- 7300k and has a lifespan of 100,000 hours . The battery itself has an estimated lifespan of five years .
Fully charging the Fusion takes approximately 4.5 hours – you can repeat the process a minimum of 1,000 times . Unlike many dive lights , which rely on the cooling effect of the water to dissipate
heat , the Fusion R can be used topside too thanks to its intelligent overheat protection .
Once switched on , the torch emits an inner , glowing green light visible just behind the head . This doubles as a flashing indicator when there ' s less than 60 minutes of power remaining . During the recharging process it also pulses until capacity is reached and it then glows solid .
The beam angle of 11 degrees is ideal for poking around reefs and wrecks , while the substantially wider , less intense halo is useful illumination for the general surroundings . I found this especially so during night dives , where it gave a much better orientation than a more concentrated , piercing beam would provide .
With any of the three power settings engaged , a long push on the magnetic slider will divert power to a flashing strobe light concealed at the top of the handle . It ' s very frugal power-wise , so whether used as a shot-line marker or in an emergency situation , it will continue to flash for a maximum of 264 hours . I ' d like to think I ' d be home and dry well before it extinguished . NH
SCUBA SAYS
A versatile , lightweight torch that packs a punch and can even serve as an emergency beacon or underwater strobe light . For just £ 60 , it ’ s a bargain . The Fusion R is a no-nonsense , 100m-reated shockproof torch with three power modes , an emergency strobe feature and a fool-proof magnetic charging system . At this price you ’ d have to be a fool not to want one .
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