asdalton
Flashlight Enthusiast
Both the Energizer Arc White and the Coleman Micro Fluorescent Pocket Lantern are relatively new lights that employ cold cathode fluorescent lighting (CCFL) technology. The CCFL tube is supposedly better suited to battery power, being less prone to burn-out from imperfect ballasts or dropping voltages.
The Arc White is a combination flashlight containing an incandescent bulb, while the Coleman is CCFL only. Both lights require 4 AA batteries. The Arc White is widely available, but I have seen the Coleman lantern at Walmart only.
Energizer Arc White
Price: $17
Manufacturer's web site
The incandescent light is activated by pushing the sliding switch forward. Since it runs from 6 volts, the beam is very bright. However, it probably won't maintain that brightness for long on those AA batteries. The reflector has a fixed focus, and the throw is very good. The use of a PR-style bulb is also a benefit.
The CCFL tube is activated by sliding the switch back past the "off" position until the tube lights up. This is the point at which a problem with this flashlight becomes apparent. It is, in fact, quite difficult to not turn on the fluorescent accidentally while turning off the incandescent, and vice versa. Getting the switch to stop at the "off" position takes some practice.
The tube starts out moderately bright, and it gets much brighter after 30 seconds or so. The beam spreads out evenly over a 180 degree angle, and it would be well suited for lighting a tent, or a room during a power outage. It is rated to run for seven hours on alkaline batteries. There's one catch, though: you can't get the thing to stand up!
The Arc White has a body design that is 90% looks and 10% practicality. If you try to stand the light up on its lens end, it is unstable and tips backwards. If you try to stand it on its tail, it will work. However, it remains very top-heavy, and the slightest bump or surface imperfection will send the light toppling over. For most uses, the only thing one can do is to set the light on its side. Even then, it tends to wobble because of its rounded shape.
Besides the awkward shape, the body is just plain fragile. The battery cap looks eager to pop off at the slightest provocation. The cover over the CCFL tube is either glued or sonic-welded on, and its exposed position just screams, "Break me!" It is not water resistant to the slightest degree. It seems more like a toy than something that you could actually use.
I was recently testing its brightness in the bathroom, and the Arc White slid off the toilet tank (it's unstable!) and right into the toilet, at which point the battery cap came off (it's fragile!) and the flashlight flooded with water. It seems to be okay now after I let it dry out, but this is not a good sign.
Overall, this light is just not tough enough for anything other than delicate handling. When you add the awkward functioning of the switch and body shape, the Arc White ends up not being worth your money.
Coleman Micro Fluorescent Pocket Lantern
Price: $13
Manufacturer's web site
This light is fluorescent only, and it is turned on via a rubberized pushbotton switch on the side. This is very easy to use.
The basic design of the Coleman lantern is relatively flat. The U-shaped CCFL tube is enclosed within a transparent folding arm, which is amber on the outside and clear on the inside. When the arm is folded out, both sides are exposed and emit light. When the arm is folded down, only the amber side is visible.
The performance of the tube is similar to that of the Arc White, except that the tube takes a little longer to reach full brightness. If you use the "heavy duty" (heh) batteries that come with the light, then the Coleman is not as bright as the Arc White. However, I was delighted to discover that if you use alkaline or NiMH batteries, then the Coleman emits much more light than the Arc White. This is expected, since the Coleman's tube is nearly twice as long. It appears that the intensity per length of the Arc White's tube is still a little higher, but the Coleman still wins out in the end. The advertised run time is a little shorter for the Coleman (six hours), but the brightness more than compensates.
I originally didn't care for the amber tint on the outside of the folding arm. But after I've tested it in the dark for a while, I can see that the amber is much easier on the eyes. If you want the blue-white color (and increased brightness), you can flip the arm up to expose the clear side.
Unlike the Arc White, the Coleman is designed to be used in many ways. A long lanyard permits the lantern to be hung from the wall or around a person's neck. There is a belt clip on the back of the light. The light can be laid flat on a table with the arm either raised or lowered, and the surface doesn't have to be ideal.
The light still looks fairly fragile, though. It may be a little more water resistant than the Arc White, but not much. If you drop the light onto the side with CCFL tube, the folding arm will probably shatter. It is even more vulnerable if the arm is extended rather than folded. The arm should probably be held down with a rubber band during any rough transport, to keep it from flipping open. The battery cover lies underneath the arm, protecting it to some degree.
Overall, this light is worth getting. It could be better if it had a more durable design, but hey, it's only $13. It is definitely a better deal than the Arc White.
The Arc White is a combination flashlight containing an incandescent bulb, while the Coleman is CCFL only. Both lights require 4 AA batteries. The Arc White is widely available, but I have seen the Coleman lantern at Walmart only.
Energizer Arc White
Price: $17
Manufacturer's web site
The incandescent light is activated by pushing the sliding switch forward. Since it runs from 6 volts, the beam is very bright. However, it probably won't maintain that brightness for long on those AA batteries. The reflector has a fixed focus, and the throw is very good. The use of a PR-style bulb is also a benefit.
The CCFL tube is activated by sliding the switch back past the "off" position until the tube lights up. This is the point at which a problem with this flashlight becomes apparent. It is, in fact, quite difficult to not turn on the fluorescent accidentally while turning off the incandescent, and vice versa. Getting the switch to stop at the "off" position takes some practice.
The tube starts out moderately bright, and it gets much brighter after 30 seconds or so. The beam spreads out evenly over a 180 degree angle, and it would be well suited for lighting a tent, or a room during a power outage. It is rated to run for seven hours on alkaline batteries. There's one catch, though: you can't get the thing to stand up!
The Arc White has a body design that is 90% looks and 10% practicality. If you try to stand the light up on its lens end, it is unstable and tips backwards. If you try to stand it on its tail, it will work. However, it remains very top-heavy, and the slightest bump or surface imperfection will send the light toppling over. For most uses, the only thing one can do is to set the light on its side. Even then, it tends to wobble because of its rounded shape.
Besides the awkward shape, the body is just plain fragile. The battery cap looks eager to pop off at the slightest provocation. The cover over the CCFL tube is either glued or sonic-welded on, and its exposed position just screams, "Break me!" It is not water resistant to the slightest degree. It seems more like a toy than something that you could actually use.
I was recently testing its brightness in the bathroom, and the Arc White slid off the toilet tank (it's unstable!) and right into the toilet, at which point the battery cap came off (it's fragile!) and the flashlight flooded with water. It seems to be okay now after I let it dry out, but this is not a good sign.
Overall, this light is just not tough enough for anything other than delicate handling. When you add the awkward functioning of the switch and body shape, the Arc White ends up not being worth your money.
Coleman Micro Fluorescent Pocket Lantern
Price: $13
Manufacturer's web site
This light is fluorescent only, and it is turned on via a rubberized pushbotton switch on the side. This is very easy to use.
The basic design of the Coleman lantern is relatively flat. The U-shaped CCFL tube is enclosed within a transparent folding arm, which is amber on the outside and clear on the inside. When the arm is folded out, both sides are exposed and emit light. When the arm is folded down, only the amber side is visible.
The performance of the tube is similar to that of the Arc White, except that the tube takes a little longer to reach full brightness. If you use the "heavy duty" (heh) batteries that come with the light, then the Coleman is not as bright as the Arc White. However, I was delighted to discover that if you use alkaline or NiMH batteries, then the Coleman emits much more light than the Arc White. This is expected, since the Coleman's tube is nearly twice as long. It appears that the intensity per length of the Arc White's tube is still a little higher, but the Coleman still wins out in the end. The advertised run time is a little shorter for the Coleman (six hours), but the brightness more than compensates.
I originally didn't care for the amber tint on the outside of the folding arm. But after I've tested it in the dark for a while, I can see that the amber is much easier on the eyes. If you want the blue-white color (and increased brightness), you can flip the arm up to expose the clear side.
Unlike the Arc White, the Coleman is designed to be used in many ways. A long lanyard permits the lantern to be hung from the wall or around a person's neck. There is a belt clip on the back of the light. The light can be laid flat on a table with the arm either raised or lowered, and the surface doesn't have to be ideal.
The light still looks fairly fragile, though. It may be a little more water resistant than the Arc White, but not much. If you drop the light onto the side with CCFL tube, the folding arm will probably shatter. It is even more vulnerable if the arm is extended rather than folded. The arm should probably be held down with a rubber band during any rough transport, to keep it from flipping open. The battery cover lies underneath the arm, protecting it to some degree.
Overall, this light is worth getting. It could be better if it had a more durable design, but hey, it's only $13. It is definitely a better deal than the Arc White.
