Surefire A2 Oddity

[glock_nor_cal]

Preface: I'm not a geek, this is an serious question.

I just got my A2WH in the mail. I was testing it out using the LED constant on mode to read my homework with, and i noticed something i've never had (or never noticed) with any other surefire before. When i squeezed and put pressure on the tailswitch from led mode to incan mode there was an odd soft huming/electrical noise coming from the light. It seemed to me the sound was stronger from the tailcap end of the light then the bezel end. I then turned it off, locked the tailcap on and spun the tailcap to led constant on, i then spun it just to the point of Incan constant on and it made the noise again. Has anyone else ever had something like this? Someone who has an A2, try to duplicate this please. Also the beam of the incan when it is on is oval like, instead of round and therefore does not appear to be directly in the middle of the 3 led pattern when shone at a wall. when i look at the bulb itselfit seems to be slightly angled in the reflector and not straight vertical.
Just some observations i've made of this light. I've owned quite a few surefires and almost off of them were flawless. I wouldnt consider these flaws, just possibly something im not used to. theres really no other light like the A2 in surefires line up. anyone have any advice? BTW, serial # is A06709

 

[pilot4x4]

I tried what you described with the A2 I just received today. I hear the humming when I'm in LED mode and push the switch to activate the bulb. I only hear during the brief period of time it takes to push the switch firmly to it's stop. Once I'm holding constant pressure on it the humming stops. I had to hold the light up close to my ear to hear it. Johnh

 

[glock_nor_cal]

yeah ditto. same thing. thats wierd. wonder what it is

 

[Ray_of_Light]

The noise is generated from the power inductor in the electronic circuitry of the A2. You can ear the noise for a brief time, when the power to bulb is ramped up. This is a peculiarity of the soft-start circuitry of the incandescent bulb and has to be regarded as normal.

Anthony

 

[The_LED_Museum]

I tried this with my A2 and did not hear anything.
I tried listening at the bezel and at the tailcap, and tried it with both ears.
Maybe I'm not sensitive to this sound, or maybe my A2 does not generate this sound.

 

[Mark2]

I noticed the sound right when I got my A2. The sound changes depending on how hard you press the button. If you screw it down tightly, it almost goes away. If you press the button just as much as is required for the Incan to come on, it's very "loud". At first I was concerned, but I've used my A2 a lot since I got it and I never had a problem, so this might be just normal.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Both of my A2 makes exactly the same sound in the same conditions.

Anthony

 

[ws]

For my own A2, the buzzing happens only when I press the switch for the bulb. The LEDs are silent when I activate them using the button switch. When I turn the tailcap to switch on both options, there is no buzzing at all.

Hmm...

 

[glock_nor_cal]

ok i need help. when i push the button on my a2 it goes automatically to full power i cant power the leds alone what gives.

 

[Hoghead]

glock nor cal,

The first thing to do is clean the switch and body. I use alcohol with cotton balls and Q-tips.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

[ QUOTE ]
glock_nor_cal said:
...When i squeezed and put pressure on the tailswitch from led mode to incan mode there was an odd soft huming/electrical noise coming from the light. It seemed to me the sound was stronger from the tailcap end of the light then the bezel end...

[/ QUOTE ]
My A2 does not make this sound, but my SBP (Super Baby Pin) does. It is most noticeable at the tailcap when the tailcap is pressed in for momentary operation; it is audible but fainter when the tailcap is twisted clockwise for continuous operation.

I'd consider this perfectly normal in any flashlight that uses step-up inverter or other circuitry besides just a resistor between the battery and the light source (incandescent blub, fluorescent tube, EL panel, or LED).