Arc 4 Waterproofness?

[notamchris]

Has anybody tested these out in the water yet? I am curious about their water resistance. I know it should be pretty good, but the FAQ doesn't specify a depth yet...

 

[machulu]

I was just wondering about this. It seems the main 0-ring on the Arc4 is much thinner than the ones on the Arc LS. I don't know if that effects the waterproofness or not.

~Stephen

 

[Recharge]

Mine has survived several missions in the bathtub with no ill effects to date.....

 

[sigp6]

I have let my boys play with it in the tub for up to 10-15 minutes at a time with no ill effects.

Tom

 

[Rothrandir]

peter said the arc4 was even more water resistant than the ls series, which were rated at 50ft. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[paulr]

The places it might leak are the O-rings and the switch boot. I guess both are pretty watertight. Next question is what happens if it does flood, say with salt water. If an incandescent light floods, rinse it out with fresh water and you're fine. I worry about the electronics in regulated lights (to say nothing of microprocessors) but maybe Peter can tell us more.

 

[Gransee]

The head is potted and the electronic switch is waterproof. The Arc4 was designed to survive mild salt water immersion on the inside of the battery compartment (say a wave splashing over the side of a boat while you are changing the battery). The 123 won't like it though. The light (with the pack installed) should be waterproof for at least several hundred feet but our goal it a 100ft rating. I plan on getting the tests done later this month.

Peter

 

[notamchris]

Thank you for the info Peter.

P.S. I love my new 4+ Second. I am amazed at just how easy it is to use and how natural it is to go through all the settings including the brightness and option menus.

 

[chamenos]

the tighter the tailcap is screwed down, the better the rubber switch boot will keep water out. i've submerged mine without incident numerous times. in my experience, arcs are definitely more consistantly waterproof than surefires.