PT Aurora Flickering?

[FluffyGrunt]

Just got an Aurora today and while playing around with it noticed it flickers a little about once a second. Is this normal or did I get a defected one? It's not very noticeable but seems like it would be annoying for trying to read with. Aside from that little flicker I like it, the medium setting is only slightly dimmer then one of my Attitudes with nearly new batteries. I was only expecting it to be a little brighter then an Attitude on high. Now I just need to find something to do that requires a light.

 

[Lux Luthor]

It's defective. Mine doesn't do this.

This is getting disturbing. First we hear of one non-lighting LED, now flickering.

 

[cave dave]

Mine gives a small double flicker about once every two seconds

You can't notice it when you are walking around but it is noticable and annoying when you are reading.

 

[FluffyGrunt]

D'oh glad I kept the receipt. Thanks for the replys.

 

[waumpuscat]

I just got one and love it, but I used it to read last night and noticed the same thing that Cave Dave described. Wonder if I should send it back, or are they all going to do this?

 

[Lux Luthor]

Dave,

You're right. It gives a double flicker. I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out. I was using the Moonlight more often, so I hadn't done much reading with this light. Man, that flickering can be a little distracting after a while.

 

[waumpuscat]

Hey guys,

I emailed PT with my comment on the flickering and got a very quick response:

Phil,

The flickering you notice is the Aurora's way of saving batteries. It is only noticeable while reading, and yes it can get pretty annoying. There is nothing you can do to fix it or anything, that is the way it was designed. If you have any other questions or comments, please get back to me.

Thanks,
Ryan Ditta
Customer Service Representative
Princeton Tec
1-609-298-9331 x128
1-609-298-9601 Fax
[mailto:[email protected]]

Well, at least we know that our lights are not defective, just a bit annoying to read by.
Phil

 

[Quickbeam]

That has to be the just about the most stupid design I've ever heard of. Amazing. If they wanted to save batteries they should have had it rapidly flicker like the Photon 3 or the Eternalight. That flicker isn't noticable when reading.

 

[lightlover]

Is that supposed to be PWM, Pulse Width Modulation ?

As I understand it, PWM means the light shuts off every 1/200 of a second, (or thereabouts), for a small fraction of a second. But despite the on/off cycle, the human eye still sees this as a continious light.
It helps to save battery and lamp life.

But why would the PT version flicker noticeably every couple of seconds - I'm baffled as to how this could be considered normal ??

lightlover

 

[Luff]

An Aurora experience update: when the mail delivered mine, it had one dead LED. After much ranting and raving, I called Princeton Tec and to make a long-story short:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>posted 03-25-2002 07:45 PM
... Tomorrow, UPS will pick up my DOA Aurora and PT will pay for shipping both ways.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

UPS showed up a week later to pick up the defective unit.

On April 29th, I sent PT an email asking when, or if, I'd ever see my Aurora again. I got a quick response saying it'd be shipped out immediately and I'd get it this week ... so sorry for delay ...

Nope, it hasn't shown up yet.

I sure wish Peter Gransee would make a headlamp! Maybe even with an LS {hint, hint}. I know an Arc headlamp would be durable, perform as stated, or fixed promptly and with courtesy if something ever went wrong.

 

[Lux Luthor]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BeamRider:
...I sure wish Peter Gransee would make a headlamp! Maybe even with an LS {hint, hint}. I know an Arc headlamp would be durable, perform as stated, or fixed promptly and with courtesy if something ever went wrong.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I couldn't agree more. Why someone hasn't made an LS headlamp by now is beyond me.

 

[cave dave]

I've made a LS headlamp! SeeMy first mod
If I can do it you can do it. It's not regulated of course and its not pushing the LS any where near full brightness, but it is quite bright nonetheless.

Actually there are no production LS flashlights of any sort available currently. If you think the Arc counts try to buy one.
(factory seconds don't count)

 

[cave dave]

BTW Try this
Turn the Aurora to Low mode then swing your arm around in a circle. You can see the Pulse width modulation in action. The light leaves little strobes of light as it moves.

Maybe I should call PT. I was just going to return it to REI and get another, but if they all do that ...
How annoying.

 

[BuddTX]

Mine has a blink also!

Actualy it is two quick blinks every three seconds

It is not very noticable, or I would have noticed it before.

I had to hold the light still and a white piece of paper still in order to see it.

I still like this light a lot!