Gladius indicates "low battery power" with fresh Panasonic CR123

[Flashing-Bernie]

I have a strange problem with my Blackhawk NightOps Gladius flashlight:

Although I didn't use it a lot, I recognized the 15 seconds "low battery power indication" when operating at full-power (both momentary and constant on).

So I replaced the batteries with new ones. but it showed the same effect!

All batteries I use(d) are PANASONIC CR123A Lithium 3V, which I bought in September 2005. I could not find any "best before" date printed on the label but they have a batch number: 3577.

(This batch number is placed between the printed "+" and "-" sign)

So what seems to be the reason of the malfunction? Or are the (new) batteries already weak? how can I find out?

Maybe someone has/had the same problem?
regards

 

[Flashing-Bernie]

Is there anyone who has advice?

 

[parnass]

I don't know if the problem is with your Gladius low battery warning threshhold or whether your Gladius is running down the batteries prematurely.

There was a problem with some of the Gladius tailcaps which caused the light to consume too much current even while the light was turned off. The company replaced the affected tailcaps for free when contacted by the owners.

 

[Flashing-Bernie]

problem solved: I ordered new batteries "PANASONIC PHOTO POWER", CR123AL/1BP, best before 2018, and now the light works properly.

Strange, because the brightness is the same also with the other battery type.

 

[India Oscar]

I don't know if anyone can help, but I've come across this problem as well!

I've just bought a gladius second hand from a well known online auction site, and it has the same problem!
It came with maxell CR123As which appear brand new and show ~3.05V on the mutimeter and I've tried fresh Panasonic photo power CR123As, best before 01/2016, and showing ~3.18V on the multi meter, but I still get the blink, even in the lowest modes.

Anyone got any ideas? Should I try some other brand of batteries? Or have I been sold a duffer?

IO

 

[Moonshadow]

I've been running mine (23xxx serial) on Energizers without trouble, but I also have some of those gold-and-red Panasonic Photo Powers sitting around. So I've just tried a pair of them, and they work just fine in the Gladius too.

I did notice though that my Panasonics have an expiry date of Jan 2018, so it's possible that your "new" cells are a couple of years old ?

The voltage readings probably don't mean that much by themselves. Even an 80% depleted primary cell will still show up as 3V or more on a normal multimeter. You really need a battery tester that checks the cells under load.

 

[India Oscar]

I think the 'new' ones are a couple of years old, but I'd have thought they'd have lasted a bit longer than this!

I'll see if I can dig out a tester, or get some proper new cells!

The light is a 15xxx serial, I know there were some issues with older ones, could this be one of them?

IO

 

[Sigman]

You don't have a ZTS battery tester?

 

[MattInTheCouv]

check the contacts, clean them even if they don't look dirty (including tailcap threads). just a couple ohms of resistance can severely limit current throughput and that, as was suggested before, is more important than voltage when it comes to the low battery indicator coming on. that'll take care of the easiest and most over-lookable variable. especially on the used light

 

[Yoda4561]

Also check the spelling on the old batteries. Lots of counterfeits floating around these days. These days they even get the spelling right, takes a real discerning eye to spot them.

 

[India Oscar]

Right, I've just spent a fortune on new Energiser Lithium Photo from a reputable store, best before 3/2019. And it still blinks.

Tomorrow I'll get some electrical contact cleaner and some new lube and really clean everything up.

Does anyone know if this is a well known fault with earlier Gladii? I hope not, cause apart from the annoying flicker every 15 second it's superb, the seller claims not to have had this problem when he used it, I hope he's not pulling a fast one....

IO

 

[MattInTheCouv]

i searched and could find nothing. also i own 3 of them, 1 is a gladius that is about 3 or so years old, the other 2 are insight typhoons less than a year old. never had this problem with mine. i did however have this problem momentarily with my olight m30 when it was brand new. i just reinstalled the batteries a couple times, played around with it for a few minutes and it seemingly went away. so, if the contact cleaner doesn't help maybe try that.

 

[India Oscar]

I've tried to clean it and it's still the same. :mecry:

I'm struggling to get right in inside the tail cap where the connections are. I've given it a really good spray of Maplins contact cleaner (Maplins is a UK elctronics store). And let it dry.

Has anyone got any top tips on getting inside the tail cap? Or any other ideas??

IO