OxyCheq Raider 3 LED Strobe & SOS Feature

[CWSWine]

I have both the Dorsey and Raider III. There is two Raider II in our area that I know of and one other Dorsey. My Raider with over 100 dives and been loaned out for several difference dive trips and one that a police officer own and use daily at work and dives with it also for the past 9 months have work flawlessly.
The Raider is very focus light and it penetrates low viz a lot better than the Dorsey and it better at signaling. The Dorsey has a larger area it lights with a smaller hot spot which makes it better for higher viz or ocean diving. The Dorsey takes standard AAA batteries where the Raider uses CR123 which are harder to find. The Raider has three brightness settings but are useless since in still maintain the tight focus. I have never used the strobe but I guess it could be useful.
The Raider got a bad press when the first shipment came with the wrong lens from the manufacture and flooded. Some have complained about the magnetic switch but mine and the cops has worked perfect. The only comment I will make that it is easy to turn on and can be turn on by accident. I called ST concerned about mine and the sales guy said that it has one of the lowest failure rates of any of their lights and if it had a high failure rate they wouldn’t be selling it since they stand behind all there products. Replacing products under warranty cost money and customer confidence.
My Dorsey flickers when hot and I called Dorsey Direct and was instructed to put electrical tape on the end of the battery holder to tight it up in the housing – that fix it. They won’t replace the battery housing even after saying it was a common problem. On another light the lens cracked and Dorsey Direct said that is a design error in how the lens in mounted – glass to metal. I was told if you hit light on the end just right it cracks the lens and the lens is non replaceable. He said they heat the housing and press the lens into the housing. That was a very common problem and they even put it up in their FAQ about you can’t replace the lens. Here is the link they sent me to Dorcy Direct FAQ. (look at item 8)
If it were me, I would probably still buy the Dorsey over the Raider for a couple of reason but the main one being price and not as focused light. I will probably purchase a can light which will make the Raider III obsolete for low viz or it would move to a over price backup light. I would use the Dorsey for Ocean diving and the backup for the can light would be ideal.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by cali.grrl

lol

Dennis, I think it was your post on the other thread that I remembered someone saying it wouldn't fit!

Is there another brand of "sock" that would work as a goodman handle for a "standard" style light?

Charlotte

Not that I know of but the Raider I sock will work just make sure it is the 1 and not III/IV. But it is tight fit.

[fisheater]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I have both the Dorsey and the Raider III/IV sock and they will not fit. I also have a Raider I sock that it will fit but it is tight fit.

It's a very tight fit, but it does fit. You have to have faith and be willing to stretch the elastic. Heck, CompuDude has seen it. So, I have a well known witness.

[buddhasummer]

OMS K2 (same output as the Dorcy) and Intovas also fit light sock, Raider 3/4. If you are looking for a strobe for safety/emergency I can recommend the Jotron AQ-4 strobe, a little exy but great for its intended purpose.

[cali.grrl]

Dennis: Thank you SO MUCH for that insight! Really helped offer some distinction between the two lights!

Buddah: I was initially looking at that model and the tektite 200, but when I saw a review online (http://www.rebreatherworld.com/rebre...omparison.html) it made me think the tektite was the better option.

I haven't bought either yet since I wanted to look into a strobe and light combo that was equally good at both functions (but that rarely, if ever happens).

Thank you for all the info everyone!

: ) Charlotte

[cali.grrl]

Just a quick update....I tried my UK SL4 LED last night on my night dive and it was better than expected. It was MUCH brighter than my dive buddies Dive Rite 10w HID, but it was more of a spot vs. a large ring.

I had originally planned to use the SL4 as my back up light but I was wondering would the Dorsey be a similar type of light? It has roughly 30 more lumens, but from what I read it may have a similar type of beam of light.

I would rather not have a huge pistol style primary, and have been on the fence on whether or not to just buy a canister light (which will take some time to save up for). I don't know if I will do much more than regular night dives (not so great visibility here in CA) and some lobster hunting. But I think at some point down the road I may want to dabble in cave diving, but I suspect it won't be in the near future.

I figure maybe by the time I am ready for a real dive light, the technology may have progressed and prices may come down. Wishful thinking? Should I just get a UK C4/C8 or Mini/ Shockwave LED?

Charlotte

[Jack Hammer]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

The o2 analyzers that OxyCheq got its start with work well also. And their wings are some of the best in the industry, period. Their backplates work fine... it's hard to screw up a plate of bent steel. And their wetnotes. And a number of little accessories that they make.

The only exception I've seen are these dive lights that they keep trying to make work. (Other than my Raider I rev 2, which has been flawless)

What OxyCheq gear are you finding that has issues, other than their lights?

It's hard to mess up a BP. I dive with several people who have their wings and I've yet to hear a legitimate complaint. The only reason I don't own one of their wings is my bad luck most the items I've got from them. That includes:

• 3 of the Raider I v2 lights - all flickered, one had o ring coming out of lens, one you almost needed a wrench to turn on/off
• the stitching split on the sausage weights - dumping my lead shot during a dive
• the P valve's check valves both failed within a few months of purchase - yes I got "wet" from P and lake water coming into suit
• the stitching on my light sock is coming undone
• the crotch strap I got came with frayed ends, looked like cut with scissors (easy fix with lighter)
• the yoke to din fill adapter came missing o-rings
• the din to yoke adapter had a silly logo sticker on knob that fell off out of box (I don't care about it other than it's poor qc).

So far I haven't had much luck with their items, with the exception of the harness I got. Overall, from what I've seen their QC is piss poor at best. Granted some of the items I listed are nitpicking, it's not that those minor issues bother me, it just shows a overall and consistent lack of quality control on Oxycheqs part.

[Inka26]

Originally Posted by cali.grrl

Just a quick update....I tried my UK SL4 LED last night on my night dive and it was better than expected. It was MUCH brighter than my dive buddies Dive Rite 10w HID, but it was more of a spot vs. a large ring.

I had originally planned to use the SL4 as my back up light but I was wondering would the Dorsey be a similar type of light? It has roughly 30 more lumens, but from what I read it may have a similar type of beam of light.

I would rather not have a huge pistol style primary, and have been on the fence on whether or not to just buy a canister light (which will take some time to save up for). I don't know if I will do much more than regular night dives (not so great visibility here in CA) and some lobster hunting. But I think at some point down the road I may want to dabble in cave diving, but I suspect it won't be in the near future.

I figure maybe by the time I am ready for a real dive light, the technology may have progressed and prices may come down. Wishful thinking? Should I just get a UK C4/C8 or Mini/ Shockwave LED?

Charlotte

I own the UKSL4eLed, the oxycheq raider 1, and the Dorcy.If you prefer the UK, maybe you could consider buying from What Works, Works, the modified canister, which convert a simple light into a canister + goodman handle. Very nice and easy to use.
What Works, Works! Inc. - Home - Manufacturer of scuba diving lights, DLX canister lights, safety reels, dive reels, backup light kits

Regards
Gilles

[cali.grrl]

Ohhhh...that looks pretty cool, Gilles!

Do you have one?

Given that you own all three lights, what is your order of preference? Also, do you use any of them as a primary or are they various levels of backup?

Thanks for the link!!

Charlotte

[Inka26]

Originally Posted by cali.grrl

Ohhhh...that looks pretty cool, Gilles!

Do you have one?

Given that you own all three lights, what is your order of preference? Also, do you use any of them as a primary or are they various levels of backup?

Thanks for the link!!

Charlotte

1-I use the SL4eLed canister on every dive as a primary, reduce task load and for a new diver like me, was realy helpful
2-Oxycheq 1 is my backup
3-Dorcy has a realy bright spot, but i had some issues with the batteries' rack, so i use it at work, stay in my tool case.
I found that , if the light was too bright, i had some difficulties to read the instruments, the hot spot blind the gauge dial or the computer.
If it helps
Regards
Gilles