Impressed with Catapult V3, until...

[monster54]

I've had the Thrunite Catapult V3 for about 3 weeks now and my initial impressions were good. Threw some brand new AW 18650 2200mah batteries in there and :huh:. Love the output and throw on that sucker.

Just last week some friends and I were BBQing in the backyard at night. I had my Catapult out for various uses (checking the grill, illuminating dark areas, blinding friends with the strobe-mode, etc.).

As some of you are familiar with its UI, fully tightened sets the light on turbo, and loosening the head a bit then clicking lets you change modes from low, high, turbo, and strobe. As I had the head loosened and was using the light on low mode, I noticed the light started changing modes by itself. It would go from low, to a quick moment of blackout, to high and this would occur sporadically through all the different modes.

I thought to myself "this is weird" and began experimenting to see what triggers the switch. I saw that a light jerk upwards can cause the modes to switch. What's more weird is that even touching the aluminum bezel can cause the light to spasm out. Not even firm pressure is needed. Just a light touch on the bezel with my finger. What the hell is going on? Light has been sent back to Light Junction for repairs since it's considered under manufacturer warranty.

Has anyone else experience anything like this? I didn't know the bezel is connected in the circuitry of the light *sarcasm*. Currently, I am not a happy camper.

 

[shane45_1911]

May have been something as simple as excess lube on the contacts or threads causing a short, in which case the bezel may certainly become "energized".

Did you do any troubleshooting at all, or just pack it up and send it back?

 

[monster54]

Haven't done any troubleshooting. Didn't know what the problem was to do any repairs myself.

You know what.. it might have something to do with the lube. I recently bought a tube of Super Lube and applied it to the threads/O-rings. However, I definitely did not use an excess amount of it. I've read up on the lube threads and it was highly advised to use small amounts. So, I applied the lube very sparingly and not to enough to squish out when tubes were tightened. And of course, I performed thorough cleaning with alcohol & microfiber towel before the lube. And after lubing I wiped down the ends of the tube openings.

Maybe I shouldn't have lube it at all..

 

[mrlysle]

I don't think the lube was your issue. Did you try loosening the head just a little bit more to see if it helped? I'm thinking the head contact and body tube were so close to touching each other that just the "touches" you gave the bezel were making up the head/body tube contact again, just as if you had tightened the head. I have some lights that will change modes when you barely shake them, unless I have the head "loose" enough. Just my thoughts. :shrug:

 

[syntax]

I had the same issue with my V3 Catapult and the AW flat-top batteries. There is not enough spring tension in the battery tube to ensure constant contact. When contact between the batteries is lost when the flashlight gets jolted it ends up in a mode change. I fixed it by going to Redilast 3100 mAh 18650s with the button-top. The batteries themselves are a little bit longer and maintain contact between each other better. I no longer have accidental mode changes and the flashlight works like it's supposed to.

 

[Knives&Lights]

My V3 won't even work with AW flat top 18650s unless I put something between the two batteries so they can contact each other. My AWs are so flat that they do not touch each other withought a lot of pressure or something between the. For now I stuck a chrome plated magnet in between them and wraped it with tape to prevent accidental grounding. I'm going pile up a little bit of solder on them for a more permanate fix.

If you turn it on, tailstand it on a table so it can't physically move and tap the bezel doe it mess up?

 

[theix]

I have that same exact problem with my Jetbeam M1xm. I will send it back to Jetbeam very soon.

 

[monster54]

I don't think the lube was your issue. Did you try loosening the head just a little bit more to see if it helped? I'm thinking the head contact and body tube were so close to touching each other that just the "touches" you gave the bezel were making up the head/body tube contact again, just as if you had tightened the head. I have some lights that will change modes when you barely shake them, unless I have the head "loose" enough. Just my thoughts. :shrug:

I have tried loosening the head to different degrees and it seemed to have been the same results... between about a 1/4 turn and 1.5 turn. Haven't tried loosening it too much more than 1.5 turn since I would think loosening it too much would defeat underwater capabilities during mode-switching mode.

I had the same issue with my V3 Catapult and the AW flat-top batteries. There is not enough spring tension in the battery tube to ensure constant contact. When contact between the batteries is lost when the flashlight gets jolted it ends up in a mode change. I fixed it by going to Redilast 3100 mAh 18650s with the button-top. The batteries themselves are a little bit longer and maintain contact between each other better. I no longer have accidental mode changes and the flashlight works like it's supposed to.

My AW batteries are also button top. I was about to buy the AW flat-top batteries, but I was worried I would run into contact issues. So, I don't think I should have any problems with my current set of batts.

 

[monster54]

My V3 won't even work with AW flat top 18650s unless I put something between the two batteries so they can contact each other. My AWs are so flat that they do not touch each other withought a lot of pressure or something between the. For now I stuck a chrome plated magnet in between them and wraped it with tape to prevent accidental grounding. I'm going pile up a little bit of solder on them for a more permanate fix.

If you turn it on, tailstand it on a table so it can't physically move and tap the bezel doe it mess up?

I haven't tried touching the bezzle while specifically tailstanding on a table. I've already sent it back for repairs.

I have that same exact problem with my Jetbeam M1xm. I will send it back to Jetbeam very soon.

Is the m1xm "loosen for mode-switch" also? I have a bad impression with these types of UI...

 

[ms1496]

I had the same issue with my V3 Catapult and the AW flat-top batteries. There is not enough spring tension in the battery tube to ensure constant contact. When contact between the batteries is lost when the flashlight gets jolted it ends up in a mode change. I fixed it by going to Redilast 3100 mAh 18650s with the button-top. The batteries themselves are a little bit longer and maintain contact between each other better. I no longer have accidental mode changes and the flashlight works like it's supposed to.

Same thing happen to mine...
I have AW 2900mah 18650 cells and the flat top was the culprit. I purchased a magnetic spacer to place between the two cells and presto no more issues with it. You just need the cells to make contact in the middle so that they don't drop connection and cause the light to switch modes. :thumbsup: Hope this helps!

 

[monster54]

Turns out there was a connection problem with the head. Light Junction tested it out and experienced the mode glitch. I was told they swapped it out with a brand new head and it didn't show anymore problems.