I just got mine. Well condition of the strobe has lot to be desired. It seems used yet not abused. Manufacturing quality of the cap for the new batteries is excellent. It even has a nice o-ring to keep it waterproof. I ordered a set of filters from him as well. Now here's a question for members who allready used one. I put fresh set of batteries in and turned it on. First couple of flashes were really strong and than they got dimmed and kept at the same level. Now they just vary in power. Is this normal? How strong the power output and how frequent it should be? How longs should the batteries last?

Matt

[color:"green"] Matt:
My first thought is that the capacitor is not working properly. In theory, the brightness should stay constant but the time between flashes should increase as the battery level decreases. I have a generic "D" cell life vest strobe that functions in this manner. Is the unit actual surplus? If so it may have been determined to be defective and auctioned off. On the bright side, the guy selling these units appears to know his stuff based on the other products he sells.. I would drop him a note and see what he says. [color:"green"] [/color]


Chris [/color]

Oh great, I hope mine (which hasn't arrived yet, by the way) doesn't have the same problem. I knew I should've just got the ACR MS-2000. <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Polak187, batteries are supposed to last AT LEAST 8 hours for any Coast Guard/Military approved distress signal strobe.

John McIntire

Chris,

yes I will conntact him today. Somehow the lamp seems to stabilize itself but I will run a comparison to my old regular strobe today (Princeton Tech Aqua). If I see a problem or any light strength variability I will request an exchange. I just want to have a reliable working piece of equipment since I'm putting together all around bail out/PSK/FAK bundle and it is taking me way too long already.

Matt

Ok. Please let us know. What you describe may be normal for that model of light. Although a strobe uses a fairly simple circuit there may be a warm up period for some of the components.

Chris

That ACR-MS2000 looks sweet, especially the Model 3994 Doublefly version with incandesent light too. I bet it costs a bundle, though.

I've got just the regular ACR DoubleFly, picked it up on some deal at West Marine for $13 with an ACR whistle bundled.

I'm interested to hear how your SDU5E's work out.

Chris,

Indeed I put them side by side and they worked about the same. I mean Aqua Strobe was little faster but a notch dimmer. SDU-5E performed fine. I guess it was just the initial warm up for the circuits that made me worry a bit.

Matt

Sounds good. The variance in intensity had me curious before. It probably just need the dust blown out of it (That's a joke <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) Seriously though, it might have been cold from shipping which could have affected the components.

Chris

Well there is only one problem left. Yesterday I was trekking all over the place in 25 degree weather. Than I was driving around with my bag in the trunk. When I wanted to test the light out with a filter I had to wait for the batteries to warm up. Lithiums get cold and they loose the charge very quickly. I have had similar problem with my cameras. With photo equipment I always have a warm spare in my pocket and just alternate between the sets. Also after few days of carrying the strobe rear cap seems to loosen up all by itself.

Matt

Wow. Sorry to hear that you aren't have much luck with this thing. Maybe its time to return it and get another unit like the MS2000.

Chris