Inova x5

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Anyone know of the cheapest place to buy an Inova X5?? I tried a search on this, but didn't find anything worth while. Also, I wont shop at Botach, as they suck supreme donkey $#%#.

Thanks in advance,

Eric

 

[Graham]

TripleAughtDesign.com have it for $38.95..
http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/inova_x5_led_floodlight.htm

I'm after one too, but am trying to find out what the shipping cost to Japan will be..

Graham

 

[mc]

Try countycomm.com
though not listed on their web page, you can call them.

I got mine there, and at a good price.

MC

 

[Sean]

I got my inova X5 from ebay, very good deal.

 

[STC]

Does Dark Star have a website? For that price I guess I "need" one.....

 

[Gman]

Just got my first Inova X5. What a strange bird this is. Batteries go in backwards and you *unscrew* the head to turn it on due to the interesting switch design

Good light though, well built and a nice beam. Only complaint I have is some knurling or something on the head would be nice.
For the price, a real nice tool.

I see what you guys means about taking it apart. How did they put that head together? Guess I'm gonna have to cut it open to find out.

I assume the X5 has no converter/regulator. Maybe build a circuit, shorten the barrel a bit and run it on only one 123, ala Arc LS? (It'd be nice and small configured like that.)

Got some other projects in the works using CP titanium tubing. Heavier than aluminum but I like the look and corrosion resistance. You can put a mirror finish on Ti and never have to polish again.

 

[Tesla]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gman:
you *unscrew* the head to turn it on due to the interesting switch design<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually the Mini-mag has a similar design for on-off/focus.

 

[Sean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tesla:
Actually the Mini-mag has a similar design for on-off/focus.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes that's true.

I actually really like the way it turns on & off. With the head screwed all the way down (off position) you don't have to worry about lint (from your pocket) or water (if you get it wet) getting on the shaft or inside the light. You also don't have to worry about the head turning accedentally while it is off, a much better idea than leaving the head loose (in your pocket) until you need it, hoping it doesn't turn itself on, like my Lightwave 2000 would do!

 

[Tesla]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sean:
Yes that's true.

I actually really like the way it turns on & off. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ditto..I find the counter-clockwise (when viewed from business end) turn-on to be much easier to accomplish one-handed. Good observation.

 

[WarrenI]

I think this head design make the most sense. If you tighten the head down to turn it off, you would not have the head walking off the thread and falling off due to movement or vibration. This is something I worry about with my ARC-AAA, as it does have a habit of moving off the thread and I would have to move it down a bit or it could pop off. But, I can't move it down too much or it will be turned on.

As for the batteries being backward, I too thought that this was odd. But, if you noticed the problems experienced with the battery shape in the CMG Infinity and to a lesser degree, some ARCs, this may solve the problem. The positive end pointing down the end of the barrel should give it a good contact. It's funny, the version 1 Inifnity's handled the battery in this fashion. This was changed in the later units, and the problem started.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thanks for the info guys!! I will be adding one to my collection within the next couple of weeks

. Peter, if you are out there reading this, I have $100 burning a hole in my pocket, and would really like an LS. I hope the projected completion time of the second batch is a conservative estimate, as I would really like one soon

Eric

 

[txwest]

Originally posted by WarrenI:
This is something I worry about with my ARC-AAA, as it does have a habit of moving off the thread and I would have to move it down a bit or it could pop off. But, I can't move it down too much or it will be turned on.
*************
I sure haven't had that problem with my ARC LE. In fact, I had to remove the o-ring so I could operate it one handed. I don't take it in the shower or swimming, so the water proofness isn't an issue. TX

 

[Gman]

Thats one thing I don't like about the Mini Mag. Good contact is dependant on the spring when it's released, yet it spends 99% of it's life in compression.

I often find on Mini-Mags I have to remove the bezel completely and rotate the collar to get rid of poor contact. As the X5 clearly shares a similar switching arrangement, I hope it doesn't develop this problem.

 

[WarrenI]

txwest; I didn't have to consider removing the O-ring as I did not find mines to be very tight. Also, I do need the waterproofness. A little story, as I went along with the cub scouts on a knee deep reef walk. Well, one thing led to another and we ended up being waist deep. I forgot that my keys were in my pocket and guess what was connected to them! Yes, my trusty ARC-AAA. Well, it survived it very well without any leaks. It must have been underwater for at lease 45 minutes. My other button battery LED light didn't do too well. I had to clean it up and change the button batteries. The salt water ate the insulating seals.

Gman; Yes, this is something I'm monitoring as I would like to see how the internal contacts holdup. As the old rule goes, the more complex, the more trouble. Will have to wait and see. But, I really am biased to this light as it looks like no other that I have seen. Heck, I was going to get it even if it was just bright, but it is really bright. This made it a happier purchase.

 

[brightnorm]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by txwest:
*************
I sure haven't had that problem with my ARC LE. In fact, I had to remove the o-ring so I could operate it one handed. I don't take it in the shower or swimming, so the water proofness isn't an issue. TX<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

txwest,

I'm surprised that yours has so much resistance. I have three and they're all relatively easy to turn. Perhaps a few dabs of silicone grease will make it easier for one hand operation.

Brightnorm

 

[txwest]

I've used some silicone based o-ring lube I have but it's still to tight. Could be the arthritis in my thumbs. It doesn't generally cause me a problem, but there are certain movements that just put the wrong pressure on the right point. If I go around water, I'll just switch to my other LE with the o-ring. TX

 

[sunspot]

txwest. I agree with Brightnorm. My LE was a bit stiff untill a dab of silicon made it quite easy.

txwest and WarrenI. I have never had my LE turn on in my pocket. The O-ring imparts enought resistance to prevent that.

Gman. I too find the spring arrangement odd in the Mini and Solitare Mag. My wife was given a presentation Solitare at work and the darn thing did not work from the get go(DOA). After tacking it apart I found that a slight stretch on the spring made it work but how long will that hold up untill the spring loses it's tension?

 

[Sean]

The X5 is great, just wish it were regulated!