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+--- Thread: canister lights and travel (/showthread.php?tid=1106)
canister lights and travel - pink_fins - 07-24-2006
How do you travel with your canister light ?
Do you carry it on ?
I am going to PDC with a buddy who has one and we were just talking what do you do with it ? It is an expensive piece of equipment.
Anyone have any experience with the TSA thinking it is a bomb ?
gail
Re: canister lights and travel - Omicron - 07-24-2006
I've flown....3 times (I think) now with my canister light. Haven't had any issues with it yet. I do carry on - my regs, my light and my bottom timer/computer come with me as carry on.
I did have some issues when leaving Cozumel, as they didn't like the battery, and it wasn't because of a bomb related issue, they didn't like the possibility of the battery leaking. The wanted me to put it into my checked luggage, they didn't want it in my carry on.
I even have a homemade battery, it's got soldered wiring on it and it's taped together with black tape. If that doesn't send 'em running, nothing will
I do usually get a pretty thorough inspection from the TSA guys though. Without a doubt my bags are always opened up and scanned/swept for just about everything. Most of them have recognized the dive gear though.
Re: canister lights and travel - Chris H - 07-24-2006
This should work OK. The Pelican cases are a little spendy, but not as bad when you consider what a broken light will cost. I have since added some desiccant pouches to help keep the moisture out of the charger.
Re: canister lights and travel - matt t. - 07-24-2006
I second Chris' recommendation. You spent the $$$ for the light. Spend a little more and keep it safe!
The "Hardig Storm cases" are as nice as the Pelican cases for less $$$. Make sure you buy a case that's big enough.
Re: canister lights and travel - pink_fins - 07-25-2006
Thanks guys- I will forward this information to my buddy
g
Re: canister lights and travel - ethanb - 08-08-2006
The one time I traveled by air with it (to Cancun out of Madison), I carried it on, with a battery in the canister but disconected and the other battery rubber-banded to the outside. Of course it got searched and it definitely does look suspicious, both in x-rays and visually. I was expecting them to ask me to turn it on, but they just looked at it a bit, asked what it is, and told me "we don't like wires - we see wires and get concerned."
I have a Sartek with a small NiMH battery pack. I think they tend to get more concerrned about lead acid batteries. If you're using lead acid batteries, I think someone on thedecostop.com made up a label that you can stick to your battery to identify it as non-spillable and legal for air travel.
Ethan