Newbie with Tigerlight charger problems/fix

[K5Guy]

Hi everyone, I'm new to CPF and love it. I bought a SL Scorpion a few months ago and while searching for info on it I found this site. Man I didn't know what was I getting into. Since then I have purchased a Tigerlight FBOP, Arc AAA, and I have a Magcharger WA bulbs on the way🙂 I think I have a problem with flashaholism…

Anyways, I am very impressed with Tigerlight...but not the charger. The chargers I received with my Tigerlight do not make a good contact with the light. It takes some finesse to get them to make contact and even when they do if the light is moved it will lose connection. So, since I got two chargers and one was free I decided to see if I could make it a little better. I took out the original spring-loaded terminals and put in screws for contacts. I used ring terminals to connect the wires to the new terminals. The new contacts (screws) stick up a bit taller than the originals and make better contact with the lights contacts making a more reliable connection for charging. This is should be good for mounting in my truck where the light and charger will certainly see some movement and vibration. So far I haven't had any problems with. I took a some pictures of the charger and they can be seen here.

 

[NikolaTesla]

Welcome to the Forum. Flashaholism just keeps costing you more $$$. Hey I only been in this a few months and have spent $1000+. I had a Surefire 6P for a few years and thought that was the pinticle of lights till I found this place (CPF). Now thanks to them, I can see what I am doing , no matter what the situation is. Close or Far. Hey I just found an intermitent in my newest light too and is bugging me 'cuz its an X990 that ain't cheap. I think I fixed it but we will see. Have fun. Don't charge anything you can't pay for at the end of the month. Surefire has great deals on 123 batteries- that too. Keep a bunch around. Dead flashlights don't light.
Dang too, SL is coming out with new lights....
SF too.... There goes the charge card.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif
NikolaTesla
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My Lights: ******************* CAREFULL: The last one is NOT UL approved.
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STREAMLIGHTS: KEY MATE, TTL-2D, TTL-3C, TL3-LED(5watt), STINGER XT-HP,
TTL-2L, TL-3AA (1 watt LED). BRINKMAN LEGEND LX. VECTOR SPORT LIGHT 1 MILLION CP.
SUREFIRE: 6P, L6 (5watt)LED. Cygolite 16 watt dual beam.
MAGLITE 2AA, 3C. Acro X990 HID. NikolaTesla 1.5 KW 1.5 Million Volt Arc light (I have Torus
blown 15KW style primary Arc & 175 amp @ 12.5 KV High Q rated .068uf resonating capacitor)

 

[js]

K5Guy,

Nice. Welcome to CPF.

I have a TL and have never had a problem with the charger, but I agree that it isn't that highest quality charger out there. On the other hand, it doesn't cost much. TL wanted to keep the costs down as much as possible. For $130 or so, the TL gold system is one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

 

[K5Guy]

NikolaTesla- X990 eh, that's not good. Strangely enough a friend of mine got into flashlights shortly after I did and he bought the X990. Man is that thing impressive. He is worse than I am, after the X990 he bought a TwinTask 2L and a Surefire L6. So far he has me beat in total investment and in total lumen ratings /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif

JS- Don't get me wrong here, I'm not trying to beat up on the Tigerlight. I love my new Tigerlight. I was just a little disappointed in the charger. I am following your Tigerlight upgrade closely and want to mod mine at point. The Tigerlight actually helped me out. My freinds and family all poked fun at my new hobby and thought it was ridiculous to spend more than $20 on a flashlight. Well, needless to say that all changed when I showed them my Tigerlight for the first time, now they want one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Illuminated]

K5Guy,

Welcome to CPF!

I had one of two TL chargers fail (mechanical pin problem), and Tigerlight exchanged it for another charging cradle promptly. I've had no problems with them since.

TL would likely have exchanged yours if you had contacted them. Just a thought...

John

 

[SilverFox]

Hello K5Guy,

Interesting...

I would have thought that the spring loaded contacts would work better. They will move out of the way when the shroud protecting the contacts on the flashlight passes by while loading the light into the charger.

Like Jim, I have never had a problem with the charger. You will have to keep us informed on how this set up works. Keep an eye on the protective shroud to make sure it doesn't get chewed up.

Did I mention before that TigerLights are great? However, Jim seems to indicate that they can be greater.

Tom

 

[K5Guy]

Of the two chargers I received only one had a real problem. The other one makes sufficient contact to charge. However, this is my first rechargeable light so maybe I am just not use to how they fit in the chargers. When I put my Tigerlight on the charger for the first time I slid it in and it made contact. I left it for several hours only to come back and find the charging indicator light out. I didn't know how long it had actually been charging and that made me lose confidence in the charger.

If you all put your Tigerlight in the charger and move it around, simulating one mounted in a vehicle, does it lose contact? I think I will mount mine in my truck today and ride around to give it a try.

SilverFox you're right. The plastic shroud was a concern of mine as well. Originally I wanted to put springs under the screws and adjust them with a nut on the back side to increase the tension a bit hoping this would make better contact. I couldn't find any springs that would fit last night so I just used the screws and some washers. At first I thought I could adjust the original pins to stick up higher but they are held in with a small e-clip locked into the pin so their height is limited. Perhaps a stronger spring under the original pins would be the best approach. Luckily I left them intact so I can use them again if I have problems with my screws. I’m keeping a close eye on the plastic shroud and haven't noticed any damage, yet. I may put the original pins back in with a stronger spring and see if that helps. If I have any problems I’ll let you guys know.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.