Need advice on my MVP.

[trucker1964]

Hi I need some advice on the Lumapower MVP I just received.

First a little history. I first bought a Fenix TK11 from Battery Junction and on second thought I wished I had bought a MVP. They were nice enough to let me exchange the Fenix for the MVP and pay the difference.

I had to return the first MVP I received for the following reasons, one of the reflectors had a dark black stain, the threads on the tail cap were not finished correctly and it wanted to cross thread, and two of the four Ultrafire batteries they shipped wouldn't fit in the tube. I was never able to turn that light on so I don't know what the beam was like. I had to pay return shipping.

Sorry I don't know what I just did but it posted before I was done writing. I will try to continue.

I just received the second MVP and the AW batteries I bought fit perfect and the light turned on fine. It is bright but in the center spot of the beam is a dead green spot. I tried covering two LEDs at a time so I could see each LED alone and discovered that one had a dead green center. I looked down at the LED with a magnifying glass and it's dome is either chipped or has air bubbles in it I can't tell. It really looks like air bubbles. Have any of you guys seen this before? I'm pretty bummed as this light is not cheap and I don't like paying all this return shipping. I read Selfbuilts review and he had high praise for the MVP. Are these quality control things normal? I am scared to try another MVP. What do you guys think? Is it normal to have to pay the return shipping on defective lights? I understand paying on exchanges but this will be twice for lights with problems. Should I try another MVP?

As a side note what about the Olight M20, I ask because it is the only other light that Battery Junction carries that I would like, and it would be simple to do a return exchange. I know it is not as bright as the MVP but It claims to have good regulation with 18650 batteries and that was what made me like the MVP better that the Fenix TK11. Are Olights well made? Would you ask them to replace the MVP with an Olight M20?

 

[shomie911]

I bought a Lumapower light and it had a defective beam as well, Battery Junction offered an RMA once I explained it to them though, they're customer service is great.

I ordered an Olight M20 through the Battery Junction/Olight promotion and it should be shipping tomorrow.

It's supposed to be a very well designed light and the leader of its class.

 

[trucker1964]

Hey thanks for the reply. Did they make you pay the shipping when you returned the light? They made me pay the shipping on the first MVP I returned so if I pay for this one too I will have spent 20 something on return shipping of defective lights.

I think the Olight M20 sounds good if it is made well and really has good regulation as stated.

I am definitely not going to try another MVP as this seems to be a common problem. I don't know if the first one they sent me had a beam problem but one of the reflectors had a black stain about the size of a grain of rice.

 

[shomie911]

Ya I paid shipping, but it was only about $7 shipped USPS Priority so I didn't care.

My trust in Lumapower is pretty low because of the experience I had in my light and now hearing this.

But Olight seems to be a very solid brand, and I think the M20 is going to be a great light.

 

[trucker1964]

Well I will sleep on it tonight and send them back this one tomorrow. The Olight looks really nice I'm leaning towards exchangeing for one of those. I like the run times they post. We will see. Please tell us what you think as soon as you get it.

 

[eyeeatingfish]

I was thinking about the MVP but now youre scaring me... If this is common maybe someone at batteryjunction can inspect the light before sending it out. Im sure they could do this for you if you request it.
As for lumapower, ive had good experience with their lights. Ive had about... 4 lights and given 4 more of their lights as gifts. The only problem was a circuit board that went weird after about 8 months, but batteryjunction fixed it no questions asked.

 

[shomie911]

Well I will sleep on it tonight and send them back this one tomorrow. The Olight looks really nice I'm leaning towards exchangeing for one of those. I like the run times they post. We will see. Please tell us what you think as soon as you get it.

I will.

 

[trucker1964]

Well supposedly both the MVP lights were inspected for me. I don't know maybe I am too picky? I just feel like $200 is a good chunk of change for a light and I really don't like having one of the LEDs look so bad. I can see it in the beam. At first I thought it was a doughnut hole effect but that didn't make sense with three LEDs so I shined each one alone by covering the others and when I saw the one with the green dead spot I was very unhappy. I don't think it is Lumapowers fault unless it is common for LEDs to have air bubbles in them, in which case maybe their quality control should have looked for it.

Just out of curiosity what was the problem you had with the beam on your MVP?

 

[shomie911]

Well supposedly both the MVP lights were inspected for me. I don't know maybe I am too picky? I just feel like $200 is a good chunk of change for a light and I really don't like having one of the LEDs look so bad. I can see it in the beam. At first I thought it was a doughnut hole effect but that didn't make sense with three LEDs so I shined each one alone by covering the others and when I saw the one with the green dead spot I was very unhappy. I don't think it is Lumapowers fault unless it is common for LEDs to have air bubbles in them, in which case maybe their quality control should have looked for it.

Just out of curiosity what was the problem you had with the beam on your MVP?

I had a DX-1 P7 not a MVP. It had a pretty bad donut in the beam. I asked other owners and I was the only person I could find who had one, so I sent it back.

 

[woodrow]

The only thing that kept me form purchasing the MVP or DX-1 is that they are made by Lumapower. I have bought 8 LP lights and had problems with 4. Any other products that Batteryjunction sells I am quick to snap up because MattK carries most of the best lights and provides incredible customer service.

If you can live with the beam....and the light is giving you no other problems I would keep it. MattK gives you 30 days after all. It is a unique light and very bright for a led light. I would not make a rush decision.... but do what you think is best.

 

[jirik_cz]

I tried covering two LEDs at a time so I could see each LED alone and discovered that one had a dead green center. I looked down at the LED with a magnifying glass and it's dome is either chipped or has air bubbles in it I can't tell. It really looks like air bubbles. Have any of you guys seen this before?

That really sounds like a damaged LED. You should return it.

 

[trucker1964]

I'm going to call them and get an RMA this morning after we get the kids to school. I don't like seeing the dead spot in the beam and I think it would be brighter if all the LEDs worked right.