Arc AA: New tail design Vs Old AAA style lug

[Datasaurusrex]

I was hoping to start a debate about the merits of the new tail design Vs the old lug style.

Yes, I know we haven't actually fondled them yet, but if you folks are like me, you too had a long internal debate over which style to order -- I eventually deciding to go with the old style.

Some factors in my decision are as follows...

1) When worn around the neck, or hung from a hook, the light will point straight down since the cord is affixed to the center of the tail versus being offset.

2) When I set my AAA on its tail (to see how the light would spill and fill the room) I did not get very good results. Admittedly I have high dark ceilings, but the AAA seems to do a much better job at lighting up the area where it is pointed rather than providing a wide spill ambient light.

I'd use the mini-mag in candle mode as a comparison ... when the light element is fully exposed then you get a more realistic candle effect, and good ambient lighting, but with the Arc and their recessed LEDs you only get light spill in a fairly narrow forward beam.

3) what I found annoying was if the light was lower than my head I'd constantly seeing the bare led in my peripheral vision -- which I found annoying (personal preference)

4) But that new design looks cool ... it is innovative and new ... it seems well thought-out and is dang eye catching. It leaves open an option that the lug style does not, even if you never use it options are nice to have.

I am guessing the new design will be a hit, which is partly why I ordered the old style -- I figure they won't make too many of the old style and I can always order another AA w/ the new design later. I concluded that the AAA works so damn well for me just the way it is that I'd go for the old style lug.

I know the 'stand on end' debate has been going on for years, but I'd like to hear peoples perspectives on the debate as they apply to Arcs new flashlight. I can't wait till they ship so I can read some reviews and opinions

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[tylerdurden]

Standing on the tail may not be effective with the small amount of light from the AAA or AA, but I don't see *any* advantage of the lug over the new design. Maybe it's cheaper? The new style would appear to be shorter, so if nothing else, that's an advantage.

 

[paulr]

In a normal size room with a normal height white ceiling, which is most typical rooms, bouncing an Arc AAA's beam off it works just fine, and so the new tail style is great in my opinion.

 

[gyverpete]

Is the new tail eventually going to be used on the AAA also, or only for the AA? I haven't kept up with that thread. I certainly hope not.

Datasaurusrex, I agree with everything you said.

With the AAA I personally prefer current lug because I wear mine on a neck lanyard and it hangs better than the solitaire which has the offset design similar to the new style AA. It also looks nicer IMO. While having a candle mode option is a plus, I don't ever seem to need it to do that. If I ever do, the clip can be oriented to make it stand on end.
I leave mine on the lanyard and usually hold it between my teeth. When I need to hand hold a light or use candle mode, I use my LS with twisty. The LS seems better suited for candle mode, both because it's brighter and because it's fatter thus more stable standing on end.

On the AA I think the new style is OK, since it has larger-diameter stability than the AAA. It looks pretty good too. And as tyler said, it makes the light shorter. All the better.

But I say leave the AAA as is.
It's already perfect.

 

[was_jlh]

Check out the video Peter just posted, if you haven't already, gives good insight on the new tail.

Joe

 

[Datasaurusrex]

I can't seem to access the video... and now I don't know what style I'm getting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif The lug style is sold out and I don't know if I placed my order in time to get one.

Oh well, either way it's bound to be a great light

 

[Dave Wright]

I frequently bounce 5mm Nichia beams off the ceiling for gentle room illumination. I do it for 5 - 10 minutes in my son's bedroom every evening while tucking him into bed and chatting a bit about whatever's on his mind. It will be nice to be able to do it by setting the light on his nightstand instead of having to hold it in my hand. I sleep with a "nightlight" that bounces my Infinity's beam up through a piece of glass art toward the ceiling. From time to time traveling we use an Infinity (standard or Ultra) as a nightlight by dropping it beam upward in a hotel cup. Heavy battery use applications; I generally use NiMH in my Arc AAA and Infinities.

FWIW, most of our ceilings are white and 9' tall. The light bounced back is not enough for reading, but works well for conversing, simple rummaging, snack shagging, changing into jammies, and many other non-critical tasks. It works for a small room or to create a pool of light in a large room.

IMO the new Arc's standable tail bumps it way ahead of the CMG products. Already it was to be better made, more efficient, and smaller/lighter. To now have a more pocketable, versatile, and plain old cooler looking base? Great design! I hope that this new AA will become a mainstay product for Peter.

I'm sure my opinion will be adjusted by actual use after the new lights arrive. We're camping on the 17th. Hope the light drops into my mailbox by then. For now, though, the new tailcap looks like a winner.

 

[Datasaurusrex]

[ QUOTE ]
paulr said:
In a normal size room with a normal height white ceiling, which is most typical rooms, bouncing an Arc AAA's beam off it works just fine

[/ QUOTE ]

I've lived surrounded by logs and rough cut timber for so long I have almost forgotten what a standard stick frame/drywall room is like /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That was factored into my decision when I was thinking about what would work best for me.

 

[alanhuth]

Here is a possible "mod opportunity" to address the new tail/old tail design issues. Assuming our goals for the tail are:

1. The light hangs straight down for tent lighting, etc.
2. The light hangs straight down for harmony on keychain etc.
3. The light stands up for tent lighting, room lighting, hands-free examination of something, etc.
4. The light allows for the addition of a BP mini-clip or equiv without wiping out the other goals
5. When a clip is attached, the plane of the clip passes through the center of the light rather than tangent to the circumference (was that clear? - not only should the light hang straight down without a clip, but if it's hanging on a clip, it should lie straight also)

OK, here's an idea for a possible mod that might let us achieve all these goals:

Instead of having one hole and one slot for the split ring, we have two holes and two slots. The holes are opposite each other and the slots are both on the same side of the holes. Then someone fashions a strong wire bale from spring steel shaped like a U with the ends turned out (like a capital omega) that would attach from the inside to the two holes. The bale could lie flat, passing through the two slots and protruding beyond the edge of the flashlight if standing up. If the flashlight is to hang, the bale rotates out to be a perfectly centered attachment point like the old AAA lug. If the slots are deeper than the holes, the bale could be tipped up enough for a mini-clip or lanyard attachment to clip on while still allowing the light to stand solidly. If someone doesn't like this bale idea, they can simply get some pliers, pinch the bale ends together to remove it and put a split ring through one of the holes and use it as the new design.

 

[paulr]

I thought about that bale scheme but it seems out of place on a high class light like the Arc. It can too easily be removed/fall off by accident.

How about a tail with a flat end that has an axial 1/4" threaded camera tripod hole in the center. You'd use the Berkeley Point camera tether/strap as a lanyard:

http://www.berkeleypoint.com/products/tools/mct3.html

 

[alanhuth]

Yea, it would have to be a very masculine bale. And probably would require that the wall thickness be greater on the bottom of the light. For those who think it detracts from the light, they can take it off and noone will know the difference.

I like the camera idea. Remove to stand up. You'd need some sort of confidence that it won't become unscrewed inadvertently.

 

[radellaf]

Indeed. That was a problem I always had with my solitaire that I carried from about 1988 'till 2002 or so when I first found out about Arc. Wow, that's almost half my life that thing was on my keychain. Gads, no wonder it was so beat up...and now I've lost it :-( Still using the lanyard, the best I've ever seen for a keychain light, with my Arc.

It was always unscrewing half-way. Probably contributed to the lousy contact it made for the current. I never understood why the Mag AAA tail wasn't just like the AA tail.

Anyway, it unscrewed partly because of the off-center mounting hole. I doubt the berkeley point thing would unscrew easily as it is centered. Also, I think it has a rubber washer? That would be enough security for me.

 

[Dave Wright]

Another note on illuminating rooms. I used a Minimag since about when they were first released, but only as a candle a couple of times. Some effort is required to put it into that mode. Once there the bulb is highly vulnerable. Even if in my peripheral vision, the bright spot is quite annoying.

I've only had my Brinkmann/Madmax since earlier this year, and it gets used in "candle" (sitting on its flat tail illuminating the ceiling) mode regularly. No changeover hassle, no exposed bulb, and no annoying incident brightness - as long as your head isn't near its hotspot.