TESTCENTRE
Light up your life
Tecline TECLIGHT
COMPANY : AQUA ACTIVE LTD PRICE : £ 688.57 FOR THE TECLIGHT STANDARD TEL : 0330 1221395 WEB : WWW . TECLINEDIVING . EU or WWW . AQUAACTIVE . CO . UK
Back in the days of old-school battery and bulb technology , separating a light head from its battery pack via a cable was the simple solution to allow a much larger and heavier power source to be carried elsewhere .
Umbilical lights proved very popular , especially with technical divers where the extended duration and higher output were beneficial . Modern LEDs and powerful , rechargeable Li-Ion batteries however , have taken things to the next level .
So , would it now be true to say that umbilical lights have had their day ? Judging from their continuing popularity , the answer would appear to be a resounding ‘ no ’. The benefits remain the same , with longer duration , higher output and less bulk to deal with at the business end , which when carrying out other tasks is another positive .
Tecline ’ s TECLIGHT is a prime example of the modern umbilical light . It comprises a compact light head with adjustable Goodman handle plus a separate battery cannister , linked via a 1.2m long cable . Machined from anodised aluminium and Delrin , the light has a classy-looking black and gold colour scheme .
The head itself is a sleek , lightweight unit with an integrated handle , plus an interesting hole offset to the right side . Marked ‘ DPV ’, it is used as means to conveniently retain the light head with your thumb when the fingers are required elsewhere .
The 75W Li-Ion battery is commonly accepted by commercial airlines among hand luggage ( but always good policy to check first ) and as cannister and head combined weigh in at less than 1kg , it certainly lends itself to travel .
The canister is only 17cm tall and it easily slipped via its webbing strap , onto my tank band . The head contains a single , central XML II LED , while around the circumference of the lens are seven XPG II LEDs . This array provides three operating modes :
■ Communication Mode ( 1300 lumen output and a beam angle of 6 degrees ). A very piercing narrow beam , which I found great for poor visibility when detritus would be illuminated with a wider beam . Burn time : approximately 7 hours .
■ Combined Mode ( 3900 lumen / 6 plus 120 degrees ). Perfect for general use where the narrow beam allowed me to pick out features while still illuminating my immediate surroundings . A good option for night diving in particular . Burn time : 1 hour , 50 minutes .
■ Video Mode ( 2600 lumen / 120 degrees ). A flat and even coverage suitable for DSLR and action cameras alike . With no hot spots , this beam didn ’ t overcook things at close quarters . Burn time : 2.5 hours .
Within 10 % of depletion , the circuitry gives a warning by switching between Comms and Video mode , thereafter operating at reduced power for 60 minutes . A full charge takes around 2.5 hours . It ’ s a shame there ’ s not an emergency / SOS mode but that ’ s just a minor point in what otherwise proved an excellent and value for money system . Neil Hope
SCUBA SAYS
The Tecline TECLIGHT is a good , solid addition to any serious diver ’ s kit . Its three operating modes provide output and durations for every scenario , while its compact and lightweight form make it a suitable option for travel .
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