D10 SP Turns on when dropped (normal?)

Hi Guys--

I have found that an impact to the top, bottom or side of my D10 defeats the lock-out feature, and turns the flashlight on. This happens with an impact equivalent to a fall from 2-3 feet onto the floor. Anyone else have this problem? Any known fixes for it?

The rest of the story is that such an impact occurs often when I go to bed and toss my pants (light in pocket) on the floor. I then go for the light sometime the next day, only to find the battery drained from being on for so long.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I am guessing that when the light is dropped the battery stops making contact briefly with the circuit then reconnects, causing the light to turn on. It is a common problem with the D20 (probably due to the extra mass of 2xAAs), but I don't hear much of the D10 having that problem.

A workaround for the problem would be to unscrew the head to keep the light off.

I have the same problem with mine. It actually takes only a fairy light tap or blow to the rear end of the flashflight to cause accidental activation.

I have sent it back to nightcore as a warranty issue. They have just got it an say they will get back to me. I will share the outcome of this with you all.

Twisting the head off does not work it just changes the mode of the switch to momentary. This again defeats the object of trying to "lock out" the light.

It is a shame because in every other way it is almost an ideal EDC light

Try cleaning the centre positive brass terminal in the head - that can cause resistance and with a slight downward movement of the battery away from the board can cause an 'on' activation.

James...

When I had my D10, I had the same issue.

I fixed it by stretching out the spring.

Stop throwing flashlight on floor... problem solved

Hayden2 said:

I have the same problem with mine. It actually takes only a fairy light tap or blow to the rear end of the flashflight to cause accidental activation.

I have sent it back to nightcore as a warranty issue. They have just got it an say they will get back to me. I will share the outcome of this with you all.

Twisting the head off does not work it just changes the mode of the switch to momentary. This again defeats the object of trying to "lock out" the light.

It is a shame because in every other way it is almost an ideal EDC light

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I have the same problem on my first-run D10 but more
The slightest tap of my finger on any area would make the torch switch on/off, ramp up/down, flicker etc. A good clean made no difference.

I sent it to Nitecore so they could take a look at it a couple of months ago. They recently emailed to say the D10 is fixed, and is on its way back to me complete with tracking number.
I'm a bit excited to receive it because, as you say, it's an excellent EDC

Thanks for all the replies everybody. I'll try cleaning the contact and stretching the spring. I'd also love to hear how it goes for those of you that sent your light back for repair. It seems strange that such an otherwise rugged light should be so sensitive to impacts...kind of like world cup soccer players in a way.

Thanks again guys. Hope you all have a great 4th.

I stretched the spring out to about twice its original rest length. The light, when locked out, now only comes on when given a very sharp impact directly to its back end, such as could only come from dropping it off a roof or something.

Problem solved. Thanks everyone for your input.

It's an interesting behavior.
On one hand it seems like a negative as it might lead to an accidental power on state. On the other hand if you fumbled your light getting it out of pocket, bag, whatever, in a darkened place having it turn on would be a great feature!
Other lights have used a spring at both ends to prevent loss of contact and, as you've seen, a tighter spring will prevent this in all but the most extreme impacts, but still, I'm wondering if it's not that bad of a characteristic.
Do you notice any change in the pressure required to activate it?

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It's very normal .

To understand it ........ think of how a piston drive operates .

Gravity and battery inertia replaces your thumb press .

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Piston drives can be very finicky, and a drop causing it to turn on is actually pretty normal. I used to own a Nitecore D20 that would come on by itself just by handling the light.

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You are concerned about coming ON when dropped .

Initially , in the lights history , the rest of us were concerned about the light turning OFF / when dropped ... breaking contact ... leaving us in the dark !

You should investigate the lights history.... back to the beginning.

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A light that behaves erratically is a problem whether it's turning itself on or off. The primary reason I sold my D20 is because I couldn't depend on it.

Thought I was the only one (D20)! Guess not.

the.Mtn.Man said:

Piston drives can be very finicky, and a drop causing it to turn on is actually pretty normal. I used to own a Nitecore D20 that would come on by itself just by handling the light.

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the.Mtn.Man said:

A light that behaves erratically is a problem whether it's turning itself on or off. The primary reason I sold my D20 is because I couldn't depend on it.

Click to expand...

On another post a member said I will regret not buying a D10,think I was correct avoiding it,plenty of others to buy and just one problem puts me off a light for good,my Itp A1 has had issues and I hate the thing now.

This never happens with my D10 (first run I believe). I just tried banging it hard at both end and dropping it. I can hear the battery piston bouncing around inside but it doesn't switch on. I've never had to adjust anything on it, and the button turns it on with just the right amount of pressure for my liking. It occasionally gets a clean and fresh lube. It's had a lot of use since I've had it.

Maybe mine's not typical, but it appears it would take a more severe bang or fall than I'm prepared to subject it to for it to switch on.

I've had a D10 since the day they came out and never had any problems.
Carried/used nearly every day.

Thanks for letting me know that if I were ever clumsy enough to drop it, the worst I could expect for - is for it to 'come on'

Zatoichi said:

This never happens with my D10 (first run I believe).

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The early D10's are solid lights, but after that it seems that Nitecore's quality started going downhill.