Pacific anyone?

[Buffalohump]

Hey,

I'm looking to take advantage of Peak's sale and pick up a AA light. I'm thinking the Pacific.

Can I get some input from users of this light? I like a good runtime so it doesn't have to be a pocket rocket. Is the Pacific a good choice?

Thanks

 

[22hornet]

Hello,

There is not much I can say than to confirm that the Pacific is a very neat light. I have an older luxeon and 3 body tubes: 1AAA, 1AA and 2AAA.
On 2AAA is it noticably brighter but quite long.
The optional momentary switch is a nice option (must have) for the 2AAA body but doesn't work very well with the 1 cell bodies.
1AA may have an advantage over the 1AAA as the 1AAA runtime is quite short (at least with a luxeon led in regular HP configuration). The 1AAA tube, however, is more compact, cuter and lighter.

You may find this thread, by Robin of Peak, useful and intersting:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=109192

You will like this light, in whatever configuration you choose it. It's one of those pieces of quality that build confidence.

Kind regards,
Joris

 

[arty]

I have 4 of them, with 2 luxeon and 2 SSC P4. The AA light is about the size of the Civictor with a AA pocket body - perhaps a bit smaller. If you get the keyring body, it will be as long as indicated in the webpage.

If you want bright and good runtime - get an ultrapower. If you want very long runtime, get the highpower. The ultra adds about 100 lux.

I have highpower and ultrapower versions. The super-ultra will give you very short runtime. If you do a search, you can find a review of the super by Nascar.

I like the light - great pocket form in CR2 - only 6 cm long. With a AA pocket body it is about 3 1/3" long.

 

[Buffalohump]

Thanks guys...

Actually, its the Ti version that's caught my eye - for obvious reasons: a) its helluva sexy and b) I feel a Ti light will always hold some value no matter what happens with the electronics. I also prefer the shape of it over the regular versions, plus I want to run it on AA NiMhs.

I was thinking the Ultra Power version in P4, as a nice trade-off between runtime and output...

 

[Snow]

I am strongly considering a Pacific in brass with one of each body tube. But I dunno. I already have all my light needs filled, I just want one.

 

[Buffalohump]

Well, yeah... I don't need one, but I sure as hell want one!

 

[paulr]

I have the ti version in high power. It's cool in some ways but it's a bulky light and I don't like the unscrewing keychain post. My unit also doesn't run at full power on a nimh cell and it really wants a lithium cell. I've been told that means the circuit is out of adjustment and I should send it in for examination but I haven't gotten around to it. I also have a Baltic in Ti that has the exact same problem. I also have a Pacific in HA with the pocket body. Although I like the idea of a titanium light, the HA pocket body is just a nicer design, a lot smaller than the ti version. Its main drawback is no lanyard hole, which somehow seems awful even though I rarely use a lanyard with this type of light. I believe I checked my HA Pacific with a nimh cell and it worked properly but I should dig it out and test again. I need to get around to sending in my Baltic and ti Pacific because of this voltage issue. Peak's concept of running at regulated power and then dropping to a lower regulated level when the battery gets low is basically good, but I think they're having trouble adjusting it to drop down at the right time which should be around 1.1 volts.

I wouldn't get any of the AAA bodies with the Pacific since the head is just too large and awkward for an AAA tube. The Baltic head is similar to the Pacific but smaller, and is a much better match for an AAA cell. The titanium Baltic runs nicely on a lithium AAA though again it's bulky. I wish Peak would offer an alternative to that silly lanyard post, i.e. just a flat cap with a radiused hole like a minimag cap.

 

[Buffalohump]

Hey Paul,

Thanks for that assessment. I run my Matterhorn 3LED on a lithium energiser and it kicks butt.

I would really rather run my lights on rechargeables though, and its tricky finding lights other than Novatac that a) appeal to me and b) are made for rechargeables.

I'm surprised you find the Pacific 'bulky'. It looked like a fairly pocketable light to me. My Carribbean is the ideal size IMO but I have the brass version, which is very heavy. I kinda wish I'd gone for the HA, but the brass has its own charm I guess.

The lanyard post works OK for me. I take it there is no momentary switch option for the Ti Pacific?

I thought Ti would be ideal as it is so light yet very tough. I guess if I have to I will run it on a lithium. Runtimes are pretty phenomenal on my Matterhorn, I expect the Pacific (UP) will also be good.

BTW is yours the Luxeon or P4 unit?

 

[paulr]

My Pacific is a P4. Runtime for the HP should be something like 12 hours on a lithium, so less than that with the UP. It will run on rechargeables but at much lower power.

Of course the pacific is pocketable, by bulky I just mean it's larger than other 1aa lights. Yes there is a momentary pushbutton available that screws into the lanyard post hole. I think I actually have one of those switches so I should install it. But I just haven't felt much use for momentary.

I think depending on lithium AAA's or AA's is a poor design. They are good batteries but expensive and somewhat exotic. They store more energy than nimh cells so it's normal and expected that the light should be able to run longer with lithiums. But since there is a dc-dc converter in the light, a properly designed converter should be able to run at full power with both types of battery, the only difference being runtime. That would allow using nimh for general purpose use, reserving lithium for backup, cold weather, etc.

 

[Snow]

I am very, very strongly considering a Pacific in brass now. I am thinking the 1xAA, 2xAAA, and CR2 pocket bodies. I need to call and get runtime estimates before I decide which power. I already have a Rainier and P4 Caribbean for pocket rockets, so I'm thinking I'll go with something a little dimmer but with better runtime.

 

[KeyGrip]

I've been looking at getting a P4 AA Brass Pacific HP for about half a year now as a dedicated backup/long runtime light.

 

[paulr]

Here is a photo of the Peak Ti Pacific with some other lights:

1) Arc AAA (similar to Peak Matterhorn with lug tail)
2) Peak Baltic Ti
3) CMG Ultra-G
4) Peak Pacific HA pocket body
5) Peak Kilimanjaro HA
6) Peak Pacific Ti
7) Fenix L1P

You can see that the Pacific Ti is the largest of the bunch. The keychain tail is the culprit. It not only sticks out the back, but there has to be length added to the battery tube for it to screw into.

 

[Buffalohump]

Paul,

Thanks for the pic - that's extremely useful.

I can see what you mean by the added length. I don't think it could feasibly replace my Matterhorn as a pocket light. The Matterhorn can be carried with such ease, even in my tighter jeans.

Oh well....

 

[arty]

The Pacific is very short with a CR2 pocket body - just 6 cm.
It will fit in the coin pocket of jeans.

 

[Norm]

The Pacific is very short with a CR2 pocket body - just 6 cm.
It will fit in the coin pocket of jeans.

As will the AA pocket body. I have both in brass but it is the CR2 that I carry everyday. The brass threads start off a little bit stiff, but after a couple of months they will be the smoothest threads of any light you own. The TI threads are OK but nowhere near as good as the brass threads.
Norm
PS I wouldn't go above HP on a CR2.

 

[KeyGrip]

What kind of lube do you guys use on brass? Will Nyogel 760 work?

 

[Buffalohump]

You don't need to lube brass - it's self lubricating.

Some lube on the o-ring will help prolong the life of the rubber though, and improve water-resistance.

 

[KeyGrip]

Good point about the brass, thanks.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Has anyone tried the Pacific P4 LED at super power 500cp with one lithium AA Energizer, or any single AA battery of choice? Any run time results, or opinions on brightness? Thanks!

 

[skcheng]

Has anyone tried the Pacific P4 LED at super power 500cp with one lithium AA Energizer, or any single AA battery of choice? Any run time results, or opinions on brightness? Thanks!

With a 5V board, the SP Pacific P4 with an AA body and an AW 14500 Li-ion should give plenty of run time as well as brightness. I'll confirm this next week with both the RCR2 and the 14500 and report back. I was told that an RCR2 would give 30-40 minutes of run time with 60-90 lumens, so I'm just assuming that the 14500 will double the run time of the RCR2.