LB Micra: great light with flawed electronics?

[BBL]

I just started to get interested for the micra, but after reading ~30 pages of search results i found out about a few problems related to the electronics which seem to appear quite regularly.
The main problems seem to be inefficient regulation - resulting in much lower runtime - and the failure to start up with a partially empty battery.
Now i'd like to know if longbow has done something about the problems in the current production micras'.

I'd really love to buy this light, but spending the same amount again on a led-module just to get it to work is no option for me - a least not right after i bought it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Steve C]

BBL, I lost interest for the same reason.

Too many other readily-available lights out there that work reliably.

Once you accept the fact that no one light is going to meet all needs, then it becomes easy... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Haesslich]

If you want modular and something that works out of the box, as it were... go custom. The Aleph series is just as modular, and a lot more customizable. Best of all, you can buy an e-series Surefire and start switching bodies. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BBL]

[ QUOTE ]
Steve C said:
Once you accept the fact that no one light is going to meet all needs, then it becomes easy... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm afraid thats true... damn, i really like the exterieur of the micra.

 

[RonnieBarlow]

For the record, my Micra works fine.

 

[Lux Luthor]

I'm using JSB R123s in my micras, so I no longer care about this so called flaw. Now with those, you will go from bright light to absolutely nothing when the undervoltage protection kicks in. But the way I look at it, if you're only carrying one light, you're a fool anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[this_is_nascar]

Same experience here with the Micra. I love that light, the looks, the feel, the contruction etc. It's just shame about its lack of effeciency as it relates to runtime and using the cell.

 

[GarageBoy]

That's what McGizmo's here for

 

[Skyline]

I love my two Micras. No troubles here. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Mags]

IMO, when you buy a Micra, you are entering yourself into a luxeon lottery. I have heard different peoples opinions on the Micra and some say it is a terrible light, while others say it is perfectly fine.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

I had troubles with mine and had to return it to
the manufacture for replacement, now I have the perfect Micra

 

[shabbasuraj]

I love my Micra. Perfect. I don't have a problem with the way the electronics regulate the cell.

 

[Longbow]

The Micra is a wonderful light. Those that complain about the failure of the regulation with "partially" used batteries really should be saying "almost dead" batteries. Don't miss out on the great ownership experience that 95% of Longbow owners enjoy. Some of the "nay sayers" advice must be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[asdalton]

Well, I have used many LED lights, both regulated and unregulated. Exactly one of those has been unable to turn on, even dimly, when the batteries are low. That light is the Longbow. In any reasonable estimation, this has to be called a design flaw. Take it with a "grain of salt" if you wish, but the fact won't go away.

 

[Haesslich]

Unreg: If those batteries are about 70-60% charged still when they come out of the Longbow, I would say the fault is in that particular Longbow and LED combo, not the batteries. There are posts where batteries that are at 60% charge do not turn on the Longbow, and others which do not turn on or flicker badly below 50%, a fairly usable margin. I'd say the fault is in the Longbow electronics at that point.

Not all of them exhibit this issue, but more than one has done so, with a failure rate that matches or even exceeds anything even the Q-III has to offer. That's why I've taken to suggesting people get a McCapsule when they get one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BBL]

are there 1W replacement modules available from McGizmo?
how about runtime of those, any runtime-charts available?

 

[GarageBoy]

Those are Dat2Zips badboys and madmaxes

 

[Mags]

Where do you get the Mccapsule?

 

[Wisti]

Doesn´t the Mc of Mccapsule give you a hint ?




Of course it is from McGizmo . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif

 

[Lux Luthor]

[ QUOTE ]
Haesslich said:
Unreg: If those batteries are about 70-60% charged still when they come out of the Longbow, I would say the fault is in that particular Longbow and LED combo, not the batteries.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't heard of that, but I don't follow every LB thread. You DO need to let the batteries rest, then the micra will come back on. I've drained them to below 1.9V this way, but I agree that it's not the best design. Even a modest moon mode would be better.

[ QUOTE ]
Haesslich said:
There are posts where batteries that are at 60% charge do not turn on the Longbow, and others which do not turn on or flicker badly below 50%, a fairly usable margin. I'd say the fault is in the Longbow electronics at that point.

Not all of them exhibit this issue, but more than one has done so, with a failure rate that matches or even exceeds anything even the Q-III has to offer. That's why I've taken to suggesting people get a McCapsule when they get one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't had the flickering problem, atleast due to any electronics. I did have that develop in one of mine, but it was a contact problem at the bottom of the battery tube. A few seconds with sandpaper cleared that up.

The advice to get a McCapsule is a good one, but that's more money. I might suggest for those that don't want to go the extra mile right away, that you try a micra, and maybe have another light for fully draining the batterries. Maybe one of the flood lights with 5mm LEDs. In my case, like I said above, the R123s UV kicks in before the micras electronics become an issue.

EDIT: Added link to McCapsule build compliments of KJ. The McCapsule is available at the shoppe