Just Ruined $500 Microfire Flashlight Need Help

[Free]

Hi, I was just fiddling around with the head on my L500R, trying to figure out why it was rattling, and I pulled the pill out, and the red and white wire pulled out of the head (still attached to the pill).

I can't figure out where they attach, and I am afraid it is inside the head some where. I am not qualified to repair this, and apparently the manufacturer won't touch it either, so I am looking for someone who can fix this light for me.

Very bummed right now.

 

[csshih]

pictures would be nice.. it sounds like the wires to the emitter board were disconnected?

 

[Tekno_Cowboy]

If you can run some pictures by me, I should be able to help :thumbsup:

 

[Free]

Thanks Guy's, I will get some pictures tomorrow. I think I have it mostly figured out. I was able to dissasemble the head, and basically the 7 Leds are wired in series. One lead comes into the center LED, then daisy chains off through all the rest, and then the final lead comes out one of the side Leds.

The one thing I need to figure out, is which lead to connect to which Led. There is a red lead and a white lead coming off the pill, but the polarity is not marked on the leds, and I don't want to hook it up backwards. Or.. does it not make a difference?

 

[manoloco]

it does, unlike an incan.

 

[Marduke]

Polarity is almost certainly marked on the LEDs, you just don't know what to look for. The pictures will help.

 

[Gunner12]

See if you can get a picture, that could help us so we can tell you how to fix it.

 

[kramer5150]

microfire just left you hanging hi and dry?... would they consider a non-warranty repair?

I would expect better service from a company of their reputation.

But do post pics, it could be a simple repair. Did you ever find out what was rattling inside? might also want to address that while you have it open.

 

[Free]

Yes, I am extremely conflicted, because I love this light. In fact, I just took advantage of a sale that 47's is having and ordered another one. However, when I talked with them, they were clear that the manufacturer does not do out of warranty repairs.

I appreciate the help guy's and will try to put together some pictures tomorrow, so please stay tuned, and I will update this thread when I have the pics.

 

[Metatron]

this is outrageous to say the least, a $500 light isnt a toy and i am most surprised that 4 sevens dont offer u a fix at all, warranty or none.

 

[roadie]

well, "free" did void all warranty when he 'open' the insides ...... if there's any warranty included ...

kindly take some pics of the insides, we will help u as much as we can ..

oh, u may had to do some soldering though, are u comfortable with soldering?

for yr sake, i went to see its review at here ...

 

[Free]

OK Guy's here are some pictures. I apologize for the blurriness, but my camera lense is broken, and the macro function is not working properly. I was lucky to get any shots, and I think there is enough here to tell the story.

This first shot is the head, open, from the back of the LED's, where you can see the wires daisy chain around. One lead from the battery goes in through one side of the center LED, and solders on to the board on the other side. The other lead goes into the back of the LED (just to the left of center in this picture) and attaches in the same fashion.

Here is a blurry shot of one of the LED's pulled out, and the reflector removed, exposing the board. The two leads are marked + and - on the board, so I believe I know what I have to do.

Lastly, here is a shot of the two leads coming off of the pill, that pulled out from the head of the light. As I understand it, I need to take the red lead (+) and thread it through the back of the center LED, and solder it on to the + connector on the circuit board attached to that LED. Then the wire from the - connector (still attached) daisy chains around through all the rest of the LED's, to the last one, where I need to take the White lead from the Pill (-) and attach it to the Negative connector on that LED board.

Please let me know if I am missing anything, or what procedures I should follow to make sure this works out OK. Thanks!!!

 

[Illum]

this is outrageous to say the least, a $500 light isnt a toy and i am most surprised that 4 sevens dont offer u a fix at all, warranty or none.

from the way the pics depict, the user took the light apart, usually disassembly voids warranties, how is this 4seben's fault? :thinking:

from the op post...it does sound strange though, QC should have seen this before it left the st0ckroom

 

[Free]

This is not 47's fault, nor is it technically Microfire's fault, although I took it apart to try to fix the rattle. The light is also out of warranty anyway.

It would have been nice, however, to have the option to send it back to the manufacturer for repair, rather than having to figure this out for myself.

 

[KD7EIR]

I am amazed that neither Microfire nor 4Sevens would let you PAY them to repair this!

You were not asking for anything unreasonable - you broke your light and simply wanted to PAY them to fix it.

This casts a pall over 4Sevens and Microfire in my mind... :thumbsdow

 

[dcycleman]

I am amazed that neither Microfire nor 4Sevens would let you PAY them to repair this!

You were not asking for anything unreasonable - you broke your light and simply wanted to PAY them to fix it.

This casts a pall over 4Sevens and Microfire in my mind... :thumbsdow

yup, thats bs. So if your light is old and it breaks and you cant fix it you are S-O-L

 

[Marduke]

So who does fix out of warranty broken items? Anyone?

 

[Free]

Did you ever find out what was rattling inside? might also want to address that while you have it open.

I believe it is the pill that was rattling around, it does not fit snugly in the light (see the last picture in my thread above). My plan was to put a bit of silicone around it, so it does not move around anymore. I am open to other suggestions.

 

[Free]

So who does fix out of warranty broken items? Anyone?

I will tell you one company that I have had great repair service from.... Wiseled.

 

[KD7EIR]

ANY reputable company will either allow you to PAY them to fix an out of warranty item or at the very least refer you to someone that can fix it for you.