Another Question For Gransee...

[arab]

First off - Apologies to Margelatu for trying to steal his (?) earlier thread entitled "Question about CMG Infinity's brightness". I'm still a bit new here, so I'll make a big effort not to be so rude in the future.

Anyway, here is my question in my very own thread:

Regarding a comparison between the Infinity and the AAA, John N said

quote:
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I was using it last night to read by
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The Arc AAA on the other hand is much brighter

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Sometimes the AAA is too bright! When I use my LE for reading, the reflected light bounces off the book and goes everywhere. I then revert to using my PAL light in medium mode instead - keeps herself happy!

According to the Light Technologies web site http://www.lightechnology.com/history.htm the PAL uses a "Current Controller" to vary light output. I've checked by twirling it around in always-on and low mode and it's true - the light produced is solid and not dashed which is what you would see if it were pulsed. Could a smaller version of the PAL's circuit board be created for an AAA-form factor light that allowed light output to be varied according to needs? Other threads elsewhere suggest that current controlling in this manner is not efficient - this I don't understand because the PAL will last for 2 years (!) in Always-on mode and 200 hours in low.

Now to my question. Peter, I know you are a bit (

) busy at the moment, but I'm sure an AAA with a facility to vary light output (I wouldn't be interested in any strobe facility) would have a great gadget value and would sell like hot cakes! Having said that, it would have to be done reliably; my photon 3 has a gadget factor at least 10 times better than my AAA, but it's currently somewhere on the Atlantic ocean - either going to, or coming back from LRI for repair.

Whereas my PAL light, although boring to look at, has all the gadgets and it just keeps on working!

Now, if you could just combine the gadget benefits of the Photon 3 with the reliability of the PAL in the form factor of the existing AAA ...

 

[Gransee]

Hi "arab", thanks for the question.

Producing a dimmer light is not the difficulty (there are many ways to do this), the problem is adding some sort of switch(s) or reostat (potienometer) to such a small flashlight.

Although a cool gadget feature and some utility is added to the design- the tradeoff is a larger flashlight, less reliable design and more expense.

I would draw your attention to the Photon 3. It has this type of functionality. Read the reviews both good and bad to judge for yourself the practicality of the design.

I am sorry if my answer is abreviated, there are entire threads on this board that have been dedicated to this very issue.

Let me know if this helps!

Peter Gransee

 

[Coherence]

Count me in for a light with bright/dim modes.

The Photon 3 does not work for me. I just want it simple. Mine 'crashed' multiple times and then drained the batteries. Not acceptable.

The Arc is reliable, it has to remain that way.

Here is an idea for a switch on the Arc AAA -

currently the Arc works by screwing down the head so that a foam washer is compressed somewhat and the battery positive terminal contacts the head.

Imagine a circle of thin conductor affixed to the foam washer, so it is positioned between the battery and the washer.

Now when the head is unscrewed, the distance between the new piece and the rear nub battery contact exceeds the length of a AAA cell, so no power flows.

Tighten the head and the positive terminal is forced to contact the new piece, which feeds the LED in "dim" mode. Tighten the head all the way down and the new piece compresses the washer and contacts the head, "bright" mode.

Hope that wasn't too hard to picture

, it is hard to describe.

Anyway, it seems there has to be a simple and reliable solution, anyone else with ideas?

 

[arab]

Gransee said
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> the problem is adding some sort of switch(s) or reostat (potienometer) to such a small flashlight.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
There is a simple alternative - To get extra room, change the design so that the base of the AAA has a folding half-ring that is flush with the base when folded and can be folded out if it needs to be carried on a keyring. The length saved could be used to accomodate the extra electronics and the light would also benefit by being able to stand on it's base.

I take the point about the Photon 3 - my post above referred to my own experiences with it's unreliability.

Mechanisms for dimming are varied. The Photon 3 approach has great gadget value but the CPU it needs for the pulsing seems to be unreliable (Does anybody have one that works all the time?). My PAL light achieves dimming very reliably and seems to be very efficient with it's battery consumption. And then there are other alternatives such as Coherence's idea (above) for a switch, which sounds both simple and potentially very reliable.

What do other's think? Would an AAA with a facility for dimming be something that people would buy? Hey, if I bought 2 AAAs already (Regular and LE) then I'm sure I would increase my stockpile more if an AAA with dimming were available.

Infact, another thread here talks about an AA format AAA - from what I read, an extended battery life AAA may answer some of those requirements as well. An opportunity for some synergy perhaps:

Keep existing AAA Format

Can stand on it's base and be used as a table light

No need to look at an AA alternative

Gadget value should increase sales

 

[Badbeams3]

Both of the two ideas above (Coherence and Arabs) are great in my opinion and I would like to see them looked at to see if this could be done and still have a dependable light.

Maybe they could be impimented somewhere down the road?

 

[napalm-2002]

i dunno Gransee i would go for the KISS method.

Keep It Simple,Stupid.


no offense Gransee