Action Light^TM Owner's Manual

Battery Configuration and Selection Options The 24-3V-LB-x models come configured with the single battery case which will accept a "D" lithium battery (SAFT 37260146 or equivalent).  You may also use a "D" alkaline battery (Duracel MN1300 or equivalent), a rechargeable "D" nickel cadmium (NiCad) battery or a rechargeable "D" nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery if you observe the restrictions noted below. The 24-3V-AB-W model comes configured with the tandem battery case which will accept two "D" alkaline batteries (Duracel MN1300 or equivalent), or two rechargeable "D" nickel cadmium batteries, or two rechargeable "D" nickel metal hydride batteries, or one "D" lithium battery with one "D" dummy battery (the dummy cell should always be inserted last). The two batteries we recommend have been tested and found to provide superior performance in their class. The 24-3V-NB model comes configured without a battery pack.  Therefore, you must connect it to a battery pack that can provide 4 watts between 2.5 volts and 3.8 volts.  The red wire on the cable is connected to the positive battery terminal while the black wire is connected to the negative battery terminal. CAUTION When using rechargeable batteries, do not run the light after it dims as this can damage the batteries.  The power supply is capable of running at very low voltages and so a weak cell can be reverse charged by the good cells if operation is continued. The Action Light automatically dims the higher settings to conserve power as the input voltage drops below 2.5V.  The light requires a minimum of 1.0V to start functioning when batteries are connected but once started will continue to operate down to 0.7V.  If you are running at low voltages, do not disconnect the batteries until fresh batteries are available (or unless you are removing the batteries for long term storage).  This behavior allows the Action Light to generate useful amounts of light even with very weak batteries. The Action Light may be connected to voltages as high as 4.6V.  However, as the voltage rises above 3.8V the leakage current will increase toward 1mA at 4.6V.  Therefore, if you store the light for an extended period with the batteries connected, it will discharge the batteries down to 3.8V over a period of weeks to months, depending on the battery configuration. The following common battery configurations are acceptable (in voltage order): One rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCad) battery - 1.25V - see text. One rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery - 1.25V - see text. One alkaline battery - 1.5V - see text. One lead acid cell (or single gel cell) - 2.1V - see text. Two rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries in series - 2.5V. Two rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in series - 2.5V. Two alkaline batteries in series - 3.0V. One lithium/sulfur dioxide (Li-SO2) battery - 3.0V. One lithium/thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) battery - 3.7V. Three rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries in series - 3.75V. Three rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in series - 3.75V. Two lead acid cells (or two gel cells) in series - 4.2V - see text. Three alkaline batteries in series - 4.5V - see text. CAUTION Connecting the Action Light to a voltage higher than 4.6 volts will damage the light. NOTE Connecting the Action Light for short periods - less than one minute - with the polarity reversed will not damage the light.  However, the light will not function.  Always test a new battery connection to verify proper operation. Brightness Settings The multisided knob at the end of the electronics bay (the rectangular part of the Action Light) is a 6-position rotary switch that controls the light brightness.  The knob is rotated clock-wise to increase brightness or all the way counter clock-wise to turn the light off.  Starting with the Off position, the switch positions are Off, Dim, Low, Medium, High and Overdrive. The Overdrive setting is very bright but cannot be used continuously due to heat buildup in the LED array.  To prevent any accidental damage, the light automatically limits the use of the Overdrive setting to a 20% usage factor and not more than 30 seconds per use.  When this limit has been exceeded, the light automatically changes back to the High setting.  The Overdrive setting may be reactivated by moving the switch from the Overdrive position to the High position and back to the Overdrive position. Which setting should you use?  We recommend you use the lowest setting compatible with safety and your task lighting requirements as this will provide the maximum battery life. Adapting to Less Light The amount of power used is roughly proportional to the amount of light being produced.  Therefore, being able to use a lower setting allows you to conserve battery power.  Your eyes respond to light in a non-linear (logarithmic) way and so what appears to be only a modest change in brightness is actually a very substantial change in the amount of light. You can safely and easily adapt to lower light settings.  The light brightness settings were chosen such that if your eyes are adjusted to one setting, you can turn the light down to the next lower setting and still see what you are doing.  This makes it easy to use lower settings and thus greatly extend the battery life.  Every change to a lower brightness setting increases battery life by about 4 times. There are many conditions that interfere with low light adaption including fatigue, age, altitude, smoking and illness.  Any of these separately or in combination can result in the need for a brighter light setting. Switch Lock The switch may be locked in the Off setting to prevent accidental operation when being carried or stored.  You can lock the switch by rotating the switch fully on and off twice (from Off to Overdrive to Off to Overdrive to Off) within a short period.  The light will flash twice to acknowledge entry into the Locked mode. While in the Locked mode, the light will flash twice whenever the switch is moved to a new position.  This makes it easy to identify when the light is in the Locked mode, in case you forgot it was locked or someone else locked it for you. The Locked mode is cancelled by rotating the switch fully on and off (from Off to Overdrive to Off) within a short period.  The switch will then operate normally. SOS Emergency Signal The light can automatically send the international SOS distress signal.  This allows you to attend to other emergency tasks while sending your distress signal. You make the light enter the SOS signaling mode by rotating the switch fully on and off and fully on again (from Off to Overdrive to Off to Overdrive) within a short period.  The light will start flashing the SOS distress signal. While in SOS signaling mode, you may use the switch to control the brightness setting of the signal.  The Overdrive brightness setting operates without restriction in SOS signaling mode. To cancel SOS signaling mode, turn the light off. About the Battery Compartment The battery is housed in the round part of the Action Light.  The battery cap unscrews counter clock-wise to provide access to the battery compartment.  The battery cap is sealed using an O-ring.  We recommend cleanliness when opening the battery compartment to minimize the entry of dirt, mud and water. Changing the Battery Unscrew the battery cap and remove it.  Gently tap the open end of the battery container on the heal of your hand bring the battery contact into easy reach.  Carefully lift and unfold the negative battery contact until it no longer obstructs the battery compartment.  You should avoid touching the gold contact screen or otherwise getting it dirty.  The battery should easily slide out when the battery compartment is inverted. Replace the old battery (batteries) with new. Insert the new battery (batteries) positive end first into the battery compartment.  The positive end is marked with a plus symbol, has the small button and is at the top when you are reading the label.  The small button of the positive end fits into the small hole in the positive battery contact.  When using a dummy battery with the tandem battery case, insert the lithium battery first followed by the dummy battery. Carefully refold and lower the negative battery contact over the negative end of the battery.  The contact matches the battery's shape.  Make sure the ribbon wire is neatly seated between the two nipples on the negative contact and that the two nipples are seated in the slot. Screw the battery cap back on.  Make sure the threads are properly aligned so as not to damage them.  The battery cap should screw down easily and fit flush with no gap. Cleaning the Battery Compartment If you change the battery in wet or dirty conditions, you may need to clean and dry the battery compartment.  If you need to clean the interior, we recommend you rinse the battery compartment and battery cap with clean fresh water, gently blot them dry with a soft clean cloth and leave the battery compartment open to completely air dry.  The battery should be wiped clean with a clean damp cloth and allowed to completely air dry.  Below are instructions for maintaining the O-ring seal.

If rinsing will not remove the dirt, you may rub the spot gently with a soft bristle brush wetted with a mild soap solution and then follow the normal rinsing and drying procedure.  Never dry rub or use aggressive cleaning agents. Maintaining the Battery Cap O-ring The battery cap seals the battery compartment using an O-ring.  The battery cap O-ring and all surfaces it touches should be kept clean and lightly greased.  The O-ring may be removed for cleaning.  Sand and dirt will damage the O-ring and cause leaks.  If the O-ring becomes damaged, replace it with a 2mm by 33.5mm nitrile (buna-N) O-ring and lightly lubricate it with a compatible waterproof grease. Replacing the Battery Cord The battery cord is very rugged but will eventually need replacement.  Replace it as soon as the exterior cover has been damaged or if you suspect internal damage. The battery cord is held in place at each end by a combination strain relief terminal cover and gate terminal block. To disconnect the battery cord at either end, remove the screws that hold the strain relief terminal cover and set the terminal cover aside.  Unscrew the gate terminal pressure screws only until they are even with the top of the terminal block - do not try to remove them.  The wires can then be gently pulled out of the terminal block. To connect the new battery cord at either end, reverse the steps given above.  Be sure when inserting the wires into the terminal block to put the red wire in the terminal marked "+" and the black wire in the terminal marked "-".  Additionally, be sure to put the wires in all the way so that the cable jacket is completely over the strain relief teeth.  Finally, be sure all screws have been fully tightened and that the strain relief terminal cover is flush with the body. Exterior Cleaning The Action Light exterior may be cleaned by gently washing the surface with a mild soap solution and rinsing with clean fresh water.  This procedure will prevent or greatly minimize any surface scratching from dirt and sand.  Never dry rub or use aggressive cleaning agents.  Surface water should be blotted with a clean dry cloth and you should allow the light to air dry. Other Considerations The electronics bay is permanently sealed.  Do not loosen or remove any of the special screws that retain the lens or end caps.  Do not loosen or remove the knob.  Any attempt to disassemble or open the electronics bay will damage the light. The light contains an array of 24 bright white LEDs.  These special bulbs never need replacement.  Even if one or two bulbs do fail during the life of the light, the power supply will automatically compensate by increasing the brightness of the other LEDs. You may notice slight differences in color and brightness between the LED bulbs, typically on the lower setting.  These differences are normal unit-to-unit production variations which do not effect the overall functioning of the light. If you will be using the light for submerged applications, we recommend you pack the battery cord ends -- the space around the gate terminals under the strain relief terminal covers -- with grease so as to prevent damage due to electrolysis.  The light is not recommended for diving. Whereas a sudden total failure is very unlikely, it is possible.  Therefore, we strongly recommend you always carry a second light with you.  We also recommend you carry enough spare batteries to cover your stay plus a reasonable safety margin.  It is not necessary to start each trip with new batteries in your light as long as you have spare batteries along. CAUTION White LEDs on the highest setting are very bright. Looking directly into the LEDs must be avoided. The light can be intense enough to injure human eyes. Specifications Action Light 24-3V-series Model 24-3V-NB 24-3V-LB 24-3V-AB Bulb 24 high brightness white LEDs Power Source 2.5V - 3.8V (1.0V - 4.6V) 4W 1 "D" PTC-protected lithium/sulfur dioxide battery (SAFT 37260146 or equivalent) 2 "D" alkaline batteries Brightness Settings 5 2x-4x-4x-4x spacing Hours of Light at 25°C (77°F) N/A N/A - Overdrive 12 - High 50 - Medium 200 - Low 700 - Dim N/A - Overdrive 7 - High 70 - Medium 300 - Low 1200 - Dim Light Weight 198g (7oz) Light Dimensions 98mm by 41mm by 54mm (3.9" by 1.6" by 2.1") Battery Pack Weight (Including Batteries) N/A 241g (8.5oz) 480g (17oz) Battery Pack Dimensions N/A 105mm by 38mm by 42mm (4.1" by 1.5" by 1.7") 165mm by 38mm by 42mm (6.5" by 1.5" by 1.7") Operating Temperature Range -40° to 50°C (-40° to 122°F) 0° to 50°C (32° to 122°F) Storages Temperature Range -40° to 80°C (-40° to 176°F)     Copyright © 1998-2000 by HDS Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved. Updated March 2000 www.hdssystems.com HDS Systems Inc. P.O. Box 42767 Tucson, Arizona 85733 USA   520-325-3004 Toll free: 877-437-7978