Fenix ld20 modes

[combinatorix]

I just bought a fenix ld20 R4 off of amazon, and recieved it today. It looks good, but it seems that it's not going through all the modes properly. When in normal mode, it seems to go medium -> medium -> high -> SOS.

Turbo functions, but the low seems to be missing. The first two modes are identical, and the third is very close (although I can believe it is high).

I put alkaline cells in it to start - but they are fresh - the light should at least function, right? If it definitely is buggy, should I try for a return through amazon or go for the fenix warranty?

Thanks!

 

[AnAppleSnail]

I just bought a fenix ld20 R4 off of amazon, and recieved it today. It looks good, but it seems that it's not going through all the modes properly. When in normal mode, it seems to go medium -> medium -> high -> SOS.

Turbo functions, but the low seems to be missing. The first two modes are identical, and the third is very close (although I can believe it is high).

I put alkaline cells in it to start - but they are fresh - the light should at least function, right? If it definitely is buggy, should I try for a return through amazon or go for the fenix warranty?

Thanks!

Are the batteries any good? Try with amazon's warranty after that, then the Fenix warranty. But sellers are usually required to do some service soon after sale.

 

[tre]

normal. There is a nuance the likes of which I can't remember exactly. Low always works fine with eneloop rechargeables. I believe low will work with any NiCD or NiMH rechargeable AA battery. It does act strange with AA alkaline cells. Perhaps when the battery runs down a bit it will work. It was something strange like that. Rest assured, every LD20 does this. I believe the regulation is not very good and just an extra .1 volt throws the low mode all out of wack.

 

[batmanacw]

The low mode should work just fine with alkaline batteries. If you check the voltage I would bet those batteries are pushing over 1.5v. If you use lithium batteries, you will loose low mode until the battery voltage drops to 1.5v or below.

I would check the battery with a voltage meter. If the battery is over voltage, then don't worry about the light. Try a different brand of alkaline.

Just for fun, run the light for several minutes on turbo and I bet the low works just fine.

 

[combinatorix]

Thanks, you guys are incredible - I'll try running it a bit. I just moved and the only multimeter I have is an old radio shack one that blew up one day and mostly spits out garbled numbers now - perhaps I'll be ordering one of those instead of a new ld20 next...

 

[samgab]

normal. There is a nuance the likes of which I can't remember exactly. Low always works fine with eneloop rechargeables. I believe low will work with any NiCD or NiMH rechargeable AA battery. It does act strange with AA alkaline cells. Perhaps when the battery runs down a bit it will work. It was something strange like that. Rest assured, every LD20 does this. I believe the regulation is not very good and just an extra .1 volt throws the low mode all out of wack.

I've always run my LD20 R4 on NiMHs, so after reading this I put a new pair of Alkalines in to test this out, and yes, med-med-high-SOS-etc on new Alkalines.
But, I'd never use alkalines except middle-of-nowhere and SHF, so no issue for me.

 

[Colorblinded]

Never noticed this happening with my LD20 (Q5, not R4) but I've only run one set of alkalines through it: those that came with it.

 

[ebow86]

People usually only have issue with the fenix lights when running lithium primaries, not alkalines, after the voltage drops some they seem to operate fine.

 

[combinatorix]

Works fine after running it on turbo for a bit, but after a few hours or so I guess the voltage creeps back up and it goes back to no-low mode. Probably after the batteries are a bit more used it won't get that high anymore.

I guess I ought to get some eneloops, but I'd like to use up my alkaline stock first.

 

[batmanacw]

Works fine after running it on turbo for a bit, but after a few hours or so I guess the voltage creeps back up and it goes back to no-low mode. Probably after the batteries are a bit more used it won't get that high anymore.

I guess I ought to get some eneloops, but I'd like to use up my alkaline stock first.

I love my Fenix lights. This is the only thing about them that bugs me. Your light is more sensitive than mine is. This is one big advantage that quark has. You can get .2 lumens out of a 14500, or lithium primary, no problem.

 

[combinatorix]

I actually went for the fenix over the quark because of the super-flat regulation graphs - I figured they must have the best electrical engineers in the business. I guess you can't have everything.

Be that as it may, the quark mini AA - NW on my keychain should do fine for the low-light situations though =)

 

[Ookpik]

I bought a Fenix LD20 R4. It had the same fault. med > med > high > sos. I was using alkaline cells. The LED was a nice white, the beam pattern was good, and the throw was great. I returned it for an exchange. The replacement worked properly on the exact same batteries I was using in the bad one. But, the new one has a slight green tint, and the pattern and throw aren't quite as good as the old one. Oh well.

 

[jag-engr]

normal. There is a nuance the likes of which I can't remember exactly. Low always works fine with eneloop rechargeables. I believe low will work with any NiCD or NiMH rechargeable AA battery. It does act strange with AA alkaline cells. Perhaps when the battery runs down a bit it will work. It was something strange like that. Rest assured, every LD20 does this. I believe the regulation is not very good and just an extra .1 volt throws the low mode all out of wack.

Wow. I just got one of these and it did the same thing: med-med-high-SOS. I was irritated and thought the previous owner may have messed the light up and then sold it. I really don't mind, as I intended to use Eneloops anyway.