Arc4+ tail cap mod, version 1.1
- Thread starter cy
- Start date
- Status
What they up there said. I would like to give it a go.
I can say that I have seen this mod in person and it is great. It looks like it's supposed to be there. Just like factory as cy says. The feel of the button is superb. You can really feel the clicks.
I think also covers the other concerns that some have about being able to use the ARC pouch.
Just my 2 little bitty pennies worth.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
I can say that I have seen this mod in person and it is great. It looks like it's supposed to be there. Just like factory as cy says. The feel of the button is superb. You can really feel the clicks.
I think also covers the other concerns that some have about being able to use the ARC pouch.
Just my 2 little bitty pennies worth.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
jpeg
Enlightened
I'd like to try your version and see if it works any better than mine...
Ok that's all the tail cap mods I have materials for.
Thanks for being beta testers. Please PM with adress.
Mut
Jpeg
Radagast
Jtice
Chiroscuro
I'll be sending soon as I finish cutting off some more rivet heads. I've already got the 3M rubber punched 3/4in.
Thanks,
CY
Thanks for being beta testers. Please PM with adress.
Mut
Jpeg
Radagast
Jtice
Chiroscuro
I'll be sending soon as I finish cutting off some more rivet heads. I've already got the 3M rubber punched 3/4in.
Thanks,
CY
jpeg
Enlightened
NP.. Take your time. Thanks...
-J
-J
jtice
Flashaholic
Not a problem at all.
Take your time, thanks again.
Take your time, thanks again.
Nitnos
Newly Enlightened
cy,
I was looking for the 3M rubber you used. Where did you buy it? Thanks.
Nitnos
I was looking for the 3M rubber you used. Where did you buy it? Thanks.
Nitnos
Apologies for the delay... I'm slowly progressing on improvements. Have fabricated an improved plunger. The main problems is the rubber pulching out past the rear tail after some hard use.
Mut & Wolfram both have the mod on their Arc4. Mut still has the original version and needs to be upgraded. Wolfram has the updated version.
This switch needs to maintain contact with battery and hold up for many many cycles. Plus you are working with only .050 of travel for the switch in front. You also need to maintain .090 thickness of the assembley to maintain waterproofness.
I cannot find the correct sized washers, so I have to file by hand copper washers down to the .040 needed.
I am satisfied with the current version and only need to file down the copper washers to ship to beta testers. I have fabricated a punch, punched the rubbers and have the plungers all made.
Peter has stated if you drop Arc4 seconds, there will be no replacements. Currently switch cannot be replaced. IMHO the greatest weakness of Arc4 is the risk of taking a direct hit on the switch. Now feedback is coming in, front of Arc4 is weaker due to design of locking ring reducing thickness of aluminum in half for front impact area.
In other words... DON'T DROP YOUR ARC4!!!
The best solution is to get the upcoming protected tail cap from Arc, this mod 1.1 is slowly getting better.
Mut & Wolfram both have the mod on their Arc4. Mut still has the original version and needs to be upgraded. Wolfram has the updated version.
This switch needs to maintain contact with battery and hold up for many many cycles. Plus you are working with only .050 of travel for the switch in front. You also need to maintain .090 thickness of the assembley to maintain waterproofness.
I cannot find the correct sized washers, so I have to file by hand copper washers down to the .040 needed.
I am satisfied with the current version and only need to file down the copper washers to ship to beta testers. I have fabricated a punch, punched the rubbers and have the plungers all made.
Peter has stated if you drop Arc4 seconds, there will be no replacements. Currently switch cannot be replaced. IMHO the greatest weakness of Arc4 is the risk of taking a direct hit on the switch. Now feedback is coming in, front of Arc4 is weaker due to design of locking ring reducing thickness of aluminum in half for front impact area.
In other words... DON'T DROP YOUR ARC4!!!
The best solution is to get the upcoming protected tail cap from Arc, this mod 1.1 is slowly getting better.
Thanks cy! I can't wait....but by no means hurry unnecessarily. This is gonna be good /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I know what you mean about not dropping the Arc4. I dropped mine on concrete a few weeks ago and put a nice ding on it. It still works fine and I can still unscrew the bezel. Here's a picture, dent is on bottom right of pic.
I know what you mean about not dropping the Arc4. I dropped mine on concrete a few weeks ago and put a nice ding on it. It still works fine and I can still unscrew the bezel. Here's a picture, dent is on bottom right of pic.
update: Had a failure report from Mut on the original version of tailcap mod. rubber stretched out and batt lost contact. So I modified plunger to fit assembly closer to avoid excessive flex. This seemed to extend rubber life.
Many many cycles later the rubber start to bubble up again. light is working still working fine. I trouble shoot to find out the bubble is from gas buildup internally. After opening up case the rubber lays down and switch is back to normal again. Switch mantained funtion at all times.
It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods (that I'm aware of) out there yet. Arc4 is designed to very tight tolorances.
Sorry about the delays, I though it better to work the bugs out before shipping.
Many many cycles later the rubber start to bubble up again. light is working still working fine. I trouble shoot to find out the bubble is from gas buildup internally. After opening up case the rubber lays down and switch is back to normal again. Switch mantained funtion at all times.
It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods (that I'm aware of) out there yet. Arc4 is designed to very tight tolorances.
Sorry about the delays, I though it better to work the bugs out before shipping.
PeLu
Flashlight Enthusiast
[ QUOTE ]
cy said:It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods
[/ QUOTE ]
What will you mod? There is the version with the tiny beta lights in the screw holes. And this thread here.
And you get two different additional lenses...
You cannot change the LED or just replace a resistor to get a higher current (AFAIK). Maybe we get software mods one time...
But there is no reason why people should not offer different tubes for it.
Or, simpler, other lanyard attachments (instead of the clip) and a clip with the opposite direction (would also allow easier use of additional coloured lenses, beam shaper etc.)
cy said:It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods
[/ QUOTE ]
What will you mod? There is the version with the tiny beta lights in the screw holes. And this thread here.
And you get two different additional lenses...
You cannot change the LED or just replace a resistor to get a higher current (AFAIK). Maybe we get software mods one time...
But there is no reason why people should not offer different tubes for it.
Or, simpler, other lanyard attachments (instead of the clip) and a clip with the opposite direction (would also allow easier use of additional coloured lenses, beam shaper etc.)
[ QUOTE ]
PeLu said:
[ QUOTE ]
cy said:It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods
[/ QUOTE ]
What will you mod? There is the version with the tiny beta lights in the screw holes. And this thread here.
And you get two different additional lenses...
You cannot change the LED or just replace a resistor to get a higher current (AFAIK). Maybe we get software mods one time...
But there is no reason why people should not offer different tubes for it.
Or, simpler, other lanyard attachments (instead of the clip) and a clip with the opposite direction (would also allow easier use of additional coloured lenses, beam shaper etc.)
[/ QUOTE ]
just speculation of course since I don't have a 2x tube for Arc4. Possibly rev1's switch tolorances will cause problems maintaining contact with batteries.
Have you ever notice how small the travel avaiable from switch assembly, to make contact with battery? multiply batt length issues X 2. Then factor in the additional masss of moving two batteries. The .050 travel starts being more of a factor.
Maybe these possible issues are part of the reason Arc is going to a longer travel switch for Rev2.
With Arc's delay in getting the protected rear tailcap out, I'm surprise no one has offered a modded protected tailcap and 2X 123 tube.
PeLu said:
[ QUOTE ]
cy said:It is by no accident there are no Arc4 mods
[/ QUOTE ]
What will you mod? There is the version with the tiny beta lights in the screw holes. And this thread here.
And you get two different additional lenses...
You cannot change the LED or just replace a resistor to get a higher current (AFAIK). Maybe we get software mods one time...
But there is no reason why people should not offer different tubes for it.
Or, simpler, other lanyard attachments (instead of the clip) and a clip with the opposite direction (would also allow easier use of additional coloured lenses, beam shaper etc.)
[/ QUOTE ]
just speculation of course since I don't have a 2x tube for Arc4. Possibly rev1's switch tolorances will cause problems maintaining contact with batteries.
Have you ever notice how small the travel avaiable from switch assembly, to make contact with battery? multiply batt length issues X 2. Then factor in the additional masss of moving two batteries. The .050 travel starts being more of a factor.
Maybe these possible issues are part of the reason Arc is going to a longer travel switch for Rev2.
With Arc's delay in getting the protected rear tailcap out, I'm surprise no one has offered a modded protected tailcap and 2X 123 tube.
PeLu
Flashlight Enthusiast
[ QUOTE ]
cy said:
just speculation of course since I don't have a 2x tube for Arc4. Possibly rev1's switch tolorances will cause problems maintaining contact with batteries.
Have you ever notice how small the travel avaiable from switch assembly, to make contact with battery?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, of course, I did not think about that. Actually I'm looking forward to a 18650 tube (and maybe someone shortens it to a 18500).
The switch will also make a 4xAA or 4xAAA tube impossible.
cy said:
just speculation of course since I don't have a 2x tube for Arc4. Possibly rev1's switch tolorances will cause problems maintaining contact with batteries.
Have you ever notice how small the travel avaiable from switch assembly, to make contact with battery?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, of course, I did not think about that. Actually I'm looking forward to a 18650 tube (and maybe someone shortens it to a 18500).
The switch will also make a 4xAA or 4xAAA tube impossible.
[ QUOTE ]
cy said:
update: Had a failure report from Mut on the original version of tailcap mod. rubber stretched out and batt lost contact. So I modified plunger to fit assembly closer to avoid excessive flex. This seemed to extend rubber life.
[/ QUOTE ]
Got the updated version today. So far it is even better than the previous one. The rubber for the switch actually sits even further down.
I will give it a work out for the next couple of weeks and let everyone know how it is working out.
mut
cy said:
update: Had a failure report from Mut on the original version of tailcap mod. rubber stretched out and batt lost contact. So I modified plunger to fit assembly closer to avoid excessive flex. This seemed to extend rubber life.
[/ QUOTE ]
Got the updated version today. So far it is even better than the previous one. The rubber for the switch actually sits even further down.
I will give it a work out for the next couple of weeks and let everyone know how it is working out.
mut
All this post regarding arc's switch modification brings me a question. The answer may be obvious, but i don't get it nonetheless, hence the question. Why did arc design their arc4's switch to be the way it is now?
From this link, it seems that the presence of the rubber boot only to give spacing for the switch. but folks reporting that the switch does not travel far enough to provide tactile feedback. Also, from the same link, it would make more sense to simply cut the current tail boot and just use a rubber sheet to enclose the circuit and still maintain waterproofness.
I guess what i am saying is, though the rubber boot does not give any special purpose in the current design and it enhances the chance of getting the light to get turned on by itself, why did arc choose the rubber boot over an enclosed switch which gives major advantages over the current boot (such as stand on tail/ candle mode, prevent accidental activation).
From this link, it seems that the presence of the rubber boot only to give spacing for the switch. but folks reporting that the switch does not travel far enough to provide tactile feedback. Also, from the same link, it would make more sense to simply cut the current tail boot and just use a rubber sheet to enclose the circuit and still maintain waterproofness.
I guess what i am saying is, though the rubber boot does not give any special purpose in the current design and it enhances the chance of getting the light to get turned on by itself, why did arc choose the rubber boot over an enclosed switch which gives major advantages over the current boot (such as stand on tail/ candle mode, prevent accidental activation).
Seems Peter is pretty partial to his original design
Hey - you would be to if it would be you YOUR baby, right ?
Besides the accidential activation (same here) even happening with the IMO clumsy semi-tactial workaround (yes, at least for me as well) its also the danger of damaging this pretty tricky and sensitive part of the ARC4 design even when just dropping the ARC4 from waist-height to a wooden floor (also happened to me already - as I screwed up the spring trying to fix it Peter was so nice to sent a replacement spring and it fixed the issue immediately)
I think while Peter is repeating that he still believes the original switch design to be superior to anything else and this to be the reason why it will stay that way it might be wiser to listen to the rev1 buyers (switch beta testers) and I very strongly believe that the issues and feedback clearly show the switch to be probably the only major drawback of one besides that very innovative and great design.
But what do I know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif
Klaus
Hey - you would be to if it would be you YOUR baby, right ?
Besides the accidential activation (same here) even happening with the IMO clumsy semi-tactial workaround (yes, at least for me as well) its also the danger of damaging this pretty tricky and sensitive part of the ARC4 design even when just dropping the ARC4 from waist-height to a wooden floor (also happened to me already - as I screwed up the spring trying to fix it Peter was so nice to sent a replacement spring and it fixed the issue immediately)
I think while Peter is repeating that he still believes the original switch design to be superior to anything else and this to be the reason why it will stay that way it might be wiser to listen to the rev1 buyers (switch beta testers) and I very strongly believe that the issues and feedback clearly show the switch to be probably the only major drawback of one besides that very innovative and great design.
But what do I know /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif
Klaus
The tailcap mod V 1.1 is finally ready to go out. Sorry it took sooo long, but for something this simple it was surprising hard to get right.
The tolerances are really small for this mod to work right.
I thought it better to wait to ship, rather than send something out not up to par.
The beta testers will be receiving a tailcap mod 1.1 soon. If you use this mod in rev2 arc4, you will also need a .033 copper washer, which will be included.
details are here for rev2 arc4.
The tolerances are really small for this mod to work right.
I thought it better to wait to ship, rather than send something out not up to par.
The beta testers will be receiving a tailcap mod 1.1 soon. If you use this mod in rev2 arc4, you will also need a .033 copper washer, which will be included.
details are here for rev2 arc4.
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