The new Arc-LS

This thread is continued from this thread at the MarketPlace.


(as of 7/2007, pictures and other info for the new Arc-LS have been added to this thread)

As you know, I have already announced that I am working on a new version of the Arc-LS. This thread will hopefully organize information that formally was spread among several threads.

The History

The CPF has changed a lot since I originally joined. So, for the really new people:

I designed the Arc product line and started the Arc company. I came up with the name, "Arc" because its short and the hue of early white LEDs reminded me of an electric arc welder.

Like all natural things, there have been easy/hard times in the history of this endeavor. You can read more about the company from the FAQ, wiki, this forum, etc.

Arc Design

As should be evident from our various products, Arc designs tend to favor:

- Utility first
- Minimalist aesthetics
- Mission driven features (types of cell, size, brightness class, etc)
- Utility, customer service, price. Pick two.
- Niche market only

The new Arc-LS

The Arc-LS series was the first flashlight on the market to use a, "high power" LED. First introduced in 2001, it has evolved over several years through various names, features, etc. Each time, getting brighter and most of the time- more useful. You can read about previous generations in the FAQ.

The latest version currently in development will continue this trend. Brighter, smaller, longer run times, easier to upgrade with the latest LEDs, easier to use, more durable, etc.

I do not plan on announcing the price, delivery and other specifications until the development is done. When will that be? Well, research is not always an orderly thing. It is the nature of discovery for it to be somewhat surprising. The project may be done next year, it may not.

I realize some people may not know what a typical (newer) LS series looks like:

- 1x123 cell is the primary power source
- high power LED of some sort
- designed for "EDC Pocket" mission
- usually quite expensive
- durable construction
- multiple output levels

--

Here's the latest progress:

btw, I wrote this with the assumption that our competitors read my posts the most closely.

The prototypes are in their 6th revision. Although the prototypes may look like production lights, there is still a lot to be done. The LED I want to use has been delayed by the manufacturer. In the meantime, I have been working on refining the driver and mechanicals.

You have heard the saying, "you don't plan for the last war, you plan for the next war."

The driver electronics have exceeded the original project goals. Refinements left to do include smoothing out some of the functions, finishing the user interface and automatic functions firmware, adding features to the windows application, etc. This driver is designed to work with a wide variety of LEDs: both those presently available and those yet to come. This is an important feature to me since I believe that the rate of LED improvements will increase. We might see LEDs doubling in brightness every 12 months. I would love to be able to provide an LED upgrade for less than $50. Making upgrades easier would cost us sales only if everyone only bought from us. But that is not how a real market works. This strategy, if it works, will increase our sales while reducing the cost to the consumer and most importantly, take advantage of the latest technologies.

The mechanicals are mostly done but there are a few rough edges. I also am not done making changes to the optical section, the new LED has a lot to do with that tweaking. It currently works with LEDs available now. I have been using those to test the other functions. I can say true 60 lumen is not a problem with the currently available LEDs.

Full power is temperature protected of course. That keeps the LED from being "over driven". The driver can be programmed to protect new LED types if needed. Even though a new led comes out that is x brighter, if you are like me, there is no such thing as a bright enough max power setting. Oh sure, there is such a thing as a, "prudent" level of illumination for a given task, but never arbitrarily cap the maximum power available to the user. We will still want to drive it at the highest possible power while safeguarding its temperature. The battery is usually the weak link, of course those are getting more powerfull as well.

Btw, since this is a single cell Lithium light, it requires less babysiting than multi-cell lights.

The windows interface application is stable and I am glad I have it. I find it very useful for testing the light. If time permits, it would be nice to add more features to the application and make it available to the mod community. I have been cautioned that this would make us more of a software company than a flashlight company with tech support issues and all. Since this interface is sufficiently low level enough to enable a modder to make changes that could damage the hardware, if we did offer it, it would be done with a disclaimer of any resulting damages.

The irony is, this light is more sophisticated than any previous LS but as easy or easier to use.

Yesterday, I invited a small group of local CPF'ers to preview the LS prototypes. I also gave them a quick tour of the windows app and some of the accessories. I had a lot of fun. They can tell you the light is small, bright and easy to use. Easier to use, brighter and smaller than the previous LS (Arc4).


That's it for now. This thread should be used for future discussions of the new LS so as to keep things more organized. Thank you.

Peter

Hi everyone,
May i suggest somthing for the name...
What about Arc CP for "Arc Candle Power"?

waiting for pocket burner...

How about suggesting the worse possible names?

How about Ark Spark!

Viren if you were fsmiliar with the PD design you would know that the threads are anodized. The electrical path ispriuvided by the Piston, kilroy and contact area of the head. No power moves through the "body" of the light.

Peter I am very happy to hear that the TI version is not first out of the block.
Ti doesn't add signifigantly enough to the utility of a flashlight of this nature to be worth the extreeme premium.

Peter have you coniddered using 7075?
Sombody mentioned reduced wall thickness. While I prefer the robust nature of thick walled lights. the use of 7075 would allow for thinner walls while maintaining sturctural integredity.
Even moving from 6061 to 7075 would add a great benifit to the long term strength of this light.
It should be worth a look anyway.
Yaesumofo

Viren if you were fsmiliar with the PD design you would know that the threads are anodized. The electrical path ispriuvided by the Piston, kilroy and contact area of the head. No power moves through the "body" of the light.

Peter I am very happy to hear that the TI version is not first out of the block.
Ti doesn't add signifigantly enough to the utility of a flashlight of this nature to be worth the extreeme premium.

Peter have you coniddered using 7075?
Sombody mentioned reduced wall thickness. While I prefer the robust nature of thick walled lights. the use of 7075 would allow for thinner walls while maintaining sturctural integredity.
Even moving from 6061 to 7075 would add a great benifit to the long term strength of this light.
It should be worth a look anyway.
Yaesumofo

The launch of the new LS is definitely taking too long.
Is it really that difficult to make something as simple as a flashlight? It's not a space rocket nor a racecar, it's only a flashlight. Take the old LS, put in a new led and voilà... ready.

Joris

22hornet said:

The launch of the new LS is definitely taking too long.
Is it really that difficult to make something as simple as a flashlight? It's not a space rocket nor a racecar, it's only a flashlight. Take the old LS, put in a new led and voilà... ready.

Joris

Click to expand...

I would agree with you if this was a simple twisty but this is a complete rework from the ground up with new drivers and a lot more engineering. Add to this Peter is a perfectionist which means it has to be perfect or a least as close to perfect as a dedicated perfectionist can make it. I also believe lessons from the past have been learned in that it cost a lot less to handle issues in the development stage VS after the initial release which means retrofitting fixes or completely replacing product. As someone who plans to buy this product I appreciate Peter's commitment to excellence and getting the product right the first time. Everyone will be happier if the product is flawless coming out the gate.

Yes, of course, but in the meantime a lot of people will have bought a Novatac instead, I fear. And not all (few) of them will buy the LS as well.
General Patton: "a good idea today is better than a great idea tomorrow"

I hope the new ARC LS will be worth the waiting. I hope it is somewhat like the old LS, without bells and whistles, but of absolute perfect fit and finish.

Joris

The old LS was far from perfect in fit and finish. We shall not forget this. If you are after cosmetics the new LS might not be a light for you I would guess. Function it is.

I prefer a solid product in a few months over a quickly released problem plagued product now, too. There is an abundance of choices now. We aren't exactly starving for more lights. But if there is a new light, it'd better be a good light.

bernie

With so much changes in the flashlight technology, it is very hard to keep up.
By the time this New LS comes out, it`s already obsolete.... :nana:

Lebkuecher said:

I would agree with you if this was a simple twisty but this is a complete rework from the ground up with new drivers and a lot more engineering. Add to this Peter is a perfectionist which means it has to be perfect or a least as close to perfect as a dedicated perfectionist can make it. I also believe lessons from the past have been learned in that it cost a lot less to handle issues in the development stage VS after the initial release which means retrofitting fixes or completely replacing product. As someone who plans to buy this product I appreciate Peter's commitment to excellence and getting the product right the first time. Everyone will be happier if the product is flawless coming out the gate.

Click to expand...

I remember quite awhile ago, thinking my Brinkmann 2AA LED was cool and dreaming of having an ARC LS in my hands, then I finally got one and thought I had the brightest. Now, with the new technology available, I think Arc will come out on top again. Long live the niche market!

Lebkuecher said:

I would agree with you if this was a simple twisty but this is a complete rework from the ground up with new drivers and a lot more engineering. Add to this Peter is a perfectionist which means it has to be perfect or a least as close to perfect as a dedicated perfectionist can make it. I also believe lessons from the past have been learned in that it cost a lot less to handle issues in the development stage VS after the initial release which means retrofitting fixes or completely replacing product. As someone who plans to buy this product I appreciate Peter's commitment to excellence and getting the product right the first time. Everyone will be happier if the product is flawless coming out the gate.

Click to expand...

Exactly

Somebody PM me when this light is built and ready for sale. I hope I have not died of old age by then.:kiss:

That would be an example of frustation. Waiting is hard for me too.

But, things are proceeding each day. I have not posted much (in this thread) because there is simply nothing I want to report right now.

peter

:candle:

Is there any summary with available information about the upcoming Arc-LS?

Freedom1955 said:

Somebody PM me when this light is built and ready for sale. I hope I have not died of old age by then.:kiss:

Click to expand...

You may need the new Arc-LS more than you think.

The sun will have gone dark by it's release date....!
:candle:

Peter,

Any updates on production progress or estimated release date?

Thanks!