help on Fitting on Equinox HD8 housing?

Hi all,

I've just ordered an Equinox HD8 Housing for my sony V1P from B&H and hopefully it should get to me before I embark on a sailing trip in a months time.

In the mean time, I want to start getting my lighting setup for a few night dives. As a free diver I cant deal with too much bulk so I've bought one Darkbust Junior 12W HID.

Due to the fact that I'm yet to see the housing, I'm not sure where the lights are usually attached and What kind of arm I should get (or DIY). I want to try and get this sorted asap as I won't have much time when the housing arrives till I leave on my trip(don't want to have to hold the torch while trying to frame images.

Does anyone have one of these housings that could advise me of where the best spot to put a light is?

Thanks for any advice

Louis

The HD8 uses an adapter that mounts under the top handle knob on the housing. They're $20 on the Equinox site. http://www.equinoxhousings.com/products/Ho...rm-Adapter.html

Here's a shot of their light system showing the arms/adapter mounted to a housing. http://www.equinoxhousings.com/products/Aq...ing-System.html Click through to the third picture, they show a side shot of the adapter mounted to the arm.

They're using Loc-Line tubing for their arms. About $20 should get you all you need. Your local machinists supply house may stock it also - it's actually used to move fluids during machining operations. http://www.locline.com/products/index.html

Modular Hose is one source if you can't get it locally. http://www.modularhose.com/

One of the loc-line tubing segments comes with a solid base so you'd just need to drill a hole through it and bolt it to the Equinox adapter. It sort of looks like that's what Equinox's light mfr. did. This is the piece - http://www.locline.com/products/half_index/51895.html

Then buy male/female hose segments to get the length you need. Use a brass nut/bolt to mount it. Modular Hose sells a 13" segment kit for $9.60. And somewhere they list the colors available - including black.

One other way to stiffen up the arm is to put something stiffer over it. My buddy has a loc-line tubing system for his Sea Life flash, it has a stretchy rubber covering over the tubing. 2nd picture here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0...394&s=photo

The Darkbuster Jr. uses their YS adapter on the light that is for a ball arm - an entirely different arm system. So somehow you'll have to adapt it. http://www.brightstar.com.tw/product_info_e.php?UID=814 Or if you could order one somewhere, it looks like there's a hole in the base that could also be bolted to a locline fixed base mount.

Or buy their whole arm setup and attach it to the Equinox mount. I think that arm is going to be a lot more expensive though. It looks similar to an older style Ultralight strobe arm - like these: http://www.backscatter.com/hostedstore/pro...ultralight.html - all those clamps, arms and fittings aren't cheap.

Equinox shows a housing with a single UK Light Cannon on their site, what you need to do is similar. http://www.equinoxhousings.com/products/UK...stable-arm.html I've seen the UK adapter, it's a flat plate with a screw that replaces the normal grip handle. Mounts flush to the bottom of the LC.

Yes, I had to much time on my hands tonite...LOL

Thanks so much for the response!!

I was thinking alot more basic but I might try and get that setup going..... only problem will be trying to get it here in time, only a month - easter holidays and I'm in a pretty remote part of the world.

What about a really basic metal rod from the adapter to the light? is there a problem with using a stainless rod and maybe putting heat shrink over it?

I'll get onto those suppliers you mentioned and see how I go.

Thanks Again!!! Invaluable info!

Edit: Just got a quote on shipping for the locline from modularhose.com and for the 13.75 worth of hose, it was $125 shipping.

I'll see if anyone does it localy