What happened to my Surefire lamps?!

[KevinL]

Base configuration: 2 cell light (either my 6P or C2), with A19 cell extender.

I lit up a P90 only to have it instaflash and die immediately after giving out a split second of light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Christo_pull_hair.gif

Not only that, the P91 has a beam with strange circular lines and artifacts appearing. With all of my P60s, the very edge of the light has a sharply defined edge with the six round semicircles caused by the identations in the bezel ring. This is normal. The P91 on the other hand has a very blurry edge, plus some light spilling out to one side, almost like an off-center circle. Not only that, there are two kidney-shaped, slightly darker regions next to the hotspot, and none of this shows up with a P60!

I like the 200 lumens but the beam isn't quite up to Surefire standards. Both lamps were new in original Surefire packaging which I just opened to take them out and load them into the lights.

What happened?

 

[StEaLtH_]

I have the same artifacts with my P90, the hotspot is fine though but the sidespill is ringy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
My P90 was also offcenter when i got it, maybe that had something to do with it? (i centered it though).

Here's a beamshot, camera washed a few minor artifacts away though.

 

[Size15's]

I suggest you call SureFire Customer Service. Both the P90 and P91 do not appear to be up to SureFire's usual high standards.

Al

 

[KevinL]

The Canon Powershot S40 is great stuff. It doesn't even need to be switched to manual and have exposure/aperture set by hand to capture the artifacts. Either that, or the artifacts are pretty dang bad and it's not just my imagination.

And my reference, the P60 with its perfect beam.

Vertical artifacts are my wall, and not the light, but the dark spots are clearly visible. I couldn't sleep well last night. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mpr.gif

The high-resolution pics are going to SF customer service by email shortly. Thanks Al.

 

[dano]

Those don't look bad. Use the light and you won't notice them.

The P90/91 has been a bit spotty in regards to having a perfectly round beam. Several of the P90's I have emit an oval shaped beam. I have a couple of P91's that have a tear drop shaped beam pattern.

-dan

 

[KevinL]

Oh, I'm not talking about the center hotspot. The P60 is a little bit oval-ish as well, not captured by the camera. That's ok. If you look at image 2, you can see more spill outside the main corona, plus shadows next to the hotspot (more visible in image 1). I only noticed the artifacts while talking a walk with the light.

Worst come to worst, if nothing can be done about the P91, I'll just use it at longer ranges. Around 20ft, the artifacts sorta clear up. The sheer quantity of light it puts out is still nothing short of amazing. 9 volts x 2.5 amps, that's nearly a 25W spotlight in your hand.

 

[KevinL]

The followup:

SF customer service asks me for a mailing address, and sends me two replacement lamps without asking any questions.

*THIS* is the reason why I buy from companies like this. It reminds me of the time when Cisco TAC FedExed me a FREE 16MB memory upgrade DIMM for one of my routers because the new software image they sent me didn't fit into the existing flash RAM on the router - all free of charge. I'm a big fan of Cisco TAC, which has bailed me and one of my employers out of trouble more times than we can all remember. For those unfamiliar with Cisco, they are acknowledged as the best in their industry, they make the communications hardware that powers ~80% of the Internet. Their technical support is more than legendary in the many times I have had to work with them. SF is the best in their industry, and I'm glad they have the CS to back it up.

This is the first time I have had to deal with SF customer service and thus far I am truly impressed. They didn't even ask for the dud lamps back, however I've offered to ship it back to them and absorb shipping charges. 10 minutes later I receive an email saying nope, no need.

From a bad experience with two lamps, they've turned the situation around, made a believer and a lifelong customer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif

 

[kongfuchicken]

Kenvin, where did you get yours?
I just got a P61 that has the same problems...
Misformed hotspot with darker surroundings and a lot of rings.

 

[KevinL]

I bought the two off jcciv from this forum. Not saying that he would have had anything to do with the failures, because both lamps were very securely packed and new in sealed bag. Maybe it's just a bad batch?

 

[kongfuchicken]

Thanks for the information Kevin.
I emailed Surefire too and after I showed them a few pics, they agreed to send me a remplacement as well.
I love a happy ending. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[KevinL]

Same /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif waiting for my new lamps and my R123s. Now it's only a matter of when, not whether I will buy my next Surefire.

 

[kongfuchicken]

For me, it's a matter of when I can afford another one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
and yes, I won't contest that the customer service does indeed rock quite hard /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/buttrock.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/clap.gif