[cofe]

one of Andy B on (and under, and on top of) his old nemesis (no more!):

[Carnage]

Nice pic - You need to get yourself some slave strobes for the night shots - Makes a world of difference.

[cofe]

thanks man. that shot is a single slave, with a long exposure.

[Carnage]

Heres a couple I took with someone elses gear (I'm learning and can't afford my own yet) - Not great but a start. Lighting caves in the dark is a nightmare!

[Jaspersharpe]

3.It's bone dry unlike the grit you've been wanting to climb on.

Bone dry and grippy as fuck at Curbar yesterday. Unfortunately it was also blowing a freezing gale that rendered climbing anything difficult impossible. And then it started hailing. I'd still rather have been there than in a manky cave mind. 

[Monolith]

Manky cave? Didn't know there were any caves in Manchester. Any beta on them?

And Jasper, I can't believe you're shunning the cave. Is a man of your esteem not keen to get involved? 1,2,3, everybody lube and flex now.

[Jaspersharpe]

Went when I was strong and wasn't keen. There is much less appeal now I'm weak!

[lagerstarfish]

Plenty of head torches

[slackline]

Plenty of head torches

I wonder why 

[lagerstarfish]

I assume that there is a similar group of attentive men spotting her as well - would have made an amusing photo if they were in as well - she's probably thinking "go away and leave me to climb in peace" or something?

[richdraws]

It wont be long before our evenings are returned to the darkness from whence they came. So I have begun thinking of how to light up my winter projects. Earlier this year in the dark months I met 2 guys at the terrace area with something similar to this;

http://www.dewalt.co.uk/powertools/productdetails/catno/DC022/

http://nextdaytools.com/product_view.cfm?prod_id=89&ndt_subcat_id=98&selected_ndt_subcat_id=98&ndt_cat_id=5&selected_ndt_cat_id=5&gclid=CKvN_cmzupUCFQ-mQwodB1QeQg

they were on jasons roofy thing whilst I was on the terrace, the TOOL was so bright I turned off my lantern. Does anyone have anymore knowledge on these beastly lights before I go buy myself one?

[Andy B]

Earlier this year in the dark months I met 2 guys at the terrace area with something similar to this;

http://www.dewalt.co.uk/powertools/productdetails/catno/DC022/

That was me and Kanye. We've got two of them now.

You need to get the biggest batteries that you can afford for it. We've used the standard DeWalt size, but they get eaten very quickly (about an hour or so), and so Kanye got some 18V batteries that seem to fair much better alowing a reasonable evening session before dying, but I think you can also get 24V batteries which I would go for if you can afford them as you shouldn't then have to carry spares, and won't need to be so sparing with the use of the light. You'll still need a small headtorch to light the shadow caused by your body, but we are hoping that with two we won't even need that anymore.

[richdraws]

Thankyou Andy,

the site says it runs on 12-18v batteries, do you know if the 24 volts are compatible?

[Andy B]

I think so, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll ask when I see my mate. 12V must be the standard batteries we started with, and I certainly wouldn't recommend them, but the 18V are fine if you have doubts about the 24V.

[richdraws]

Thanks again, I might just be cheap and track you guys down and climb, the entire crag will be lit up if you have 2 of those beats.

[Bonjoy]

Don't you want batteries with more amp hours rather than a higher voltage? In most appliances a higher voltage would increase the power (brightness) rather than the duration of function. If two battery packs are the same size the one with higher voltage will usually run down quicker as it is using the same amount of energy but at a faster rate.  

[Andy B]

Don't you want batteries with more amp hours rather than a higher voltage? In most appliances a higher voltage would increase the power (brightness) rather than the duration of function. If two battery packs are the same size the one with higher voltage will usually run down quicker as it is using the same amount of energy but at a faster rate.  

I don't know the SCIENCE of it, but I do know that our 12V batteries are bright for ~1 hour then die suddenly , but our 18V batteries are bright (but no brighter) for up to ~3 hours then die suddenly. Perhaps Dewalt have dumbed down their battery descriptions.

Actually it's worth knowing that these DeWalt lights don't fade when they run down, they just cut out in an instant, so it's always worth having a headtorch with you to be able to walk out again with light once the big light dies.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

As these are fluorescent lights they need a minimum voltage to light at all, so won't fade when the voltage drops. Similarly they won't get brighter if you increase the voltage. They could be very clever and last longer with higher voltage, but it would be quite sophisticated electronics to do it. More likely your 18v batteries might be much newer and/or have a higher Amp/hour rating than your 12v ones. I doubt they would work with 24v as DeWalt 24v has a different fitting. You can get up to 2.4ah 18v ones but these are quite pricey. It would be interesting to know if new 12v 2.4ah ones lasted as long as new 18v 2.4ah ones. My guess is they probably would.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/PowerTools/DewaltBatteries/d40/sd2789

[Andy B]

I see, good knowledge. I didn't know you could buy batteries with different amp hours.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

It would be interesting to know if new 12v 2.4ah ones lasted as long as new 18v 2.4ah ones. My guess is they probably would.

Before someone else correct my physics, thought I'd brush up quickly and correct myself...

The lamp is 38watts. If it is constant brightness on both 12v and 18v then we assume it is constant wattage (power)

At 18v, to generate 38watts power uses 2.1 amps (according to which a 2.4 amp/hour 18v battery should last 1.14hours)
At 12v, to generate 38watts power uses 3.16 amps (according to which a 2.4 amp/hour 12v battery should last 0.76hours)

So the higher voltage battery should last longer even if they are the same amp/hour rating . Either way it sounds like a good light as you are getting much longer use than my calculations predict!

[Johnny Brown]

Don't fluorescents require less power once they've been started? You can keep them going just in an EM field once they're on, supposedly. Some artist made good use of this, would google but I have to go and churn the IRATA sausage machine.

[stom]

http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/exclusive/2004/pylon_ambience/index.html

Apparently so.  Just seems you need a crag with electricity pylons running overhead

[Bonjoy]

Don't fluorescents require less power once they've been started? You can keep them going just in an EM field once they're on, supposedly. Some artist made good use of this, would google but I have to go and churn the IRATA sausage machine.

Bloody sausages! I've had an endless stream of them calling me this week.

[Bonjoy]

http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/exclusive/2004/pylon_ambience/index.html

Apparently so.  Just seems you need a crag with electricity pylons running overhead

Wharncliffe

[Johnny Brown]

Bloody sausages! I've had an endless stream of them calling me this week.

Hah! Whenever they want work I just send them on to you. Can't you rustle something up with all those chanterelles?