Hybrid Update

[Gransee]

Update on the hybrids...

The LS1 hybrid is a our transitional host for the move to an all-rev2 flashlight. Rev2 adds many improvements and is covered in other threads. Rev1 was the orginal version of the Arc-LS.

For the past 2 weeks we have been shipping LS1 hybrids in limited numbers. These where the 500mA models. The 500's are sold out and we just recieved the next rev of the PCB. They are now set at 400mA and starting immmediatly, that is what will be shipping. The PCB construction has also been noticably improved. You can tell the difference between the 500's and the 400's by the color of the PCB around the gold button. 400 is green and the 500's are brown.

The 400's are now standard, run longer and run cooler. We will not be making anymore 500's this year. The 500's where accidental since we orginally intended to only make 400's in the LS1 and LS2. Only about 100 500's where made. One good thing that came out of this is the 500's proved our heatsink could take on extra stress if need be since they drove the LED harder.

Peter Gransee

 

[MarcV]

Will the smaller diameter head be released as LS1 or is that exclusively LS2-3?

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

I have been waiting for this news. Now I can plan for an Arc LS first, for the warranty.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

What does it mean when an order is on hold at Arc? I ordered two of the 500 mA hybrid seconds on Thursday the 26th, when they were in stock. Since then, seconds have come back up for sale, and sold out again. The e-mail I received from them said that it could take up to 3 business days to ship; I just hope I get the hybrids. :-)
BTW, thanks to everyone at Arc (esp. Merri, future Ms. Gransee) for all of the recent help and the quick informative e-mails.

 

[GlockDoc]

Does this mean that there is a chance that I could get an LS2 with the runtime of the LS1?

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by virgo:
What does it mean when an order is on hold at Arc? I ordered two of the 500 mA hybrid seconds on Thursday the 26th, when they were in stock. Since then, seconds have come back up for sale, and sold out again. The e-mail I received from them said that it could take up to 3 business days to ship; I just hope I get the hybrids. :-)
BTW, thanks to everyone at Arc (esp. Merri, future Ms. Gransee) for all of the recent help and the quick informative e-mails.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I got the same email too when I placed my order for the 500ma hybrid last week:-(

Alan

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

The 'on hold' email is a standard and automated response. It is not a 'backorder' or 'out of stock' email. If the order system showed it was in stock when you ordered it, you will get it.

I ordered my SLS (LS1 rev1) on Sep 14, 2002 and got it on the 20th. I got one of those 'on hold' emails. It was shipped on Monday Sep 16.

Don't sweat it guys.

 

[JohnG]

I hope you guys get what you're after. I don't know what was shipped...only pointing out what Gransee posted.

I've read that the gold button contact and PCB color would tell if it is the new board or not.
I don't think either will tell you the resistor value.
Heat, brightness and runtime should let you know.

 

[Alan]

Yes, I just got notification that the SLS 500ma has been shipped:-)

Alan

 

[this_is_nascar]

Originally posted by Alan:
Yes, I just got notification that the SLS 500ma has been shipped:-)

Alan

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">How do you know it was a 500ma that was shipped? Did it specifically mention that?

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by this_is_nascar:
How do you know it was a 500ma that was shipped? Did it specifically mention that?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">This is according to information provided by Peter in here on Sept. 20. I got the order confirmed on Sept. 26. This should be the last batch of 500ma.

Alan

 

[JohnG]

Alan,

Sorry, but you had better read the first post of THIS thread again.

Dated 9/28/02:
"They are now set at 400mA and starting immmediatly, that is what will be shipping."

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I got my e-mails returned from Merri, and the order shipped today. I asked, and was told that they (the two I ordered, anyway) were 500 mA. From what PG mentioned earlier though, I guess it would be wise to check the PCB colors when they arrive.

 

[lemlux]

It was my understanding from talking to Peter on the evening of Friday, September 20th when I ordered my 500 mAh hybrid that there were 8 or 12 500 mAh hybrids available then. Later that evening someone posted that while he was trying to post an order that ARC's Web site changed to say that none were available.

Thus, I understand that the last 500 mA ARC hybrids were ordered on 9/20 and shipped Monday, 9/23 when mine was shipped.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I actually read and participated in that thread, I think. Let me look.
If I recall correctly, PG said that there would be more later that same week. I watched the site like a buzzard, ordered, and was told they would be the 500 mA models.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

There it is. The first post of Factory Seconds: Past, Present, and future. I think you might have gotten in on the last of that batch. Since my order, there was another small run. Not sure what those were.
After double-checking, I guess I didn't contribute to that thread; only read it.

 

[lemlux]

I guess Peter's brown PCB vs. Green PCB will answer questions after receipt.

Only problem is I'm in the 6% of the population that is red/green color challenged. In my case bright green transitions quickly into a broad ranges of brown. Bright red transitions into duller reds that may or may not be browns. Red never looks like Green. Red sometimes looks brown. Green sometimes looks brown. Smaller color samples provide me with insufficient visual data to search for subtle clues that help me guess at colors. (The PCB around the gold contact is not a large visual expanse.)

This condition makes California's summer brown much less severe to me. It frustrated me when I lived in snow country that the only turning of the leaves I particularly noticed was the splotchy yellow on many leaves. It was the rare leaf that could make me see its red.

My 500 mA Hybrid board appears like a coffee brown (or is it a faded forest green?) I'll have to ask someone who can tell.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Just reds and greens? Any trouble perceiving other colors. I had a close fried who was color-blind (significantly, if not completely). I would often forget until he would ask me to distinguish one color from another. I guess you learn to live with it, but it's got to be frustrating.

 

[Alan]

I read very careful before/after I ordered. Besides, my order was confirmed to have stock on Sept. 26. Newer 400ma *will* be available startig Sept. 28.

Quoted

Sept. 20 - Probally the batch after next week's batch will be the 400mA hybrid (longer run time). [I ordered and got confirmation before *after next week's batch*]

Setp. 28 - For the past 2 weeks we have been shipping LS1 hybrids in limited numbers. These where the 500mA models

I understand that ArcLS's version is very confusing and even their dealers would not know what they'll be receiving. That's why I was cautious when I read Peter's post and before placing my order.

Alan

 

[Gransee]

Sorry again for the complexity. The 500's where accidental so only a few where made. We went to the 400's as quickly as possible. The LS2s are going to use the same board (just smaller in diameter).

If the board is green and it's in a LS1 or LS2, it should only be a 400mA. By the way, even though the sense resistors we are using are 1% (and amazingly expensive at that precision), I see the current through the LED vary in a range of about 380-420mA. This is to be expected, even at this precision.

And another thing, (mostly for Darell's benefit

) I consider the rev2 circuit to be an excellent power supply. I can say that because I didn't design it, Dat2zip (Wayne) did. It regulates quite well but it's not perfectly flat. There is a practical limit to precision when dealing with LEDs (with all their variations and thermal characteristics) and power supplys (especially at these demanding specs). Of course, throwing more batteries and using a larger housing (heat sinking, room for the extra batteries) would flatten the curve more but then the light would be more likely to be left home. All that tech would be useless if it wasn't there when you really needed it.

Btw, the batch of batwings we have been receiving lately are quite nice. Good tint and high efficiency. These are the best I have seen.

Peter Gransee