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CPF ARC-AAA 2003

CPF Arc-AAA 2003, retail $(No longer available) www.arcflashlight.com...)
Manufactured by Arc Flashlight, LLC (www.arcflashlight.com)
Last updated 04-09-13

(IMPORTANT!!!)
I've had this for quite a few years now, that's why it does not look brand spanken new in the above photograph!!!

The CPF Arc-AAA 2003 is a very tiny, single "AAA" cell LED flashlight, very similar to the original Arc AAA but with special enhancements made only for this limited edition manufacturing run. Smaller than a Mag Solitaire, this was easily one of the smallest and brightest single cell white LED flashlights in existence in 2003. A miniature step-up power converter inside the tiny head makes it possible to run a 3.6 to 4 volt white LED with only a single 1.5 volt AAA cell.

The easy-grip body is composed entirely of hard anodized aircraft aluminum, and is, for all intents and purposes, indestructible.

This is the CPF Arc-AAA 2003, and it boasts a type-3 hard anodized finish and a brighter & whiter LED than the so-called "standard" Arc-AAA. It has also been personalised with its owner's CPF username and member number.

SIZE

To use this miniature marvel, you will first want to feed it with a single "AAA" cell if it was not already installed in the flashlight when you received it (it should not be; though one *IS* included!).

Getting light is as easy as turning the head clockwise (as if tightening it) until it lights up; turn it the other way to plunge yourself back in darkness. The turning action is fairly stiff; this should go very far in helping to prevent this little powerhouse from "going off" in storage or transport, regardless of how roughly the flashlight gets nocked around here.

The CPF Arc AAA comes with a small split ring attached to the tail. This is meant to be attached to larger keyrings, like what your house & car keys are probably already on; and for attachment to a lanyard to hang the CPF Arc AAA around your neck or around a nail or tree branch.

The knurled surface makes the light easy to grip and use.

To change the battery when necessary, unscrew the bezel (head) until it comes off (don't worry about losing parts or bulbs), gently place it on the ground, use your foot to push it to the doorway leading to the basement stairs, and kick it down those stairs so that the hungry, hungry piss ants will think it's something yummy for their insect tummies, find it unpalatable, and take it to the queen -- who just sniffs at it, goes potty on it, and instructs the worker ants to do the same...O WAIT!!! THAT'S THE GOOD PART!!! So just set it aside instead.

Place the included Duracell AAA battery into the barrel so the button-end (+) positive faces up.

Screw the bezel back on, back it off just a bit when your Arc AAA-P GS springs to life, and there, you're finished.
Aren't you glad you didn't kick that bezel down the stairs with all those hungry, hungry ants now?

A foam gasket affixed to the bottom of the inside of the bezel prevents that annoying rattling sound from the battery moving around inside when the unit is turned off.

Advertised runtime is no less than five hours on a Duracell brand alkaline cell.
The company that makes this flashlight tends not to lie or exaggerate, so this runtime value should be reasonably accurate at absolute minimum.

Due to the way the product was constructed, I am not able to furnish a current usage measurement for you.

The flashlight appears to be very durable and sturdy, and it very likely is. However, since this flashlight was of custom (and very limited) manufacture, "The Smack Test" will not be performed on it.

It has a Mil-Spec type 3 hard anodized finish, so it should stay looking newer longer even if it goes up against keys, coins, or other metal flashlights during storage or transport.

And the inside is protected by a gold-colored material called Chem Coat; this helps to protect the flashlight from water or "battery poop" - you should not attempt to scrape it away or otherwise try and remove it.

There is knurling (diamond-shaped cross-hatched texturising) on the barrel and on the bezel, so retention (the ability to hold onto the flashlight when your hands are cold, wet, or oily) shouldn't be much of an issue.

Water-resistance is excellent; it is rated waterproof and even submersible to 100 feet - much, much deeper than I can test. So my alcohol-fueled attempts to drown it in the toliet wouldn't be very successful.

Two photographs showing the custom embossing at the base of this flashlight.

A foam gasket is affixed to the underside of the bezel (head); this helps to prevent battery rattle when the unit is shaken, struck against something else, or dropped.
No battery rattle was detected at all; not even when the unit was shaken rather vigorously.

Beam photograph on the test target at ~12".

Measures 19,200mcd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.
Remember though, that this is an LED made in 2003.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the 2003 CPF Arc AAA flashlight.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the 2003 CPF Arc AAA flashlight; newer spectrometer software & settings used.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the 2003 CPF Arc AAA flashlight; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 440nm and 490nm to pinpoint native emission peak wavelength, which is 463.173nm.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the 2003 CPF Arc AAA flashlight; newest (01-13-13) spectrometer software & settings used.

Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the 2003 CPF Arc AAA flashlight {newest (01-13-13) spectrometer software & settings used}; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 465nm and 475nm to pinpoint native emission peak wavelength, which is 468.420nm.

The raw spectrometer data (comma-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/42/cpfarc03.txt

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.

ProMetric analysis

Beam cross-sectional analysis.

That darker spot at left-center that sort of queered the test is a
defect in the ProMetric's imager that cannot be compensated for.

Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.

TEST NOTES:
Test sample was purchased in 2003 from Arc Flashlight, LLC.

Product was made in the United States of America.
A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I published it on this web page.

UPDATE: 00-00-00

PROS:
Bright for its size
Durable case
Water-resistant - even waterproof to 100 feet
Uses a cell (battery) that's common and relatively inexpen$ive

CONS:
None that I have yet found

Arc Flashlight, LLC

Small, custom-engraved LED flashlight

5mm Nichia white LED

Medium spot with soft fall-off to perimeter

Twist bezel on/off

HA-III aluminum

Metal; LED inset in conical depression

1xAAA cell

Unknown/unable to measure

Yes

Yes, to 100'

Battery, small split ring, pocket clip

2.7"L, 0.5"D

0.75oz

Lifetime

CPF Arc-AAA 2003 * www.arcflashlight.com...

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