ARC LS REVIEW

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LED Guy:
Hmmm. Why not short out the LED, and send one to Botach as an evaluation unit? Then we'll know for sure if it's a problem.

Guy Guyer
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dis is a good idea...I like it!
 
Ok, I started the run using 2 NEXcell 1400 mA batteries. They started at 150, the 2 alkaline started at 140, 2 lithium at 160, and the 123 at 140. Now after 45 min it is at 130. The other battery types at 45 min were as follows, 2 lithium at 145, 2 alkaline at 135, and single 123 at 125.

I wish my readings were in some scale. I have been playing with the numbers to see if it is in some relation to Craig's numbers but haven't figured it out yet. I believe my 1-50 scale matches Craig's, but when I switch to the 1-250, my readings are higher. Even when I get a reading of 50 on the low scale then switch to the 250 scale it reads higher. Hummmm....

In any case at least it gives me an idea of relative brightness between lights and battery types.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention I dunked the LS last night. I started at 18 inches (about 1/2 meter) for about 3 minutes and it didn't appear to leak. I then took it out to check the insides, the lens fogged up, but the battery compartment was dry. So it must be leaking in around the lens for the LS. Peter what about putting some kind of sealant or maybe even an O ring in there before the lens goes in? I know it wouldn't be perfect, but shouldn't it be better then the plastic on aluminum?
 
Brock, thanks for the NiMh test. It surprised me a little that they ran 45 min less than the 1300 mAh 123 lithiums.

Still, 2.5 hrs above 100 ??'s of light isn't bad for replenishable power source.
smile.gif
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Go, Go Gadget Flashlight:
Still, 2.5 hrs above 100 ??'s of light isn't bad for replenishable power source.
smile.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wonder... at what point should NiMH be pulled and thrown on the charger before they reach the point of no return....

I only have them in "AAA" size, so I can't try them in the LS. But I use them all the time in a green laser pointer, and pull them long before the laser starts to dim out.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brock:
Oh, I almost forgot to mention I dunked the LS last night. I started at 18 inches (about 1/2 meter) for about 3 minutes and it didn't appear to leak. I then took it out to check the insides, the lens fogged up<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

On mine, I can see a sealant of some kind between the lens and the bezel, but that sealant bead doesn't go all the way around.
But the light holds a vacuum when suctioned.
Let's see what happens when I douche it... here goes...
(For safety's sake, and for my fishes's, I'm pulling the lithium batteries out first).

*splash* blub blub blub all the way to the bottom...

After about 5 minutes in 11" of water (the depth of my fishtank when full to the top), there appears to be no leakage, and no fogging of the LS lens.
I've now placed the reassembled unit in the freezer for a few minutes, so if there is going to be any condensation inside, it will show up quite quickly.
(did not show any condensation when the unit was quickly cooled to around 50°F)

Brock, since you have a (or access to a) swimming pool, you'll have to do all of the deeper testing when the production units come out. Deepest water I can get to here is about a foot, unless I buy a fishing pole and some 8lb test line, then I can drive down to the Seattle waterfront and cast the unit over the side at Pier 66 into around 20-50 feet of water. :-O
 
Don't worry I will dunk the lights, it is one of my favorite parts to do. I don't like it if the light fills with water. I also usually take them in the hot tub first which is about 100 F so that might be harder on the light. I also tend to leave the batteries out for the first dunk. If they don't leak I take them to 10 feet, if they still don't leak I take them SCUBA diving.

Yes, one of the nice parts of NiMH cells is you can charge them to keep getting the peak output on the light, very nice
wink.gif
I normally wouldn't recommend running NiMH cells till they drop, not really thing to do to them.
 
so you guys that have the light when are we gonna see some more pics of the beam? I am curious how they perform against something like a 3 dcell mag.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrchri5:
so you guys that have the light when are we gonna see some more pics of the beam? I am curious how they perform against something like a 3 dcell mag.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have a couple of pics on my website, and took another just before the camera ended up taking a little trip. (don't worry, I'll have it back quite soon).

Let's see if I can dig up the standard test target beam. Note that it will probably be a bit overexposed, as this is a bright light and my camera has only a very narrow exposure range unlike Brock's and Chris's.

arcls30.jpg


As for comparing it to a 3-D mag, that'll have to wait until I can get more D-cells and a bulb that fits the silly thing.
I haven't used the mag as a regular flashlight in about two years because of all the LED lights. It probably has a Turtlelite bulb in it right now.
smile.gif
 
I lent my camera out, but I will try to take some as soon as it gets back. So LS, 3D Mag, Trek7 and maybe expedition 1400? Oh oh I know the Surefire E1, another single 123 light.
 
how does the arc ls compare to a eternalight? would you suggest an eternalight? ( sorry for slighly off topic question) I'm trying to make up my mind on which one to get. Maybe ill end up with both. Theres a lot of hype with these new leds but they sure do suck a lot of power and from what I've seen and read they are only a little brighter than a good multi led flashlight. unless a arc ls is signifigantly brighter than everything out there is it really worth the cost? Brock was saying something in an earlier post about the arcls being as bright on 1aa as an eternalight. I know if anyone can make a good luxeon star flashlight they sure have the right people on the job, and im sure it will be a nice light. I just think these new led's are getting to much hype. thank you Craig for the picture.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Go, Go Gadget Flashlight:
Brock, thanks for the NiMh test. It surprised me a little that they ran 45 min less than the 1300 mAh 123 lithiums.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Looks like they do not have their rated capacity. Brock, do you use a charger which gives you an Ah rating?

If someone needs a long lasting rechargeable light, it would be good to use two A or fat 4/3A cells. The latter ones are about 18mm diameter and 67mm long (sorry for you metrically challenged people .-) and come with some 4.2Ah. Of course someone has to supply us a battery compartment for that.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrchri5:
how does the arc ls compare to a eternalight? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

With the 1 AA pack and a lithium AA, the Arc is about as bright as the Eternalight Ergo Marine with nearly-fresh lithiums. With an alkaline AA (unknown previous use) it was just a touch dimmer.

With 2 AA alkalines, it kicks the lithium Ergo's butt, and when using lithium AA, it literally knocks the potty out of it.

Just by eyeballing, I'd say it's about twice as bright as the Eternalight lithium, and the color is much less bluish.
 
I would guess the Arc LS with 2 AA is about 3 to 4 times brighter then the Eternalight (not really a fair comparison). When comparing the Arc LS to the Eternalight I am using lithium's in the Eternalight and regular alkaline in the LS. As Craig mentione with lithium in the LS, the LS is even brighter.

I know my NiMH batteries were fully charged, but they are over 1 year old and probably cycled somewhere between 50 to 100 times so far. It is the newest set of NiMH I have right now. I agree that is should have lasted a bit longer then the 123's, but then again it was brighter for a bit so it was probably pulling more power from the batteries. Either way I am sure new NiMH would last longer.
 
My camera's back from the pawn shop (I said it wouldn't be gone for long!), and I'm now on my way to the store to buy batteries & bulb for my 3-D mag, then I'll start shooting off some pictures for you.

Ok, I'm back. 20 minutes later and $13 poorer... let's load up this bad boy and see what happens.

(stay tuned)
compare2.jpg


Mag Lite is using a new PR3 bulb (500mA, 3.75v, 15 hours) and brand spanking new Radio Shack alkaline cells.

Arc LS is using Energizer lithiums with about 50-60 minutes of intermittent use already on them.

Both were fired about 3' from the wall.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrchri5:
how does the arc ls compare to a eternalight? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here you go...

compare5.jpg

Compared to an Eternalight Ergo on alkaline batteries.


compare6.jpg

Compared to an Eternalight Marine on lithium batteries.
 
Ok, here are some comparison shots of the LS output. The LS is using 2 lithium AA in all these shots, the other are labeled. I tried taking shots of the LS with differnt batteries, but they are so close you can't tell them apart. That is the 2 AA lithium, 2 AA alkaline, and 123 are very close and the single AA lithium and single AA alkaline are very close.



lscomp.jpg
 
Sorry, i've been falling a little behind...trying to catch up on the board.

Where are you guys getting your LS modules? Are they being sold now or only under special order? I remember calling about them when they first came out.
 
Top