fenix tk12 r5 problems

[zoroko]

So I just bought a tk12 r5 and I have had it for almost two weeks, and Ive been using it everyday. I work at a bar and use it all night, mostly on the lowest setting.

last night when I got home I noticed a little bit of flickering, very slightly. Today however, there have been some bigger problems. The modes don't work, or rarely do. I can change the modes by doing the double tightening move, but changing them from the two it is set on doesn't work.

Its weird because the tactical, or hunting mode, always works, but the other two don't. When I loosen the bezel the light doesn't dim or change. Although it does flick at times and some times does dim. its just acting really funny.

My first suspect is the batter. im using a trustfire 18650 rechargeable that I have had for about a year a half that I have used many many times with other lights and never had any problems with.

Could it be that my battery is finally giving out? or did I get a faulty light?

should I just order a new battery ?

Does anybody have any experiences with this?

I'm really dissappointed, I love the light but I want it to function correctly of course.

 

[ToNIX]

Have you tried cleaning all the contacts? This will probably solve the issue.

 

[dhouseng]

The gold plated ring contact at the head shouldn't be touching the silver threads. When they do, thats when the turbo mode activates. You said that when you loosen the bezel the light doesn't change, check there.

 

[zoroko]

cleaning the contacts didn't work. althought grime rubbed off from the threads, it didn't affect the light at all.

Its not just that the light doesnt come off of turbo, it just behaves really funny. Tactical mode is the only one that works right, the other two dont work right. the light will flicker, fade in and out, and just act very strange.

it makes me really doubt the reliability of the light, and for the money I spent it extremely disappointing. I was expecting to have and use this light for years.

could I have a faulty light? could it possibly be the battery?

 

[LumensMaximus]

Try some new cr123's...:thumbsup:

 

[snoop75]

Hi there,

I've had some similar issues with modes on my TK12 R5 too. At times when I switch the light on it will flicker or kinda randomly change modes until I twist the head just a little. And it only happens when the light is switched on after not being used for a while.

I tried cleaning contacts, replacing batteries to no avail. Contacted the manufacturer and they told me to send the light back for repairs - stating that it's most likely a circuit board issue. Haven't bothered to return it though as I can't be bothered with shipping it from Aus to China for repairs.

In your case I'd recommend swapping the batteries, just in case, and failing that contacting the manufacturer for further advice.

Good luck.

 

[NightKids]

Hmm haven't heard of any problems like that from the TK11

 

[zoroko]

I have some new batteries form dealextreme on the way so ill wait and test those.

I feel like I got screwed out of $80 though. I did a lot of research on the light before I bought it and I didn't find not one negative comment. Everything I read claimed that the light was extremely reliable. ... so to say, I'm pretty upset.


now, im just hoping and praying that the new batteries will solve the problem... but I fear they won't.

 

[mcnair55]

I have some new batteries form dealextreme on the way so ill wait and test those.

I feel like I got screwed out of $80 though. I did a lot of research on the light before I bought it and I didn't find not one negative comment. Everything I read claimed that the light was extremely reliable. ... so to say, I'm pretty upset.


now, im just hoping and praying that the new batteries will solve the problem... but I fear they won't.

You have a warranty,you can use it if your new batteries are of no use.I do find it strange on this forum that people who buy lights in good faith try to fix the problem rather than just send it back for a replacement or a proper repair.You are upset but remember you have warranty.

 

[jhc37013]

Have you also tried tightening the switch retaining ring inside the tailcap? Sometimes they work themselves loose and cause little problems. Also do you have a multi meter to test the voltage of the battery? If your going to continue to use Li-Ion batterys it would be a good idea to have one so if you have problems you can see if the battery is at fault.

Sorry to hear about your troubles I have collected several Fenix light's over the years and continue to do so and they have given me little to no trouble but like anything else their is always a possibility of malfunction.

 

[Egsise]

I have some new batteries form dealextreme on the way so ill wait and test those.

I feel like I got screwed out of $80 though. I did a lot of research on the light before I bought it and I didn't find not one negative comment. Everything I read claimed that the light was extremely reliable. ... so to say, I'm pretty upset.


now, im just hoping and praying that the new batteries will solve the problem... but I fear they won't.

You have a warranty,you can use it if your new batteries are of no use.I do find it strange on this forum that people who buy lights in good faith try to fix the problem rather than just send it back for a replacement or a proper repair.You are upset but remember you have warranty.

+1
It is unbelievable that so many people think like zoroko, something beyond stupidity.

 

[zoroko]

+1
It is unbelievable that so many people think like zoroko, something beyond stupidity.

so its beyond stupid to want a product with such a good reputation to work flawlessly out of the box? I know I have a warranty but receiving a faulty unit is very dissappointing. Sending it back to the company in china is very annoying as well.

Receiving a faulty unit shakes my faith in the company and their quality control, because now I dread that even if it were replaced the next unit might fail at some point. I fear it is a ticking time bomb and could fail me when I need it most.

 

[Egsise]

so its beyond stupid to want a product with such a good reputation to work flawlessly out of the box? I know I have a warranty but receiving a faulty unit is very dissappointing. Sending it back to the company in china is very annoying as well.

Receiving a faulty unit shakes my faith in the company and their quality control, because now I dread that even if it were replaced the next unit might fail at some point. I fear it is a ticking time bomb and could fail me when I need it most.

Well the flashlight did work out of the box right?
You have been using it without problems for two weeks right?

Just contact the place where you bought it to get it fixed( or replaced because you bought it less than 30 days ago).

In my country I just contact the place where I buy the flashlight and they ask me to send it to them, of course they pay the postage fees.
Then they either repair it, or send a new one, or a replacement until I get my light back.
The customer doesn't need to wait more than a few weeks, nothing needs be sent to China.
The reseller takes care of their customers.

Fenix warranty is 24+6months which is enough so that manufacturing defects are covered.

Just contact the place where you bought it, instead trying to figure out what's wrong with it.
First things that the reseller is going to ask you:
Have you tried it with fresh batteries?
Have you cleaned all the contacts?

Have you?

 

[garden]

OOOoooh I know what happened, I have a TK12 Q5 and I have had the same problem...

but...

See the tactical grip ring at the back? Screw that clockwise so it goes "up", towards the front end of the light. The tactical ring sometimes interferes with the contacts in the tailcap... try this it will probably work.

 

[zoroko]

See the tactical grip ring at the back? Screw that clockwise so it goes "up", towards the front end of the light. The tactical ring sometimes interferes with the contacts in the tailcap... try this it will probably work.

I don't even have mine on. It doesn't affect either way though, with it on or off.

the problem is that the light won't change between modes, or does so whenever it feels like (randomly).

 

[IntheWoods]

Old thread, but I'll address it anyway.

Mine was also tight out of the box and changing modes can be difficult, especially for the uninitiated.

Put a light coat silicone grease on the o-ring on the head of the flashlight. This will make the head easier to turn and should solve your problem. It will also help the o-ring last a lot longer as well.

 

[xdes]

A couple of weeks ago my tk12 r5 started to malfunction. (didn't turn on most of the time, and if it did, it skipped modes) After checking battery, the switch and cleaning contacts it still didn't work. I am out of the warranty time, so i decided to DIY what i can. (before that i contacted to my dealer in regarding what we can do about it) There are some soldering points in the head which i re-soldered, and guess what!!?. IT WORKS NOW! In the past couple of days it always turns on. I hope it remains in this working state now.

(not my photo)

 

[Labrador72]

I just received a new TK12 today and really like the light! After just over an hour an hour the UI started to act funny like described in some of the posts of this thread! I tried to gently clean threads and contacts as I do with all my lights but the light kept acting weird. After a while it worked fine for 20 minutes or so and then it started flickering. I switched and off and when I tried to change modes again it was stuck in the Hunting mode.
I then managed to switch to the following mode, switched off the light. Just a few minutes later it was in the hunting mode again - which was actually the selected mode when I first used the light out of the box. I've checked the tailcap ring is tight as hell. I've tried different pairs of fresh CR123 and a couple of 18650 I charged yesterday: the same problem on and off. The box is slightly damaged too - not that it's a major issue but I keep all the boxes of my lights and I like to keep them as new in case I might later sell the light.
Sending a mail asking for a replacement tonight and then sending the light right back tomorrow. I have purchased over a dozen Fenix lights in the past couple of years and it's the first time I have had such a problem!