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Isotopes

Chris, I would highly recomend Muddy Waters Isolites, I use the 3 x 25mm red ones, can look at them all night withought affecting your vision. Just do a google search, loads of shops sell em.
 
I've had several over the years off a guy on ebay called mrfish. They dont come branded but are well priced and are available to suit all alarms and hangers. Some of mine have got to be 5 years old now and are still as bright as the day I purchased them.

I would always make sure that the isotopes you do go for have the manufactures current packaging, theres always a deal on isotopes that may well have already seen half there life out stuck on the tackle shop shelf!
 
Ok thanks Ian.

I don't do much night fishing and often it is only 1 hour into dark so my knowledge of these things is limited.

I therefore take it nightlites and Isotopes are different - are the former the disposable ones and the latter the ones you point a light at to "re-light" them?

Cheers
 
Isotopes glow for a very long time - years - without charging or any thing.

Night lights are mini glowsticks which you snap in order to light up, they last a handful of hours.

Maybe a box of night lights from eBay or askari would be better for you
 
Hi Chris,

Nighlights (Starlites) are the snap and shake type chemical lights, which may be a better solution in your case, these ones actually clip on your rod tips: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EIGHT-x-C...tingGoods_FishingAcces_RL&hash=item588d794302

That is 8 nights (or 4 if fishing 2 rods) worth for a fiver.

Isotopes need no charging, they just glow straight from the packet and last many years, if you are prone to losing them you are better with Starlites. Otherwise get a set of enterprise night light adaptors and isotopes as you will get many years for a tenner.
 
I put this up on another site but it can go on here too!

Beta lights or Isotopes as we know them are usually a small glass phial, the inside of which is lined with Phosphorus.
The phial contains an isotope of hydrogen called Tritium gas.
Tritium (symbol T or 3H, also known as hydrogen-3) is a low emission beta emitter, beta particles are not considered dangerous as they are not able to penetrate the skin, however they are dangerous if inhaled or consumed.

The beta particles cause the phosphor to glow hence the light, however Tritium is generally accepted to have a half life of 12.32 years (i.e it takes 12.32 years for half the energy of the Tritium gas to be released and another 12,32 years for the next half and so on), this is why the light emitted will slowly reduce over time until you can hardly see it.

Tritium production is restricted; I believe this was done during the Salt 2 agreement, Tritium is used in multi stage hydrogen bombs as it boosts the yield in a fission primary explosion.
Naturally occurring Tritium is extremely rare so all of the Tritium that we will come across has been manufactured in nuclear reactors.

The main problem with beta lights is that you have no simple way of ageing them, most that are sold to the angling trade have been sitting in a government warehouse for 7 or 8 years before they decide to sell them off!
They have a number of uses, the main one seems to be being built into switches for Helicopters/military vehicles, a beta light will throw just enough light to illuminate a dial without ruining the pilot/operators night vision.
 
hi chris, the drennan ones i have found to be very good. 2 to a pack with attachment to rods aswell. last i saw was £8.99. Had them 6 years now no probs at all.
 
Actually of all the Beta lights available the Drennan ones seem to be a very good choice, they have only a very small amount of gas inside yet glow well and last well (I have a couple of sets that are six years old also and still throw off good enough light), they are also quite good value at £8.99 for a pair inc the mounting kit.
 
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