CMG Infinity Task Light versions

[koala]

Ok, I was wondering how many versions/variants of the CMG/Gerber Infinity Task Lights..

listing from the earliest model
i) CMG Infinity Task Light 41 hours runtime (old circuitry)
ii) CMG Infinity Ultra 25 hours peak brightness
iii) Gerber Infinity(old style) 25 hours peak brightness
iv) Gerber Infinity - current model

Am I missing any?

-vince.

 

[greenLED]

I have one of each of these:

1- old (original?) circuit (no epoxy in head), batt POS towards tail, powder coated (painted), 41hrs runtime, "Task"
2- newer (?) circuit with black dot, batt POS towards top, same finish as 1, 41 hrs, "Task"
3- same circuit as 2 (??), no black dot, anodized, 41 hrs, "Task"
4- Zetex circuit, anodized, 25 hrs, "Ultra"
4.1 Koala's LUXI /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
5- Gerber's new style

Then there were all the different LED colors CMG originally had (did they ever had a UV version?). I think Gerber only has them in white, green and red now.

Edit for accuracy and clarity (I hope)
Edit 2: It wasn't UV, it was an IR LED.
Edit 3: Models 1-4 were CMG, Gerber picked up and made style 4 for a bit, then switched to 5.

 

[Zigzago]

[ QUOTE ]
koala said:
Ok, I was wondering how many versions/variants of the CMG/Gerber Infinity Task Lights..

listing from the earliest model
i) CMG Infinity Task Light 41 hours runtime (old circuitry)
ii) CMG Infinity Ultra 25 hours peak brightness
iii) Gerber Infinity(old style) 25 hours peak brightness
iv) Gerber Infinity - current model

Am I missing any?

-vince.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Ultra G - same as your "ii" but with US Government markings and a HA type III finish.

 

[DBrier]

I have one of the rare blue anodized Ultras.

 

[STEVENT6]

Green led,

When you said black dot, were you talking about the coating on the metal that connects to the positive end of the battery?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[greenLED]

I just realized I don't have an example of #3 ("Task light"). I might be confused with something else, so please don't quote me on this one. I'm trying to post pics of the "black dot" I'm talking about but there's something wrong with my FTP file permissions... BRB...

 

[greenLED]

OK, I found my Task light without the black dot, so now you can quote me on #3 on my original post (which I've edited for clarity). Just for giggles, here's a pic of the "black dot" version (right) and an Infinity Ultra-G (left).

The bottom of the circuit board in #3 looks exactly like the Infinity Ultra's bottom (left on above pic), but the output is about half from what I can tell by shining the lights on my wall.

Edit: What about body colors? I've seen:
black
blue ("electric"?)
forest green
OD green
silver

 

[koala]

Thanks heaps people. So there are a lot more variants of Infinities out there. It's a great little light isn't it.

 

[greenlight]

Anyone read cmg's patent? I couldn't get my teeth into it, so if anybody has any idea what it covers, please explain.

 

[Niteowl]

The blue was called "Ice Blue" IIRC.

There is a IR Infinity out there still available I believe, for about $17. I've only seen it at the one place. Called a month ago and they still had a couple hundred.

Mark

 

[greenLED]

Niteowl, could you please post the link for these? :twothumbs

 

[KS]

Is there a difference in output between the CMG Ultra and the Gerber Ultra. The salesman I asked told me that the Gerber was has been outsourced to China and so the led wasn't as good. Can owners of both ultras please give a frank opinion.

 

[Niteowl]

[ QUOTE ]
greenLED said:
Niteowl, could you please post the link for these? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Took me a while to locate the catalog. Couldn't remember the name of the company, Shomer-Tec, and had never been to their website. Lots of interesting stuff.

I have no idea if these were a regular production item. Thought about getting one "just because". I'd have to use my camcorder just to check it out!

IR Infinity

Mark

 

[Codeman]

[ QUOTE ]
KS said:
Is there a difference in output between the CMG Ultra and the Gerber Ultra. The salesman I asked told me that the Gerber was has been outsourced to China and so the led wasn't as good. Can owners of both ultras please give a frank opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Look here for some readings I took with 3 of the Ultra's I have.

IMO, the variation in light output of MY Inf's is more a function of how the LED is or isn't centered than of LED quality.

I'm sure a search for Ultra will turn up a LOT of information! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[greenLED]

What Codeman said. I have several CMG Infinities with a crooked LED; it has nothing to do with the light being made in AZ or China. I'm afraid the salesman misinformed you about the LED performance. :shakehead

Niteowl, that's exactly what I wanted one of these for! Thank you.

 

[DBrier]

I have 4 and all have almost the same output.

 

[jamaica]

[ QUOTE ]
greenLED said:
I have one of each of these:

1- old (original?) circuit (no epoxy in head), batt POS towards tail, powder coated (painted), 41hrs runtime, "Task"
2- newer (?) circuit with black dot, batt POS towards top, same finish as 1, 41 hrs, "Task"
3- same circuit as 3 (??), no black dot, anodized, 41 hrs, "Task"

[/ QUOTE ]

I've seen at least three Infinities, with at least as many different circuits. <ul type="square"> [*]The original powder-coated, battery upside-down version with the metal-spring (-)contact in the flashlight head, [*]a 2nd version with a "right-side up" battery and a solder-plated circular (+)contact for the battery on the circuit board, [*]then a 3rd where that positive contact was covered with a resistive ink, the "black dot" version.[/list]

The original Infinity was unregulated: it pulled LOTS of current from a new battery, dropping off very quickly in draw (and light output) as the battery was drained. There were at least two slightly different converter circuts, plus a 3rd if you count the version with the black dot serving as a series resistor. The three had quite different outputs and current draws vs: battery voltage.


[ QUOTE ]
4- Zetex circuit, anodized, 25 hrs, "Ultra"

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure how the Ultra is marketed, but mine fell to a few percent output after about 12 hours' runtime, falling off over a fairly short interval -- a few minutes? This 'moon' mode was pretty steady, and looked like it might go a long time, but I didn't test long enough to find out. I think Runtime Roy got and posted similar results.

Ah yes, here it is: Run-Time Plot - CMG Infinity Ultra-G

[ QUOTE ]
4.1 Koala's LUXI /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
5- Gerber's new style

[/ QUOTE ]

The new Gerber style is the only one I haven't seen -- I'll have to get one. The Infinities are great lights.

Best,
Jamaica

 

[greenLED]

OK, Jamaica's post clarified things for me. I believe the Infinity has seen three circuits with different iterations; allow me to do some editing of his post:

I've seen at least three Infinities, with at least as many different circuits.

• The original powder-coated, battery upside-down version with the metal-spring (-)contact in the flashlight head,
• a 2nd version with a "right-side up" battery and a solder-plated circular (+)contact for the battery on the circuit board. This first had a black dot of resistive material (for dimming and increased runtime), and later, the resistive material was removed (brighter, shorter runtime).
• 3rd Zetex circuit (Higher resistance= Infinity Task Light & Lower resistance= Infinity Ultra)
• The new Gerber Infinity Ultra, and the Ultra-G belong to this last iteration.[/QUOTE ]

 

[Beacon of Light]

Strange occurance. I bought some Infinites and within the same batch all were the anodized type but some had the black dot on the board and some had the normal gold contact.

So far I haven't read any of the anodized type to have the black dot. Is this some kind of rare breed? In addition the ones with the black dot have this lubricant on the interior threads of the Infinity body as well as the threads of the Infinity head whereas the Infinity with the gold contact has no grease/lubricant.

What is this grease, and why is it on one and not the other? Any way of telling which version is older/newer?

Someone I sold one too mentioned the one with the black dot was dim compared to the gold contact one. I actually tried 2 black ones I have here one black dot and one gold to test myself. Ironically the black dot seemed brighter using the same battery. Is this grease or whatever some kind of conductor to improve the light somehow?

Also I think I read that someone scraped off the black carbon / epoxy and the light became much brighter to the levels of the gold contact. Is this true and can this be scraped off safely?

Suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Alloy Addict]

I'm not sure if you all are just interested in circuitry variations, or all possible variants. Some of the first #1 type were made with no knurling on the head, and the small band of knurling on the body was pathetic. Maybe it was the powder coat that made it look like that. I have one of these early models and it is very hard to turn on with wet or greasy hands. Shortlly after I got mine they went to a knurling on the head.