This is the light that got me interested in collecting torches. It is the ultimate everyday carry light when fitted with the 123a lithium battery pack.

Features

My light as ordered was supplied with a common head unit fitted with the Luxeon start 1Watt LED. Then 3 battery carriers for the following battery types. 1 AA , 2 AA and 1 123A Lithium. These have various advantages depending on how you want to use the light.

1xAA - Gives small light with reduced light output for about 6 hours.

2xAA - Gives the longest available run time (I got over 4 Hours full brightness with 2100 mAh NiMh Rechargeable cells) at the expense of a larger light. It's still pretty small though! Also cheap to run on those rechargeable batteries.

1x123 - Gives the smallest package with the highest output with about 2 hours at full brightness. But uses the expensive 123a lithium battery.

The light is simple to operate. Just install the batteries, + side up towards the head and screw on the head. Turn the head till it lights up. Turn the head back to turn off again.

1 CR123A Lithium

The light source is a 1Watt Luxeon LED. This specially developed LED give around 10 times more light output than the typical Nicha 5mm White does. This I believe is the first commercially available torch in the world to use such a device! Production of the first units was a long and hard process, but as you can see from the photos the results are well worth it.

The beam given off by the light is different to any incandescent light that you may own or have seen before. Compared to a typical 2C or 2D cell incandescent bulb it is a revelation. The light is far whiter in colour and does not have nasty rings throughout the beam pattern. People will just not believe how much light can come out of such a small package.

The power from the batteries is controlled by power regulation electronics. This makes it different from most incandescent or LED lights in that the light output is not effected by the battery voltage dropping as they become discharged. What it does is gives a constant voltage to the Luxeon LED at the expense of drawing slightly more current from the battery. So you get a shorter runtime on the light but constant light output for the whole time. On a normal non regulated light the light output drops as the batteries discharge so when half empty the light may only give of half the light output that it did when the batteries were new. Once the LS batteries drop to a low enough level the regulation circuit can no longer function at this point the light will still function but at a much lower light output. ARC calls this Sun & Moon modes of operation. Because of a feature of LED's which means they become more efficient at lower voltage / current levels, this now means that the light will work at this lower level of output for some considerable time.

The light is extremely well made with each part CNC machined from sold aluminium bar or tube. Each part is then type III hard anodised. This gives a very durable and hard wearing finish. Each part is then assembled using O-ring to seal the light against moisture ingress. I have now been informed that this light is not waterproof to any great degree so don't go getting it wet. I don't want to submerge it just for fun! As getting a replacement could be rather difficult!

Please don't let this concern you though as newer models are completely waterproof.

OK, now hopefully your interested where can you get one? Well as stated above you cannot buy this 'First Run' model any longer. But not to worry as you can buy one of the improved newer versions instead. These will hopefully be reviewed here in the future.

UK Dealers

outdoorsuppliesuk.com At last a great UK supplier with LOW prices for Torches, Knives, Outdoor Equipment and more. (Still under development but please email them for prices.)

US Dealers

www.arcflashlight.com
www.meridiantactical.com

UK Cheap 123A Lithium & AA Batteries

www.7dayshop.com

More info on ARC and other lights here

www.candlepowerforums.com