Arc-AAA Scuba Pictures

[Gransee]

A friend took a couple of Arc-AAAs scuba diving recently...


Here's he's holding a white and turquiose in his gloved hand.

Here they are on the ocean floor (about 60ft depth) with the anchor chain nearby.

Shining on the anchor.

The instructor hamming it up...

This cruise they where training a bunch of people, next month they are going with a different group to do some technical dives and plan on taking the Arc-AAA past 200 feet. Not sure if the battery compartment will stay dry at that depth but the light will work (the head is solid epoxy). Remember Darell and our's water filled battery compartment tests?

Remember Troy Webber took his Arc-AAA to 50 feet.

I should probally stop telling people the light is rated to 10 feet on our website and packaging.

Note, these are stock Arc-AAA standards, v3.0.

Granted, most people will never take their Arc-AAA deeper than a backyard pool so the 60 feet depth capacity is overkill.

I finally got around this week to sending those units to be tested by the SEALs. The few I talked to say they are interested in a small light to read their gauges that can handle the depth.

Peter Gransee

To boldy go where no other key chain sized flashlight has gone before... Next, space! (ok, maybe just HiLo for now).

 

[BigHonu]

Mr. Gransee,

Nice pics. That would be a pretty cool selling point if the SEALs like your stuff!

Your last line caught my eye:

"To boldy go where no other key chain sized flashlight has gone before... Next, space! (ok, maybe just HiLo for now)."

I am originally from a town called "Hilo" on the Big Island of Hawaii...so where is "HiLo" (I did notice the "L" capitalized)?

Aloha

 

[Gransee]

HiLo or "HALO" pertains to parachuting and stands for High Alitude, Low Opening. I think the correct term is Halo but I heard the SEAL guys calling it (I assume it is the same thing) HiLo. Of course, it could have just been his southern draw obscuring the pronounciation.

It could also (I am guessing here) mean that they start out parachuting at high altitude and end up dropping into the water and going deep (the "lo" part) to get up to the target area.

He was probally just saying HALO. His concern was the light could handle the wide pressure differential. I asked him "why not use a UKE or some other deep water light?" He said that none are this small and small is the key (especially in weight). I do not think the Arc-AAA can stay dry at 200 feet, but we are certainly going to test it!

Peter

 

[bwcaw]

Hey, another acronym for Darell's
list!

You should put "tested by navy SEALS" on your
website! That would be cool if they use your
lights.

 

[Gransee]

Being a goverment entity, they can't endorse any product. I am not even sure I can officially say they are used by them. I can say that they have tested them but I must include a disclaimer disavowing any endorsement.

Ack. I just hope they work well for them. We go out of our way to support LEO and the Military by making special runs, providing discounts, etc.

Getting them on a shuttle mission would be fun. Not really a tough test of the light though. We might have to switch to an approved greese so as not to risk contaminating the scrubbers. Or, maybe they would be approved just the way they are since we use food grade silicone. I know the photons have been in orbit.

Peter

This Halo/Hilo bit reminds me of an arguement I got into with a friend once on if "HumVee" and "Hummer" where the same model (military or civilian).

 

[Darell]

And I *so* thought that "HiLo" would mean a two-position dimmer! Damn.

I've always wondered about depth rating. If the light "leaks" but still functions perfectly, does it really matter that it leaked? How about if you drill some holes in the battery compartment to help it drain? Then nobody would worry about getting the battery wet, and the depth rating could be almost infinite.

My wetsuit leaks by design, yet it functions perfectly at any depth I've taken it too. Sure, the human tissue inside may implode at some point, but that's a risk you take. Batteries are far tougher.

That said, I'll bet double O-rings would create quite an excellent depth rating. I'd sure think the AAAs would be hard to hold with gloves on though. Trying to only grasp that little head with a gove would be tricky.

Fun shots Peter!

 

[Roy]

Might not want to be using a Li battery on a deep dive!

Added: Also,be aware that salt water can be conductive

Added: OOPS...forgot there are no AAA Li's yet!

 

[hotfoot]

Oh wow, Peter - those are impressive and nice pix! It's nice to know that even my keychain EDC (a CPF-AAA) should be able to double up as a submersible light in a pinch.

60 FEET in salt water and they're still going!

Hope the LS will be able to happily live thru a similar test eventually.

 

[Darell]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roy:
Might not want to be using a Li battery on a deep dive!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If you find us an Li AAA, I promise to start worrying about that aspect.

 

[Klaus]

Actually regarding the Li AAA the Energizer guys pretty much confirmed that they are doing OEM testing with those - this to me means that while we can´t get them (yet) I think Peter as an OEM might be able to get his hands on them much easier ....

Just my 2 cents

Klaus

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gransee:

Getting them on a shuttle mission would be fun. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Peter,

All an astronaut would need is an ARC AAA and a Fisher Space Pen. In fact I believe Fisher Pens has a gift box that has a space pen & maglite solitaire. The ARC AAA is a much superior product than the solitaire. Besides isn't Fisher Pen based in Arizona also?

Clint

 

[McGizmo]

Cool Peter!

I believe a good watch repair shop in your area can do a dry pressure test up to 200 meters for you. At least in the past, I have been told that my watches were tested and this was one of the reasons I paid more for a battery and O-ring replacement. I think they use military surplus decompression chambers originally used on specially trained mice. I'm sure Graham has some insight on this.

Re: the Seals
If Luminox can use their name and even call a line of watches after them, I would think you could include some comment in your marketing.

It's in my sights so I'll take the shot; Peter, I'm SURE that the seals would want a Ti Arc AAA.

- sombody else at Don's keyboard

 

[Darell]

Don -

Know anybody who works with Ti and who might be able to offer some insight?

A Ti Arc AAA would just about have the highest "gee wiz" factor (for ME, mind you) that I can imagine.

 

[Empath]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gransee:
Remember Darell and our's water filled battery compartment tests?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just for research records, the Arc AAA can be filled with Acetone, and carried around in your pocket for hours without leaking or damaging usability. Of course the foam pad was already ruined. My turquoise Arc had a bad battery leak, covering the insides with gunk and literally dissolving the foam pad. I was trying everything to clean it up.

 

[McGizmo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by darell:
Don -

Know anybody who works with Ti and who might be able to offer some insight?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I certainly don't want to start anything but actually I know of quite a few resources should the issue come up..

 

[Gransee]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Klaus:
Actually regarding the Li AAA the Energizer guys pretty much confirmed that they are doing OEM testing with those - this to me means that while we can´t get them (yet) I think Peter as an OEM might be able to get his hands on them much easier ....

Just my 2 cents

Klaus<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I called them last month to place an order. They flatly denied that such a product existed. I was even kind of pushy (for my standards).

Peter

 

[Willmore]

I know, totally off topic here--I feel bad for destroying the highly scientific discussion going--but...

HALO is High Altitude Low Opening. This comes down to jumping from a plane at 'high' altitude--normally over 30K feet but not opening the chute until a very low altitude. This is done to avoid detection by the people in the area into which the jumper is being inserted. Jumping from a high altitude plane makes you look like a normal commercial flight. You rapidly accel to terminal velocity. You don't open up until a low altitude so as to not provide much of a target for observation/targeting.

I've talked to people who've done it and they say that there are a lot of things that they'd rather do than HALO--like getting shot at or something safe.

Of course, some like it....

 

[Graham]

Those scuba pics are very cool. I haven't been on a dive trip for ages - need to go on one so I can try out some of the newer lights I've got..

Re: holding onto it with gloves; yet another reason to come up with a good clip or something for the Arc AAA. You could probably make an elastic strap to put around the wrist or forearm (or even a finger!)

Graham

 

[Darell]

There you go. We need some gloves built to the Dork Hat™ standards. Add an elastic loot to one of the fingers, or on the back of the hand, and presto! Instant, usable backup light. Just turn it on before you go, and it'll always be there glowing away.

 

[Gransee]

OK, I just heard that they took 6 Arc-AAAs to a depth of 340feet last week. All where turned on and off at depth, which lasted 2 hours. None leaked.

This test is by the same gentleman who took them to 60 feet and took the pictures on page 1. They didn't get any pictures on this second dive. He said they choose to keep their gear light for this particular dive and so did not bring a camera.

Again, that is 340 feet, cycled on and off at depth, for 2 hours underwater.

These were stock white and turquoise AAAs pulled off the line.

They liked the turquoise better saying it produce less glare off their gauges, etc.

Peter Gransee