Ikelite PC-A comments

[gibson1525]

I'm looking for a new backup light and found the Ikelite PC-A, it looks like a nice and compact light but I've read a few comments on how it's not too rugged. Anyone out there have one or used one?

[bperrybap]

My wife has one. She used it for a year or so as her
primary light. She loved it. Its a great little light. VERY bright and
a very tight beam. Easily fits in most BC pockets;
my wife clipped it on her BC.
I see quite a few of them on dive trips being used
by dive masters as well as other divers. Works
great even in bright sunlight when looking up under
ledges.

It does have some draw backs.
It really eats batteries. Gets about 2
hours on duracell type batteries. At 6 at a time, if
you are on a liveaboard or in a remote place, thats a lot
of batteries you have to take if you are using it on
many night dives.

I tried using NiMh batteries but the light exploded underwater
after about 70 minutes into a dive due to excess hydrogen
build up.
We recovered all the parts and the light still works!
Just won't use rechargeables again.

Bulbs on the PCa are a custom bulb from Ikelite.
You can use a standard bulb, if you have to, but you
won't get the same brightness as Ikelite's custom bulb.

If you turn the light on above water for more than a few
minutes the light will get so hot that it will melt the
reflector or front lens.
-----------------------------------
My wife recently switched over to the UK SL4 eLED light.
Its LED based so there is no worries about blowing a bulb.
Its a bit bigger/longer and it uses 4 C cells instead of 6 AA.
Its about twice the cost of the PCa but
it gets about 10 hours on set of 4 C batteries. It has
a very white light with a tight narrow beam. Its not
quite as bright as the Ikelite is with fresh batteries but it
definitely lasts a lot longer on a single set of batteries.
SL4 eLED can use rechargeables as the module goes into
a low power/dim mode when batteries get low, which
will reduce the hydrogen buildup (which mostly
starts to occur when batteries get low).

If you can live with the limitations,
I think the PCa is a great little light.

--- bill

[Capt Hook]

We have one for at least 5 yrs. now, great small light.
Good backup.

[BobbyWombat]

I have one. Nice little light, no problems with ruggedness. I even accidentally left on on out of the water for a couple hours. It heated up pretty good, but kept on ticking, no problem. I'm sure I shortened the bulb life, but that is replacable.

[awap]

The only down side is you will have to get a pretty expensive primary light to outperform it. It sure is bright.

[gibson1525]

Great!, Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think I'm sold, PC-A it is!

[Tod]

For what it's worth, I've had one since the summer of 2002 and I use it quite a bit. I've read that some found it to be not as rugged as others but I've never had any problems with mine. (I do take pretty good care of my gear.) Little powerhouse!

[bversteegh]

Switch to LED lights. Batteries last much longer.

[gibson1525]

i looked at some of the LED lights but i really like the size of the PC-A. if i was using it for a primary light, i'd look into LED but this is only my backup so i don't plan on running through too many batteries.

what's your suggestion for a small LED light i could use for a backup?

[BSea]

Originally Posted by gibson1525

i looked at some of the LED lights but i really like the size of the PC-A. if i was using it for a primary light, i'd look into LED but this is only my backup so i don't plan on running through too many batteries.

what's your suggestion for a small LED light i could use for a backup?

As far as lights go, I have several of the less expensive dive lights that are now just expensive flashlights. So this is 1 area I've upgraded. I bought a Rat light by Salvo & love it. It's bright enough to use a primary till you go to a can light. If money wasn't an object, I'd go with the Oxycheq backup light. It's smaller than the rat light, and it's supposed to be brighter. In fact it may be my next light.