New Inova LED X1 with non-Nichia LED - Blinks!

[ltiu]

Hi guys,

Really curious issue I have. My brand new Inova X1 "blinks"

I believe the battery I am using (regular Energizer, Rayovac, Duracell Coppertop) cannot hold the voltage steady and the LED loses power for a very short while, the LED then shuts down and since power draw goes down, battery power comes back up again, happens again and again resulting in a blinking light. Blinking ranges from very fast once a second to once every 4 seconds (depending on battery). Does anyone here have this same issue, with any flashlight they have not just Inova X1's?

Thanks.

 

[Sigman]

Hmmm, do you have a good solid/clean electrical path from the tailcap/spring to the body?

 

[copierguy_mobile]

I've got a 3rd gen X1, no blinking... ever.

if you replaced the battery and the contacts are clean, send it back to Inova.

They will replace it under the lifetime warranty.

 

[ltiu]

I cleaned the contacts and used various new batteries from 3 different brands. Fresh new batteries do not blink until about 5 minutes run and then it starts blinking slowly at first, then faster and faster. I bought a flashy stobe! I hate having to send it back, the postage would costs me a few bucks, all that trouble for a $20 light. Do you think Target takes it back?

 

[lumenal]

Target will take it back as long as you have the original packaging and a receipt, within 90 days of purchase.

As far as the blinking.

I bought the new X1 gen.3, at Target a couple weeks ago. And I really do like the smooth, white, even, but dim, beam.

Mine will start blinking when the battery is almost drained, which is especially good since I use Ni-MH (I know its time to recharge). The blinking starts slow, and then gets faster as the battery continues draining.

I pulled the battery when the X1 was blinking, and my DMM registered 1.195v.

Perhaps the circuitry in yours is set at a higher voltage cut-off ?:thinking:

If you have a DMM, check your voltage when its blinking. If its higher than say, 1.20 volts, take it back.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Welcome to CPF, If you can't get it working send it back

 

[ltiu]

I did notice when I was in the store, I tried a few of the Inova X1 on the shelf and I notice one was blinking when I depress the rear "try me" button. I thought it must a be a strobe feature. Now that I see someone else with that behavior. Must be an engineering booboo of some sort on Inova's part. The light should not blink when power starts to run out. It should just slowly dim!

I decided to experiment a little bit.

I put in a fresh new battery (Rayovac Alkaline, not very good quality?) and let it run. The light was solid for about 5 minutes, then started to blink. Faster and faster for about 1 hour, then it finally stopped blinking. I unscrewed and let it rest for a minute, then screwed it back in and it started blinking again. This time taking a shorter time to blink faster and stop blinking. Did that a few times.

I noticed that when the battery reaches a certain low but not out level. I can screw the back maybe 98% all the way (but not all the way) and produce a weak white light that does not blink. It would stay on like that for a long time, I decide to turn it into my night light and see how long it can go.

I woke up this morning see it still on, after 7.5 hours. I turned it way on 100% screw the back in and I notice it stays on but with a weak white light, but no blinking.

So my findings:

1) New battery = Bright white light and no blinking.
2) Slightly used battery = Bright white light and blinks.
3) Half used battery = Weak white light that stays on for many hours only if you screw the back in about 98% of the way.
4) Almost spent battery but still have power left = Weak white light that stays on if cap is screwed in 98% to 100%.

Really weird behavior.

 

[Beer]

I've never had any blinking from mine...