Ray O Vac changed the wiring in new 4W/3C light

[mick53]

Hello people,

I bought a new Ray O Vac 4W/3C a few weeks ago.

It was fine at first and then developed some slight intermittent flickering which got worse and worse and finally denigrated to sometimes complete failure.

So I packed it up and sent it back last week. They honored their warranty and the new light arrived today.

It is wired differently and, for now anyway, seems to work fine.

Here are some comparison photos to illustrate the wiring change. Note that RAy O Vac has moved the wiring from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock and I believe also changed it's configuration. The new wiring goes under the base plate. I don''t think the original wiring did but I don't have the original to confirm this.

I am not a true techno guy. Anyone care to explain the change and what difference it might make with the flickering problem?

First light with flickering problem:

New light with changed wiring:

Maybe there's something for all of us to be learned here.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[JohnR66]

How is the new one held down? I see no rivets. Soldering looks bad on the new one and it now has a O ring around the LED. Don't know why the wiring change. I'm sure it is all to speed up production and cut costs.

 

[WadeF]

I wonder what the o-ring around the LED is for? Would that help absorb heat, or insulate it and make the heat issue worse?

 

[bondr006]

I have found that you get what you pay for. I was very interested in this light when it first came out, but I think I will stay clear of it. I had my hands on one locally at Batteries Plus, and it just doesn't have the feel of quality even that my Mag 4D LED does at about the same price. Task Force has a new CREE 2C 150 lumen light out that can be found at Lowe's that sounds interesting. I've had a few Task Force lights, and they seem to be pretty well made.

 

[mick53]

hi bondr006,

The question was about the change in wiring on this light, right? No matter. Maybe you don't know about such things.

So you had your hands on one? Was it out of the clamshell casing so you could examine it? Or did you fondle it through the thick plastic to arrive at your determination that it didn't have a "quality feel" to it?

I don't see how anyone could make a fair assessment of a light by looking at it and handling it through thick plastic.

So I have to figure they had a demo light at the store. Were there batteries in the demo? Did you take the light to a darkened environment to test it out? I mean that's how you really can determine how welll a light works, right?

What ever happened to those "pretty well made" Task Force lights you mentioned? I noticed your referred to them in the past tense. I also noted that you don't list them among the lights you currently own.

I'd ask you what you think of my avatar but by the time you reply, I hopefully won't see your response. I'm serioulsy considering changing by name to Goldfinger.

Well, I bet this is a first! I'm hijacking my own post.

How do you "ignore" posts by individuals?

I know there's a way to "shut off" posts entered by someone about whose opinion you care not, but I can't find how to do it.

(Addendum: Other forum members, pls. pardon the drama. There's a bit of history here but I now know how to use the "ignore" function. So now the curtain has fallen on this and I won't have to read a bunch of off-topic bologna from a certain individual).

Uh, looking at the pictures, does anyone have any idea why they changed the wiring scheme on this light?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[bondr006]

Mike. Please see my PM...

I gave the two Taskforce lights I had to my uncle. He liked them a lot, and I saw it as a chance to help someone get in to the flashlight hobby. I did use the ROV light at the store, and yes, the clerk let me take it to the back room where I could turn off the lights. I am only giving my opinion Mike. I thought that was what this forum was for. If you like the light, that is fine. I hope it turns out to be a good light for you.

BTW....You can ignore a person by clicking on their user name, and then click Add xxxxxx to Your Ignore List

 

[INF]

I have the new Task Force 60X Xlamp. I find the LED in it looks exactly same as the one in the new ROV 4W/3C. The wire is at 12 o'clock though. I wish I can buy a ROV 4W/3C in SOCAL to make a comparison.

:candle:

 

[Khaytsus]

(Addendum: Other forum members, pls. pardon the drama. There's a bit of history here but I now know how to use the "ignore" function. So now the curtain has fallen on this and I won't have to read a bunch of off-topic bologna from a certain individual).

:mecry: :mecry: :mecry: :mecry:

 

[mick53]

:mecry: :mecry: :mecry: :mecry:

...another stellar contribution concerning the Ray O Vac's rewiring of this light.

Let me guess. Somehow the wiring was getting damp? That was the problem?

Not sure I understand you're meaning. But I thank you for nevertheless for your contribution.

My knowledge about flashlights, wiring of them in particular, increased exponentially after reading your oh so lucid post.

Thank you.

:kiss::kiss::kiss::kiss::kiss::kiss:

 

[Scott Packard]

It looks to me like they drilled the rivets out, cut out (unsoldered) the original black-coated wire and replaced it with a white-coated wire. Or, if this is a new production run they just eliminated the rivets, and glue the star to the body. Two less rivets means lower production costs.

 

[clg0159]

Mick,
The change in wiring is not significant. If you simply grab the alluminum sink that the led is sitting on you will see that it can be removed/turned. Also the star could be oriented in a number of ways. It really means nothing, but that they are changing the way they assemble the light.
Using adhesive instead of rivets as mentioned would save money in the mass production of these lights. Either way it is still a great light for the price. Bright, adjustable spot and a great thrower. Enjoy it!
BTW as far as the quality goes, it is a Rayovac not a Surefire and that is obvious so there is no need to even make a ridiculous comparison.

Have you removed the star yet? I'm curious to see if they have changed the heatsink in any way as well.