TK11 hot spot off center

Hi guys, I bought a Fenix TK11 from a certain website a week or so ago and as soon as I turned it on, I could tell the hotspot off offcenter. By quite a bit in my opinion. Its pretty obvious due to the dark halo that is present. I called up the company I bought it from and they graciously sent me another head with a prepaid envelope to send the old one back.

Well I got the replacement head today, and even it is still quite a bit off center. I most definitely would not call it a "hair off center" like some reviews have described. Is this normal for the TK11. Just gonna be something I am gonna have to live with? Or should I call them and see if they got yet another head to send me?

Mutabi

Yeah mines is a bit off center too, but I can live it.

Mine is fairly off-center too, but it's really only noticeable while 'white-walling', so I just live with it.

Now that last beam shot is on a par with mine, although mine may be "a hair" worse haha. To be honest, I think this reflects badly on Fenix. And sure I dont know what goes into making these flashlights but how hard can it really be to center the LED?

Respectfully, stop hunting white walls and test it in the real world.

I bet you´ll not see any problems.

In the real world, it works amazingly well. It puts my L2D to shame, but I just can't shake that nagging feeling that it just aint right! I guess that makes me anal

It's fine. Everyone's does it. No problems in real life, choose the head with the better tint and be done with it

mutabi said:

And sure I dont know what goes into making these flashlights but how hard can it really be to center the LED?

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Harder than you think, especially with the die not always being centered within the LED package.

LukeA said:

Harder than you think, especially with the die not always being centered within the LED package.

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This. My TK11, Dereelight DBS, Dereelight C2H, and one of my two L2D's all have hot spot that are off center. In all cases the die is centered in the reflector, at least to the eye, but apparently the emitter isn't centered in the die.

If you are unhappy with it, send it back. Or ask for a refund. An $85 investment should not leave you wanting more. There's nothing "anal" about that.

kramer5150 said:

If you are unhappy with it, send it back. Or ask for a refund. An $85 investment should not leave you wanting more. There's nothing "anal" about that.

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My thoughts exactly.

Is it as off centered as Ray1968's TK11? I'm not a bit ww hunter but Ray's is quite a bit off.

LukeA said:

Harder than you think, especially with the die not always being centered within the LED package.

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Agree, that's Cree fault. And it is a problem in real life because defocused beam means less throw.

My T1 is off about as much as that picture, and it's because the die. The LED is centered nicely but the spot is way off like that. I just bought it, but can't return it if there are no more left to replace it with. So I'm stuck with it. But like others have said, in real use it's just fine. It's just that when you're in search of that "perfect" light, these issues are very annoying.

kramer5150 said:

If you are unhappy with it, send it back. Or ask for a refund. An $85 investment should not leave you wanting more. There's nothing "anal" about that.

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I agree. 85 USD is no bargain for a mass produced chinese light.

Outdoors Fanatic said:

I agree. 85 USD is no bargain for a mass produced chinese light.

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Very true.
I think that some people would also be interested in a OP reflector TK11 like the TK10 - I would at least.

LukeA said:

Harder than you think, especially with the die not always being centered within the LED package.

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phantom23 said:

Agree, that's Cree fault. And it is a problem in real life because defocused beam means less throw.

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I'm seeing this more and more,

There is no way the "die" can be off center.

Its the dome that ends up off center because it "floats" on a layer of silicon,an interface between the die and primary optic(dome).Its the dome which causes the off center apparition.

-Michael

But it's still Cree's fault.

phantom23 said:

But it's still Cree's fault.

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I agree.I just wanted to make clear the actual cause.

-Michael

TexLite said:

I'm seeing this more and more,

There is no way the "die" can be off center.

Its the dome that ends up off center because it "floats" on a layer of silicon,an interface between the die and primary optic(dome).Its the dome which causes the off center apparition.

-Michael

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Ok, here's a close-up of the Cree in my T1. Tell me the die isn't off center.