Brighter Flashlights?

[vcal]

A money-saving, performance enhancing product from Hosfelt came today. This is undoubtably the finest contact cleaning and lube spray that I've ever used. $8. for a 12oz. 3-intensity spray nozzle.
Money-saving?-How so?? -because it makes contact surfaces MUCH less vulnerable to wear (like the contacts in "twist-on" type flashlights like Lightwave 2000,
Arc-AAA, and lots of others). These flashlights are also much more pleasant to operate-nice and smoooooth..

Also, after cleaning the batteries and contacts in 7 of my LED flashlights, six of them are now more than 25% brighter. This substance is highly conductive!
-I've given sermons on this subject before, (I know)

, but what a difference an $8. investment can make......

 

[SurefireM6]

Is this an Infomercial? Does it come with a mop or a chamois or something? Comon, 2 for the price of one if you order within the next 15 minutes!

LOL, just kidding. Sounds interesting. I've heard of this type of product before. The ones I've seen are gel like and you put a drop on the battery contact to make them more conductive. Never really bought into the idea. If it's so cheap and great, why doesn't big money giants like Energizer and Duracell market them with their batts?

 

[Darell]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vcal:
=Also, after cleaning the batteries and contacts in 7 of my LED flashlights, six of them are now more than 25% brighter.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you have quantifiable evidence of the "25% brighter?" Sounds like great stuff, but I need facts before I spend.

 

[vcal]

Duracell, Eveready, et.al probably would-except that people wouldn't be throwing away quite as many batteries

Because, in more than a few cases, the original performance re-appears after cleaning, and...why buy more batteries when the light is still bright?
Seriously, I've tried a lot of these products over many years, and wanted to recommend this one.
-Oh yea, and even just a clean pencil eraser can help a lot too!

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by darell:
Do you have quantifiable evidence of the "25% brighter?" Sounds like great stuff, but I need facts before I spend.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually the increase was more like 40% on two of them, (according to my lux meters)-not bad for a procedure taking about 30 seconds

This stuff is colorless, so I was just Amazed when I saw all the accumulated oxides collected on the white cleaning tip, because the contacts had LOOKED clean to begin with!

If $8. for 12oz. of cleaner/conductor/lube sounds like too much, there's always the "eraser" method-see above post

p.s.-properly used, the above 12 oz. supply should keep your flashlights and lots of your other electronic goodies working at top efficiency for about 20 years use...(1 drop on a Q-tip)!

 

[Gandalf]

Sounds like a good product; too bad it doesn't come in a smaller size. I've seen what a diference cleaning battery contacts can do, and this product sounds good.

Do you have a link to it?

Thanks

 

[Spork]

have you ever tried rubbing alchohol? i havent used it on any of my lights but it seems to work well on other electrical contacts ive tried it on. i was going to clean my arc with it but someone said it might make the foam retainer come loose.

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gandalf:
Sounds like a good product; too bad it doesn't come in a smaller size. I've seen what a diference cleaning battery contacts can do, and this product sounds good.

Do you have a link to it?
Thanks<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
from: www.hosfelt.com -item # 16-125 (you will search/find it under: "Nu-trol")-$7.49 -I would request their catalog.

Actually nowadays ALL products of this type are priced at 7-$19., and that's for the small 5-6oz. cans

(cost has gone up dramatically in the last 4 years)!
-As an a/v technician, I've used these products for some 20 years.
I notice that Rad. Shack has one combo spray-#64-4315-$7.99 for a 4.5oz, but I haven't used that one...

Fyi-90% iso alcohol-Savon/Osco also works, but IMO it lacks the staying power (contact enhancement) and also the highly desirable lube qualities that are necessary for some mechanical applications.
Fortunately, a very little goes a loong way. -Even as a tech., I only used 1 or 2 cans a year.

 

[lightlover]

Sounds really good. And measured by a Lux meter too !
Ummm, would it work as well in an Incandescent powered light ?

Has anyone tried the fibreglass contact cleaners, the ones that come in a pen-type holder ?

lightlover

 

[Darell]

What the heck. What's $8 to a guy who spends, on average, $30 for each flashlight?

I do hold you responsible if I manage to inflict permanent retina damage to my eyes with my Infinity.

 

[Brock]

Vcal, if it is conductive do you have to worry about it making contact and draing the batteries? I had some stuff that was similar, but it actually would conduct about 5mA to the shell of the light and drained the battery. I suppose you just can't get it all over everything. I can see this same sort of thing happening at the top of a AA cell in an Infinity or a AAA cell in a Arc, am I crazy or would this stuff work out OK in that situation?

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brock:
Vcal, if it is conductive do you have to worry about it making contact and draing the batteries? I had some stuff that was similar, but it actually would conduct about 5mA to the shell of the light and drained the battery. I suppose you just can't get it all over everything. I can see this same sort of thing happening at the top of a AA cell in an Infinity or a AAA cell in a Arc, am I crazy or would this stuff work out OK in that situation?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Brock, your point is well taken-and that's why I recommend using this stuff sparingly.
p.s.-I have checked from time to time with a DMM what you are referring to, (unwanted contact) and haven't noticed any innappropriate current flow/drainage.
I just cleaned up my old Infintys threads and also used it on my new Arc-LE, and I like the way the lights switch on with "authority"

 

[Darell]

Dang. How do you find stuff on the Hosfelt site. Using part number doesn't work, using description doesn't work. Any clue?

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by darell:
Dang. How do you find stuff on the Hosfelt site. Using part number doesn't work, using description doesn't work. Any clue?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

darell-the search on that site can be downright quirky
Let's see....
From home page, scroll (lower right hand column) down to: MG Chemicals, and then down to part # 16-125

 

[Darell]

Thanks Doug. FINALLY found it. I want to order a bunch of other stuff though, and it is impossible to find. Guess I'll have to break down and actually CALL them.

I notice that the description doesn't even mention that the product is conductive. Also, it's too bad that it's a spray. A dropper bottle would be way better for my needs.

And... how did you decide on that one, out of the many that sound so darn similar?

 

[vcal]

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

I notice that the description doesn't even mention that the product is conductive. Also, it's too bad that it's a spray. A dropper bottle would be way better for my needs.

And... how did you decide on that one, out of the many that sound so darn similar?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I agree with your observation about the liquid vs. the spray.
I wrote about about the Nutrol because I found it to be a great value-considering the ridiculous prices of a lot of their competitors.
If you must have a good equivalent liquid, may I suggest "Caig Deoxit Red" (xcellent product, but pricey at 7.49 for 7.4ml ). But frankly, having used both products, I can't tell much difference.

 

[Darell]

OK - I bought it and it has arrived. I sprayed some into a cup, and used a Q-tip to polish up my Arc AAAs. They sure look nice and shiny and bright - and the action is very nice. Thought I don't have a lux meter, I certainly don't notice any difference in light output though. I kept one "dirty" to compare (three were very similar in light output to start with - and now with two clean and one dirty, they're the same). If the libricating properties remain for a decent amount of time, I'll be happy enough. You'd think I'd notice an increase in brightess on the order that was noticed by the lux meter though, wouldn't you?

 

[MrAl]

Is that the same thing as "bulb grease" ?
I had picked some up one day when i had to
purchase a new halogen bulb but i didnt
get to try it out yet.

--Al

 

[vcal]

I happened to try out that stuff on some lights that I don't use too often. Having 80-100 lights

sometimes makes me lazy about checking some of them.
Whatever the case, because this spray (which should be adjusted to the LOW output button position) is colorless and certainly shows accumulated oxidation on the Q-tip...

Btw-when spray button is adjusted properly, all that's really necessary is to hold the Q-tip right up to the opening of the button, and release just enough to dampen the tip.
Used that way, the 12oz. can should last for about 11,566 flashlight cleaning/lubings or 8 years, -whichever comes first

All kidding aside, I like the real smooooth action this stuff gives to operation.

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MrAl:
Is that the same thing as "bulb grease" ?
I had picked some up one day when i had to
purchase a new halogen bulb but i didnt
get to try it out yet.

--Al<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

-Haven't heard about that one. What brand name does it go under??