So I'm pretty much done with Olight, after purchasing 10+ of their lights over the years it is time to look for a more reliable brand.
I typically use my lights while doing astrophotography, I have an old style R50 Pro which has had constant issues with batteries dying since ~6 months following purchase. I've now had 4 batteries, all of which have died. Of course, you only realize there is an issue when you need to use the light. There is no way it can be relied on to work when needed. Not good for something that is sold as a search light. The battery dies sometimes when using, sometimes doesn't turn on. Not good when you are in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night in some of the darkest places you can find (It needs to be dark, very dark for astrophotography, no moon and no light pollution).
When I first contacted Olight regarding the failed battery they said I was just unlucky and got a bad battery with the light and sent a new one out. When that first replacement battery died, I contacted them again and they said there was a bad batch of batteries and they must have sent one of these as a replacement... They'll send a second replacement...
This second battery then also dies after a few months of very little use. I contact Olight Support again, and I'm told that they will send yet another battery. I challenge them and ask why the cells keep having issues and could it be down to the light itself or perhaps the charger...
Impossible I'm told, the battery has the charge protection.
<[email protected]> wrote: "Well if the protection circuit in the battery is working properly than it will not overcharge. They tested 20 of them at the factory and concluded it was the battery and now every new battery we send out we are letting the old supplier know to reimburse us for the issue."
I'm told its not the light, or the tailcap or the charger. Replacement 3 is sent... the forth battery to be in the R50 Pro.
This has also recently failed in exactly the same way, 0V on the battery, the light works when connected to the charger, however the battery does not charge or hold a charge.
I contact Olight Customer Support again and they would like to send a new battery. I push back this time and after a number of weeks of getting no where with the Customer Support email address, who still do not appear to understand that after 4 batteries the issue may be with the light.
I now contact the online chat support and again am faced with a very unresponsive process. After two days, finally I'm offered to RMA the light and told the technical team will take a look to determine if the light works. The light does work, however it is killing batteries. If they put a new battery in there, it will work and likely send it back to me.
So I'm done with Olight, the R50 Pro has been a very problematic light, constant issues, 4 batteries all which have died and a hassle to get any useful customer support.
Can anyone recommend an alternative brand and similar style search light which works when you need it most?
Thanks
A
I typically use my lights while doing astrophotography, I have an old style R50 Pro which has had constant issues with batteries dying since ~6 months following purchase. I've now had 4 batteries, all of which have died. Of course, you only realize there is an issue when you need to use the light. There is no way it can be relied on to work when needed. Not good for something that is sold as a search light. The battery dies sometimes when using, sometimes doesn't turn on. Not good when you are in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night in some of the darkest places you can find (It needs to be dark, very dark for astrophotography, no moon and no light pollution).
When I first contacted Olight regarding the failed battery they said I was just unlucky and got a bad battery with the light and sent a new one out. When that first replacement battery died, I contacted them again and they said there was a bad batch of batteries and they must have sent one of these as a replacement... They'll send a second replacement...
This second battery then also dies after a few months of very little use. I contact Olight Support again, and I'm told that they will send yet another battery. I challenge them and ask why the cells keep having issues and could it be down to the light itself or perhaps the charger...
Impossible I'm told, the battery has the charge protection.
<[email protected]> wrote: "Well if the protection circuit in the battery is working properly than it will not overcharge. They tested 20 of them at the factory and concluded it was the battery and now every new battery we send out we are letting the old supplier know to reimburse us for the issue."
I'm told its not the light, or the tailcap or the charger. Replacement 3 is sent... the forth battery to be in the R50 Pro.
This has also recently failed in exactly the same way, 0V on the battery, the light works when connected to the charger, however the battery does not charge or hold a charge.
I contact Olight Customer Support again and they would like to send a new battery. I push back this time and after a number of weeks of getting no where with the Customer Support email address, who still do not appear to understand that after 4 batteries the issue may be with the light.
I now contact the online chat support and again am faced with a very unresponsive process. After two days, finally I'm offered to RMA the light and told the technical team will take a look to determine if the light works. The light does work, however it is killing batteries. If they put a new battery in there, it will work and likely send it back to me.
So I'm done with Olight, the R50 Pro has been a very problematic light, constant issues, 4 batteries all which have died and a hassle to get any useful customer support.
Can anyone recommend an alternative brand and similar style search light which works when you need it most?
Thanks
A
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