L4 w/ Pila 168S (Copia 168B) Problems

[Ned]

Has anyone else had similar problems to what I am experiencing?

I have a SF L4 using a single Copia 168B (reportedly identical to the Pila 168S). Although I love this rechareable solution, I have been experiencing two problems:

1: tail switch sometimes malfunctions with the 168B in place (but not with 123's inserted).

2: With the 168B inserted the light gets hot (although not uncomfortably so) and (apparently because of the heat?) shuts down after about 20 minutes of continuous running. After it cools I can not get it to switch on. I have to recharge the 168B to get it to be "active" again.

Measuring the 168B and two 123's (Surefires) I can report that the 168B is about 1mm onger than two 123's pushed together (68.5 mm v. 67.6 mm for the 123's). I am wondering if this explains the tailswitch problems?

 

[Ginseng]

No such problems. My Pila 168S are actually a bit shorter than 2x123. I had to add a solder blob to the top of one to make it close the circuit but other than that, they have been mighty robust. I have run my L4 down out of regulation and into flickering, rested, and then back into near regulation several times.

Wilkey

 

[CM]

Your tailswitch problem may not be a switch problem as Wilkey alluded to in his solder blob solution. The (+) terminal of the Li-Ion's are not reaching far enough, and they're not robust enough to withstand the pressure from the small KL4 positive terminal. All my Li-Ion show some compression of the positive terminal because of the small terminals of the KL1's and KL4's. Don't have any problems with the C/Z/D series lights where the positive connection is made through a spring which tends to spread out the pressure more evenly.

As far as heat, I don't know what's going on there.

CM

 

[Ned]

Thanks for your comments CM and Ginseng. I will focus on the + terminal and report back.

Ned