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“This is one incredibly well made and efficient light.”
Tom Harris, Nashville, TN.

“The light itself is a great product and makes for the ultimate key chain light. Peter Gransee epitomizes the word Customer service. He answered all of my emails promptly and honestly. His constant posts and monitoring of feedback on the Candle Power Forums BB is something all manufactures big and small should learn from. Great first product and continued Good Luck to them!”
Peter N., Hollywood, FL

More Testimonials

ARC Flashlight FAQs

The Arc LED flashlight product line is made by MTD LLC in Phoenix Arizona.

This is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) reference for anything pertaining to MTD's Arc LED flashlights. If you are a new owner of an Arc product, we recommend that you read this FAQ to get full use out of your flashlight.

To search this FAQ while viewing this page with IE, press "<ctrl> F" and enter your search word. If you have any suggestions or additions to this FAQ, please email me at [email protected]


Flashlight Classifications

We believe products are more likely to be useful when designed with a clear purpose in mind. Here is a brief intro to each class with a futher explantion for some further down:

  • Every Day Carry (EDC)- most convenient. Lights designed to most likely be with you and working during emergencies
  • EDC - Pocket - Lights designed for general everyday use
  • Tasklight - lights purposely packed with your other equipment or pre-staged for a more narrow set of tasks
  • Speciality

Arc6

Overview:

The Arc6 took 2 years to develop and was introduced the summer of 2008. Designed by Peter Gransee. This flashlight uses a single 123 type cell to drive a single high power LED. A microprocessor in the light allows the LED to be driven at higher power levels more safely by constantly monitoring the LED temperature and current. Each unit is hand calibrated to a light output standard which is NIST traceable. This is unusal in the flashlight world. Most people don't realize that a typical LED flashlight varies in brightness from unit to unit much more than incandescent try. Sometimes by as much as 100%. The Arc6 current regulates the LED. The current that each unit runs at varies to compensate for variation in the LED so that the output is more consistent from unit to unit. We also reduce variation by using the best bins. For example, the current run of Arc6 is using the W42180-u2sw-0I P4 LED.

Here's what the output of the Arc6 (P4) with a rechargeable 123 is at each level:

  • Level 1: <1 lumen
  • Level 2: 7 lumen
  • Level 3: 35 lumen
  • Level 4: 70 lumen
  • Level 5: 100 lumen
  • Level 6: at least 120 lumen
  • Level 7: >120 lumen

The laws of physics are not violated, the higher output levels generate a lot of Onfy - fußpilz salbe heat and are not as efficient as when you use a lower output. The higher levels are intended for short usage periods. If you use a high level long enough, the temperature protection may automatically reduce the output to protect the flashlight. How soon this occurs is different for each level and depends on the ambient conditons. With a fresh battery and the unit at room temperature, plan on level 7 lasting for less than 20 seconds and level 6 for less than 2 minutes. Each level lower lasts significantly longer.

The Arc6 was designed to provide a wider power envelope that other flashlights. Just as with a fighter jet, some of the power levels are only available for a short period (afterburner) and consume huge quantities of fuel but are tactically advantageous to have as an option.

The intended way to use the Arc6 is not to run the "afterburner" all the time. That is wasteful. For most nightime use, level 3 and below are recommended. For daytime and high contrast, levels 3-5 are recommended. Levels 4 and up should be used mostly for high contrast scenes and long range use. If used properly, the battery should last over a month in typical use while allowing the operator to see more than they can with flashlights twice the size.

Said in another way (refine this later): Most nighttime use is at less than 12 feet. If you blast an object 6 feet away with 70 lumens and your not trying to blind it, 70 lumens is too much. Even though the human eye has an awesome dynamic range (~ 1 billion to 1!) it can take some time to adjust to light conditions. A change from minimum sensitivity to maximum sensitivity can take over an hour in some cases but usually the changes are not as big so the eyes can adjust in a matter of minutes. If you rapidly change the illumination and the eyes have not fully adjusted, you will loose visual accuity for that task temporarily. Use the right level of light for each task and you will see more detail (contrast and color) over a larger area (including peripheal accuity which is also tactically important), your eyes adjust more quickly to the dark and your batteries will last longer. Contrast is more important than color for comprehending a situation. Changing the level of illumination too much and too quickly causes loss of contrast. With flashlights, this typically occurs when too much light is used for a particular scene or the range is changed quickly without changing the light output to maintain reflected levels.

For example, say you are using level 1 or 2 to setup a piece of equipment at night. You can see clearly and your eyes are more towards the upper end of their sensitivity. You hear a noise in the distance, sounds like someone walking through the brush. You go to level 7 immediately and the combination of your more sensitive eyes and the max light output force multiply the distance you can see clearly. Even though you are looking at a distant object, the amount of photons striking the retina are similiar to looking at a nearby object at a lower output power. Minimizing changes in brightness to the retina improves its response time.

However, using the same example above, if you have 200 lumen spotlight and you are using it to setup the same piece of equipment, your eyes adjust to the intense beam by moving to the lower end of their sensitivity (this also can give you tunnel vision). Now when you hear the noise, you can't see as far, even though you have a bright spotlight, the distance object reflects significantly less photons than the overpowering nearby objects that you were just looking at. Even with 200 lumens, you can not see as far or as clearly with bright adjusted eyes as with dark adjusted eyes at 1/2 or 1/3 the light output.

Tactical use of the Arc6. Tactical requirements are that if you drop the light, it shuts off (spring release tail button), ability to be locked out so it won't accidently come on, output power and focus sufficient to temporarly blind/disorient a person from 4-12 feet, durability to withstand heavy duty use. To these standard features we add a wider dynamic range (quickly and instinctively accessible) which force multiplies the ability of the lighting system for a given weight (reducing total system weight) and increase peripheal vision (situational awareness) and overall visual accuity.

Since the Arc6 monitors its own temperature the output will automatically drop to level 3 when that temperature limit is reached. This prevents the LED from being damaged. This automatically resets to the desired brightness when the light cools down and you reselect that level.

The Arc6 monitors the battery voltage. It will indicate when the battery is fatigued by automatically dropping to the next lower level. For example, if you at level 3 and the battery is too weak, the light will drop to level 2. It will continue to drop until the battery voltage recovers or level 1 is reached. Level 1 will run until the cell cannot provide any more. In our tests, we have found the Arc6 is able to fire with batteries that are too dead to produce any light from many competitor regulated 123 type flashlights. This adds to the other safety features of the Arc6.

Using rechargeable in the Arc6. Rechargeables are recommended. they will lower your operatings costs for medium to heavy usage, combined with best practices it will insure you always have a fresh cell before you begin a mission and maximize the light power envelope. Some caveats however. Rechargeables can be damaged if you over discharge them. When you see the Arc6 automatically drop a single level, you should charge the cell. You can continue to use it if necessary but the Arc6 will use it's low voltage cabability to drain the cell quite thourghly. We have done this repeatidly with rechargeables in testing and they continue to work but it does reduce their overall life.

Safety of Lithium Ion cells. Lithium cells have more energy density than alkaline. In our tests, we find them less likely to leak or explode than alkaline (contrary to the sensational press) but when they do, since they have more energy, the result is more spectacular. In every flashlight test we have see a lithium fail, it was in a multi-cell configuration and the cells were not properly matched. Since the Arc6 is a single cell design, it doesn't have the problems that come with cell balancing, chemistry mismatch, etc. This is why we favor single cell designs, regardless of the chemistry. With over 8 years of using single cell lithium and alkaline designs in the field by thousands of customers, we are convinced that lithium, in a single cell system, is less problemic than a single or multi-cell alkaline. The number one reason people send our lights in for service is from battery damage and alkaline is more likely to damage a flashlight than lithium based on 8 years of data we have collected. If you are still unsure, then check out the LiFePo4 lithium technology which is even more abuse resistant but has less power than standard Lithium Ion.

We recommend single cell flashlights with a single lithium (preferred) or alkaline battery installed.

Runtime figures for a large number of samples is still being collected.

(I plan on adding more to this section soon...)

Arc-AAA

Purpose: The Arc-AAA is designed to meet the qualifications of the "Every Day Carry - most convenient" class. To meet these goals, the light must:
  • Be small enough to be carried with minimum effort and thought. Ideally, it would attach to something else you already are in the habit of carrying. That way, it is more likely to be with you during an emergency
  • Have sufficient runtime to last the length of typical emergencies with an additional amount added because we can assume the battery is not always fresh when you leave the house
  • Use a common battery that can be found throughout the world and can also be scavenged from other equipment
  • Be durable enough that it can be depended on over a wide type of emergencies including floods, fire, earthquake, etc. It should be at least as durable as the person carrying it

Arc-AAA Features

  • Nichia white LED for long lasting light, no bulbs to replace or break
  • Uses 1 ordinary AAA alkaline cell - no expensive and hard to find lithium button cells
  • Internal DC/DC current regulator chip produces a more consistent light output over the life of the battery
  • Waterproof to 100 feet
  • New: Tapered head design wears better and slips into pocket
  • New: stainless steel battery contact to improve corrosion resistance
  • New: high brightness LED for the Premium model
  • Type III Hard Anodized 6061 Aluminum is more durable than other pocket flashlights
  • Chemkote interior for increased corrosion resistance
  • 2.7 inches long by 0.5 inches in diameter
  • Weighs 0.75 ounces
  • Made in the USA
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Duracell AAA cell, split ring and clip included
  • Available in two models, Standard and Premium. The difference between the two lights is the brightness and cost.

The Arc-AAA is available in two grades: Standard and Premium. Both grades use a hand selected white LED but the Premium produces more light. Please note that the Arc-AAA is smaller than it may appear. The actual diameter is less than an AA cell and about 1/2 inch longer.

What to expect when ordering the Arc-AAA (note: this is an old article!)


LED types

The Arc-AAA use a 5mm Nichia LED part number NSPW500BS/CS. Like all good LEDs, Nichia bins these LEDs by tint and flux. The Standard Arc-AAA uses S flux and B2 or B3 tint. The Premium Arc-AAA uses a U or V flux with a B2 or B1 tint. The difference between the Standard and Premium is the Premium is brighter. All white LEDs tend to have a blue center and the Nichias are no exception. Here's a picture of the beam.

LED Lifespan

When white LEDs first became available, manufacturers were estimating a lifespan of 100,000 hours. However, as LEDs have gone into widespread service, those estimates have been reduced to 8000-10,000 hours in some cases. Not every flashlight manufacturer has updated their literature to show these new estimates however.

LEDs have various failure modes; they can suddenly go dark, start flashing, shift in color or most often, just fade slowly over time. How the LED is used in the application influences how long it lasts. Compared to some applications that run the LED continuously for long period of time, flashlights do have the advantage of being used for less time per use. They also tend to have smaller clusters that operate at cooler temperatures.

For the Arc-AAA, we use the latest Nichia 500 series. These have some of the best longevity in the industry. We figure that most users will get over 10k hours of usage. If the light was used for 15 minutes a day, every day of the year, this would equate to over 100 years of usage. The average flashlight usage is less than 5 minutes per task. We feel that the LED will last long enough that it can be sealed in the unit. This makes the overall flashlight more durable, simpler in construction and less likely to fail. If the LED does ever fail, we will replace the unit under warranty. Owners of our lights should be at ease using the light for as long as they want (leave it running for several days if you want), knowing that their light has one of the most durable LEDs on the market and it is backed up a lifetime warranty.

What is the LE?

The Limited Edition (LE) is an early designation for the Premium Arc-AAA. Starting in 2003, Arc changed the designation of the LE to Premium Edition. Except for the inscription, the flashlights are identical in finish and LED.

Batteries

For the Arc-AAA, we recommend you use the least expensive alkaline cell you can find that does not leak. We use and recommend Duracell brand for our lights. We recommend you check and change the cell from time to time to prevent the cell from leaking and damaging the Arc-AAA. Leaking cells are the number one reason lights are returned for service. We recommend changing the cell every 6 months to prevent battery leakage from possibly damaging the light. Premium batteries will provide a longer run time but are not worth the extra cost in our opinion. The 5 hour run time estimate for the Arc-AAA is based on continuous use with a fresh Duracell Alkaline.

Rechargeable cells will work in the Arc-AAA and produce a slightly dimmer output. The self discharge common to NiCad and NiMH cells may cause the flashlight to not be ready if left unused for an extended period of time. Because an alkaline will last for several month of normal use, we recommend an alkaline cell over a rechargeable.

1.7v, non-rechargeable Lithium AAA cells will work and have been tested in the Arc-AAA. The light will be slightly brighter and the run time will produce a more flat discharge curve. Runtime may actually be less because of the flatter discharge curve. They also work better at sub-freezing temperatures. Other advantages include less weight and less likely to leak than an alkaline. These cells can be 4-5 times the cost of a good alkaline. For most people, they are probably not worth the extra cost.

Caution: there is a type of AAA lithium cell on the market that is rechargeable and rated at 3.6v (nominal). These cells are not recommended for use in the Arc-AAA as the voltage is too high. Using them would likely burn the LED out and void the warranty.

Cold Weather Performance of Batteries

Over the years, we have accumulated some experience with various chemistries in cold weather use. The quick answer to cold weather use is Lithium's are better at handling the cold than Alkaline, Rechargeables, etc.

With Alkaline, as the tempurature drops below freezing, the light will be dimmer or not be able to fire with a weak cell. Since all of our lights are designed for personal use, they typically are carried in a warm pocket. This will help with cold weather use. If the light is not carried in your pocket and it won't start because the battery is too cold, remove the cell and warm it up in your hands. Once the cell is warm enough to start the voltage converter, it can be exposed to colder temperatures. This because the converter can operate at a lower voltage once it initially starts and also the light and battery produce a small amount of heat in operation. The Arc voltage converters have a lower startup voltage requirement than most of our competitors. So for given battery and temperature, the Arc is more likely to make it work.

Lithium's can operate at 30-40 below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Startup and rundown performance is also excellent.

Run Times

We conservatively estimate the run time with a good cell at around 5 hours. Although, your results may vary and many users report run times of over 6 hours. Every Arc model will continue to produce light after their rated run time but at less than 50% brightness. The Arc-AAA for example will still be producing a diminished output after 12 hours of use. With typical usage each cell will last several months.

Sun/Moon Mode

The Arc-AAA includes an electronic regulator circuit that helps maintain a more consistent output during the life of a battery. Compare this to conventional flashlights that more noticeably dim as the battery is depleted. The regulator in the Arc-AAA is a very compact design optimized for "partial" regulation. Please see further down in this FAQ for a more detailed description of regulation.

Basically, "Sun" mode is the bright operation of the flashlight and "moon" mode is the dim light produced by the light when the battery is nearly dead. When stating run time for our lights, we list the "sun" mode length for a given battery type. The Arc-AAA is capable of producing about 5 hours of sun mode.

With only 40% of the remaining capacity left in the AAA battery, the Arc-AAA will still be producing about 80% of its original brightness.

The transition from sun to moon is fairly smooth on the Arc-AAA with most battery chemistries and you may not notice it very easily. With alkaline cells, it is not an abrupt change. Here's a graph showing a worse case runtime from a fresh Duracell:

Links to Reviews

List of all Reviews

Competitors

Here's a video showing the difference in efficiency between the Arc-AAA and the Mag Solitaire.

Arc efficiency demonstration (".wmv" 818kb)

Notice the battery is the same in both cases. There are many differences between these two lights. The reason the Arc is brighter is that is uses a LED and other "new" technologies.

Accessories

The Arc-AAA is now shipping with a pocket clip and a split ring.

Maintenance

  1. Regularly clean the threads of dirt and aluminum oxide (the black gunk)
  2. Check battery for leakage
  3. Apply grease to threads and o-ring for good water seal and smooth operation. Almost any kind of grease may be used (Petroleum or non-petroleum is fine)
  4. Clean battery contacts with a pencil eraser if they get fouled to improve light output.
I opened my Arc-AAA and found the foam retainer loose inside, etc

The foam battery retainer is designed to reduce battery rattle when the light is properly shut off. It also reduces flickering when the light is partially turned on and acts as a form of polarity protection. The retainer is held in place by pressure sensitive adhesive. It is designed to be replaceable if the retainer becomes torn, dirty, etc.

We provide free replacements of the foam retainer and the O-ring. Simply ask for some to be included with your next order. We can also send them to you if you send us a S.A.S.E. (self addressed, stamped envelope) to our address below.

When you get the replacement retainer, clean the bottom of the Arc-AAA head and make sure it is dry and free of oil or grease. Remove the adhesive backing from the retainer and press it in place.

Thickness of Lanyard Lug wall

From time to time, we have people ask us if the lanyard hole on the back of the flashlight has too thin of an outer wall. They are worried that it will break or wear through in time. The hole is designed to be that distance from the rear surface and with that thin of a lip for two reasons. One is to provide enough internal room for the rivet and the other is to reduce scratches when installing the split ring. It also reduces the chance the split ring will be bent out of shape during installation.

Lug failure is highly unlikely but possible of course, but we feel that this part is reasonably designed.

Update: An engineering friend did a finite element analysis simulation on the lug and it indicated a max pressure from a split ring type load of 38.5lbs with no failure. Of course, a typical split ring will unravel before that type of load was reached but some people may find this information useful.

Why isn't there a glass or plastic lens over the front of the Arc-AAA?

The LED has an integral lens. By recessing the LED inside the reflector, we protect it from most types of damage without the problems of a separate lens (scratches, breakage, less brightness).

Mods

There are several user modifications of the Arc-AAA.

So far, I have seen mods including:

N-cell version LS versions brass bodies double ended version C, D cell candles

Version History

1.0 First offered in May of 2001. Had gasket instead of o-ring. Type II finish.
1.? Switched to O-ring which made the units waterproof, added foam battery retainer to reduce rattle
2.5 Switched to Type III anodize
3.0 Added chem. Kote, updated foam retainer to better adhiesive
3.1 Added roll crimp to increase reliability
3.2 Change circuit design and layout to slightly increase output
3.3 Changed inscription to "Arc" only, circuit to fix regulator stalls
4.0 new tapered head, SS rivet, CS LED, brighter laser marking, new production line, new PCB layout
4.1 new DS LED

How do White LEDs work?

White LEDs work differently than the other colors because current white LEDs actually use a blue LED with a phosphor cap to produce white light. The phosphor converts some of the blue light into red/green which mixes with the blue to produce a white light. Getting this mix is a black art for the LED manufactures and there is currently quite a bit of variation from LED to LED. This also explains why a white LED has a blue cast to it.

LED Bin Codes Explained

In the manufacturing of semiconductor products, there is a variation of performance around the average values given in the technical data sheets. In LEDs, the variation is even greater than traditional CMOS found in your computer.

Like snowflakes, no two LEDs are alike. There are variations in color (tint), brightness (flux), forward voltage (Vf) and beam distribution/artifacts. Most LED manufacturers sort their LED by machine into bins. Each bin has a rank or window of values that all the parts in that bin fit within. In spite of the fact that only some of the variables are binned and the bins are fairly wide there can be quite a few bins. For the Luxeon Star, there are over 400 bin variations. A typical flux bin (Q for example) can have a 10 lumen window which means there will be an appreciable difference between parts even in the same bin.

From one extreme to another, a typical LED from the same production line can have a 300% variation in one value alone.

Regulation

In some flashlights, regulation is used to provide a more consistent output. This feature typically appears in more expensive flashlights because it requires either an electronic circuit or some other type of regulator system.

A typical flashlight (without regulation) starts dimming as soon as you turn it on. This is because the battery voltage drops as it is drained. After 15 minutes or so, a typical light could be as much as 1/2 the brightness as when it was first turned on. The rate of dimming varies with battery type, flashlight design, etc. LEDs are even more prone to dimming compared to incandescent (bulbs) when used in high brightness designs. This is because incandescent bulbs have a slight self-regulating effect.

Some manufacturers advertise their LED flashlights with incredible claims like, "over 50 hours of run time!", etc. Yes, these lights will produce light for over 50 hours but the light will be quite dim at that point. Didn't you buy that light to be as bright as when you bought it at the store?

Regulators cause the light to maintain a consistently bright output, even as the battery becomes depleted. As a result, regulated lights have a shorter advertised run time but the run time is more realistic for what you buy a light for.

Another advantage to regulated lights is that is makes it easier to use your batteries up completely. Non-regulated lights may be begging you to change out the batteries when there is still 50% power left.

There are several types of regulation. 3 types in particular are voltage current and power regulation. The Arc-AAA is partially current regulated.

There are many threads in the Arc forum on the CPF about regulation. Use the search function of the forum to find relevant topics.

Step-up

A "step-up" is an electronic circuit that multiplies the battery voltage to a level sufficient to brightly power the LED. Including a step-up in a flashlight allows the designer to use fewer cells, thereby making the light easier to carry.

A lot of simple LED flashlights just have three cells and a resistor to run the LED. The manufacturers tout these as "high tech", etc. Sometimes, they make the light small but cheap by using hard to find batteries that have higher voltages. However, these odd batteries usually provide poor "bang for the buck" and also are hard to find in an emergency.

Using a "step-up" allows the light to be made small enough to carry but not require unusual batteries. Step-ups are known as, "DC-DC Power Converters" by those in the electronic trade. Within the converter family, their are various topologies available. The Arc using a switching boost topology.

Sometimes a regulator is included with the step-up to provide a compact and consistent system.

Battery chemistries

Arc flashlights are compatible with various battery chemistries including:

  • Carbon/zinc
  • Alkaline
  • Lithium
  • NiMH rechargeable
  • NiCad rechargeable

Each cell has advantages and disadvantages. You may want to search the CPF forum for user experiences with various chemistries. With the Arc-AAA, we recommend alkaline cells.

Anodize

Every Arc flashlight is coated with Type III Hard Anodize. This HA finish is the hardest of all anodize types. It is substantially more scratch resistant than the softer type II anodize use on cheaper lights. Furthermore, we use the hardest version of type III, which is the clear (no coloring added) version. This is sometimes called "Natural" or "Clear" and has a grey color.

EMP

I have added this to the FAQ because we seem to get an email every once in awhile on the subject. The question usually is, "can the Arc withstand an EMP attack" or "has it been tested for EMP resistance", etc.

EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) has received more attention lately because it has appeared in some Hollywood movies and it has also been suggested that various terrorist sponsoring nations may have the capability of deploying such a weapon. EMP has both a RF and magnetic component. The pulse can damage electrical components. If the component is connected to a length of metal that acts as an antenna, the pulse may be channeled into the device and burn it out. Metal boxes can shield devices if they are placed inside and electrically isolated from the inside surface. The metal does not need to be very thick (less than 1mm, foil, etc).

EMP testing is somewhat difficult. Short of duplicating a nuclear explosion, we have had to find types of tests that might replicate part of the effect. Our testing included placing the Arc-AAA, on its side, in a microwave oven for 10 seconds. The microwave was set for full power. The flashlight did not suffer any permanent effects and worked fine afterwards. We also placed a plastic bodied competitor's flashlight in the microwave. The competitor light was damaged by the microwave very quickly and would not work again. Another test was done with strong magnetic fields; the light was placed near an operating MRI scanner. No permanent effects were observed and the light continues to work.

The Arc-AAA, because of it small size, durability and the ability to use lithium batteries (10 year shelf life) is ideal as an emergency back up light. It is smaller, more durable and brighter than those hand-powered shake or crank lights. EMP resistance can be further increased by storing the light in a plastic bag inside a small metal tin. This creates a faraday box shield, which will reduce the effects of EMP. The battery should be stored outside of the flashlight, in a plastic bag or similiar and kept in the metal box near the light.

Remember than many dynamo/crank/shake lights are plastic in construction. We have found that just a few seconds of microwave exposure can destroy the LED or bulb in a plastic flashlight. Also, dynamo/shake/crank lights use a long piece of magnet wire (in the form of a coil) for generating the electrical charge. This long piece of wire can act as an antenna for EMP. The irony is that such lights are sometimes sold as, "EMP resistant".

Lumen Tests

Benchmark lumen tests of competitors

Safety Precautions

The following are general safety guidelines when operating an Arc Flashlight:

  • Do not leave flashlight with children unattended. The flashlight is small and its parts present a choking hazard
  • Do not shine the light into the eye. The light is quite intense. Under certain conditions damage may occur to the retina.
  • Use only as directed in instructions
  • All batteries produce gases (e.g. Hydrogen) during operation. This is normal. Do not use the flashlight in an explosive environment.
  • Although the Arc-AAA operates with an internal voltages below 4 volts (one of the requirements on an intrinsically safe flashlight), this flashlight is not yet rated for use in an explosive/flammable environment.

The Company

Peter Gransee picked the name, "Arc" because the first time he saw a white LED it reminded him of the color of an arc welder. Peter started the original Arc Flashlight LLC Company in May of 2001. That company was closed in 2004.

Peter Gransee registered the federal trademark "Arc Flashlight" in 2005 after the common law trademark of the old company lapsed.

In March of 2005, Peter licensed this trademark to CIS inc of Phoenix and went to work for them. They started a subsidary to make the new Arc Flashlights. MTD is solely owned by Cupp's Industrial Supply Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona USA. CIS is a 30+ year old aerospace supply company. When you order from our site using your credit card, your statement should show a charge from "Cupp's Industrial Supply".

Service for old company "Arc" Products

Although Arc Flashlight LLC is out of business, Peter asked CIS to provide support for their old customers as a way to encourage them to patronize the new company. This is done at CIS's expense. Although CIS does not have any of the older products (or parts for them), it will offer a store credit for all the old company's products. This includes the Arc-LS, Arc4, Arc-AA, etc. To find out what this store credit is, please email us. For old Arc-AAA's, since we are making a new version, we can repair/replace the old version. But for all the other flashlight designs, we offer just a store credit. We hope you will give CIS and the new Arc designs from Peter Gransee an oppratunity to win your business.

Where to buy

You may buy factory direct from our website our call us at 602-269-2301, 602-343-6344. We accept credit cards and paypal. International customers may have a dealer in their country. Please check our website for a current list of importers. We provide a 10% discount on military orders or for quantities of 10 or more on our standard products.

International Orders

We do accept international order with some limits. There has been some credit card fraud problems, especially with Singapore. We will charge the card 4 weeks in advance and hold the order until the funds have successfully cleared our bank.

Shipping

We try to ship out all orders within 3 business days. We are not open on the weekends or holidays. If purchased factory direct, we will give you a choice of either USPS or FedEx shipping. We recommend FedEx even though it is more expensive, because it includes a tracking number. We used to only offer FedEx but our customers requested the USPS option. Use this at your own risk as we will only replace lost FedEx shipments. To get a quote on shipping options and prices for your area, build an order and click on your shopping cart. Yes, we ship internationally. Note! Although we do offer overnight shipping as an option, it still takes us usually 3 business days to fill the order and deliver it to the shipping carrier.

About the USPS "delivery confirmation ID":

The USPS tracking/delivery confirmation ID is only supposed to show if a package was delivered. It does not normally show that USPS received the package, where the package is in the USPS system or even that they have an actual package in their system. Occasionally USPS will perform a "courtesy scan" in transit and update the status of the package but this is not official policy. The minimum information the delivery confirmation tracking ID shows is that we have informed them we are sending them a package. USPS is supposed to use the number to show if a package was delivered but sometimes, it doesn't show that even though the customer tells us they received the package. If you want a real tracking number and a shipper that gives you a receipt showing that they actually have the package and are taking responsibility for it, use FedEx not the USPS.

Warranty

All of our flashlights are covered under our Limited Lifetime repair/replacement warranty against manufacturer's defects. It also has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. We encourage you to check your Arc thoroughly within this 30-day period to make sure you absolutely love everything about this light. If you need repair/replacement or have any questions:

Mega Tech Devices, LLC.
3101 N. 33 rd Ave
Phoenix, Arizona 85017 USA

[email protected]
www.arcflashlight.com

Phone: 602-269-2301, 602-343-6344
Fax: 602-269-8153

If you have a problem with anything about our product or service. Please give us a call or email us. We don't require an RMA to return a product.

The Arc-AAA/Arc-AA was completely designed by Peter Gransee of Tempe, Arizona. All Arcs are made in the USA. This includes the machined housing, coatings, PCB, PCB assembly, rubber components, split ring, clip, packaging, laser marking, final assembly, etc. Only the LED and some of the discrete electronic components in the head are made overseas.

We hope you get many years of faithful service from our lights!

Reseller Program

USA Sales: The internet is becoming so well indexed that some types of internet resale sites have become redundant in my opinion. As a result, we will not resell through most types of internet dealers in the USA. B&M; (brick and mortar) is good of course, in fact we really like B&M; because they usually include all kinds of extra services for the customer. Being able to see the product in person before buying is the number one benefit in my opinion. Some internet sites also have a walk in store. If they don't mind limiting the sales to the walk-ins, we might be able to do business. Usually, the reseller doesn't like the restriction and they withdraw their request for a dealership. Better a little hard feelings up front then a lot more later on.

Foreign sales: We will utilize some foreign internet resellers. The site must be in the local language and the product warehoused in the country they are selling to. Having a local phone number and a B&M; shop is a plus since not everyone can go online. Good foreign dealers can service the customer so much better than we can. Shippings costs are also lower because the product is sent in bulk.

By default, we will try to help the customer directly. We have experience with this and feel comfortable in that role. The areas we are lacking are international and B&M.; We absolutely love the international and B&M; dealers. Some of these guys have been with us since the beginning and have always been a pleasure to work with. It is a real privelidge to be working with them!

Arc Innovation

  • "First to market single AAA LED flashlight"
  • "First to market regulated, hand held, single cell LED flashlight"
  • "First to market hand held, Hard Anodized LED Flashlight"
  • "First to market Luxeon Star Flashlight"
  • "First to market High Dome Luxeon Star flashlight"
  • "First to market temperature controlled LED flashlight"
  • "First to market Power Regulated LED flashlight"
  • "First to market Microprocessor controlled Luxeon Star Flashlight"

Misc Accolades

  • 2002 Lummie for "Favorite LED flashlight" and "Favorite EDC Light"
  • 2003 Lummie "Best Flashlight Manufacturer" and "Best EDC FLashlight"
  • 2 minute appearance on 2003 TechTv's program "Call For Help"
  • Interview on Outdoor AZ radio program
  • February 2004 Rider Magazine (pg.40)
  • Appeared in movie credits of, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
  • August 2007 go! Magazine (pg.106)

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