LI-ON HEART reflector issues!!

[yaesumofo]

I received my LH's today. The Li-on heart has a lot going for it! It's Rechargeable!! I am so happy I won't be feeding this thing on a continuous diet of CR-A's.
Variable output. Nice feature a bit of overkill for my needs. Somewhere between 3 and 6 levels works fine for me.
I tend to use my light on HIGH a lot of the time and medium some of the time and low for the rest. I am used to the VIP levels I guess.
The design of the LH is beautiful. Personally i don't care about serial numbers logos and "made in xxx" stuff. I could live without all of it in order to enjoy the pure beauty of the light. What do they call that?
I like the functionality of the switch.
The fit and finish are first rate.
Both of the LH's are nice and bright, with the same tint of LED. Both lights are creamy when compared to the HIDish blue of my VIP's.

So what is the problem with the reflector? You ask. Well I will tell you.
If you have a VIP with a BH have a look at the reflector. One thing you will see is that it is partial OP. That is nice. Mine produces a near perfect beam.
The LH doesn't. The reason is the distortion of the reflector near the LED. The VIP with the BH doesn't suffer from this distortion. Also the LED is set a bit lower in the VIP BH reflector than it is in the LH.
It looks to like the reflector that is in the BH would have a been perfect choice for the LH except for one thing, it doesn't fit.
Too bad.
The way I see it the LH is a very nice flashlight well worth the wait. I look forwarded to ANY accessories witch will enhance it like the BH and BBH do on the VIP.

I feel like the reflector just is not matched to the flashlight very well. Hell it is a $175.00 flashlight with a $2.00 dollar reflector in it. It is like putting a 65 horse VW beetle engine in a mustang.
I am sure that if we put our heads together we can come up with something better.

Yaesumofo

 

[john_bud]

Yaesumofo,

I too have similar feeeeeeling about the mismatch between the extremely high quality of the design, the machining and the electronics compared to the reflector. While my techno-geek side really gets it's jollies from the whiz-bangs, I would like to have a near perfect beam to match the rest of this near perfect torch.

Here's a thought;
I don't have a lathe to do the work, but I did notice that a PM6 reflector is the exact same OD as the LH reflector. It even goes partway into the head. BUT, it needs to have the outside edges cut away to conform to the LH head. I have a "spare" PM6 reflector, anybody have some spare lathe time? Anybody?.


jb

 

[cue003]

I have a spare McR27 reflector that I can offer up for testing if someone wants to offer up some lathe time.

Thanks.

Curtis

 

[Justintoxicated]

I'm also interested if someone comes up with something, hell, even the small reflectors chop made work better IMO (although alot more flood) and that one does fit.. but it would be stupid to space the UCL with THAT many Orings.

That and the fact the LED need to be replaced also. With a new reflector and a new LED though, there would be no use for my VIP :P

 

[flashlight]

Yeah, actually I did notice the less than perfect beam pattern & was wondering if the other reflectors would fit & work better.

 

[xochi]

It took me a few days but now I absolutely love my lionheart. I do see the need for a diferent reflector. Put me down for one if possible. I'd really like orange peel.

 

[TrueBlue]

I just got a replacement SO27XA reflector (27mm IMS reflector) from the Sandwich Shoppe and I’m happy to say this replacement reflector is MUCH BETTER than the original reflector. The beam shot below will show you how much tighter the beam is with the new reflector. It is hard to photograph the weird spill patterns I was getting off the old reflectors. Bumping up the gamma in my graphics program couldn’t show the weird patterns in the light. The patterns look worse in real life.

An off-shoot of the newer reflector is the beam is tighter and brighter. I suppose if you like a broader beam then stay with the distorted reflectors. Myself, I like the tight beam.

I was looking for a reason why my older reflectors both gave me weird patterns. Both old reflectors have distorted cones on the base of the old reflectors and that could project strange patterns in the beam. One of my older reflectors, the worst spill beam reflector, has a warped dent on the upper rim. A generally distorted cone at the base of the emitter would explain the fuzzyness of the spot.

I think Mr. Bulk got a bad batch of reflectors from his source. It looks like there might be a “reflector lottery” going on. BAD reflector company! The reflectors must be from a "Friday" batch. OH well, what can you do but buy more reflectors from the company? They don't mind because they get more money-INITIALLY.

They don't have any competition from anyone else so you have to buy from them. There is no reason for QC because 'they are the only game in town.' But I'll think twice if I have to buy another reflector from them.

I might have to order a second SO27XA reflector from the Sandwich Shoppe!

OH, Mr. Bulk, I like your light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Justintoxicated]

[ QUOTE ]
haveblue said:
I just got a replacement SO27XA reflector (27mm IMS reflector) from the Sandwich Shoppe and I’m happy to say this replacement reflector is MUCH BETTER than the original reflector. The beam shot below will show you how much tighter the beam is with the new reflector. It is hard to photograph the weird spill patterns I was getting off the old reflectors. Bumping up the gamma in my graphics program couldn’t show the weird patterns in the light. The patterns look worse in real life.

An off-shoot of the newer reflector is the beam is tighter and brighter. I suppose if you like a broader beam then stay with the distorted reflectors. Myself, I like the tight beam.

I was looking for a reason why my older reflectors both gave me weird patterns. Both old reflectors have distorted cones on the base of the old reflectors and that could project strange patterns in the beam. One of my older reflectors, the worst spill beam reflector, has a warped dent on the upper rim. A generally distorted cone at the base of the emitter would explain the fuzzyness of the spot.

I think Mr. Bulk got a bad batch of reflectors from his source. It looks like there might be a “reflector lottery” going on. BAD reflector company! The reflectors must be from a "Friday" batch. OH well, what can you do but buy more reflectors from the company? They don't mind because they get more money-INITIALLY.

They don't have any competition from anyone else so you have to buy from them. There is no reason for QC because 'they are the only game in town.' But I'll think twice if I have to buy another reflector from them.

I might have to order a second SO27XA reflector from the Sandwich Shoppe!

OH, Mr. Bulk, I like your light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

That about explains why mine is so bad. There is definatly visible distortions in the base of the reflector I'm not even sure it's a circle! however I'm skeptical to order a new reflector being afraid it my just be as bad as the first one. In your picture the beam looks noticably brighter over all too. it almost sounds like it would have a similar beam to the BH? only of course not quite as smooth?

 

[FNinjaP90]

Yeah there are some funky patterns in mine too. Is this the one you're talking about?

 

[TrueBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
FNinjaP90 said:
Yeah there are some funky patterns in mine too. Is this the one you're talking about?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup! That's the one I bought.

 

[Justintoxicated]

[ QUOTE ]
FNinjaP90 said:
Yeah there are some funky patterns in mine too. Is this the one you're talking about?

[/ QUOTE ]

I thougth it was a $2 reflector not a 5.50 dollar reflector :P

Looks like I will have to order a replacement

 

[TrueBlue]

Here is another picture. The circles show the defects in my worst reflector.

 

[TrueBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
Justintoxicated said:
[ QUOTE ]
FNinjaP90 said:
Yeah there are some funky patterns in mine too. Is this the one you're talking about?

[/ QUOTE ]

I thougth it was a $2 reflector not a 5.50 dollar reflector :P

Looks like I will have to order a replacement

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe for $5.50 you get a good reflector? $2 doesn't get you much anymore.

 

[BVH]

Haveblue is this just a "drop-in" replacement? No shimming or trimming? This would technically be my First Mod and I don't want to blow it!

 

[Geheim]

LI-ON Heart is excellent, reflector is bad. This is the only major problem I have with the light. When compared to my VIP the LI-ON Heart looks like crap, beam wise that is. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. I'll see if any other options come up to fix this, if not than I guess its time to order another reflector.

Chad

 

[4sevens]

Mr Bulk,

It would be very helpful to the community if you disclosed your
source of so27xa's. That way it would save cpf'ers the same mistake.
Did you get them from future or ims direct or another distributor?

My particular reflector I thought was crushed at the base but actually
there was a pool of reflector paint at the reflector - an obvious
defect. If you're taking reflectors back, I would like to send mine
back. I know it's a few bucks, but if we don't do this, manufacturers
will get away with junk like this.

 

[xochi]

They are 2.94 at futureelectronics.com. Mr. Bulk did disclose his source in another thread. Forget where though.

Buy from the Shoppe though, pick up a sammich or two to support the cause...

I think Future will get away with it since they are the only ones who have this product. This is just one more little instance in the saga in dealing with Future. They are the exclusive distributor of luxeons for lumileds from what I understand.

 

[TrueBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
BVH said:
Haveblue is this just a "drop-in" replacement? No shimming or trimming? This would technically be my First Mod and I don't want to blow it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Open the cap, noting how the reflector legs are positioned as the reflector only goes in one way, take out old reflector, replace with a non-defective one, replace the cap...you're done! No cutting or fitting. Easy!

Xochi...maybe the distorted reflectors originally came from Future? I did get a good reflector from the Sandwich Shoppe...for a little more dough.

 

[3rd_shift]

Now, if Eveready can come up with a 99 cent incan light with a good reflector, I see no reason for any bad reflector costing more than a dollar.
Whoever actually made the reflectors for the Lionhearts just needs to get thier poopoo together.
Actually, I thought idleprocess's sample, looked good when I saw it 1st hand as I handed him a bucketfull of lights to review.

 

[xochi]

What a great gift idea , 3rd....the "Bucketfull of Lights". Have you ever smelled someones house after recieving one of those pepperidge farm gift packs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif.