What's wrong with my reflector?

[was.lost.but.now.found]

I just noticed this the other day. No major falls, drops, or incidents of any kind with the light. It almost looks to me like it's corroding or flaking away.

In case you're wondering, it's my Ti Q Mini 123 I've only had for a couple weeks.

Thanks for any ideas you can provide.

 

[Dioni]

:aaa:
It looks like fungi eater of flashlights! just keep it away from us!
But jokes aside, I've heard something about it however I didnt can find any info. :sigh:

 

[kts]

:aaa:
It looks like fungi eater of flashlights! just keep it away from us!

:lolsign: Some evil kind of flashlight virus, our worst nightmare...


It looks like something went wrong when the reflector got its coating, I would send it back.

 

[kramer5150]

Curious... did the cell vent, maybe even just a little? I have an ultrafire 16340 that leaked a little "brown something" out the +B vent. I tested the cell and it works just fine so I just keep using it...??

 

[Saint_Dogbert]

Yeah, check your battery. A reflector coating shouldn't corrode like that on it's own, and even if it did it would be gray, not copper colored.

 

[carrot]

Why would it not be copper underneath? It could very well be chromed copper for heatsinking, but I haven't opened up a Mini myself. Looks like a faulty reflector, and you should contact your dealer.

 

[DM51]

Oh dear - this is a pity. I had hoped we would not see another outbreak of this. Unfortunately, it looks as if you have a case of Reflector Fungus.

Some microfungal species have shown themselves not only resistant to metal contamination, but actually able to thrive on metal - notably aluminium.

The first case of this was observed by McGizmo in a prototype PD-Q light. The light became infected by Reflector Fungus, similar to yours. Within a week, the entire reflector had been eaten away. He discovered that without a reflector, the light actually produced a very nice floody beam; he decided to make some more lights without reflectors, to be called "McToadstools". Market research showed there was some resistance to this name, so he called the new light a "Mule" instead. The rest is history. That was the only known positive consequence of Reflector Fungus; other outbreaks have proved far less fortunate.

You should keep your infected light isolated from the others in your collection, or they could become similarly afflicted by this distressing fungal condition.

 

[was.lost.but.now.found]

Curious... did the cell vent, maybe even just a little?

The only battery that has been in it is the brand new 4Sevens CR123 that came with it. Do good batteries (as opposed to crap ones) vent after less than 20-30 minutes total use?

...that leaked a little "brown something"...

Dude, TMI.:crackup:

Looks like a faulty reflector, and you should contact your dealer.

I will, thank you.

 

[SUREFIRED]

DM51: Is that fungus related to the Chip Weevil? :crackup:

:tinfoil:

Mike

 

[Kestrel]

LOL, I knew it wouldn't be long before DM51 posted here. :D

 

[DM51]

Come come now, Kestrel. Do not mock the Mule Fungus. It can strike at random. Poor kelmo has just reported that he has been personally afflicted by it in a most embarrassing manner on a part of his person that I will not reveal here :green:

LOL!

 

[Illum]

:thinking:

Somehow this looks vaguely familiar...I have seen this form of degradation before, but my experiences never reminded me of an angel ring of mushrooms sprouting in round balls

It may have been water in the form of vapor within the light, then as the outside ambient decreased the vapor occupying the space of the reflector condensed on the glass where the metal and window met...included within this water is certain chemicals that are stable on its own but [in the presence of aluminum] is slowly reducing it?
it reminds me of water mold, but I'l pretty sure it isn't it


If the light is guaranteed to be a closed environment then someone must've slept through their metallurgy courses as some metals don't mix well with others. early attempts at bimetal strips [not alloy, but mounted together] failed for this reason, sort of like why solder will not stick to aluminum

 

[Kestrel]

Poor kelmo has just reported that he has been personally afflicted by it in a most embarrassing manner on a part of his person that I will not reveal here :green:

LOL, now that was a link that I just had to click on. :huh:

 

[DuncanHynes]

There's a FUNGUS amonG US! Actually seriously, if it's only that old take it back, it's just flaking. The coating was applied incorrectly be it at the wrong temperature, to thin, etc. Like my Eclipse's factory paint job! :thumbsdow

 

[4sevens]

There's a FUNGUS amonG US! Actually seriously, if it's only that old take it back, it's just flaking. The coating was applied incorrectly be it at the wrong temperature, to thin, etc. Like my Eclipse's factory paint job! :thumbsdow

Hey! I'm a fun guy! :crackup:

If it affects the performance of the light output we'll get that swapped out for you. If it doesn't bother you, just live with it :p

 

[was.lost.but.now.found]

Hey! I'm a fun guy! :crackup:

If it affects the performance of the light output we'll get that swapped out for you. If it doesn't bother you, just live with it :p

Thank you good sir. It does not affect performance yet; since I have a 10 year warranty I will just wait. If it gets any sicker I will send it to the doctor:). I'm assuming you're saying you would put in a new reflector as opposed to replacing the light, right? Because if I wait a couple years the serialized Tis will likely be all gone.

 

[generallobster]

my olight has some chips around the reflector edge that look just like that, it's the reflective coating coming off the copper reflector.

 

[kts]

If I had a light looking like that, it was going back for sure, must be a poor QC to let such a reflector pass :thumbsdow

 

[was.lost.but.now.found]

If I had a light looking like that, it was going back for sure, must be a poor QC to let such a reflector pass :thumbsdow

I wasn't like that when I received it.

 

[Woods Walker]

OMG! Reflector fungus! Wow it’s like a man can’t catch a break. My fish get Ick and the cigars are being eaten by weevils. Now I gotta worry about this.:D