Neither the first version nor the current version blinks while in lockout mode afaik. Hitting the mode selector button while light is off but not locked out will display battery level, which incidentally is still at >50% on my v2 unit after being locked out for almost 2 weeks now, and some actual use.
Nitecore store apparently has a brilliant marketing strategy because I’ve seen a number of commenters referring to it as the actual manufacturer and saying that they “bought it from Nitecore themself” when referring to the nitecorestore.com preorder.
At least one person did get a light with the access-hole cut, but the warning blink still exists in lockout. So unknown if they screwed up again and just forgot to program the light, or the reprogram did not take and with no QC who’s to notice, or they had a couple revisions before settling on the final revision without the warning blink. The no warning blink is going to have lots of non-flashaholics thinking their light is dead if the lockout gets triggered accidentally which is pretty easy. Even plugging it into the charger does not release the lockout. It looks to me like just one more bad decision trying to rush out a product in time for the holidays. Hopefully most people will figure it out if it happens to them, or call support, or find a flashlight forum before they throw it out.
Correction, the TIP uses Pulses that do not drop to Zero, so technically the light is not using Pure PWM. otoh, the TIP is NOT using Constant Current.
Ive learned that PWM is a technical term that defines the pulses as dropping to full OFF between flashes. But there are hybrid pulsed circuits that fluctuate the current without going all the way to Zero. This is the strategy that HDS, Zebralight, Eagletac, and the Tip use. They are not true PWM circuits, but again, they are also NOT true Constant Current Circuits.
regarding the lockout drain, I believe it has been fixed, and users can confirm if the light they received has the lockout drain fixed, by confirming it does not produce a red flash when the buttons are touched while in lockout. This is a good thing. imo, when a light is in lockout, it should not flash, as that would cause battery drain. (although the lockout drain problem was there even if the light was just sitting on a nightstand, without the buttons being touched… but this has been fixed)
otoh, the Pulsed circuit remains, the Tip is still Not a Constant Current light, even though technically it is not a Pure PWM light either.
This is strange- I ordered the CRI version from Bang Good a few weeks ago. Although it was shown as in stock on the order page, after I placed the order it was shown in the order details as on back order. I wasn’t too bothered by this as I assumed that they may be waiting for the upgraded version.
Sure enough when it arrived the packaging was for the 240 lumens version (V1 is apparently 220 lumens ) and the blister pack had a hole for the usb plug to fit through- both apparently signs of the upgraded version.
However when the light is locked out and either button pressed a brief red flash occurs.
Do you think that the cunning supplier has just repackaged a V1 light?
I will leave it on lockout for a few days and see what happens, then repost.
Just thought I’d add to the confusion!
I have an early one (360 L), and just picked up the 240 lumen CRI version a few days ago. I’ll have to see if I can do a comparison. I have not had problems, but it seems the lockout mode on these lights is made for when you stuff it in your backpack, as opposed to long term storage. The light has to monitor for the key combination to unlock, and it’s only got a 500 mAh battery, so it’s almost asking for a dead battery. I’m glad they seem to have done something about it, and I’ll report back when I can do some testing between the old and new. Is there a way to tell if my CRI version is actually “new”, and not one that had been sitting around?
I think Nitecore fails to distinguish between two very different modes:
Lockout — no electrical drain, accomplished by physically breaking the circuit
‘Numbutton’* — the buttons are protected from accidental bumps, in some way, e.g. by requiring both to be held simultaneously. This requires some electrical drain.
*Yeah, I made that up. You can shorten it to two syllables, if you prefer.
I have the new version 2 Tip and put it on lockout for a week and didn’t touch it and after one week it still blinked 3 times when doing the battery test. So it’s definitely much improved from the original version.
I will say that the light hasn’t held up (as far as appearance goes) with standard keychain use. I haven’t dropped it once, but it looks pretty worn in only a couple weeks. Not a huge issue, just food for thought.
OK, I have been watching this GB since the beginning, and my CRI is on order and due to ship Nov 20. I have to ask, why is the drain from lockout (electronic) different from the normal parasitic drain that one sees in everyday use? From what people have said, they can go a lot longer just in normal mode between charges than when using the V1 lockout mode. This really doesn’t make any sense to me. Can someone enlighten me?
I had paint coming away from the corners on mine after a day in the pocket. Finish isn’t great. If you’re worried about appearances, buy a silver Tip would be my advice.
Doesn’t bother me especially as it’s a functional thing for me rather than a looker.