Olight Warrior Mini 3 KILLED by the cold?

[3_gun]

Used my Olight while working on my car in 16F temps last night, switched over to a H04 headlight leaving the Olight off but still attached to the underside of the hood for about 45min. Finished up, the headlight was slightly warm from the runtime, Olight 16F. I took the battery out & left it apart to reduce the chance of condensation as it warmed up in about 72F temps.

This morning it's dead as a door nail. Battery still works in another Olight BUT in the Wm3 the battery no longer drops in flush with the body. I tried a different battery that has worked in the light before that is slightly shorter. It dropped in flush, not slightly below like before but at least the light head screwed down completely. Nothing. Both switches click / feel like before but nothing. Cleaned the contact area on the body & head, nothing. Nothing in the head or tail look out of place or damaged. WTF??

Any ideas I haven't tried but should?

 

[bluflaam777]

Beats me. Maybe there was a slight bit of moisture in the light and it froze? Freezing temps aren't good for batteries. Use them but don't charge them frozen.
As for you light, not really sure. I can only guess that something froze and swelled/broke.

EDIT: see if Olight will warranty it.

 

[3_gun]

C&P my post to Olight CS USA. Will post updates as I have them. To be clear the battery is fine, works & charges in my S2R. The battery does not fit into the body as before & I can see no outward appearance of damage or cause in the body or tail switch.

 

[3_gun]

Olight ask for pic & had me fill out online form. Took a couple of tries to make then understand the battery was fine.

 

[Monocrom]

Might have just been a rare defective unit? It happens sometimes.

 

[3_gun]

So Olight sent a return tag, got in the mail Monday, less than 4hrs later I had an email that a replacement had been sent, w/tracking. Still no idea what broke / caused the issue but the CS is scoring well at this point.

 

[bluflaam777]

Good to hear.

 

[Sabrewulf]

2 of my 3 Olights stopped working after I took them camping.
The last one, isn't going into the other modes anymore.
Will never buy another olight.

 

[3_gun]

Got my replacement Warrior today, quick CS, solid A grade BUT I asked if they knew what / why killed the old light. It's not recommended to use the light below 0c or 32f for us Americans, not sure if this just applies to the Warrior Mini 3 or all Olights or just lights with a tail switch. It looked to me [see pic] that something had displaced in the body as the battery no longer fit even with the tube. Only things down there is the switch & charging point. Would not having taking the battery out as it warmed up to room temp stopped "this" from happening? Ideas?

 

[Monocrom]

That is just odd as Hell for Olight to recommend not using ANY model below 32-degrees F.

I'm currently testing out a very cheap LED flashlight that has been a huge disappointment so far. But she does switch on and work reliably with its e-switch even outside in 29-degree weather.

 

[bluflaam777]

As for batteries, using them in freezing temps isn't usually and issue (shouldn't be). Charging them in freezing temps will break them.
As for Olight's torches... beats me. If they're that 'weak' that you can't use them in the cold or as someone else said 'camping', them they aren't real flashlights. Just a waste of money.

 

[Monocrom]

Olight's older models are a lot more reliable in the cold. No issues with using those in Winter.

 

[3_gun]

Couldn't find my manual so I checked online, sure enough the temp range in the pdf is 0-40 C. Again to be clear the battery that was in the light is fine, something in the tube/body changed. I couldn't tighten the head enough to make contact for a circuit

 

[Monocrom]

Couldn't find my manual so I checked online, sure enough the temp range in the pdf is 0-40 C. Again to be clear the battery that was in the light is fine, something in the tube/body changed. I couldn't tighten the head enough to make contact for a circuit

Temp. sensitive flashlights.... never thought I'd ever see something like that.

 

[aginthelaw]

I have yet to get an o'pen glow that works. About to send the second one back. It was a minor purchase but still, it fills a gap that I would like to enjoy. Doesn't seem to be carrying juice thru it when you put it in the charger (it stays green for 30 seconds and goes out, with or without the pen) I changed outlets, cables, power bricks, even the ink. No joy

 

[emac77]

32 degrees F is utterly ridiculous to me. I guess it confirms Olights as toys for flashaholics rather than tools to rely on when you need them the most-like when you need to change a flat tire on the side of the road some dark winter night and it's 15 degrees outside.

 

[Rossymeister]

Ive been using and collecting for a little while, around 19 years now. No brand of flashlight is immune to failure. Ive had failures with Surefire, HDS and Streamlight. All 3 were quick to repair when i had an issue. No complaints there.

Ive never had one quit in cold weather though, thats strange.

 

[Monocrom]

Got some inside info. regarding a new Olight accessory. I'm leaking it here.... The Olight O-Sleeve. A thick, furry, sleeve that acts as a coat for your Olight model. Keeping it warm below freezing so that your favorite Olight model won't crap out on you due to the cold. Isn't that wonderful!

 

[bluflaam777]

The Olite Pimp?

 

[Monocrom]

The Olite Pimp?

No, you'll have to buy the up-coming Olight O-Soiled Dove for the special "Sleeve" to keep your flashlight warm.