Arc4+ Second, first impressions

[Sean]

Actually, the main reason the Arc4 is so "focused" is beacuse it uses a 1W emitter. A 5W emitter will give a wider hotspot.

Also, in all fariness to Peter, on my instructions it says:

[ QUOTE ]

LS4 Community
Meet other flashlight users and learn more about your LS4 (including extra features) at:

www.ledcommunity.com

Check out the Arc Flashlight forum for the latest news on the LS4 including special functions and tips. This forum has advanced instructions that explain how to program the primary/secondary settings for other levels, etc.


[/ QUOTE ]

 

[xochi]

I've had a first for about 2 weeks and got a second today. This light is kick ***. My second has some anodizing blemishes but everything else is first rate. In fact, the lettering on my second is better than my first and the diode has a whiter tint. It's very slightly dimmer, though. Everything else works the same. As far as learning the light it took me a few days to really master it (but I didn't even read the instructions I just read the reference card) and it took me about a week to realize that having the boost to full brightness and triple click to dimmest meant that I had four easily accesible levels available. If you like flashlights for reasons beyond the utilitarian then spending a little time learning how to use it is really no big deal and I had fun rattling around in the feedback loop of discovery. Once learned, this light really is easy to use.

My only complaint , like paulr, is this lights too small/bright hotspot and lack of sidespill. I don't know if it's possible but I'm quessing that an itty bitty lens type thingy could be stuck to the center of the lense to disperse that hotspot a bit. Is that possible, anyone? anyone?

I love my arc 4's. The second deal this past weekend was just too good to pass up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[LitFuse]

I think I read somewhere that the SureFire "E" series filters/beam diffusers will fit nicely on the A4+.


Peter

 

[chiaroscuro]

Lit Fuse--the surefire 1'' diffusers/filters do fit the Arc4,but the clip has to be removed for a good fit.

 

[paulr]

A piece of frosted scotch tape over the front gives the hotspot kind of a weird shape, but it does diffuse it nicely. It would be nice to have a slip-on diffuser with a notch for the clip.

 

[paulr]

More results. I did a comparison with my UKE 2L that I've been EDC'ing for years, a 2 watt xenon 2x123 light. Total output (bounce off ceiling test) is quite similar. UKE has more throw (narrower beam) but not by all that much. UKE probably has more runtime (two cells) than the Arc at full brightness, but of course you can use the Arc at lower power for most things.

Arc AAA output is about the same as my Arc4+" (the double quote means "second") at level 10. That's a bit higher level than this_is_nascar's Arc4+ which was supposed to be comparable at level 12. Either his level 12 is a couple steps brighter than mine, or he just compared hotspot brightness (AAA beam is wider).

I don't like the "press and hold for temporary level 1" very much. Holding the button down is just too much effort. Pressing and holding the button should switch to level 1 and leave it there, til you double click or turn off the light, or maybe til you press-and-hold again.

 

[chamenos]

this isn't really an important issue, but i just thought i'd mention it. the laser etchings aren't painted with anything. its just bare aluminium that has been exposed after the HA has been etched away by the laser. the reason why it looks uneven is because HA is harder to etch off than normal type II anodizing, so some parts may not have the HA cleanly etched off. its all just cosmetic though.

regarding the options menu, i think the flash sequences for the various options are meant to emulate the options, and not to say anything in morse code. its much more intuitive this way, since most people wouldn't know morse code (i definitely don't). i mastered all the functions of the arc4 after the first day of fiddling around with it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cy]

[ QUOTE ]
GJW said:
No, I printed it off the board for him.
And I don't care what anyone says, the instructions for entering the brightness menu are flat out wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't get into the brightness functions following the advanced instructions posted.

What is the correct instructions to get into brightness menu?

Thanks,
CY

 

[notamchris]

[ QUOTE ]
cy said:
I can't get into the brightness functions following the advanced instructions posted.

What is the correct instructions to get into brightness menu?

Thanks,
CY

[/ QUOTE ]


The best way to get into the brightness and option menus seem to be:

Brightness: keep clicking the button until the light stops flashing (it will flash with every click then after about 10 clicks it will just stay constant on). When it stops flashing, just hold down the button for a couple of seconds and you will be in the brightness menu.

For the options menu, do the same thing as the brightness menu, just don't hold down the button when the light stops flashing.

 

[notamchris]

[ QUOTE ]
paulr said:
OK, I'm playing around with the brightness settings.

I can understand there's these two settings you can switch between, but unless you're in "force primary" mode, I don't understand why one setting is "primary" and the other "secondary". In particular when I turn the light on, I don't know whether I've got the primary or secondary level. If I want to set primary to 3 and secondary to 8, the only way I know for sure to do it is set force primary mode, then use the brightness menu to set the primary, then unset force primary mode, then turn the light on to switch to secondary, then turn it off again, then go to the brightness menu and set the secondary.

[/ QUOTE ]

Paul, I think that I found an easier way to determine which setting is primary, and which is secondary (without having to turn on force primary).

All you have to do is take the battery out for about 20 seconds (long enough to make it think that you put in a new battery, but not long enough to worry about resetting the light). When you turn it on again, it will turn on in the primary setting.

 

[westfork]

chamenos, The 4+ notation appears to be burned through to the aluminum, but the Arc logo and the inscriptions on the other LS series I have seen are not. Laser engraving will turn the type III hard anodizing white under the right conditions. If everything is not just right (speed, intensity, etc.) these laser inscriptions can be not quite as white and sharp as one would like. Played around with test lasering a customized run of flashlights yesterday and found just how many ways the inscriptions in HA III can be made.
Lloyd

 

[chamenos]

thanks for the information lloyd /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif i never knew that was possible...i just examined some surefires i have and they appear to be burned through just like the arc4+ too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[westfork]

Chamenos, I just discovered a lot of this yesterday through testing. It surprised me how tough the white lasered lettering can be in the HA III finish. Our test that produced the whitest lettering in our particular light only left a slight indentation that could be felt by a fingernail. We were testing for inscription quality and didn't care too much about placement. One inscription wrapped around an angled corner of the flashlight. Just out of curiosity I vigorously rubbed a key on this exposed edge. No damage to the lettering or finish, but took a while to scrub off all the brass left behind from the key. Amazingly tough!
Lloyd

 

[Empedocles]

Okay, I'll throw in my thoughts as well.

I was holding off buying the Arc4, mostly because I can see where my flashaholism is taking me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif

But I got sucked into the $99 seconds sale, though concerned about the lottery aspects of the purchase. I don't care much about cosmetic issues, as long as the function is there. Peter G said that many of these are seconds because they chew up batteries a little faster than the firsts do.

I thought, "Well, I might be able to live with that, provided the light is white and bright, and the power consumption is not too heinous."

So, my light arrived today. There is a slight anodizong color mis-match between the switch section and the rest of the body. No biggie to me. The beam is WHITE, and brighter than my LSH-P with the Q3 LS. So far so good, but what about the run time? That could wreck the deal, forcing me to send this baby back to the Island of Misfit Arcs.

Well, all I can say is that I put in a fresh duracell, and let this 4+" blast away at level 1 for as long as it could. I figure I could just return it within 15 days for a refund if it kills the battery too soon for my tastes.

That was one hour and 4 minutes ago. I'm sitting here typing this with the thing in my hand, and it's still going.

I feel like a royal dope just sitting here in the dark fondling a warm flashlight, while I wait for it to tire out the battery and downshift into a lower level. I'm afraid that my wife is going to finish her TV show and come looking for me.

How'm I gonna 'splain me sitting here in the dark holding a flashlight while typing this message to a flashlight discussion board? "Don't worry about me, Dear. I'm just trying to use up this battery."

Right, like THAT's going to fly....!

Anyway, I guess I'm content with the runtime. Whatever it turns out to be. I'll keep waiting here. In the dark.

Until the light dims. Or I'm discovered.

At this point, I think it'd be safer for me if the stinking Arc4 would dim.

Curse you, Arc. Curse you, Madman Peter G! My marriage will be teetering on the brink because you have mede such a high quality light! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

There's a bright spot, though. Yeah, it's right on my ceiling, because this infernal light won't call it quits!

I'll lose everything. My home, kids, wife.

At least I'll still have my Arc4. At this rate, they'll have to pry it out of my palsied hand.

At least it will still be shining. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chiaroscuro]

bravo,Empedocles,and most welcome to the Arc4 club.sorry about the family,perhaps you could trade them in for more Arc seconds. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

and I love the J.Swift quote. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/buttrock.gif

 

[Sigman]

Empedocles, entertaining post I must say! (Just got my 2nd "2nd" an hour ago via FedEx!) VERY PLEASED once again!! I can't wait to see what my "Premium" is going to look like - but waiting for knurling around the head!

 

[paulr]

Anyone else think the new Arc logo looks a little bit like Bill the Cat? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Empedocles]

AccKKKK !