PT Surge Bulb Mount Failure ----WARNING!!!---

[DDS]

New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Wish I had read this post prior to buying this light! It was great for 4 min. then the bulb fell out. Seems like Princeton Tec should have a recall initiated with that many failures.

Looks like I have to send the light back and incur more expense! Next time I will browse the forum prior to an anticipated purchase! Dave

 

[Anarchocap]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

DDS, this seems to be a localized issue to a specific batch of lights. Where did you get yours and when?

 

[DDS]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

UnanimousConsent: got my Surge mail order from Moteng(CA)yesterday.

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Mine went UPS Ground on Saturday. As soon as I get my replacement I'll do a five, ten and 15 minute test to see if it was indeed batch-related. I think it is (they claim their current production Surge's don't do this) so I'm expecting that the replacement will be fine.

If not, well, I'll send it back and get another light or two of equal value (and will have burned $10+ in shipping charges).

Jon

 

[Roberts]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

I just joined this forum, and I'm glad I read through these posts. I just ordered a Surge, but I changed my order to UK SL6 this morning. I already have a Mini Q40, and I would expect the same reliability from the SL6.

One quick question, if anyone has experience with both of these lights: Is the Surge noticeably brighter than the SL6, or are they close?

 

[Kiu]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

[ QUOTE ]
Roberts said:
One quick question, if anyone has experience with both of these lights: Is the Surge noticeably brighter than the SL6, or are they close?

[/ QUOTE ]

My SL6 give a tighter/brighter hotspot than surge with fresh batt. But after turn on for about 25 mins of SL6 and 5 mins of surge. They seems to have same brightness(i mean same amount of total light output also same brightness of hotspot). Both hotspot are surrounded by same radius of flood light.

Surge on the left, SL6 on right

Also compare E2e w/ SL6
E2e on the left, SL6 on the right

 

[Roberts]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Thanks for the pictures. I think that the SL6 will be just what I need. My LED's are fine for inside work, especially the LW 4000, but I needed something that could throw a tight beam and was very bright using alkalines. It should tide me over until some time in the distant future, when HID replacement lamps are $5.00 a pop.

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

OK, back on topic....

Yesterday my replacement Surge arrived. It appears to be the same body and head/bezel that I sent in but with a new (or fixed?) battery/bulb assembly.

So, I hung it upside down and turned it on. At 2 1/2 minutes I noticed the beam's pattern on the counter 18 inches below had changed significantly. After a few choice curse words I took the Surge and turned it off - and when I did the bulb promptly fell out again.

I was assured by PT they wouldn't send me a replacement that did the same thing... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif I have an email in to Ryan at PT to see if maybe (hopefully /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif ) they goofed and sent me the wrong light.

Depending on the response I'm taking it back to Bass Pro Shop and upgrading to a Streamlight Scorpion - but I'll be pissed because I wanted a small, bright long-throw light that used AA's - now I'll be forced into 123's... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Nerd]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

What you can do is to take some epoxy putty and plant it around the bulb holding area.

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Nerd,

I'm not sure how that can be done. I couldremove the board that holds the lamp so that I can get at the back and user JB Weld to set the pin holders in place. In order to do that I'd have to carefully un-rivet? the board's negative contacts, cut of three plastic nubs that hold the board in place and maybe remove the solder on the three or four pins that connect the switch assembly. I'd give it a shot - I really like the Surge's output and form - but I'd probably ruin my chances of returning the light if this doesn't work.

Even then, if this lamps gets that hot (it's only supposed be 5.5? volts and 1.1 amps - that's not that much!!!!) then will other problems follow?

Of the folks that have had Surge's for a long time with no problem, would it be possible for you to post a picture or two of what the lamp holder assembly looks like? I wonder if they are significantly different from the current crop.

Jon

 

[Nerd]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

They are actually the same for all of us if I'm not wrong, what I did was to put just a little bit of epoxy on the sides of the bulb holder, I didn't remove the PCB or do any major renovation of the light.

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Well, if I do end up fixing it myself (against my own advice from earlier in this thread) I'll be taking the whole dern thing apart and using JB Weld to fix the pin holders in place. I will wait and see what PT has to say about this second failure before I do this.


Jon

 

[LEDmodMan]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! This is bad news. I'll be taking mine out of the box I packed it in, and I won't be going to the post office after work! StoneDog, are you sure it's the same body and head/bezel with a new/fixed lamp/battery ***'y. Oh, that would just get me fumin mad /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif if they didn't send me a WHOLE NEW LIGHT! I liked this light while it worked, so now I'm pissed! Dang it! Maybe I'll return mine and get a new one and fix it myself before I ever even use it! RRRrrrr...

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

I haven't heard back from them yet. I sent the email yesterday (Sunday) and I'll give them at least until tomorrow at noon (EST) before [I get really mad]...

It really looks like the same bezel/reflector - there was a scratch or two on the reflector's surface that seem to match the scratches in my replacement. Not sure on the body itself - to be honest I wouldn't care if they simply fixed the one I sent them and then shipped it straight back.

This whole thing would've been fixed if they'd said up front that the replacement might have the same problem (they said exactly the opposite and clearly did not test the one they sent after I asked them at least twice to please test /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif ).

If I wrote (and tested/supported) software like this I'd be out of a job...

Anyway, so now I'm faced with returning it again, fixing it myself or just getting a different light altogether. This is a huge dissappointment because there really isn't anything else available at this price and size that offers this much light! If only they'd starting potting the lamp holders in epoxy or some sort of ceramic fixture and not rely on the solder...

PS - Anyone know if the Scorpion throws as far as one of these (even if the beam isn't the same)?

Jon

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

PT did write me back but I've been laid up with strep throat and haven't had a chance to follow up. In their defense they were very apologetic in the email and asked me to call them at my earliest convenience.

But, just tonight I'm trying the JB weld fix. I hollowed out the pin holes (that pesky solder had plugged them up) and cut a small hole in the board near the pin holes. I shoved as much JB Weld in there as I could and then very carefully slid in the bulb w/ pin holders attached. After it cures for 24 hours or so I'll fire it up and do aonther test.

If that fails it's going back to the sporting goods store in exchange for a Scorpion or something else in the surge/scorpion price range.

Jon

 

[LEDmodMan]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Ummm... I hate to ask this, but is the JB weld conductive?

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Good question. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif I don't know actually. But (if I understand all of this) if the JB Weld were even mildly conductive it would create a short and the lamp wouldn't fire up, right?

Well, it definitely lights up!

This morning I did a quick test and was promptly blinded by that little ******* of a bulb. I then screwed the head back on and it turns out I didn't set the pins deep enough (their shoulders/flanges sit above the green board) so the focus is off, but unscrewing the head a bit fixes that problem.

When I get home tonight I'll do another "endurance" test and let you know the results.

Jon

 

[StoneDog]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Well, my ham fisted attempt at fixing my Surge didn't really work. The light will stay on for a minute or so and then go out. If I rap it on my palm five or six times it'll turn back on. I'm frustrated and now embarassed that I've allowed this to drag on so long. Tomorrow it's going back to the store.

I would advise anyone with similar problems to deal directly with PT customer service. I don't think they'll be letting bad replacement Surge's out the door anymore.

Jon

 

[LEDmodMan]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

Mine's going back to BassPro this weekend, and I'll be dropping PT a nice little letter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Maybe I'll try buying one from another distributor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif If I have a problem with my second one, no more Surge for me. Too bad, it's a great little light otherwise.

 

[Anarchocap]

Re: New Surge Bulb failure in less than 5 min. usage!

I know this doesn't help you guys much, but it does seem like a fairly localized issue. I bought a couple of Surges from Texas Tactical Supply in January and February. I ran them for 5 minutes pointing down to try and cause a problem and couldn't on one (February), but did on another (January).

The bulb fell out on one of mine after 3 minutes and the mount holes soldered themselves back up, so even if I could get the bulb out of the lens, it isn't going anywhere. That one's going back to PT!