Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

[Zulumoose]

@contigo

Im going to heat up my sauna tonight, put a red plastic cup over the Q8 and put in low-ish mode.

So let me get this straight, your goal is for things to get steamy in a red light district?

[s_mukherjee]

@JasonWW

@s_mukherjee

Is there any warranty for this light?

For this particular light, the Q8, The Miller is handling any problems. He will try and get you fixed up if you have any issues.

When it comes to Chinese lights in general, the warranty is not really there. It’s usually too expensive to ship a light back to China to get a replacement. Typically the warranty stuff will be directed at the store you bought it from. For instance, Banggood, Gearbest, Aliexpress, etc… Each company handles things their own way. If it’s a tiny problem they may offer you a $5 store credit. If you persist it may increase. Sometimes they may offer a replacement driver if that is what broke. A cracked lens from shipping might get you a replacement lens sent to you. It all depends.

You basically have to go into a Chinese flashlight purchase with the idea that there is no warranty and hope it is all working properly when it arrives. If you do have a problem and the store fixes it for you, consider yourself lucky. Lol

This is why it helps to know how to solder and how to take lights apart, etc… I think most folks here know how to fix a broken light themselves. So they don’t care about warranties.

Thanks Jason.
I think I know some of these works too.
Thanks for giving me the insight. Really appreciate that.

[Tom_E]

@Tom Tom

Indeed. But in the Q8 the contact between the tube and the driver is also rather ephemeral. After a little adjustment mine is contacting OK all the way around the edge of the driver, but that’s not saying much, barely half a mm, and the driver PCB surface is showing signs of wear already after a week, despite polishing the end of the tube. I think I am going to have to come up with a mod. to fix this, if I want it still to work this time next year. Meanwhile I am not cranking the tube down hard, nor loosening it for lockout, the less wear and tear the better I think.

1/2 a mm for the full circumference is actually a lot of contact - plenty to support 24 amps, and more, as it does now. The noticeable wear is not something to be concerned about in the near future, since the ground ring is extra thick. I prefer using the electronic lockout. The mechanical lockout is only as good as the anodizing on the threads, which will wear with time and use, and it's not perfect on many Q8's from the factory to begin with.

So you can choose between wear&tear on the switch, or wear&tear on the threads and ground ring. If you do couple/several lockouts per day, then maybe, just maybe it might be an issue within 2-3 years. I personally tested the mechanical lockout on a Q8 about 275 times or so and saw no "significant" wear on the ground ring. Posted bout it earlier somewhere in this thread: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/39069/5597,

and here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/39069/5612

[Tom_Tom]

I was quite concerned at first, particularly as mine started off with very partial contact around one driver screw, hence me taking it apart, sanding, polishing and lubricating.

Now I do have 360 degree contact, but it continues to “bed-in” evidenced by the indexing of my tube continuing to shift.

I hope this settles down soon.

I remember that the copper layer was specified to be heavy on the driver ground ring, for wear resistance, but I also recall that that is maybe not what we have ?

It certainly works well, as you say, the tail springs and screws etc. are clearly the bottleneck.

[Tom_E]

Just came across a Q8 batch 2, just came in, that had a solder blob on the driver ground ring, but on the inside (component side). Really caused a significant tilt of the driver. Used an Xacto to cut/scrape it off. Though they improved the screws and threaded holes (no more glue/contaminants or burrs on the edge of holes), it's still worth giving the light a good close inspection.

[hank]

t’s still worth giving the light a good close inspection

I wish we could get their QA/QC guy(s) to join the discussion here, presuming they exist.

I’d love to see the canonical list of problems found for QA/QC to watch out for when checking the product, if such a list exists.

a solder blob on the driver ground ring, but on the inside (component side). Really caused a significant tilt of the driver.

That, for example — did they know about it before you posted it here?
Do they notice cautionary remarks here and add those to their watch list?

Yeah, yeah, commercial secrecy process confidentiality competitive marketing blah blah blah.

[Lazy-R-us]

I just measured and ran some calculations, battery tube to driver ring contact is approximately 208 mm^2. Assuming contact around the full perimeter. There will be bedding that happens, and making sure that the driver board is flat should certainly be done, but I agree with Tom, it should last a good long time unless you are mechanically locking out or swapping batteries multiple times per day.

[Jinx]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a ultra clear lens for the Q8 please :+1:

[hank]

Jinx, you might check here, the website says to ask if you don’t see what you want:

FlashlightLens.com - Your source for high quality glass and acrylic...

[Jinx]

Thanks Hank :+1:

[wimmer2121]

@Tom E

@wimmer2121

I realize the group buy is long past, but if anyone hasn’t paid or if there’s just any extras, I would like to purchase one. Thanks and no worries if none are available.

Group buy coupons have expired, but the M4D M4X code works as of today, and it’s a pretty good deal, for $46.50 here: https://m4dm4x.com/blf-q8-arrived/

Thank you, sir

[lyse99]

Finally got it!
Getting more “messed up” in my opinion/personal experience with Postnord lately here in Sweden for the final delivery on gods from China.

Anyhow,
Very high finish, extremely happy with functionality and super a value for my money so just very pleased with it.
I would have ordered another right now, but currently out of stock but thanks Tom E for the heads up.

And once again,
BIG Kudoz to all involved with the project, and glad to read there where a few bucks over to some of you.

-lyse99

[Tom_E]

Yikes, BG is showing the Q8 is in restocking, expected Dec 9th.

I'd like them to ship the next batch with the latest firmware?? Also maybe a mechanical reverse polarity protection ring?

96 5 star reviews now. We need to break 100 of straight 5's

[ToyKeeper]

@Tom E

96 5 star reviews now. We need to break 100 of straight 5’s 

*leaves a 4-star review just to destroy Tom’s hopes and dreams*

…

Okay, not really. I’ve just seen too many cartoons where acknowledging how well things are going is the fastest way to summon a falling piano.

[s_mukherjee]

@Tom E

Yikes, BG is showing the Q8 is in restocking, expected Dec 9th.

I’d like them to ship the next batch with the latest firmware?? Also maybe a mechanical reverse polarity protection ring?

96 5 star reviews now. We need to break 100 of straight 5’s 

Will the code work then :weary: ?
Narsil 1.1?

[Joey_Adams]

• leaves a 5 star rating just to balance out a certain mean ol’ minor deity.

[JasonWW]

@s_mukherjee

@Tom E

I’d like them to ship the next batch with the latest firmware?? Also maybe a mechanical reverse polarity protection ring?

Narsil 1.1?

I think that number is being skipped. I’ve only heard of NarsilM v1.2.

Not to be confused with the older Narsil v1.2.

The M makes all the difference.

[Tom_E]

V1.1 had some life to it, can't recall details, but think it was a temporary release for the GT buck driver. So to avoid any confusion I bumped the rev number.

It's been common practice for me that if a release "leaves the building", then if in doubt, bump it out (up??). Out rhymes though

Think this link lists the LED flashlights in order of review count: https://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-LED-Flashlight-c-2037-0-1-4-45-0_page1.html

Even a TM06S has 1 review of 4 stars, and has less review counts. Check out the L6.

There's not a lot of lights with at least 75 reviews there. The BLF A6 models of course did very well, but none are clean 5 stars.

:FACEPALM: I knew mentioning it would in itself cause the streak to be broken

[ToyKeeper]

It still has nothing but 5-star posts.

96 of them.

Only 4 more to go.

And, as fun as it is, inflicting irony isn’t my job. That’d be my cousin.

But…

…

…

…

… you had to go and get her attention.

Fri, 11/10/2017 - 10:25

#16281

Fate

Online

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Joined: 01/01/0001 - 00:01

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@Tom E

:person_facepalming: I knew mentioning it would in itself cause the streak to be broken 

Tempting!

—

[garrybunk]

Just left my 5 star review.

-Garry