4+ switch actuation pressure

[Wingerr]

Has anyone measured the actuation pressure of the switch on their Arc 4+?
I'm just wondering if mine requires any more pressure than others. I don't think there's much chance of mine coming on accidentally, but I use the semi-tac mode anyway just to make sure.
I don't have a scale with the range to test mine at the moment; only a 2 lb postal scale, but I'll try it with my 5 lb one later, which should do the job.
I'll just push down on the scale until it clicks on and see what the scale reads.
Based on my laptop-and-a-stack-of-paper balancing test, though, I figure my Arcsecond in the ballpark of about 5 lbs.

I wouldn't mind if it were just a wee bit lighter, given that my fingerprints aren't agressive enough-

 

[this_is_nascar]

I've never measure mine, however I think the spec is 3lbs.

 

[Wingerr]

Mine clicks on at 4 lbs 11 oz, so it's a bit on the heavy side compared to the spec-

 

[daloosh]

I guess I'm followin' ya around, Wingerr. Mine also goes on at 4lb 11oz of slow steady pressure on a kitchen scale. I think I would like it a little less, but of course that invites activation dans le pocket, le coat, le knapsack and le everywhere else my 4+ winds up.
daloosh

 

[Wingerr]

I was wondering if there was anything I could try to lighten it up a bit, but I think it's a function of the switch in the head, and not the spring, so I won't be tinkering with it...

So long as it doesn't end up dans le mer- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cy]

[ QUOTE ]
Wingerr said:
I was wondering if there was anything I could try to lighten it up a bit, but I think it's a function of the switch in the head, and not the spring, so I won't be tinkering with it...

[/ QUOTE ]

The pressure is a function of the combination of the switch in the head, battery mass, gold disc and mostly the rear spring.

to adj pressure:

1. remove spring and compress spring to suit pressure
2. call Arc for a softer spring
3. install a tailcap mod 1.1 , this option will provide tailcap protection from accidental turnons and damage from drops.

All of the above options will cure the switch too hard problem. Please note the switch operates on aprox. .050 action. If the spring is too hard this presses against the switch part ways, resulting in no feel.

A properly adjusted switch will have a light tactile feel. This will also make it easier to accidently switch on. The tailcap mod 1.1 covers both problems.

I don't understand why there is not more interest in the tailcap 1.1 mod. There is also a reduction of 1/3 in, making a much better EDC profile.

IMHO the single biggest weakness in the Arc4+ is the risk of dropping the Arc4 directly on the unprotected button. This has a high probability of damaging the internal switch of Arc4.

The switch will survived a million cycles of normal use. I could be wrong, but no microswitch is designed to survive several G's of force from a drop.

A much needed protected tailcap is coming from Arc soon, maybe by April.

I see several threads going relating to the Arc4 tail switch....

 

[Empedocles]

[ QUOTE ]
IMHO the single biggest weakness in the Arc4+ is the risk of dropping the Arc4 directly on the unprotected button. This has a high probability of damaging the internal switch of Arc4.

[/ QUOTE ]


This is exactly what happened with my Arc4. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Wingerr]

The head switch by itself takes 3 lbs 15 oz to actuate, with the 12 oz balance contibuted by the tail assy.
If there were a hard limit put in the head so the battery couldn't exceed a position that would bottom out the switch, it would make it less prone to damage from a tail drop. As a workaround, if a washer with a diameter of the battery were inserted at the top of the battery, it would probably do the trick, by using the outer perimeter of the gold contact as a brace, which I assume would be better able to take an impact than the switch contact. It just has to be the right thickness to allow the battery nub sufficient travel for actuation, but then limit the maximum travel to a safe limit for the internal switch. Don't know how much battery variation there might be, though-

Actually, looking at it further, the stronger the spring in the tail cap, the lighter the actuation pressure ends up being, because the spring actually assists actuation. I stretched out my spring a bit for greater assist, and now the actuation pressure is lighter, down to 2 lb 14 oz- So, to a certain extent, you can adjust the actuation pressure by stretching or compressing the spring slightly.