Bi-Pin Vs. Fixed Lamp

[jayflash]

Bi-pin lamps offer the advantages of lower price and the small size allows a spare lamp to reside in a flashlight. They have a disadvantage, though, in that they can become dislodged if the light is dropped. Some of us have had bi-pin lamps fall into the head just from normal use.

I've had this problem with my Scorpion and TL-3. Even after splaying the pins outward the lamp came loose, twice, when the light fell unto a semi-hard surface. Yes, I'm ham handed. After the second time I bent the end of the pins outward even more; it was a tight fit to seat the lamp back into the base. So far so good.

Is it only my StreamLights that have this problem? This never happened when I used to use MiniM*gs. What are your experiences?

 

[paulr]

That sounds like the socket contacts weren't tight enough.

 

[jayflash]

Perhaps, loose lamps have been reported numerous times in this forum. Having two lights with this problem has me looking for more information. It seems that with the close tolerances needed for good contact, it wouldn't take much to produce a run of marginal bases.

The lamps seem to have a snug fit in both of my lights, so I was surprised this happened three times.

 

[js]

jayflash,

The Molex connectors used in the TigerLight, or the Mil-Max connectors which I bought for my mag drop in switch/pedestal assy project both grab the pins of a bi-pin lamp with PLENTY of force. I'd say that SL skimped on their sockets. This is a manufacturer's defect. Send it back to get fixed. A lamp is a tiny light little thing, and there is no reason it should fall out of the socket, short of a hard drop on the head. I say, make 'em fix the problems.

 

[Unicorn]

The Streamlight Stinger HP's that we use for vehicle searches have this problem a lot. The NCO in charge now doesn't allow them to be focused. The bezel is screwed down tight because the bulbs kept working loose, and the lights would stop working.
I haven't had this problem with my Magcharger though. It has become defocused because of dropping. Not too bad, but the spot isn't as tight as normal. My last bulb is permanently defocused, but that's because the fillament is not centered anymore, which would happen with any type of lamp. My older regular Stinger had no problem with being dropped, and it was dropped a LOT. The edge of the bezel had deep pits, and scratches and my first bulb lasted over a year with no problems at all of any kind.