CPFReviews.com: Arc6 (Production version) Review

[ViReN]

Arc6
provided for review by
www.arcflashlight.com

Introduction:

Arc6 is a micro processor based, single CR123 battery, piston drive (PD), programmable LED flashlight. Arc6 uses Seoul SSC P4 LED as its illumination source. As the name suggests, Arc6 is 6th revision of legendry LS series. Like Arc AAA, Way back in 2001 Arc Flashlight was one of the first manufacturer ever to launch a CR123 battery based Power LED flashlight. Arc6 is designed as a bright illumination tool for EDC (Every Day Carry) keeping four key factors in to consideration namely flashlight size, runtime, brightness and durability. Firstly, the size to be small & pocketable so that you can carry it on a daily basis without any concerns i.e. easy for every day carry. Secondly the runtime should be enough to last long for emergencies at a low brightness level. At the same time the brightness should be enough to illuminate greater distances. And lastly Arc6 should be durable enough to be used in range of situations including rain & fire. To put it in simple words, here is a quote manufacturer "It should be at least as durable as the person carrying it". Reflector in Arc6 is built from solid aluminium and it has a LOP finish. Lens protecting the LED and reflector is AR coated Sapphire lens. The bezel ring is built from Titanium (Ti-6AL-4V) and is crenellated. Arc6 uses advanced electronics fully regulated buck boost circuit to drive the LED. Arc6 has two programmable light output levels with sufficient illumination for general illumination as well as high output demanding purposes. Body of Arc6 is built from 6061 Aluminum. Natural color hard anodized type III coating on Arc6 provides excellent environmental protection and resistance against wear and tear. Arc6 LS has dual switching mechanism. One is through twisting head and second is through actuating the piston. There are O-ring seals at various locations in head and battery tube for waterproofing. Arc6 is waterproof to 100 feet. Overall build quality of Arc6 is good. Arc6 flashlight is packaged in trapezoid shape white colored hard paper box. Arc6 box includes CR123 lithium battery. Arc6 is available in various configurations and options such as additional battery tube with guarded sleeve or without guarded sleeve, Powerizer rechargeable RCR123 battery pack with charger and car plug in cable and UCL AR Glass lens.

Light Features:

• Crenellated Ti-6AL-4V (Titanium) bezel
• Uses high Seoul SSC P4 U Binned LED and LOP Reflector
• 100 Lumens out front output with standard CR123 battery (120 Lumens from rechargeable RCR123 battery)
• Advanced micro processor based, fully regulated, programmable electronic drive circuit with memory
• Piston drive switching mechanism
• Waterproof to 100 feet
• Easy to upgrade

Light Operation: Simple twist switch. For Switching ON / OFF twist the head in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Arc6 starts with low output level, twist further to switch light in high output mode. For advanced mode and customizing light levels and programming please refer to Arc 6 Instructions (Word Document).

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Pictures:

Unboxing: Based on the mode of shipping selected packaging may vary, here are the unboxing pictures of Arc6 showing package with USPS Priority Mail.




Packaging: The box containing Arc6 is different than normal boxes. Firstly, the Arc6 box is trapezoidal in shape and secondly it has embossing of Arc Logo.



Size Comparison: Arc6 is a small to medium sized CR123 battery based flashlight. Here in picture, you can see the size comparison between AA battery on left, Arc6 without guarded sleeve in center and CR123 battery on right.


This comparison shows size comparison of Arc6 with guarded sleeve and Titanium pocket clip against Arc6 without the guarded sleeve. The guarded sleeve protects accidental actuation of piston switch. The Titanium pocket clip installed on guarded sleeve is removable.


Another Size Comparison: Arc6 Compared with other CR123 based flashlights. From L to R: NiteCore Extreme, Novatac EDC 120 T, Ra Twisty T 100, Arc6 without the guarded sleeve and Arc6 with the guarded sleeve.


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More Pictures and Detailed Review....

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[orcinus]

Re: CPFReviews.com: Arc6 Review

Nice and informative, as always...
Love the photos!

BTW, could you do some lumen measurements at different levels?

 

[ViReN]

Re: CPFReviews.com: Arc6 (Production Version) Review

Thanks orcinus. I will do the Lumen measurements by tomorrow.

 

[Thujone]

Re: CPFReviews.com: Arc6 (Production Version) Review

That seems like a *very* low overall runtime considering the bulk of the chart is <50lumens.. Am I crazy?

This is the chart from your review (not hotlinked)

 

[orcinus]

That looks like the infamous thermal management step-down...
It happens on the highest levels, especially if the flashlight is left unattended (without heat sinking).

On top of that, the upper levels are hugely inefficient. L6 guzzles around 1.5-2 amps, while L7 draws enormous 4 amps, according to Peter's posts.

So that first spike of 150-ish - 140-ish lumens probably ate a lot of the battery charge, not leaving much mAh's for the 50-ish lumens after the step down.

 

[ViReN]

Thujone, orcinus is right. in addition, the room temperature by default is fairly more here.

orcinus, here are the measured total light output levels. (approximate lumens is total output / 10) Please note that these may vary from the Arc specified lumens due to variables such as battery condition and measuring accuracy.

Level  Total Output
1       8
2     196
3     454 (Starts with 476) average 454
4     755 (Starts with 795) average 755
5    1080 (Starts with 1130) average 1080
6    1385
7    1730

Runtime charts in progress, As I get more data, I will update this code

Edit: I re-tested the brightness levels again from (now cycled) Powerizer battery. Updated the results in above code. Not a major change except for the level 7

 

[orcinus]

Thanks! That's a very interesting result.
I could've swore my pre-production Arc6 at L4 was on par with a P1D Q5 on max, which should be about 130 lumens. Admittedly, it's a different emitter, but still...

I think i'll do some beamshots tomorrow to check it out.

 

[Haz]

Thanks for the excellent review. Those pictures are amazing, you definately take some fanastic photos, especialy those macro shots.

i was hoping the runtime will be somewhat better, given the step down in output to less than 1/3 within the first 5 minutes.

 

[Art Vandelay]

That is beautiful.

 

[ViReN]

Thanks for kind words Haz & Art_Vandelay

 

[ViReN]

Thanks! That's a very interesting result.
I could've swore my pre-production Arc6 at L4 was on par with a P1D Q5 on max, which should be about 130 lumens. Admittedly, it's a different emitter, but still...

I think i'll do some beamshots tomorrow to check it out.

:thumbsup: Look forward for beamshots

 

[chimo]

The solder on the Kilroy looks a little strange. Is that just a photo/lighting artifact?

Paul

 

[ViReN]

The solder on the Kilroy looks a little strange. Is that just a photo/lighting artifact?

Paul

Paul,

I did take a closer look again, visually does indeed appear to have a different kind of solder color, it appears some what darker than other solders on the PCB. Photos from other angles (Pic 1) (Pic 2) (Pic 3) it more or less appears same in color.

Not sure what could be the reason. I could be totally wrong but i guess
1) It could appear different due to interaction between copper based kilroy and solder
2) The solder used could be purposefully be different. Perhaps a different combination of tin, copper, silver, zinc etc. to offer a stronger bond between PCB and Kilroy.

 

[orcinus]

Lead-silver solder, perhaps?
It should have a higher fatigue and temperature resistance...

 

[datiLED]

Lead-silver solder, perhaps?
It should have a higher fatigue and temperature resistance...

It has the appearance of conductive epoxy.

 

[Cuso]

It has the appearance of conductive epoxy.

Yeah that's what it looks like to me too.

 

[orcinus]

The weird thing is, mine doesn't look like that at all...
It just looks like a shade darker solder. The texture looks the same as the rest of the solder on the board.

 

[ViReN]

Just updated the light levels table above. Re tested using properly cycled Powerizer Rechargable Li-Ion RCR123 batteries.

 

[ViReN]

The weird thing is, mine doesn't look like that at all...
It just looks like a shade darker solder. The texture looks the same as the rest of the solder on the board.

Is that a pre production or a production Arc6?

 

[orcinus]

Pre-production... sorry i forgot to mention that.
The rest of the board looks exactly the same, BTW (same Rev. inscribed near the rim as well).