EDC ULTIMATE 60

HDS EDC Ultimate 60, retail $195.00 (www.hdssystems.com/EdcUltimate.html)
Manufactured by HDS Systems (www.hdssystems.com)
Last updated 11-22-10




The HDS EDC Ultimate 60 may very well be the most advanced flashlight you can get. EDC stands for Every Day Carry, which is how this flashlight is meant to be used. It comes in a hard-anodized aluminum body, has a high-powered premium quality LED at the bottom of an almost mirror-smooth reflector, which is protected by a specially coated glass window. The LED is powered by a single CR123A cell inside the barrel and the most advanced electronics ever put into an LED flashlight, and a multitude of functions are available from a single pushbutton switch on the flashlight's tailcap.


SIZE



Lifted directly from the online user guide:



These instructions are long - if you need to go to the bathroom or get a drink, go do that now.
Lifted straight from the instructional .PDF, here they are:

Using the Single Push Button
Your light has a single push button which is used to turn your light on and off and to access its other functions. The following concepts are important to understanding the operation of your light:

Click: a quick push and release of the button. A click is any push of the button lasting less than half a second.
Press: a long push of the button. A press is any push lasting more than half a second.
N-click: a sequence of N clicks. Double-clicks (2 clicks) and triple-clicks (3 clicks) and 10 clicks are common. The time between clicks - that is, when the button is up - must be less than half a second.
N-click-press: a sequence of N+1 button pushes where the first N are clicks and the last is a press. Double-click-presses (two clicks and a press) and 10-click-presses are common. The time between clicks and between the final click and press - that is, when the button is up - must be less than half a second.

Note: you must pause between commands to ensure the button pushes from the second command are not interpreted as being part of the first command. The pause between commands must be greater than half a second.

Note: if you provide an invalid input sequence, your light tries to handle the error in the best manner possible. Depending on the context, the best (or safest) thing to do is to ignore excess or extraneous clicks or exit from a menu without changing any settings.

Turning Your Light On and Off
Click or press the button once to turn your light on. It stays on (latches on) until you turn it off. Click the button again to turn your light off. You can use the Options Menu to enable the Simple Momentary option, which will allow a press to turn your light on in a momentary fashion - i.e., when you release the button your light will turn off. While this option is disabled, both a click and a press will latch your light on. When you turn your light on, it turns on to the forced setting. You can use the Options Menu to change the Force Setting option to a different setting. You can use the Options Menu to disable the Force Setting option, in which case your light will turn on to the setting you were using when you turned your light off. You can use the Brightness Menu to adjust each of the four (4) brightness settings to any brightness level. When your light is on, you can toggle between the Primary and Secondary settings by double-clicking the button. If the brightness was on the Minimum or Maximum setting, the light is return to the last Primary or Secondary setting used. Your light will momentarily turn off between the clicks but this is normal. You can use the Brightness Menu to adjust the Primary and Secondary settings to any brightness level. When your light is on, you can momentarily set your light to the Maximum setting by pressing the button. Releasing the button returns your light to the previous setting. You can latch your light to the Maximum setting by double-click-pressing the button. Your light will momentarily turn off between the clicks but this is normal. You can return to the previous Primary or Secondary setting by double-clicking the button. Your light will momentarily turn off between the clicks but this is normal. You can use the Brightness Menu to adjust the Maximum setting to any brightness level. When your light is on, you can set your light to the Minimum setting by triple-clicking the button. Your light will momentarily turn off between the clicks but this is normal. You can return to the previous Primary or Secondary setting by double-clicking the button. Your light will momentarily turn off between the clicks but this is normal. You can use the Brightness Menu to adjust the Minimum setting to any brightness level. A very low brightness level will help preserve night vision adaptation without using a red filter.

Brightness Menu
The Brightness Menu is used to set the brightness level of the four (4) settings. These settings are called Minimum, Maximum, Primary and Secondary. Any brightness level may be assigned to any setting. Your light has either 19 or 20 brightness levels depending on the model and the brightness levels are referred to as brightness level 1 through 20, with brightness level 1 being the brightest and brightness level 20 being the dimmest.
Note: you may notice a slight flicker on the very low brightness levels. This is normal. Your eyes respond to light in a logarithmic way. That means that a significant increase in brightness requires a doubling in the amount of light - and power. The brightness levels on your light are spaced to provide small, visually even changes in brightness. As a rough approximation, every two levels brighter will halve the battery life and every two levels dimmer will double the battery life. You can maximize battery life by using the minimum brightness level compatible with the task you are performing. The lowest brightness setting will help preserve your night vision adaptation without using a red filter.
To set the brightness level of a setting, turn off the Force Setting option from the Options Menu if it is enabled, turn your light on, select the desired setting, turn your light off and then enter the Brightness menu. Once you have finished setting the brightness level of the selected setting, be sure to re-enable Force Setting option if you turned it off.
You enter the Brightness Menu by 10-click-pressing the button while your light is turned off. Your light toggles on and off while you are clicking but this is normal. If you don’t want to count, just keep clicking until your light stays on prior to doing the final press.
Your light comes on to the currently selected brightness level when you enter the Brightness Menu. Click the button to sequence through the brightness levels. Doubleclick to reverse the sequence and move to the previous brightness. Note that the sequence automatically reverses when you come to the brightest and dimmest brightness levels.
When you have selected the desired brightness, press and hold the button for two seconds. Your light will come on steady while you hold the button and then turn off when it is time for you to release the button.
If you have not pushed the button within 10 seconds, if you enter an unknown menu command, if you do not hold the button down until the the light turns off or if there is insufficient power to save the settings, your light exits the Brightness Menu without changing the brightness setting and displays the error flash sequence consisting of rapid flashing.

Options Menu
The Options Menu is used to turn on and off optional features of your light. Each option will be covered separately, but the basics of turning on and off an option is common to all options.
You enter the Options Menu by 10-clicking the button while your light is turned off. Your light toggles on and off while you are clicking but this is normal. If you don’t want to count, just keep clicking until your light stays on.
Each option has a unique flash identifier and a well known position in the menu. When you enter the Options Menu, you always enter at the first menu item. Click the button to sequence through the options. Double-click to reverse the sequence and move to the previous menu item. The menu wraps around from the last item to the first item and vice versa.
When you have selected the desired option, press and hold the button for two seconds. Your light will come on steady while you hold the button and then turn off when it is time for you to release the button.
If you have not pushed the button within 10 seconds, if you enter an unknown menu command, if you do not hold the button down until the the light turns off or if there is insufficient power to save the settings, your light exits the Options Menu without changing the option setting and displays the error flash sequence consisting of rapid flashing.

Option 1: Strobe
The Strobe option flashes the maximum brightness about every second. This can be used for an emergency beacon.
To stop the strobe signal, turn your light off.
The strobe signal option is the first item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by the strobe signal.

Option 2: SOS
The SOS option flashes the international emergency SOS signal. The SOS signal complies with 46CFR161.013-7 for signal timing but your light is not a Coast Guard approved emergency signal.
To stop the SOS signal, turn your light off.
The SOS signal option is the second item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by the SOS signal (dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash, dot, dot, dot).

Option 3: Locator Flash
The Locator Flash option dimly flashes your light every 3 seconds when it is turned off. This allows you to find your light in the dark.
The Locator Flash option is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The default setting is off.
The Locator Flash option is the third item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by a dim flash.

Option 4: Force Setting
The Force Setting option forces your light to always turn on to the selected setting. To select a setting to be forced, ensure the Force Setting option is disabled. Then select the Minimum, Maximum, Primary or Secondary setting you want to force. Turn your light off. Enter the Option Menu and enable the Force Setting option. Your light will turn on to the selected setting.
Note: this option must be disabled in order to use the Brightness Menu to change the other settings.
Note: if the forced setting is Maximum or Minimum, the first toggle (double-click) will take you to the Primary setting.
When the Force Setting option is disabled, your light remembers which setting you were using when you turned your light off and returns to that setting when you turn your light back on.
The Force Setting option is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The default setting is on with the Primary setting selected. The Force Setting option is the fourth item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by a long flash.

Option 5: Automatic Button Lock
The Automatic Button Lock option locks your light in the off setting after your light has remained turned off for 5 minutes. If the button is pressed while your light has the button locked, your light flashes twice and then turns off. Note that when the Tactical Momentary option is enabled your light does not flash but remains off. When Automatic Button Lock is enabled, you can manually lock the button by tripleclicking from Off. Note that when the Tactical Momentary option is enabled you cannot manually lock the button from Off.
To release the Button Lock, triple-click the button. Releasing the Button Lock turns your light on. Note that when the Tactical Momentary option is enabled the light remains off until the next push of the button.
The Automatic Button Lock option is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The default setting is off. The Automatic Button Lock option is the fifth item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by two short flashes.

Option 6: Automatic Turn Off
The Automatic Turn Off option turns your light off after a 5 minute period of inactivity. Your light provides a warning prior to turning off by sequencing down to the lowest brightness level and then flashing for 10 seconds. Click the button once during the warning period to restore the light to the original setting.
The Automatic Turn Off option is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The default setting is off.
The Automatic Turn Off option is the sixth item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by a dimming sequence.

Option 7: Simple Momentary
The Simple Momentary option allows a press to be distinguished from a click when your light is turned off. That is, when the Simple Momentary option is enabled, a press turns your light on for the duration of the press and turns your light turns off again when the button is released. When Simple Momentary option is disabled, a press will latch your light on no matter how long you hold the button down.
The Simple Momentary option is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The default setting is off. The Simple Momentary option is the seventh item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by a long flash followed by a short flash.

Option 8: Tactical Momentary
The Tactical Momentary option provides a pure momentary mode of operation. All button pushes (clicks and presses) are momentary. When the Tactical Momentary option is enabled, it is not possible to latch your light on, access the menus or manually lock the button. Therefore, you must configure any desired options before enabling the Tactical Momentary option. If the Automatic Button Lock option is enabled, the button locks upon enabling the Tactical Momentary option and there is no visible Button Lock indication - your light remains completely dark when the button is pressed until after the Button Lock is released.
You turn off the Tactical Momentary option by soft-resetting your light. The default setting is off.
The Tactical Momentary option is the eighth item in the Options Menu and is identified in the Options Menu by a long flash followed by two short flashes.

Resetting Your Light
The only time the design of your light requires you to reset your light is: 1) to turn off the Tactical Momentary option, 2) when changing battery packs or 3) when changing battery chemistries. However, if your light ever gets into a non-responsive state, a reset can be used to regain control.
There are two kinds of resets. A soft reset retains all of your settings. A hard reset returns your light to the factory settings.
To perform a soft reset, remove the batteries, wait for 1 minute and reinstall the batteries. A successful soft reset is indicated by your light turning on dimly for 1 second and then turning Off.
To perform a hard reset, start by performing a soft reset. Before your light turns off, press and hold the button down for 10 seconds. Your light will come on steady while you hold the button and then turn off when it is time for you to release the button. If you do not hold the button down until the the light turns off or if there is insufficient power to save the settings, your light will not restore the factory settings and displays the error flash sequence consisting of rapid flashing.

Low Battery Indication
As your batteries are used up, the batteries will not be able to supply enough power to run your light at the selected brightness. As a result, your light will blink down two brightness levels - that is, your light will momentarily turn off and then turn back on two brightness levels lower, repeating as needed as the batteries are used up. When the dimmest brightness level is reached, your light will blink continuously until the batteries can no longer power your light. You should replace your light’s batteries before the dimmest brightness level is reached.
Your light remembers the restricted brightness level and will not allow you to use a higher brightness level as long as your light remains on. Turning your light off and then back on resets the restricted brightness level and allows you access to all brightness levels if your batteries are capable of supplying the power. The same behavior can also occur if the battery contacts become dirty. Gently wiping the battery contacts with a clean dry cloth is normally sufficient to remove dirt. If in doubt, please replace your batteries.
Note: if you must extend dying batteries - for whatever reason - you should immediately select a lower brightness setting. The lower the setting selected the longer the batteries will last.
Note: if you continue to use your light after it has dropped to the lowest brightness level - where it blinks continuously - it is assumed you are in an emergency situation. In an emergency situation, your life is more important than your rechargeable batteries and your light will sacrifice the batteries to keep the light on.
Note: if your batteries have an excessively low voltage when you turn your light off, your light will delay turning off until the battery voltage has recovered sufficiently to enable it to turn back on. While waiting for your batteries to recover, the light will glow dimly.
Note: the length of time your batteries will last depends on how you use your light, the type and quality of battery you are using and how cold it is. Due to the LED tolerances, you will see flashlight to flashlight runtime variations when operated under the same conditions.

High Temperature Indication
Your light can get quite warm on the higher brightness levels. If you hold on to your light with a bare hand during operation, your body will conduct away any excess heat and prevent your light from getting too hot. However, if you place your light on a table or hold it with a gloved hand, the excess heat is not easily conducted away and your light can get hot. Before your light becomes dangerously hot, a thermal sensor detects the increasing temperature and reduces the power and brightness. Your light’s temperature is regulated so you can always pick it up safely and to prevent damage to the LED.
Your light remembers the restricted brightness level and will not allow you to use a higher brightness level as long as your light remains on. Turning your light off and then back on resets the restricted brightness level and allows you access to all brightness levels if your light is cool enough to allow them.

Cleaning and Maintenance
Periodically clean the threads and O-ring with a clean lint-free cloth and apply a thin coat of silicon or petroleum-based grease to threads and O-ring. If the O-rings become worn or damaged, they should be replaced.
The exterior can be cleaned with a mild soap and water. Rinse well and dry with a lintfree cotton cloth. Paper towels or tissues should be avoided when cleaning plastic lenses as scratching will result.

The EDC Ultimate I'm evaluating came with a pocket clip and two screws for it; I don't yet have the correct tool to affix it to the flashlight. That's why you don't see it affixed to the flashlight on this web page.



To change the battery in your EDC Ultimate, unscrew and remove the bezel (head); the seam is about halfway down the barrel of the flashlight. Throw the bezel in the {vulgar term for feces}bowl, and flush it away...O WAIT!!! THAT'S THE GOOD PART!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the barrel into your hand, and allow the old CR123A cell to come out. Dispose of or recycle it as you see fit.

Insert a new CR123A cell in the barrel, flat-end (-) negative first (so the button-end (+) positive is visible), and screw the bezel firmly back on.
Aren't you glad you didn't flush away that bezel now?

The flashlight will come on very dimly for about 1 second, noticeably brighter for about another second, and then go out. This is the RFS (Ready For Service) function, and it's perfectly normal for the flashlight to do this when you install a good battery in it.




Photograph of the EDC Ultimate's bezel, showing the LED and reflector.

The EDC Ultimate is very durable. It survived my smack test (ten whacks against the corner of a concrete stair; five against the side of the bezel and five against the side of the tailcap), and I found only some minor denting on the side of the tailcap - the finish was not damaged at all. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected.

The tailcap switch is easy and comfortable to use. You can just pick the flashlight up off whatever you put it on, wrap your fist around it, and push the switch with your thumb. You can use your forefinger too, but I think just holding the EDC Ultimate in your fist and using your thumb to manipulate the switch is more comfortable.


Here's a photograph of the tailcap.

I have no way to test its waterproofness other than by throwing it in the commode or the sink, but I know for a fact it will not leak through or around the switch; as I removed the tailcap and then suctioned it - no leakage whatsoever was detected. The electronics are fully potted to protect them against severe shock and water, so even if the EDC Ultimate somehow springs a leak, nothing bad will happen to it. I suctioned the bezel on the evening of 01-13-05, and found no leakage there either. So if it's going to spring a leak at all, it will be through the seam where the bezel and barrel mate with one another. Since this is protected by an O-ring, I wouldn't worry about the EDC Ultimate leaking at all.

(Edit 07-03-05): I placed the EDC Ultimate in approximately 12" of water at 81°F (27.2°C) for a minute and a half, and no leakage was detected when I dried it off with some toilet paper and examined its interior.

The outer portions of the EDC Ultimate are covered in a HA-III (Hard Anodized type 3) finish, so it will be tough and long-wearing. The HA-III coating is very durable, so pieces of it shouldn't flake off very easily at all. The inside of the flashlight is also hard-anodized, this helps protect it from corrosion from water or bad battery juice. Only the contacts have had the hard anodize removed. The positive end is treated with silicone grease because it is a wiping contact which will remove any oxide that tries to form. The negative end is treated with a special compound to protect the exposed aluminum from oxidizing and maintain the very low resistance contact - it forms a gas-tight connection so it should never fail. And the anodized threads will never gall - a problem on many electrically conductive threads.

I tried to cut through the flashlight with the blade of a Swiss army knife, and was not successful.
Would I really try to cut up a perfectly good flashlight?
You bet your sugar-coated toilet muscle (sweet patootie) I would, if it's in the name of science.

The beam is a pure white color, with no hint of yellow, blue, purple, or "rotten cat urine green" tint anywhere in it. Not in the hotspot, and not in the corona either.

The EDC Ultimate can be stood up on its tailcap to bounce its light off the ceiling if you need to use it that way.

When the EDC Ultimate is turned off, it doesn't really go all the way off right away. It drops to a very low level for approximately 500ms (0.5 second) before it shuts completely off. This behaviour is perfectly normal, and does not in any way indicate a problem with the flashlight.



Beam photograph at ~12".
Measures 1,213,000mcd (maximum) and 10,320mcd (minimum) on a Meterman LM631 light meter.



Beam photograph at ~15'.
That red circular thing is from an American DJ Laser Widow


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; continuous maximum intensity.


Spectrographic analysis
Same as above; newer spectrometer software & settings used.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; minimum intensity.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in this flashlight; momentary maximum setting.

USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.





TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by H.S. of HDS Systems, and was received on 01-10-05.


UPDATE: 03-12-05
I have decided to rate this product 4 1/2 Stars and place it in The Trophy Case on this website.


PROS:
Durable Type III hard anodized finish on body
Waterproof
Extremely bright on high settings
Versatile - a multitude of options are available
Small size makes it pocketable


CONS:
Options may be too complicated for some users to learn
Uses battery that can be expensive or difficult to find


    MANUFACTURER: HDS Systems
    PRODUCT TYPE: Small handheld flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: High-powered premium quality LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot with wide corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Rubberised pushbutton on/off/mode change on tail
    BEZEL: Metal; LED & reflector protected by coated glass window
    BATTERY: 1xCR123A cell
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER- AND PEE-RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: Yes, to 2 metres (6 feet)
    ACCESSORIES: 1xCR123A cell, pocket clip, screws, wallet reference card
    SIZE: 25mm (1 inch) diameter by 82mm (3.2 inches)
    WEIGHT: 86g (3 ounces) including battery
    WARRANTY: Lifetime

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





EDC Ultimate 60 * www.hdssystems.com/EdcUltimate.html






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