Annoyed with my Fenix LD20+

[batmanacw]

I sold my old L2D to a friend who needed a light. I figured it was a good reason to upgrade to the new LD20+ to see what all the fuss was about. I like the pocket clip and wanted a long running light for my travel kit.

Since this light will not get used a heck of a lot, I planned on leaving lithium primaries in it so I don't have concerns about leakage while this light jumbles around in my back pack that doubles as my brief case.

I am extremely disappointed that this light still does not have a low with lithiums. My old one had that issue, but I totally forgot about it.

The light itself seems to have tighter machining than the old one. Head isn't as floppy. The reflector is textured, but its a thicker texture that lends itself to a lumpy hot spot.

The pocket clip is well executed.

Over all, I wish I waited and bought a Quark 2AA. I am sure that the quark will have a low mode, even if I use Lithium batteries. The whole point of this light was for emergency use while I am traveling. A really long run time is critical. I think its silly for the light to stay bright long enough to lower the voltage ever so slightly to get back to having a low mode.

This is the first light I have bought in a long time that is a disappointment.

 

[berry580]

all the Fenix LXD/LDX0 series are like that, it should be a surprise to no 'flashaholic'.

 

[kts]

Just use eneloops, it will be fine :twothumbs

 

[Zeruel]

Buy Quark 2AA then and/or sell this.

 

[jhc37013]

I don't understand are you saying using energizer E2 lithiums its not close to the advertised 12 lumens?

 

[shark_za]

What he is saying is that the regulation for the low has a voltage limit of 3v.
Anything more and it overdrives the circuit and is brighter.

Lithiums give 2x 1.7v so 3.4v.

Same head used on the PD20, a 3v CR123 has low-med-high-SOS while using a 3.7v RCR its more like Med-High-High.

As soon as voltage drops to 3v it will have lo-med-high again. How much energy is left in a Lithium at 1.5v ? I dont know.

 

[batmanacw]

Buy Quark 2AA then and/or sell this.

This is what I will end up doing. That and running Eneloops in the light just to have the low.

I guess I didn't even consider than they wouldn't have fixed this issue with all the great lights coming out all the time. Updating the body is nothing compared to updating the circuit to handle normal current variations in different types of primaries.

I tried to order the Quark 2 AA, but they were out of stock.

 

[LittleBill]

how much, I'll buy it. i use eneloops in everything

is the beam worse then the l2d?

 

[batmanacw]

how much, I'll buy it. i use eneloops in everything

is the beam worse then the l2d?

Thanks for the offer, but i will go ahead and keep it. I just back ordered a Quark 2AA. I think I will be much happier with it due to the lower low.

There is nothing huge wrong with the Fenix. I am just disappointed that they did not get better with time. My L2D was ordered over 3 years ago. In all that time they did not decide to fix this issue. Its very rare that I order a light that I am not happy with.

The beam is not as tight as the older version, but its a better working light with a bigger spot.

 

[T-3]

Glad I found this thread! I just received my two LD20's and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get to low mode. :thinking: This answers my question... thanks! Good thing I have some eneloops on order...

 

[LittleBill]

Thanks for the offer, but i will go ahead and keep it. I just back ordered a Quark 2AA. I think I will be much happier with it due to the lower low.

There is nothing huge wrong with the Fenix. I am just disappointed that they did not get better with time. My L2D was ordered over 3 years ago. In all that time they did not decide to fix this issue. Its very rare that I order a light that I am not happy with.

The beam is not as tight as the older version, but its a better working light with a bigger spot.

good actually want more flood, actually i'm waiting to see if they put a xpg in it

 

[kts]

But with the Quark you will get the dreaded "preflash" something Fenix got rid of years ago :sick2:

 

[Saint_Dogbert]

Not if you don't get the tactical version. It only happens in certain situations, and then the flash is only as bright as low. Barely noticeable, I wouldn't even have noticed it if people didn't keep on complaining about how awful it is. :thumbsdow

I've been running my Quark on lithiums, and I actually wasn't aware you couldn't get low with these cells on a Fenix. Now I'm even more glad I went with 4sevens instead. :twothumbs

 

[batmanacw]

Must be fate. I stopped by Walmart in Gallatin TN and they had one single package of duraloops in the rechargeables section. Couldn't pass that up! I will keep the Lithiums for my back up batteries and use the duraloops for my LD20.

Funny that the solution dropped right into my lap like that. I am not sure if the duraloops will out run the lithium for longevity, but I like that they will not self discharge.

I want to clarify after using this light some more. The textured reflector seems to have created a tight hot spot with a little bit extra spill around the tight hot spot.

The PD20+ I saw this weekend had a bigger hot spot. I got the two mixed up.

The light works much better with the duraloops and the right voltage. The quark will end up traveling with me along with my D10, LD10, and Zebra. The Fenix will end up in a vehicle or in a bug out bag.