Durability of the A2

[tkl]

i've seen a post now and again about "more stuff to fail" in a regulated light like the A2. how much of a reality is this? if i drop it a few times will it stop working? will the circuitry "wear" out?

i'm sure, surefire will replace it under warranty. i don't like the idea of being without for the turnaround though.

 

[Size15's]

I guess you didn't see SureFire's regulation circuitry running underwater?

I have dropped my A2 once from about 5ft onto a coarse concrete warehouse floor. I've dinged the bezel rim but no damage. I have been sent an A2 for beta testing & evaluation rather than abusive field-testing at this stage. I fully intend to explore it's abuse resistance when I get my own A2 from The Prince.

You can rest assured that the regulation electronics is far tougher than the bulb and has been designed not to fail.
I've abusively field-tested the KL1 - it gained much 'character' as one would expect buy was fully functional until I took it to bits to see what was inside (I have another KL1)

When I mentioned to PK that the A2 had more to go wrong, he seemed unconcerned and confident that it wasn't an issue.

Al

 

[Sean]

I wouldn't be concerned about it. The single biggest "weak link" is the same will all incandescents. The bulb (lamp assembly). All bulbs have a limited life span, so one day it will fail. Also realize that dropping any light (except one with a shock isolated bezel) can cause the bulb to fail.

Other than this obvious realization, I wouldn't consider the A2 to be more likely to fail than any other light.

 

[Size15's]

SureFire Shock Isolated Bezels are designed to protect the Lamp Assembly and batteries from the recoil and abuse they encounter on firearms.

The level of "shock isolation" of any flaslight will be a factor of design, construction and materials.

The Nitrolon G2 & G2Z have light-weight bodies that absorb the energy of impacts.

The E1e & E2e are small and light-weight featuring a Lamp Assembly design that is robust and resiliant.

The A2's Lamp Assembly has nowhere to move to as the batteries are physically separate.

Perhaps the best way to approach durability is to not drop the flashlight in the first place, and always carry a backup flashlight.

Al

 

[tkl]

[ QUOTE ]
Size15s said:

Perhaps the best way to approach durability is to not drop the flashlight in the first place, and always carry a backup flashlight.

Al

[/ QUOTE ]

well duh! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif one never intends to drop his exspensive surefire, it just happens, sooner or later. i don't carry a backup on me, but in the truck, a tigerlight.

the responses seem a little defensive, i want accusing the A2 of being a panty waist. just wondering if the extra "stuff" would be of any concern. i'll take the advice of the above and consider it reliable. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ofcourse, time will tell the tale. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[monanza]

I almost posted this earlier but did not because it would add little to answer your query but here goes:

You offer a valid concern. I personally find Surefire's designs well thought out, researched, and tested. Nevertheless extrapolations based on lab and limited scope field testing can only take a product so far. I would not be overly concerned or disheartened at (but hope against) some issues coming up with the A2 in terms of reliability and durability as it gains wider acceptance. The A2 will only get better as Surefire gets feedback from their expanding user base. I know Surefire does an outstanding job in providing durable and problem free products. For that reason I was willing to buy several A2 units immediately upon their release (now if only my back orders would ship) without waiting for any 'ironing out' or test period.

As to reliability and durability as it relates to design complexity, there are several mitigating factors. I do not have any knowlege of the A2 internals to offer reasoned judgements. Nevertheless consider the use of an internal sleeve in the L1 and A2 for improving the reliability of the electrical and signal path. This indicates the attention to detail that is a requirement of a robust design. Consider also the various reports on conformal mapping coatings to help maintain circuit integrity under extreme conditions. These give me considerable confidence in the product.

FC has reported that his lamp assembly fizzed out in the first couple of minutes of use. Perhaps this is an indication that some aspects of the manufacturing process may indeed require streamlining or that even despite the best efforts problems with reliability will crop up from time to time.

Will the circuitry wear out? Possibly. I have had electronics that lasted years (even decades) without a single problem and others that failed within months or days of purchase.

Should the A2 be used in mission critical applications? Not without backup and not before specifically tailored testing is undertaken. I always EDC multiple lights. One an incan with no electronics the other an LED (apart from the ArcAAA and other keychain lights). Sometimes a third EDC as the whim takes me.

Cheers.

 

[CM]

You'd be surprised at the durability of electronics. We make systems designed to be in high shock environments-one test involves a 100 lb hammer swinging through a 6 foot arc which hits a rack full of electronics. Not only does the rack have to survive but any amount of piezo-induced effects are measured to ensure no degradation in performance is experienced during the short impulse shock. Having said that, we do some ruggedizing of the design. Circuits do wear out but again, tens of thousands of demonstrated MTBF's are realized with systems much more complicated than a flashlight voltage regulator. The bulb is by far the weakest point in that link.

 

[Mr Ted Bear]

Monanza

Your points are well make... I can tell you that a slug of A2's were in the hands of special ops guys many months before their release.

SF has indicated that some of the lights were "destroyed" by extreme excessive abussive usage, and there were some design changes made.

 

[tkl]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr Ted Bear said:
Monanza

Your points are well make... I can tell you that a slug of A2's were in the hands of special ops guys many months before their release.

SF has indicated that some of the lights were "destroyed" by extreme excessive abussive usage, and there were some design changes made.



[/ QUOTE ]

that's cool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif

 

[monanza]

Wow! I did not know that Jeff. I had some notion that the A2 was put through its paces under less than ideal conditions but this is outstanding. It also makes sense since Surefire's niche is the tactical market.

Cheers.

 

[SUREFARC]

you guys have made me love my A2 even more now!

 

[Size15's]

I thought it was taken as read that SureFire make illumination tools for Special Forces and put samples and proto-types in their operational hands for R&D as soon as possible in the development of new ideas.

Models released to the public do not indicated the extent of tools provided to Special Forces.

Al

 

[monanza]

I for one am glad for it. Al, Jeff, do you know roughly if we are talking about tens, hundreds, or thousands of units tested with Special Forces? If it is in the hundreds then that should provide a good sample population to catch any glaring (and most subtle) design and production issues.

Anyway I am always happy with my Surefires. I have yet to find better light instruments even though I do not use them for the purposes they were designed for.

By the way this is turning out to be quite an informative thread /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif.

Cheers.

 

[poalcat]

I doubt if I have ever used a Surefire for the purposes they were designed for!