Laughing...

[Gransee]

I got this email today:

"I just got the Arc 4+ yesterday and I’m having trouble with the switching system. Sometimes it functions normally, meaning it does what the instructions say it will do. But sometimes it does different things.

Just now I switched it on, and could not switch it off, It went into bright mode, and no matter how I switched it, nothing happened. Then it dropped into a super low mode, lower than the lowest regular mode. It was so low that I had to put my eye right on the lens to see if it was actually on. Of course, it, without switching, sprang into full brightness, which is why I’m typing this with one eye. Maybe it doesn’t like me.

Any suggestions?"

Gosh, I laughed for several minutes when I read this. I feel so guilty for laughing so hard. I pictured in my mind a naughty Arc4 rebeling against its human oppressor.

Weew wee! Anyways, the serious side is that this light does introduce some new concepts and at first the light can seem mysterious in its operation. I encourage you to take your time, watch the videos, try the simulators, etc and you will get it. I believe it is worth the effort to get the extra utility.

Gosh that made my day... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Peter

 

[Gransee]

I am still laughing about this..

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Peter

 

[raggie33]

lol

 

[dtsoll]

hehe, the videos along with the advanced instructions and also the fantastic pocket reference card (I laminated btw) went a long ways in helping me! Within a day, I had it figured out. The clicking is what you have to get down!! Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jtice]

LOL, that is funny.
Sorry to who ever that happened though. hehe

I kinda did that.
I put it in SOS mode,, and it took a couple seconds to start,,, so , what do I do? Look directly into the light.
BAMM !!! lol

 

[Xrunner]

lol... Arc 4+: 1, user: 0.

-Mike

 

[Likebright]

Yep, that's a corker! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hahaha.gif/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
Mine was a little ornery right out of the bag.
But by the time I had burned up the Duracell that was in it - it had calmed down a bit.

Mike

 

[Frenchyled]

It is a very good example of the difficult adaptation of the man to the machine.LOL./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif
It is very funny and I have much also laughs. Thank you to its author. But perhaps is he a joker who wanted to return homage with the ARC4+ to his manner? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[MoonRise]

Re: Laughing... not really

Well, so far my Arc4+ has been cool and fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

But it has also wigged out several times since I got it, at least once per day so far. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It has gone into a constant-on faint glow (lower than level 16) and not responded to any clicks or presses for several seconds to a few minutes (single digit number of minutes) and then gone back to behaving like it should.

Last night it went into 'glow' mode when I tried to click it on and then after several seconds it jumped to a bright level all by itself. Bright as in somewhere between Level 1 and 4! It would not respond to any clicks or presses. I had to open the battery compartment to interrupt the circuit and then the light went back to behaving after reassembly.

I was not looking into the light when it decided to get bright. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

The Options Menu for "Locator Flash" does NOT indicate as a short flash, but rather as the faint glow. You have to be in a pretty dark room to even tell that the glow is there unless you look at the business end of the light.

I then took some silicon SuperLube (I forget the manufacturer right now, it's a grey/silver can) and cleaned and lubed the threads of the switch cap and the negative battery contact disk of the switch. I lightly lubed the threads of the switch cap with some silicon grease. There was some black grime on the threads and battery-contact-disk that was removed.

Since the clean and lube last night, the little beauty has been well behaved so far, except for the Locator Flash indication in the Options menu. We'll see.

The light is handy, configurable, and can put out an amazing amount of light for such a small and handy light, but so far I would not want to be in a situation where I had to rely on it for light IMMEDIATELY.

 

[Psychomodo]

Re: Laughing... not really

This brings to mind someone checking down the barrel of a gun to see if it's loaded... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif

 

[Badbeams3]

Re: Laughing... not really

You did tell him to try the other eye...just to make sure it`s not a random malfunction? At least you wouldn`t have to worry about him e-mailing you for a while.

Ken

 

[snakebite]

Re: Laughing... not really

do not stare into flashlight with your remaining good eye!
looks like you need the image of someone holding a flashlight to their eye with the beam coming through the back of the head.with either a x or circle/slash over it.

 

[protodoc]

Re: Laughing... not really

I must be in a "stick in the mud" kind of mood tonight. While I do appreciate the slap stick of the situation, I somehow don't find it so amusing that these new super duper flashlights seem to have some serious gremlins.

Are we talking "once in a blue moon" defective light that needs to be replaced or is this an indication of an unstable platform?

 

[Chris M.]

Re: Laughing... not really

Kind of like this one, courtesy of electricstuff.co.uk?

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rothrandir]

Re: Laughing... not really

i'd bet most of the "malfunctions" are actually just people getting into the settings on accident...

 

[Sean]

Re: Laughing... not really

[ QUOTE ]
I must be in a "stick in the mud" kind of mood tonight. While I do appreciate the slap stick of the situation, I somehow don't find it so amusing that these new super duper flashlights seem to have some serious gremlins.

Are we talking "once in a blue moon" defective light that needs to be replaced or is this an indication of an unstable platform?

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. Since I have had some very minor problems too, I see a huge comunications problem with end users trying to describe their problem. It seems easier to assume their is nothing wrong with the product and is just user incompetence. How do you know nothing is wrong with the product?

The danger is that if this is a deffective Arc4, Peter is laughing at his own failure. I don't get it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

Sorry, just assume I'm incompetent. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Fastlane]

Re: Laughing... not really

[ QUOTE ]
do not stare into flashlight with your remaining good eye!
looks like you need the image of someone holding a flashlight to their eye with the beam coming through the back of the head.with either a x or circle/slash over it.

[/ QUOTE ]
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hahaha.gif rofl

 

[Fastlane]

Re: Laughing... not really

[ QUOTE ]
The danger is that if this is a deffective Arc4, Peter is laughing at his own failure. I don't get it.

[/ QUOTE ]

The funny part is the troubleshooting methodology, whether it's a defect or operator error.

 

[HunterSon]

Re: Laughing... not really

While I can type fairly well with two fingers, I tried typing with one eye and found it VERY PAINFUL!
I'm gonna stick with the fingers.

 

[Gransee]

Re: Laughing... not really

Yes, I figured out what happened in his case (user error brought on by "oppressive" technology) and sent him a helpfull email explaining what is going on. But I also thought the wording of his original email was just too funny. And you can tell he was trying to not let it get him down to much.

I remembered images from the 1800's of large steam powered robots running amok and destroying small towns. I thought some of the wording was funny, I don't think that is wrong. In fact, I shared what I thought was a funny moment with you. Yes, there is a serious side, and I covered that. I would also to laugh when I can.

Like Roth says, a lot of "mysterious problems only happening to me" cases are cleared up with the application of knowledge. I beleive this generally to be true based on the fact I do tech support each day and I frequently can elimenate "mysterious phenomena" by simply talking the owner through the problem.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but I do want to encourage people to take their time. The Arc4 acts like a regular flashlight as long as you think it is a regular flashlight. But if you think it has more capability you are right, but it does not respect those who take it's special abilities lightly.

Peter