Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
n0k1a on 01-10-2011 02:16 AM GMT
I hope nobody objects because this isn't a current failure, but it was fairly recent, and I haven't found any other references to it other than my experience.
My first SureFire was a 6PL, which worked great for about a year. I started noticing that I thought it was less bright than it used to be, but didn't really compare it to anything. Eventually, it seemed dim enough that I compared it to several other lights, and it was indeed much dimmer than it should have been; it deteriorated very slowly. I called SF CS, and described the problem. I was asked if the LED looked dark in the center...yes, it did. They said it was a warranty fix, gave me an RMA number, and fixed it for just the cost of shipping it to them. That response makes it sound like a known issue to them, but I don't believe I've read anything about it anywhere. It came back at least as bright as ever.
I got a 6PD and M61 while waiting for its return, and have gotten a number of other SF models (and joined CPF) since then, so I'm certainly not dissing SF!
More curious about the failure mode than anything. I'm actually getting involved with some LED lighting design work, so this kind of thing is good to know.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
DoctaDink on 01-10-2011 06:42 PM GMT
DRAT....my favorite EDC, an EX10 GDP just started flickering/strobing. No known trauma or abuse. Tried a different battery,but no luck.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Belstaff1464 on 01-11-2011 02:37 AM GMT
Flashlite Foy said:
My Inova T4 has been dropped on its head many times but kept working until one day the charge light would not come on. I took the t shaped charge thingy off (allen head attached wadayacallit) looked at/blew on it, reinstalled and the light has worked flawlessly ever since.
The best part though; my boss has an older T4 (with the silver ring and the lens where you can't see the emitter) and it has the smaller charger contact. Anyway, his stopped taking a charge too. Encouraged by my earlier success, I unscrewed everything, looked at all the pieces/blew on them, put it all together again and the light works perfectly.
Now my boss thinks I know how to fix flashlights.
Foy
Good time to ask for a raise !!!!
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
MarNav1 on 01-11-2011 06:58 AM GMT
Had a LumaPower M3 transformer that would work on 123 cells but not AA. Sanded the ends of the battery tubes and nary a problem since..................
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Zeruel on 01-11-2011 07:17 AM GMT
New Sunwayman M20A.
Dimmed without warning halfway during use. New primary batts or recharged eneloops didn't help, it remained dim. Returned to be refunded.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
eldoubleu on 01-14-2011 12:13 PM GMT
My new Quark 123 R5 Tactical that Santa brought me is having an issue with the tailcap switch, I believe. 4Sevens gave me a recommended fix (tighten the silver retaining ring inside the tailcap) that seemed to work for a couple of weeks, now the issue is back and the tailcap ring is extremely tight. Thelight will come on if I loosen the entire tailcap a bit, but it's very intermittent and inconsistent. Whenever the tailcap is fully tightened, the light will not work. Since I've already become dependant on this thing for EDC, I hope to get it resolved soon, once Atlanta (4Sevens home port 'o call) thaws out..... I am hoping a replacement tailcap solves the problem. We'll see.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
TwitchALot on 01-19-2011 01:18 AM GMT
Quark Mini AA Warm White failed to turn on a couple of days ago. I don't use it too often but check it once in a while, and it didn't turn on the other day. Contacts were cleaned, spring checked, battery replaced, still no good. No known cause of failure - hasn't been dropped or used much. Sending back for RMA.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
TwitchALot on 01-19-2011 01:24 AM GMT
eldoubleu said:
My new Quark 123 R5 Tactical that Santa brought me is having an issue with the tailcap switch, I believe. 4Sevens gave me a recommended fix (tighten the silver retaining ring inside the tailcap) that seemed to work for a couple of weeks, now the issue is back and the tailcap ring is extremely tight. The light will come on if I loosen the entire tailcap a bit, but it's very intermittent and inconsistent. Whenever the tailcap is fully tightened, the light will not work. Since I've already become dependant on this thing for EDC, I hope to get it resolved soon, once Atlanta (4Sevens home port 'o call) thaws out..... I am hoping a replacement tailcap solves the problem. We'll see.
Check to see if the contact areas at the body and tailcap/head are clean (the unanodized "circular" part of the body at both ends and inside the head/tailcap where the body makes contact). Lubrication can migrate up threads and cause intermittent contact issues. Check to see if the contact areas at the body and tailcap/head are clean (the unanodized "circular" part of the body at both ends and inside the head/tailcap where the body makes contact). Lubrication can migrate up threads and cause intermittent contact issues.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
ejb on 01-20-2011 01:39 PM GMT
Hello,
I am new here and I have been searching the forum trying to find some info on my light. I have a smart pd d10 sp r2 that I purchased at the Blade show in June 2010. It has recently stopped functioning correctly.
The light will not always turn on with three clicks after I lock it, I have to twist the head to the momentary setting and then back to the closed position to make it unlock. Sometimes if I turn it off it will not turn back on without unscrewing the head.
I have tried cleaning the threads and contacts and also changing the batteries, no luck and Nitecore hasn't replied back to my email yet. I like the light so I hope I can get it fixed.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
jjgi5150 on 01-20-2011 06:59 PM GMT
Hi all,
I've been gone for a while...very busy with work and assignment changes at work...no where near the free time I had before to check on all my favorite forums...
Anyway, as to the light failures...My only is an early production Fenix T1. I really liked the light and used it quite a bit as an LEO. So many of my co-workers liked the performance that several bought their own T1's. My light was NEVER dropped or weapon mounted. I have dedicated Surefire lights for that. Anyway, it just plain stopped working. Not a battery problem, and unknown if a switch or circuit problem. I guess part of the problem was I never kept the receipt and lost my old computer data via hard-drive crash. I'm sure I bought it at the orignial online Fenix store, but they had no record of my serial number?????
A such, I just put it in a drawer and there it sits. It was a lesson for me about how great the CS was in my past dealings with Surefire (never had any major mechanical issues/problems). So now, I am back to using only Surefire...not so much as koolaid, but rather the great LEO customer service they give...
I'm now back to my very old 6P with a good Cree bulb as my mainstay of small flashlights to replace the T1.
Take care,
JJ
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
nathan225 on 01-27-2011 09:27 PM GMT
my preon 1 warm white just stop working the other day I have been using for a few months then the other day it would not turn on I thought it must be the battery but tried new battery but nothing I have a cool white head and I tried it and it works fine on it I also tried the ww head on a preon 2 but still will not work
Written by
netprince on 01-27-2011 09:31 PM GMT
nathan225 said:
my preon 1 warm white just stop working the other day I have been using for a few months then the other day it would not turn on I thought it must be the battery but tried new battery but nothing I have a cool white head and I tried it and it works fine on it I also tried the ww head on a preon 2 but still will not work
my preon warm stopped working in a similar manner. I've sent it in to 4sevens. I'm curious if they will be able to replace it since it was a limited run. my preon warm stopped working in a similar manner. I've sent it in to 4sevens. I'm curious if they will be able to replace it since it was a limited run.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
mvyrmnd on 01-27-2011 09:34 PM GMT
I've only had onelight fail of its own accord (I've killed one or two
)
It was an Ultrafire C3 SS. Driver board gave up. I'd replaced the emitter with a nice warm tinted XR-E. Rather than mess around, I bought another one, and swapped the emitter into the new one.
On the plus side, the new one had a nicer tailcap
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Chrontius on 01-27-2011 11:38 PM GMT
First real failure: Surefire Aviator, Fivemega Strion kit. I was trying to use it as a fist-load to punch out a section of wallboard that was being ripped out during remodeling. I ended up with a Strion bulb rattling around in the reflector, and it was ticklish to get it out. But I was trying to see what it took to get that particular configuration to fail, so I know now how far I can push it and still count on it working.
I also had a first-gen Z57 fail, but that was promptly replaced (and I was carrying a backup light, so no harm done... except to the batteries).
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
ZMZ67 on 02-18-2011 01:42 AM GMT
Purchased several Solarforce L2s last year.The switch on the "tan" one failed almost immediately.The other Solarforce L2 switches(all reverse clickies) have been fine so far including the one in the L2X SE that I use the most.For the price of the stock L2s I am not that upset but wouldn't rely on thier switches.I may look into one of the Solarforce forward clickies to see if they are any better.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Flying Turtle on 02-18-2011 11:31 AM GMT
A few years back I got two Zebralight H50's when they first came out. One wouldn't change modes and the other had a chip off the lens. These were replaced eventually (it took a long time to get the new ones back from China). Also had a Photon 3 that wouldn't switch modes. This one was promptly replaced by PhotonLight. The only otherfailures were my fault (crossthreading a Dorcy tailcap and allowing a battery to leak in a Dorcy 1AA).
Geoff
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Darvis on 02-18-2011 12:42 PM GMT
I bought 3 HDS lights (1 twisty and 2 clickies) over the course of about 4 weeks (about 1.5 years ago I think) Anyway, all three had the drain bug and one was also a bit flakey when clicking through modes as well. I had the twisty fixed straight away via HDS' superior customer service and need to send the clickies back (only recently discovered the issue with these two as I bought them and stored them until now). No worries as I know they will be fixed. The only other lights I ever had issues with were a Quark Tactical R5 that has become intermittent despite all attempts to clean, tighten, etc. and a surefire e series that had a faulty switch (replaced with no questions asked).
I think the key for me is that, lights are mechanical devices and will fail from time to time, that's understandable... Just glad I bought lights with solid warranties from extremely reputable manufacturers!! I pays to look into what lights have this reputation for great service and am glad that CPF exists and has all of the info one needs to make the right choices.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
angelofwar on 02-18-2011 03:22 PM GMT
Darvis said:
and a surefire e series that had a faulty switch
Always good to have a Z53 around...just got a second one in the mail yesterday. Always good to have a Z53 around...just got a second one in the mail yesterday.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
HotWire on 02-18-2011 04:49 PM GMT
My EDC Preon 2 failed. I have two Preon 2s, and after swapping parts it was clear the switch was bad. I have another switch on backorder from 4sevens. I took the existing switch apart and found that a small piece of copper foil in the right place made it work again. It's still my EDC. It is a wonderfullight.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
Darvis on 02-18-2011 08:05 PM GMT
angelofwar said:
Always good to have a Z53 around...just got a second one in the mail yesterday.
Yeah, when I called to have mine replaced, I asked if I could buy spare as well. The rep asked me how many I needed.. I asked for one and they sent it- for free!! :thumbsup:
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
spiros on 02-18-2011 08:13 PM GMT
i got an olight m30 triton 5 months ago and the push switch went bad on me the seller wont send another and olight wont do anything either,so i have to buy another.
Re:Lightfailuresthread
Written by
angelofwar on 02-18-2011 08:26 PM GMT
Darvis said:
Yeah, when I called to have mine replaced, I asked if I could buy spare as well. The rep asked me how many I needed.. I asked for one and they sent it- for free!! :thumbsup:
SF Still has those in stock??? They haven't been mfg'ed for about 5-6 years now. Yer referring to the E-series twisty, right? SF Still has those in stock??? They haven't been mfg'ed for about 5-6 years now. Yer referring to the E-series twisty, right?