Hardcore Knives and tools for Wilderness Camping: Wisdom Miner's Cap Lamp 12LM Perfect for Caving Adventures

The New Wisdom Miner's Cap Lamp KL12M Review.

by BushCampingTools: (caving since 1978 WOO HOO!)

Super bright LED caving lamp from Wisdom

Deceptively small, the New Wisdom Miner's Cap Lamp KL12M fits easily in the palm of your hand!

Quartz halogen and lower current incandescent bulbs being a thing of the past,

Seen here a typical sized battery of old (in this case a Russian made miner's cap lamp made from HDPE, both the case and head lamp itself- It has been converted it to run off 18650 lithium ion batteries and LEDs).

The above lamp is the new KL12M Lithium ion battery powered LED (CREE) headlamp, a mere fraction of the size for the battery- same size headlamp but with crazy waterproof specs! (see below).

it's important to note that the older QH bulbs on quality miner's cap lamps could throw a very very good light and spot, so in order for a LED equivalent to do the same, it must have good optics and LED driver circuit design in order to achieve good burn time at minimal temperature rise for the LED die. The New Wisdom Cap lamp model KL12M satisfies this requirement for the caver and search and rescue. In fact whilst on one S and R, we were all wearing cap lamps for extended run times and durability. (they were not Wisdom's but much older MSA and or Oldham lights- all very extremely heavy and now outdated designs.

Wisdom, or NEW WISDOM INVESTMENTS is a company specialising in the manufacture of Mining lights to international safety standards. They also make a full range of charging racks for the mining industry.

Of the various miner's cap lamp models available from Wisdom, the KL12M represents the best entry level ones for the purposes of heavy duty caving. Other models for even greater extended times underground are available.

Waterproof to ridiculous depths >20m, they say IP68 diving certified!

Being waterproof is a must for caving, it means one can confidently perform "swim throughs" "duck unders" and basic swimming and or crawling in the water without fear that their lights will let them down.

Explosion proof rated.

Run time at high beam is 13 hours (standard model- there are 2 other models, one which provides 16 hr plus and one which provides 24hr plus of high beam lighting) at 28,000 Lux or 512 lumens (that's deadly super bright for caving) at 1m (standard version) and low beam, with a run time of approx 110 hr at low beam!!!!! 76 lumens or 5200 lux at 1m!

For technical caving it's very useful to have a good spot forming beam for many reasons and the New Wisdom KL12M certainly satisfies this requirement.

14000mAh Lithium Ion batteries

Fully charged in 5 hours!

Full Bayer polycarbonate body and cap construction.

The KL12M standard model is waterproof to >20m and explosion proof.

The charging system is the more familiar looking "twist" to unlock the outer contacts and lock onto the charging unit.

The fast charging unit for the cap lamp. Flashing green lamp indicates a fully charged light. Blinking Red and green, indicates a 90% charged light.

The Wisdom KL12M easily mounts to any standard configuration mining cap lamp bracket (here seen on a Petzl Ecrin). This cap lamp cord exits the top of the light and not via a more traditional sideways exit. I believe this has certain advantages for less stress on the connection. A possible drawback maybe the cable runs over the top of the helmet and a possible head plant into the cave roof may damage the cable although my many years caving experience tells me that these cables are pretty much indestructible LOL!

The Wisdom KL12M cap lamp came with an anti-scratch plastic insert to protect the glass- soon to be removed. But just another small but nice thing to see about this product.