LD01 Flickers

[Hiker]

I started using my new LD01 about a week ago. It begins flickering soon after I turn it on and sometimes goes out.

I am out of town and have not had a chance to try cleaning it. I will pick up some alcohol tomorrow.

Do I just swab the threads on the body and inside the head as well as the contacts on the inside of the head? Any other pointers?

Thanks

 

[sbdwag]

I had the same problems with my LD01 that I purchased a couple of weeks ago. I had a can of contact and electrical cleaner I purchased from Radio shack and sprayed both the anode and cathode ends of the flashlight with it let it evaporate and problem was solved.

Regards
Sbdwag

 

[Lynx_Arc]

most likely it is gunk on the tip of the battery and the contact pad in the head if by twisting it works again I would look at it and use alcohol and it if is still dirty may try a soft pink pencil eraser on it

 

[zozo]

My LD01 had a tough time turning on initially, then flickered quite a bit. I took an alcohol swab to the threads and contacts. The threads were really dirty and took a couple swabs to come clean. After cleaning, it works great.

 

[Hiker]

How does it work? Is this correct?

I assume that the positive contact is the circular metal in the center of the circuit board and it is in contact all the time.

The end of the body is not painted and it seems when you tighten the head it comes in contact with the ring on the circuit board to complete the negative circuit.

If the chip recognizes 2 or 3 intermittent contacts within a certain period of time it allows less or more juice to flow to the Led.

If this is correct it seems the only points that would be a concern are the end of the body ring, the spring & body in the back, and the points on the circuit board. Does this make sense?

 

[Hiker]

Another question:

Can I harm anything with the alcohol?

 

[Flying Turtle]

That sounds correct concerning the contact points, and alcohol is fine for cleaning. Unlike the "crush your battery" lights Fenix lights to not rely on good contact through the threads.

Geoff

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Another question:

Can I harm anything with the alcohol?

the only harm alcohol can do is if you get too much and it pours down into the light and into the lens/reflector area while dragging other stuff with it like oil and stuff and staining it. You should be fine with a cotton swap just don't pour it on the light out of the bottle.

 

[Hiker]

Thanks for your help but it looks like I will be returning it for a new one.

I cleaned it carefully with alcohol & a swab. I also tried a new battery.

It actually flickers for a bit after I turn it on in medium, then goes off on it's own. then back on in low, and the beam becomes inconsistent.

I just emailed the 4Sevens Store about returning it. :shakehead

 

[hopkins]

Hiker - we'd all be interested if you could look over the electronics of your LD01
with a magnifying lens to check for any bad solders. A picture of such posted here may get the attention of Fenix and help their quality control program.

Also you may save yourself a trip to return it with just reheating a bad solder connection.

merry christmas
hopkins

 

[Nake]

Hiker - we'd all be interested if you could look over the electronics of your LD01
with a magnifying lens to check for any bad solders. A picture of such posted here may get the attention of Fenix and help their quality control program.

Have you ever taken an LD01/L0D apart to get to the electronics? Not an easy task without tearing it up.

 

[Jarl]

Have you ever taken an LD01/L0D apart to get to the electronics? Not an easy task without tearing it up.

Yup. Especially the SS ones.

And then once you've opened it, you need to open it up some more to actually get at the electronics... chances of managing all that without badly damaging it is pretty low IMO.

 

[Hiker]

Hiker - we'd all be interested if you could look over the electronics of your LD01
with a magnifying lens to check for any bad solders. A picture of such posted here may get the attention of Fenix and help their quality control program.

Also you may save yourself a trip to return it with just reheating a bad solder connection.

merry christmas
hopkins

I would like to help but I am not an electronic type guy and especially after hearing those last few comments regarding messing things up.

 

[hopkins]

Nake and Jarl have a point.
Carry on...:popcorn:

 

[milhouse]

I purchased an LD01 in december 08 and much to my sadness it flickered too! I tried several different batteries (both alkaline and NiMH) as well, and concluded after looking at the contacts (and verifying they were clean) it had to be some kind of defect. It would turn off by itself from medium or low mode and usually turn on to high mode. It was very random and didn't always do it. Once it got through it's flickering seizures, it would stay on just fine. (more proof that there wasn't a dirty contact causing the problem).

I returned it, got a replacement and dang it, the second one did exactly the same thing! argh! I began to question my ability to use a light at this point. However, I went through the whole process again and it really did like to flicker. I was told by the fine folks who sold it to me that they had seen a very limited number of these failures. I must have had the bad rotten luck to get two in a row. So, I sadly had to pass on this release from Fenix, which was a little dissapointing but I'll get over it... (I still love my L0D to death, my wife will just have to give it back to me for now)

 

[TONY M]

Thats dissapointing Millhouse and it seems like there are more than a very limited numbers of LD01's that suffer from flickering.

Just steal the L0D back off you're wife and replace it with something greatly inferior - she won't notice!:thumbsup:

 

[BabyDoc]

I purchased an LD01 in december 08 and much to my sadness it flickered too! I tried several different batteries (both alkaline and NiMH) as well, and concluded after looking at the contacts (and verifying they were clean) it had to be some kind of defect. It would turn off by itself from medium or low mode and usually turn on to high mode. It was very random and didn't always do it. Once it got through it's flickering seizures, it would stay on just fine. (more proof that there wasn't a dirty contact causing the problem).

I returned it, got a replacement and dang it, the second one did exactly the same thing! argh! I began to question my ability to use a light at this point. However, I went through the whole process again and it really did like to flicker. I was told by the fine folks who sold it to me that they had seen a very limited number of these failures. I must have had the bad rotten luck to get two in a row. So, I sadly had to pass on this release from Fenix, which was a little dissapointing but I'll get over it... (I still love my L0D to death, my wife will just have to give it back to me for now)

You would think that the dealer who sold you the first light would have checked out the second light before sending it to you. If I really wanted one of these lights and had gone through what you did, I would try again but ask that they check out the light for you. If they are the "fine folks" you say they are, that wouldn't be too much to ask of them.

 

[spencer]

Where can I find more information about taking an LD01 apart? I am interested in getting one and replacing the emitter with a warm white one.

 

[sbdwag]

I had the same problem with my LD01 and I noticed a silver discoloration on the round anode area inside the head of my LD01. I took a soft pencil eraser and rubbed gently until that area dissappared and the clean copper round area reappeared.

Solved my problem completely.


Regards
Dennis

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Where can I find more information about taking an LD01 apart? I am interested in getting one and replacing the emitter with a warm white one.

there was a thread somewhere about it..... said something along the lines of putting the light in a plastic bag in boiling water for awhile and using strap wrenches to pop it loose.