Just back from taking my dogs for a walk. While scanning the fields for bunnies I noticed that the beam of my L2 would dim to maybe half of its full output. When I switched the light off and then back on it would return to full power for a minute or so before dimming again. Its a cold night - just a few degrees above freezing and the light would normally be on for less that 5 minutes at a time. It did not appear to be warm. The batteries are fresh but are probably not of great quality. The brand is Goldston and they must have come with some light that I bought. Could this problem be caused by the batteries. I'm going to get fresh batteries tomorrow anyway but I'd like to know what you guys think the problem could be. LED is a single mode R2 and the tailcap is a reverse clicky made by Spiderfire. Thanks.
Problem With Solarforce L2
- Thread starter gouldian
- Start date
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Hmm I have the same light, and do the same exact thing with it.. haha. And mine does the same thing. On a fresh charge (18650) it will not do what you are describing, but after using it for maybe a week taking the dog out it will start to do it. I thought it was more a function of the driver circuit because when it starts to do it I can check the voltage on my battery and it is still well above 3.6VDC. I have not thought to try it with two primaries to see if it does the same thing after a while.
I don't believe mine goes to half brightness but it is a very abrupt change after having it on for maybe 10-20 seconds. Then it holds at the lower level.
I too would be interested in anymore input.
I don't believe mine goes to half brightness but it is a very abrupt change after having it on for maybe 10-20 seconds. Then it holds at the lower level.
I too would be interested in anymore input.
^Gurthang
Flashlight Enthusiast
3.6V is essentially drained, any sag would drop you close to regulation limit. If the cell is more than a few years old its probably at the end of its career, time for a few AW cells.
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black kamagong
Newly Enlightened
black kamagong
Newly Enlightened
your led drop in might be the old ones where there's no indication of voltage, newer ones have them
Some of the newer R2 drop-ins have input voltages of about 4-8v, so a single cell will cut out before it triggers its own protection circuit. I just got a SF R2 drop-in rated for 0.8-4.2v instead for an 18650 -- it's called the "high power" version for some reason. However, the higher input drop-in should still work fine with two CR123 cells, however tired they might be
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I have the same problem.
Tested with 3 18650 batteries full charged. Voltage: 4.15, 4.13, 4.06. Brand: Trustfire protected, 2xsilver 2500 mAh 3,7V, 1xFire 2400 mAh.
I also measured the current which the Solarforce L2 take out from the Batts:
Bat1 4.15V: 0,708 A
Bat2 4.13V: 0,703 A
Bat3 4.06V: 0,691 A
My Akoray K-106 with 1x14500 is brighter.
This was not always the same. It was very bright after i bought it....
Bad R2 Drop-In?
Tested with 3 18650 batteries full charged. Voltage: 4.15, 4.13, 4.06. Brand: Trustfire protected, 2xsilver 2500 mAh 3,7V, 1xFire 2400 mAh.
I also measured the current which the Solarforce L2 take out from the Batts:
Bat1 4.15V: 0,708 A
Bat2 4.13V: 0,703 A
Bat3 4.06V: 0,691 A
My Akoray K-106 with 1x14500 is brighter.
This was not always the same. It was very bright after i bought it....
Bad R2 Drop-In?
Black Rose
Flashlight Enthusiast
Who did you buy your Solarforce L2 from and what brand is the drop-in?
Sounds like a problem with the driver in the drop-in. Should be pulling more out of the cells than what you posted.
Sounds like a problem with the driver in the drop-in. Should be pulling more out of the cells than what you posted.
Sounds like you didn't get a real Solarforce drop-in. I have several Solarforce drop-ins; an older one doesn't have the voltage marked like the newer ones do, but they are all marked "Solarforce".
I bought a Solarforce L2 off eBay and it came with a generic R2 drop-in with no name on it... but it has worked fine... so far.
I bought a Solarforce L2 off eBay and it came with a generic R2 drop-in with no name on it... but it has worked fine... so far.
Black Rose
Flashlight Enthusiast
That is not a genuine Solarforce drop-in.
SolarforceStore was notorious for creating Solarforce packages that used non-Solarforce components.
You'll notice that SolarforceStore no longer exists under that name on eBay. Word is that Solarforce cut off shipments to them because of what they were doing.
SolarforceStore was notorious for creating Solarforce packages that used non-Solarforce components.
You'll notice that SolarforceStore no longer exists under that name on eBay. Word is that Solarforce cut off shipments to them because of what they were doing.
TechnoBill
Newly Enlightened
http://stores.ebay.com/INTERNATIONAL-TRADING-COMPANY
If you need to converse with them, the language barrier can be challenging, but they genuinely do try their best to do right by the customer.
First hand experience as a customer has confirmed this when difficulties arose. There was the "other side of the planet" shipping delay (Hong Kong), but they took good care of me.
DISCLOSURE: I have since received items gratis and reviewed them. Such as https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/248023
SBFlashlights.com is not an eBay seller (I don't think, they might be?) but they are a CPF supporter and have a lot of genuine Solarforce drop-ins available.
Black Rose
Flashlight Enthusiast
But a cheap no-name drop-in gives you the opportunity to swap the driver
One of the lights I bought from SolarforceStore actually came with a Solarforce drop-in. I can't stand the driver in it, but will not change it because it's actually a genuine Solarforce drop-in.
As TechnoBill mentioned, eBay store ITC_Shop sells genuine Solarforce products.
I have also dealt with them and can confirm what he mentioned.
