One is none and two is one

Steinar · **on:** June 24, 2012, 07:39:28 PM

Once more I was reminded why I never really trust anything operating on batteries. Today I visited a local museum, and the lighting was rather bad on a knife I wanted to look properly at. So, out came my Quark MiNi, and... nothing. Double checked... Nope, no response. So it was up to the Photon I have with my keys to save the day, which it did without any problems.

When I came back home, I dropped my old 2xAA Maglite in my EDC bag and scowled at the Quark. I assume the quick activation mechanism had been triggered over and over again in my bag and depleted the battery.

So, the moral of the story is always carry several lights and backup batteries. Really controversial, I know.

enki_ck · **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2012, 08:07:13 PM

But then it two is one, then you need another one as backup right? So 3 is a minimum for me.

Had that happen to me too many times before.

Steinar · **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2012, 08:18:58 PM

Quote from: enki_ck on June 24, 2012, 08:07:13 PM

But then it two is one, then you need another one as backup right? So 3 is a minimum for me.

Actually, I did have three with me, but the third only had a red emitter, which wasn't practical in this case.

I certainly agree with your point.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2012, 08:34:40 PM

I've got stung like that before

I usually just twist the end cap a few degree's to lock them out now

Steinar · **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2012, 09:14:47 PM

Yeah, I'll have to do something like that to carry that light from now on.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2012, 09:20:25 PM

It is bloody frustrating when they do it though

sawman · **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2012, 09:43:47 PM

I always carry 3 lights on me: Mag xl200, Streamlight Nano and a Photon Freedom

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2012, 02:50:48 AM

I'm confused... a Quark Mini is a twisty UI, and doesn't have a "quick activation" mechanism. Are you talking about a regular AA with a tail switch?

Steinar · **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:10:22 AM

Single CR123, no tail switch. When I press it in the lengthwise direction, it activates as long as I press it. Since it works that way even when it turned off by “a mile”, I assumed it was by design for one handed operation, especially since the different modes are available that way as well. I almost have to disassemble it to be unable to activate it that way. At first I thought I hadn't turned the switch around enough, but when I saw how far I had to turn to disengage it totally, I assumed it was meant as a feature.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2012, 09:57:42 PM

Quote from: Steinar on June 27, 2012, 11:10:22 AM

Single CR123, no tail switch. When I press it in the lengthwise direction, it activates as long as I press it. Since it works that way even when it turned off by “a mile”, I assumed it was by design for one handed operation, especially since the different modes are available that way as well. I almost have to disassemble it to be unable to activate it that way. At first I thought I hadn't turned the switch around enough, but when I saw how far I had to turn to disengage it totally, I assumed it was meant as a feature.

Oh, okay... you've got one of the earlier ones then, that had some issues with thread play. It's not meant to be a "feature", it's just sloppiness in the manufacturing that 4Sevens had done on those early Minis. Get some plumber's tape and put a turn or so on the body threads; that should greatly reduce if not eliminate the extra play. That'll allow you to loosen the head about a half turn or so and still not have the light activate.

If you have to loosen the head so much to turn it off that the o-ring is exposed, I'd call that defective. 4Sevens is pretty good about honoring their warranty, so I'd suggest you contact them and ask for a replacement. You might even get them to swap it out with one of the HCRI ones, and believe me, once you go high CRI, you'll never go back!

Steinar · **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2012, 10:05:48 PM

Ah, thanks for the clarification! (IIRC it's the Cree XM-L emitter, if that helps nail it down.) I'll try the trick with plumber's tape.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2012, 05:32:17 AM

Quote from: Steinar on June 27, 2012, 10:05:48 PM

Ah, thanks for the clarification! (IIRC it's the Cree XM-L emitter, if that helps nail it down.) I'll try the trick with plumber's tape.

Okay, that means it's somewhat newer, but the 123 Minis seem to be plagued with the sloppy threads problem a lot more than the AA models. I've got an older, neutral Mini-AA and it's a nice little light. I just repurposed it to my hiking pack; it lives on the left shoulder strap in a MaxPed single sheath with my Wenger PER Ranger 179 as my go-to hiking/camping/backpacking light. I'm not much of a fan of twisty interfaces, but for those activities, I'd rather not have to worry about a switch failing on me in the middle of a trip.

Styerman · **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2012, 06:06:45 AM

I always carry two , plus a penlight . Lets just say I suck at night ops .

Chris

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2012, 09:53:59 AM

Quote from: Styerman on June 28, 2012, 06:06:45 AM

I always carry two , plus a penlight . Lets just say I suck at night ops .

Chris

All the more reason for more torches!

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