Hybrid Update

[One001]

I received my two 500ma SLS hybrids yesterday. The tint on both is slightly yellower that the two 400 ma flex failure fixed SLS that I received a few weeks before - those ones were pure bright white with a slight blue corona - just as white or even whiter than my LS first. These 500ma's unexpectedly did not appear as bright or as white as you would think with the 25% increase in amperage. In fact, after initial brightness, which was not any brighter than the 400ma's, they quickly faded to be dimmer than the 400ma SLS's, and stayed at that dimness for awhile ( I shut the lights off after about 45-50 mins). The corona appears to be pea green and the light yellow white. As far as extra heat goes, they did get quite cozy warm intially, but never hot (I was running the double AA configuration with two new alkalines), and before they got any hotter, after about 15-20 minutes, they started to cool down as the light became dimmer. If I were to let them rest, I could turn them back on and get about a minute of good brightness and then they would dim to just above the level of an ARC CPF AAA, but not as white. Therefore, I don't know if the higher amperage took all the juice out of the batteries in the first 15-20 minutes or if the circuitry caused the light to go into an extended run mode with the ability to obtain a short time of brightness after a rest period. What kind of light output curve should we be expecting from these 500ma's anyway? Is the circuitry making this an inefficient configuration? BTW I did notice a slight flicker as the light appeared to gear down into the dimmer mode (I am not talking about moon mode here - more of a reduced sun mode). This was after resting the light and turning it back on, and letting it run a minute at good brightness.

 

[ledled]

I received my 500ma hybrid first. Brightness appears to be the same as my MADMAX mini mag (500ma also?). Comparing to my SLS 350ma? (august batch), the beam is wider but same brightness. I do not have a 400ma to compare. Beam shots? anyone?

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by ledled:
I received my 500ma hybrid first. Brightness appears to be the same as my MADMAX mini mag (500ma also?). Comparing to my SLS 350ma? (august batch), the beam is wider but same brightness. I do not have a 400ma to compare. Beam shots? anyone?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I didn't even know Arc has 500ma hybrid *first*. I thought all 500ma are considered as Second.

SLS 350ma? I thought the original ArcLS is at around 300ma.

I found that brightness of BB 400 and Madmax in Nimh is very close if not the same. However, I have no idea how much differences between BB 400 and ArcLS 400ma until it is actually shipped.

Alan

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by Gransee:
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).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Is it the same circuit of BB 400 which I found that it was pretty flat at least on Nimh AA (haven't tried on akaline). It's my current EDC LED light and I actually use it everyday. Of course, I understand that you (and some ArcLS users) prefer longer runtime and might have the circuit designed differently.

Alan

 

[this_is_nascar]

I received 2 new LS1 today. One was ordered from Tad Gear the other from One Stop Knife shop. They both appear to be different than all my other LS1's, because I have the double foam spacer in each and they have a gold "dot" as opposed to the "circuit board" look in the head.

My 2-initial observations.

1. That double o-ring configuraton does not allow the o-ring to seat very deeply into the head while engaged. When not engaged, the o-ring is almost totally exposed.

2. I was really surprised that this far along in the process puke-green tint was still in circulation. The unit from Tad Gear was pretty white and the one from 1SKS was that puke-green.

What was even more dissapointing was the runtime on the unit from 1SKS. On a fresh SureFire 123 cell, it went into moon mode well before a hour had past. The test started at 18:52 and at 19:34, I had noticed that moon-mode had kicked in.

I'm in the process of performing this test again with another new cell.

 

[this_is_nascar]

The 2nd test has been completed, with better results. This test started at 19:47 and at about 21:20 moon-mode kicked in. These results are what I had expected. I'll chaulk up the 1st test as being a faulty SureFire cell, even though I tested for voltage before started. It wouldn't be the 1st time I've seen a SF cell bite the big one prematurely.

 

[One001]

Originally posted by this_is_nascar:

2. I was really surprised that this far along in the process puke-green tint was still in circulation. The unit from Tad Gear was pretty white and the one from 1SKS was that puke-green.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">My 500ma SLS's just received are slightly yellow white with a light pea green corona. When you say puke green are you referring to the corona, overall beam or the hot spot? How green is puke-green anyway? Is this beam dimmer than normal as well? When you say moon mode, are you talking about the level of an ARC AAA or dimmer. Mine seamed to kick into a "reduced sun mode" quite rapidly (after about 15-20 min, stated getting quite warm then cooled down as light level dimmed). Mine also has the double retainers and raised contact with brown ring.

 

[this_is_nascar]

I'm talking that same puke-green hotspot, beam and corona as the early SLS units. It's green and I mean green. When I say moon mode, I'm talking about the point where it's bright at one minute and way stepped-down the next. I stopped my testing after that, not really caring how long moon-mode was held.

As far as brightness, my eyes didn't notice any difference, however I'm going to compare it on the lightmeter tonight.

I'm going to hang onto the one I got from Tad Gear, but will be returning the nasty one to 1SKS.

 

[One001]

Originally posted by this_is_nascar:
I'm going to hang onto the one I got from Tad Gear, but will be returning the nasty one to 1SKS.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yes, that sounds rather nasty. If you wanted a green light, you would have ordered a Cyan.

I haven't experienced true moon mode yet on an LS. How much greater or less is the light output compared to an ARC AAA in sun mode?

 

[this_is_nascar]

I would rate the beginning of moon-mode on the LS as being pretty close to the output of an AAA with a new cell.

 

[Alan]

I received my Arc SLS 500ma. No, it is not. It is 400ma. I am very disappointed. I think I have to hold any further ArcLS purchase until Arc has better control what they're going to ship and customer be able to know what they're going to receive.

What a lesson:-)

Alan

 

[Alan]

I forgot to add that I don't mean the 400ma is bad, in fact, it is a VERY good one and has smooth bluish white beam and bright. I like its bluish rather than greenish tint. It seems to be brighter than BB400. I just don't like the idea that buying something that I don't even know what I'll be receiving:-(

Alan

 

[dark star]

Originally posted by Alan:
it is a VERY good one and has smooth bluish white beam and bright.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Gosh , you should be happy! I wish you were closer, I would buy it from you. Some of the 500ma were darker then the old LS1's (including the one I got

). I have 3 white LS's and they all have that dark green tint which I dislike, I wish I could get one like yours!

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Uh, oh Alan. I ordered my two close to the same time you did. I was told in an e-mail that they would be 500 ma models, but wouldn't be too surprised if I received the 400 ma. My delivery's due today, so we'll see. Initially, I would be disappointed too, but after hearing that so many members are somewhat disappointed in theirs, maybe the 400 ma standard is a good thing. Luxeons vary so much, it's a crap shoot. I doubt running more current thru a bad luxeon would help. I think PG said that the most recent order of luxeons they got were outstanding. Maybe you got one of those. :-)

 

[Alan]

Yes, the luxeons in this light is pretty good except a little off center (doesn't bother me). I mentioned earlier that this 400ma LS seems brighter than BB400. I have retested at home (I tested it in office the first time) and found that while 400ma LS has a more intensive but smaller hot spot than BB400, it also has dimmer periperal light and cover less area compare with BB400.

If you have Infinity Ultra and ArcAAA, their beam pattern seems like copy of BB400 and ArcLS 400ma.

While my personal preference goes to tigher beam like ArcLS 400ma, I have to admit that the light pattern of BB400 which cover more area is more practical for my usage especailly for LED light.

Alan

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Well, I received them, and guess what..... they're both 400 ma models. Even though I have it in an e-mail that they were both supposed to be 500 ma, I'm not at all unhappy. I'm astonished at how white and pleasing the beams are. Absolutely no trace of green, and very well-centered. My older SLS has the slightest hints of the pea green, while these are both WHITE with a hint of blue. Similar, IMO, to the color of the Lambertians, but not quite as blue. What made these seconds are the little flaws and imperfections in the HA. Small, but noticeable.
I definitely feel like I "lucked out."

I think I'll be keeping one and possibly selling the other on e-bay. Not sure yet, 'cause I like them both. At first, the one I'm definitely keeping would significantly dim if I screwed down the head too tight. It did this consistently from the beginning, but after "playing" with it, I can't get it to do it again. Must have been minor, but anyone know what this could have been? Seems like I've read about that before. Overall, I'm very happy. PG must have been serious about getting in a good shipment of Luxeons.
Merri, Peter: Thanks for the great lights, and also for going above and beyond on the colored LS transactions. First class product, people, and customer service.

Edit: Ok, it's doing it again. Maybe problems with the batteries or contacts? Unscrewing it just a little returns it to full brightness. Don't even have to turn it off.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It's the head. I've tried all of the usual pack switches, battery changes, and unit swapping.
Guess I'll have to send it back to Arc and let them see what it is. Really a shame, because this unit is very centered and white. It doesn't fit very well on any of the packs, though. Very tight.

 

[Gransee]

Dern. And I was hoping it would work out for you. This latest batch of luxeons is a marked improvement. I hope they last.

As far as your light, those are so hard to spot in QC. I tested personally that very light you hold in your hand. If they act up electrically, we don't even sell them as seconds. But being intermittant, they may not act up during testing. At any rate, we take care of it for you and with this batch of luxeons, chances are good that you will like the replacments emitter just as well.

Peter Gransee

 

[lemlux]

Peter:

Please comment on the occasional "step function" changes in brightness that my 500 mA LSS frequently experiences. Are these entirely due to heat expansion and contraction causing small contact slippage adjustments that change brightness?

Sometimes a readjusting tightening of the bezel restores much of the brightness. This would suggest contact temperature shifts.

I'd be surprised if these small discrete steps were electical. Are the various current adjustments handled in analog or digitally? The step function dimming would more likely be a digital step, wouldn't it.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hi Peter.
Thanks for the quick response. I e-mailed Merri just before I read this stating the problem, and asked if I could return it for a replacement.
Did I mention I ordered quite a few more? :-)
That really must have been an impressive batch of one-watters you got. Beautiful beams and very well centered. Not a trace of green in either unit.
The one I'm having trouble with worked the first two times I turned it on. (It's nice, that's why I want to keep it)
From then on it began flickering almost constantly and seems to be getting worse. Can I send it to you to look at?
Thanks