The ARC Keychain Flashlights - Frequently Asked Questions

How to turn the flashlight ON
To turn on, twist the "bulb" end of the flashlight in a clockwise motion until the light illuminates. Do not over tighten. To turn off, simply loosen the bulb end until the light shuts off. No need to loosen any further as this will remove the bulb end.

How to change the battery
To change the battery, loosen the bulb end until it separates from the main flashlight body. Remove the old battery and dispose properly. Place a new, AAA sized, 1.5 volt battery in the flashlight body with the "+" terminal facing up towards the opening. Replace the bulb end by twisting it against the flashlight body in a clockwise motion. Test by tightening until the light illuminates.

Regular maintenance
The flashlight can be cleaned with warm, soapy water. For a proper water seal, replace the O-ring if it becomes damaged. If the flashlight head becomes difficult to turn, lubricate the O-ring with light oil. Do not use harsh solvents to clean the flashlight as they may etch the plastic lens of the LED. If the battery contact becomes oxidized it can be rubbed clean with a pencil eraser. Do not file or sand the contact as the flashlight may no longer work properly. The LED "light bulb" does not need to be, and cannot be replaced. It is sealed in the flashlight head. It is rated by the LED manufacturer to still be at least 80 percent of brightness after 100,000 hours of continous use. If the light was used for 2 hours a day, it would take about 136 years to reach 80 percent brightness.

What types of batteries can I use?
Alkaline are recommended although almost any AAA sized, 1.5-volt battery can be used. The Arc has been tested with rechargeable Nickel Cadmiums (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and rechargeable alkalines. Rechargeable batteries will cause the light to appear slightly dimmer and will provide less endurance before requiring a battery change. Of all the rechargeables, NiMH are recommended. Rechargeable alkalines are not recommended because of known issues with the cells leaking. Do not use batteries that output more than 1.5 volts as damage to the flashlight may occur. If the flashlight is not to be used for an extended period, store the battery outside and away from the flashlight. Any damage caused by the battery is not covered under the warranty!

Typical battery performance
An ordinary alkaline battery will last about 5 hours. Enhanced Alkalines may last a hour longer or more. Battery type, ambient temperature, debris inside the housing, etc may also affect your results.

What is the "auto sun/moon mode"?
The regulated inverter is designed to provide an automatic sun/moon mode. When the batteries are fresh, the light will regulate itself to be as bright as possible. When the batteries are nearly depleted, the regulator will switch the inverter into a low power mode to provide a small amount of light for the remainder of the battery life. Without this feature, the light would simple shut off or fade very quickly once the battery was nearly depleted. Although moon mode is very dim, it does provide some light- maybe enough to get you back to camp, out of a cave or a dark building, etc. This feature is designed into all Arc flashlights. With the Arc-AAA for example, sun mode is about 5 hours and moon mode is about 6 hours. An important note about this feature though. The length of run time changes with factors such as battery type, condition, temperature and how the light is used. For example, high endurance batteries will provide brighter and longer run times in both modes. If the light is used continuously from start to finish without shutting it off, the moon mode will be longer and the sun mode shorter. If used intermittently (5 minutes per use for example), the sun mode will be longer and the moon mode will be shorter. In some cases the sun mode may be doubled (from 5 hours to 10 hours for example) and the moon mode drastically shortened (from 6 hours to 30 minutes). In either case, the light will provide indications that the battery is nearly depleted and you will have some reserve power to complete your task. While in moon mode, you can switch the light into sun mode for a brief time if you need the extra brightness. To do so, shut the light off and let the battery rest for a minute or two. When you turn it back on, you will have sun mode for another minute or so. A note about this particular feature though; if the battery is used intermittently, the reserve brightness is less than if the light is used for long periods of time. For short uses, the time is takes for the battery to recover is longer and the bright run time is shorter. Reserve sun power can be as much as several minutes or as little as a few seconds depending on conditions and how the battery was used. If you are in a situation where you need the longest possible run time and the light has already switched to moon mode, do not turn it off and back on as the brief sun mode consumes a large part of the reserve. It is better to keep the light on for 5 minutes than shut it off for 5 minutes and the have it go into sun mode again. We recommend you always carry extra batteries. But, if you do not have extra batteries, knowing about this feature and how to manage the remaining milliwatts of power in your battery can make the difference of no reserve light or enough to see your way through an emergency.

Warnings
Do not use in a flammable environment as a spark may be generated by the flashlight. Although the O-ring may provide some protection from gasses, use in a flammable environment is strongly ill advised. Dropping the flashlight may also generate a spark if it strikes a suitable surface. Although this flashlight is more corrosion resistant than most flashlights due to the anodized housing, keep corrosive chemicals away from the flashlight body as it may be damaged. The recessed LED bulb itself can be easily damaged if it comes in contact with solvents, extreme heat or corrosives.

Warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee
Manufacturer's limited warranty for up to 10 years after it's purchase. If your Arc flashlight fails for any reason other than abuse or battery expiration during the warranty period, contact us for a Return Authorization.

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