I was reading around and learned that the 6P, 9P, E2e, and others if used in the rain, will leak and fog up inside. I can drop my Mini-Maglite into water and it would never leak. Should'nt a mil grade (or what seems to be) SureFire be somewhat water tight?
SureFire Water Proofness?
- Thread starter Pookee
- Start date
tibim
Newly Enlightened
I put my 2 week old E2e in the sink for about 5 minutes and it came out just fine. It was on the whole time too. Even pushed the momentary switch to see if water would leak in there when it was pressed. Tried it with the stock bezel and the KL1, both were OK. I took it apart and there wasn't a trace of moisture in the battery compartment, lamp assembly, or even on the threads.
I think they're pretty much waterproof, just wouldn't go diving with it. Surefire has different definitions for words like "Water proof" and "time", you know.
I would definately not worry about a mesely rainstorm.
-tibim
I think they're pretty much waterproof, just wouldn't go diving with it. Surefire has different definitions for words like "Water proof" and "time", you know.
I would definately not worry about a mesely rainstorm.
-tibim
Here is what I read that made me ask the question in the first place:
Posted by SF M6 -
"The E2e is not waterproof either. We just had a storm in Ca.....yes it rained here for the first time this year. Well after using the e2e in the rain, I noticed the beam was dull and spread out like it had a beamshaper on it. I looked at it and it was all foggy and had water droppings on the inside of the lens. I blow Dried it."
Posted by SF M6 -
"The E2e is not waterproof either. We just had a storm in Ca.....yes it rained here for the first time this year. Well after using the e2e in the rain, I noticed the beam was dull and spread out like it had a beamshaper on it. I looked at it and it was all foggy and had water droppings on the inside of the lens. I blow Dried it."
My own experience. I bought an E2, and even though I knew it wasn't waterproof, I rinsed it off under a garden hose to wash it off. Then i noticed the same thing as Pookee, a lot of water in the bezel assembly. I sent an e-mail to surefire, complaining that even my $5 mag light doesn't leak like this, and recieved some small plastic part that I didn't know what it was for. I went to Surefire to see if they could fix it, gave it to one of the guys there, and he just replaced the bezel with one from an E1 and tested it. Oh yeah, while i was there, the receptionist gave me a copy of their catalog and magazine.
So, while I'm very happy with the customer service, I'm still disappointed with their quality. I would think a light as expensive as that should be flawless from the start, because isn't that what we're paying for?
Albany Tom
Enlightened
Um, IMHO, you're paying for the name.
Rifter
Enlightened
my M2 is very waterproof. I have tested it underwater and it does not leak at all. Even after adding a A19 adaptor and KT2 it is still waterproof.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Probably so for the high end lights like the M6.
I bought my 6P in 1992 when I graduated from the police academy. It came in a little clear plastic box surrounded by grey foam. The LEO discounted light was $50 US (now about $70). Not much of a price change for 10 years. It's been use almost every shift, rain or shine, and nary a leak.
Josh
Flashlight Enthusiast
My E2eCJ has leaked with only 5 minutes in the water, and this is with the T plug and the washer from SF! Calling cust service asap!!!
josh: i suspect you have a bezel that leaks through the lens. i had an E2e that didn't leak through the O-ring seals (those are easily fixed), but it leaked through the lens seal. surefire customer service will probably send you a new bezel free of charge. if you wish to fix it yourself, you can use epoxy or some other potting agent to line the rim of the bezel and seal the lens. good luck
Josh
Flashlight Enthusiast
I have taken the T plug out and did some tests(thanks YC
) and found that the plug caused the leaks, with the plug in it leaks on both sides of the clip, the washer is the only thing that helped. Oddly enough I was threading the bezel on and the lens retainer unscrewed on BOTH E1e and E2e! so with it off I checked the little washer thats in there looks like it seats fine. so now i have a cj ring on my HA bezel, looks cool
. I think the cold water caused to glue to letgo.
Josh
Flashlight Enthusiast
I would like to....but I lost them
Skyline
Enlightened
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">
None of my Surefire's has ever leaked while being used in the rain. Yes, I've used them in downpours. No, I haven't dropped them into a swimming pool.
This includes the E1/KL1, 6P, G2Z, M2, M3, M6, and 10X.
Yes, I'm obviously just paying for the name.
T
TACTICAL WAREHOUSE
Guest
If it's any help, I still have a few SureFire 6PN waterproof lights on my website. They're certified waterproof to 30 meters, I believe.
Dan.
Dan.
pookee: N certified surefires are just normal surefires taken off the production line and tested to a certain depth. i don't know if other 6Ps leak, but the non-certified one i got is waterproof. you can get a normal 6P, then add an extra O-ring on the tail of the barrel to make it more water-tight.
Size15's
Flashaholic
Pookee,
SureFire test an off-the-shelf stock flashlight or WeaponLight and when it passes, they give it an "N" for "Navy" I think.
It would make sense that an additional o-ring is added to the TailCap end of a 6P body like the Millennium Series have.
The testing is performed in a 30 metre deep well they had dug in the SureFire basement (Or is it a pressure chamber)
You are paying for the testing.
Al
SureFire test an off-the-shelf stock flashlight or WeaponLight and when it passes, they give it an "N" for "Navy" I think.
It would make sense that an additional o-ring is added to the TailCap end of a 6P body like the Millennium Series have.
The testing is performed in a 30 metre deep well they had dug in the SureFire basement (Or is it a pressure chamber)
You are paying for the testing.
Al
Most of them are OK if they get a little wet but
ALL the rechargeable Surefires are vented. My 9AN415-HA has been in about 8 inches of water a few times and came out fine. Just keep in mind all SF rechargeables have been vented because of explosive battery issues and are not dive lights.
ALL the rechargeable Surefires are vented. My 9AN415-HA has been in about 8 inches of water a few times and came out fine. Just keep in mind all SF rechargeables have been vented because of explosive battery issues and are not dive lights.
