If my eyes don't decieve me, one Inova X1 is putting out more lumens than the other?!

[cyberspyder]

I just bought two Inova X1 (first generation with optics) to try and mod, but I'm finding tint and brightness differences between the two identical lights...take a look (both lights had fresh 2012 Energizer Alkalines in them):

I swapped the tailcaps around, and still got the same results. As far as I know, I think there are different board revisions or different LEDs?!

 

[kramer5150]

Re: If my eyes don't decieve me, one Inova X1 is putting out more umens than the othe

Did you swap batteries? Alkalines can self destruct, even NIP ones.

Use a cotton swab some iso propyl alcohol and wipe down all the electrical contact points. I wonder if the light on the right suffered an alkaline battery leak while it sat on the shelf? I have seen some Inova AA lights on the store shelves that were noticeably dimmer than others, using the push to try feature.

Other than that, theres not much else you can do.

 

[cyberspyder]

Re: If my eyes don't decieve me, one Inova X1 is putting out more umens than the othe

Did you swap batteries? Alkalines can self destruct, even NIP ones.

Use a cotton swab some iso propyl alcohol and wipe down all the electrical contact points. I wonder if the light on the right suffered an alkaline battery leak while it sat on the shelf? I have seen some Inova AA lights on the store shelves that were noticeably dimmer than others, using the push to try feature.

Other than that, theres not much else you can do.

Yeah, originally it had an Energizer Lithium in each of them, though different models (one was an e2, the other 'ultimate lithium'). I swapped it to two brand new Alkalines, swapped the alkalines around and one's still bright that the other. I thought, it may be the tailcaps, but I swapped the tailcaps around and still the same result. It doesn't look like there was a leak with the batteries, as the insides were clean. And I got them used, from another CPF'er.

So a whole lot of swapping around to no avail...great

 

[kramer5150]

Re: If my eyes don't decieve me, one Inova X1 is putting out more umens than the othe

Yeah, originally it had an Energizer Lithium in each of them, though different models (one was an e2, the other 'ultimate lithium'). I swapped it to two brand new Alkalines, swapped the alkalines around and one's still bright that the other. I thought, it may be the tailcaps, but I swapped the tailcaps around and still the same result. It doesn't look like there was a leak with the batteries, as the insides were clean. And I got them used, from another CPF'er.

So a whole lot of swapping around to no avail...great

Sounds like you got a dud. Inova has a great lifetime replacement warranty, the problem with that is they will replace your light with the current production version X1. So... Thats probably not ideal, unless you wanted a newer version.

You could try freeze-popping it apart. I did that with my X1-V2, and I was able to fix an intermittent contact in the light pill. Freeze popping it busted the window glass but the light works great now.

IIRC the DC-DC circuit is pretty simple and all the parts are easily accessible, so you could try trouble shooting it from there. Others have had luck with Nichia emitter swaps too.

 

[cyberspyder]

Re: If my eyes don't decieve me, one Inova X1 is putting out more umens than the othe

I was going to freezepop one of them and put a GS or a DS LED in there, just like my X1 Gen II. Hmm, I guess we'll have to see what happens to it tonight.