Surefire A2 Question

[LawLight]

Greetings all:

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this question - feel free to move it if needed, but can anyone advise why Surefire changed from the 4 sided A2 to the rounded body? Anything other than just because they wanted to make a change?

Thanks,

Kev

[xdanx]

Probably easier to make. Also, I think it looks better.

[greenLED]

I actually like the square body much better.

[carrot]

I actually like the square body much better.

Me too.

(Okay, back to vacation! Don't expect me around for the next few days.)

[xdanx]

It looks like it has a lot more grip. I have the round version and it is not that grippy, but it looks cool.

I actually like the square body much better.

[Blindasabat]

I have a rounded A2 and a flat sided L1. I like the round sided better because it just fits my hand better. From certain angles, the flat sided L1 looks too thin, and I fear the thin area in the middle of the flat may dent more easily. But I admit I haven't actually measured the distance across flats to see if it is thinner than the rounded walls.
I think the tube size used to make it (outer diameter of the starting tube) is smaller and requires less machining (less material removed in 3 vrs 4 places) for faster production, but I doubt that makes a very big cost difference.

[Tikki]

I spoke with a (Dustin) at Surefire, about a month ago, who told me that it was actually more difficult to machine the smooth surfaces on the rounded model than it was to machine the flat surface on the old one. He called it a refinement.

[Illum]

Me too.

(Okay, back to vacation! Don't expect me around for the next few days.)

what the @#$%?
all this time I thought your somewhere else...say Canton, Connecticut visiting wild carrot farms....

[Chris201W]

In my opinion, the square bodies version seems more "refined." Not sure why, I guess it's just personal preference. I've never seen a round one in person.

[Blindasabat]

I measured my two different versions and the outer diameter is the same at about 22mm, so no smaller tube with the new design. The 4-flats is 18.5mm across flats, removing 1.75mm per cut, the 3-rounded flats removes 0.7mm.
The resulting thinnest wall is thicker in the new version.

[marxs]

i have one a2 question: does anyone know how to dissassemble the tailcap for cleaning? i cant seem to find any pics/instructions

[greenLED]

js's A2 thread has instructions on how to do it. Part of it says you gotta break some part of it off, so I haven't done it.

[marxs]

ill need to go through that long discussion again. so there essentailly is no way to "clean" the contacts in the tailcap!?

[greenLED]

I use toothpicks wrapped in little bits of paper towel, and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and...

[Somy Nex]

the older A2s had a very tight fit for batteries and not much tolerance. this is especially true for the black limited editions (ymmv).

the newer round bodied A2s are said to have more tolerance adn some have even been able to fit rcr123s in them. again, ymmv. =P

[LawLight]

Yes, that's true. My new round bodied A2 has a very slight bit of space in the body so that the batteries rattle just a tiny bit when shaken if the tail cap is off. But if one uses rcr123s in them, would you not have to replace the lamp with a different one to handle the difference?

Kev

[dragoman]

Hi,

The A2 uses a voltage regulator, so the extra voltage from the rechargables should be okay......the light just might get a little hotter than normal from dissipating the extra heat.

You will not get longer runtimes using rechargables though.....

dragoman

[Loomy]

The more knurled surfaces the better, I say. That's one of the only things that annoys me about my U2 -- more than half of the body tube is flat. There is actually more knurling shaved off than was left on!

[LawLight]

But won't the rcr's overdrive the leds? I've read horror stories about A2 leds changing tint from constant overdriving.

Kev

[greenLED]

But won't the rcr's overdrive the leds? I've read horror stories about A2 leds changing tint from constant overdriving.

Kev

Yes, they do. You'd have to change the resistors.

[leukos]

But won't the rcr's overdrive the leds? I've read horror stories about A2 leds changing tint from constant overdriving.

Kev

Horror stories?

[LawLight]

Well - horror stories watching white leds turn different shades after spending $159. on a light...

Kev