Streamlight TL-3 and Scorpion bulb sockets

[yazkaz]

I recently got a Fivemega custom TL-3 and have become the latest victom of SL's poor bulb socket design. Initially, the socket yielded a very tight grip on the TL-3 bulb, but after trying out a Carley 1499 I put back the default TL-3 bulb only to find that the bulb fitting has become very loose. The loose fit interferes with the focusing mechanism and causes the bulb to be lodged between the o-ring with the frontal bezel assy unscrewed. While FM was kind enough to sell me one spare TL-3 socket, I wanted to get a few more only to learn that no other place except Actionlights.com carries it (but is currently out of stock).

Not wanting to screw up my last TL-3 socket I ended up buying a Scorpion socket and use it along with standard TL-3 bulbs. The situation gets a bit better, although the bulb still gets pulled off intermittently.

I've contacted Streamlight CS regarding the difference between both sockets (parts 850019 and 850019-1) but they didn't dare to give me a solid response.

Both sockets look the same, except for the color of the base. However, I've heard claims that the TL-3 socket (850019-1) is a hi-temp version of the 850019 while others say the 850019 is "VERY heat resistant."

So which is true? Can someone help me?

 

[davidra]

To solve the problem, take out the O ring and bend the pins a bit:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=124063

Worked for me.

 

[dano]

It's actually a design by Laser Devices, and you shouldn't blame the part, as you were using a bulb it was never intended to hold.

Both parts seem identical, except for color and are interchangeable.

 

[yazkaz]

davidra: I'm aware of the temporary solutions you've mentioned, but I can't endorse them.

Have tried bending the bulbs' pins but didn't help much. Removing the hi-temp o-ring is not a solution either as the bulb can fall into the bezel/reflector assy even easier when the socket's loose fit becomes worse.

Also hi-temp o-rings are available in limited sizes and CS only. Have tried to find a replacement with a 1.5mm CS instead of the original's 1.78mm but was unsuccessful.

dano: I hope your claims on both sockets are true. I have no luck getting an inventory update on the 850019-1 from Actionlights, lately they never replied to my queries. If that happens, maybe I should stick to spare 850019s for the time being...

That said, Streamlight's CS has stated that there is a difference between the 850019 and 850019-1, but didn't get into the details. Pathetic CS.