Don't give up on your PALights!

[Smaug]

Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I have been reading here for a couple of weeks now. Most times when someone mentions their PALights, they mention how they just sit around because the beam is too narrow. But I don't hear a lot of people talking about how they reversed the lens.

For those people: It is not a big deal at all. You can do it in less than a minute with a small flathead screwdriver (such as a jeweler's screwdriver) and the transformation is magical.

1. With the thumb and forefinger of your off hand, squeeze the protective barrel around the lens.

2. Sneak the screwdriver blade in there and pry the lens out. It isn't in there that tightly. It will come out with just a bit of coaxing.

3. Stick it back in there the other way. There will be some minor rings, but nothing like what you see on Mag-Lites. That flood beam is then very useful.

By the way, I took mine apart and removed the reflector, thinking it would help to remove the beam artifacts, and it didn't do anything. So I put it back.

I hope this helps someone start using their PAL again. It is a steal, to have a transformable $17 light that is microprocessor controlled just sit in a drawer gathering dust...

 

[pedalinbob]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

i own 2 palight onestars. love them!

i took the lenses out, and replaced them with a cut-down minimag lens. basically what i have now is a dimmable infinity ultra, with an always-on feature.

i find that the palights with the 5mm led have a very nice beam without any focusing lens--just like an arc aaa or ultra. the surface mount led's (found in the workman?) make a strange pattern without the lens.

i keep one at bedside for reading, and i always take them traveling. i leave them on low in the hotel bathroom at night--helps when you dont know the surroundings. my wife really likes them as well.

heck, i can set one on high, place it on top of the shower door track pointed at the ceiling...and there is enough light to shower, shave, whatever.

i still think the pal is an excellent and very useful little light! very underrated...

Bob

 

[Skyline]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

Yep, I admit my PALight does a lot of sitting around. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I've been using the reversed lense technique since I first got it, and it does help a lot. I'm just not too sure where it fits into my light usage rotation. It's not as small as my Photo or Arc AAA, so it doesn't get pocket carry. It's not as bright as my E1/KL1, so it doesn't get the regular night duty use.

You could say my PALight is always ready and waiting for that emergency task when all else fails. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TrevorNasko]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

wish they were not rubber

 

[Brock]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

The lenses are out of all my Pals, even the older one with the chip LED, makes a great room light with the top of the light off /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I really like them best with the 5mm LED straight though.

 

[Stainless]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I guess I must be strange - I use them in "stock" configuration.

 

[Smaug]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

[ QUOTE ]
Stainless said:
I guess I must be strange - I use them in "stock" configuration.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but you're not complaining how they are useless because of the narrow beam. Hey, if it's just an excuse to buy more lights, that will do. But if it a genuine complaint, the solution is easy and free.

While walking through the woods with mine set up for 'spot' I kept getting poked by branches and turning my ankle because I couldn't see enough of my surroundings. As someone else pointed out, the PALs have almost no spillover light.

Also, since the lens is so easy to invert, it can be done pretty quickly in the field. If you find that you need a tight beam again, it can be done in a matter of secons with your pocketknife, which I assume all CPFers carry every day. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[franken2]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

tried that with my onestar but the lens doesn't seat well at all when reversed. way more flood with no lens at all. seems safe to use that way, not being waterproof anyway??

 

[flash....]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

Thanks for the Tip... I am like stainless however, I use the narrow beam to navigate around the house at night as I keep my pal on the nightstand. Perfect light to find and use when trolling around after waking up.... doesn't bother anyone else either when they are sleeping. Love both my PAL's

 

[Spork]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I have the strobe model and its sort of a rectangular led. is this the chip led or the 5mm? one of them is made for using a flasher cone and has a slightly different lens. These are one of my favorite led lights. I cant find anything better for just household use. its like having a arc with always on and longer battery life. since it just sits next to my bed the smaller size of the arc isnt needed. is there any problem with the lens falling out or the exposed circuit bored if you decide to not even use the lens? Both of mine have some sort of white reflector in them.

 

[Smaug]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

[ QUOTE ]
Spork said:
I have the strobe model and its sort of a rectangular led. is this the chip led or the 5mm?

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the 'chip' LED or more precisely, a surface mount LED. That is the same model as mine.


[ QUOTE ]
is there any problem with the lens falling out or the exposed circuit bored if you decide to not even use the lens?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, there hasn't been a problem with mine. The Santoprene rubber case is just small enough to grip it. I even broke the glue seal on mine and voided the warranty just to see how it looks inside. I read somewhere that if you remove the reflector, it cuts down on the rings you see when you have the lens reversed. I tried it both ways, and for me, removing the reflector didn't do jack. So I put it back in, because it looks cleaner from the front.

Trust me, the first time you flip the lens, you might be a bit nervous, but soon you will realize it isn't a big deal. It can actually be done on the fly and THEN you will realize you have a light that covers both spectrums pretty well. I even change mine in the field, by moonlight when I need to now... If you think the PALight Survival (that is the model you and I have) is good for your bedside now just wait until you see it with the flood! The rings will bug you at first, but they are minor enough so that they aren't a big deal, even if you use your PAL to read in bed.

[ QUOTE ]
Both of mine have some sort of white reflector in them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, it is just a piece of white plastic. Nothing fancy. They probably intended it to gather up some of the 'free' spill light and reflect it forward. I think mirrored one may have caused more rings...

One last time, it's not a big deal. Get out a small flathead screwdriver or something. (an awl from a Swiss Army Knife would be perfect!) and go to town. The only thing to be careful about is not to slip and scrape the screwdriver across the front side of the lens. The Santoprene rubber can take it, and so can the side of the lens.

 

[Ginseng]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I have two "Survival" lights and I love 'em. Just let them provide night lighting in our room and baby's room. Always on, change batteries once, maybe twice a year. How can you beat that?

Wilkey

 

[Mrd 74]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

Am I the only one that puts satin scotch tape across the "back" of the lens to improve the beam?

 

[Spork]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

after switching the lens my pal wouldnt go into strobe mode properly. i cycled through it a few times and gave it a tap on the counter and now it works fine. wonder what it could have been? anyway I do enjoy my pal even more now. this should be the stock way they are sold. it lights up a short distance nicely and would be ok for a walking light. I like this light as much as I like my arc (well almost).

 

[Spork]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I'm starting to wonder if reversing the lens does much of anything? I think its as bright just by removing it completely and there is no rings.

 

[Smaug]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

[ QUOTE ]
Spork said:
I'm starting to wonder if reversing the lens does much of anything? I think its as bright just by removing it completely and there is no rings.

[/ QUOTE ]

I found that when I removed mine completely, it wasn't as uniform. Not to mention that it would leave the circuitry completely unprotected. Even if you aren't afraid of the ingress of water botching things up, dust and such could be bad after a while too.

Once you start using the light for something besides looking at the rings on the wall, you will hardly notice the rings any more. That has been my experience with walking in the woods and around my house at night. In those situations, you actually have to look to see the rings. It is not nearly as horrific as the famous Mag-Lite rings, hehehe.

 

[Darell]

Re: Don\'t give up on your PALights!

I went a step further and swapped out the LED for something superior. Gooped the hole, and it is more waterproof than when stock. No lens. I can actually use the light now.