GB Clone Offically "SOLD OUT" 10/21/18 XPL HI 1300LM Focusing AKA Cometa 2016

But if you do not solve the shorting issue stronger springs are not the solution! Its like bridging a fuse with a massive copper bar. Now the spring has worked as a fuse and stopped the short. A bigger spring would allow higher current if you short it again.

The disc is what holds the LED in place. It is made from anodized aluminum and was causing shorts because of the bad soldering jobs on some lights.

Appreciate the advice, but I’m acutely aware that overcurrent has heated and ruined the springs; good to know they work as a crude protective device though, just need to source suitable replacements now.

Think I found the source of the short after disassembling the entire light in order that to reassemble, testing at every stage of disassembly and reassembly for shorts, I spotted a large split in the wire to the LED, right at the point where it bends through the pill:

Sleeved the split wire, reassembled everything (actually used some thermal paste as opposed to the sniff of the barmaids apron that was used originally), Kapton tape on the top of everything and it works again, to a fashion. Not sure if brainbox might’ve fried as it doesn’t seem to respond quite as it should, though the springs definitely need replacing before I can look into it further :slight_smile:

Aha, the holes in the pill for the wires have sharp edges too…
So basically this light has to be disassembled completely and all parts have to be checked and taken care of, and then you can reassemble the light.
Yeah, sounds like my hobby. :slight_smile:
I think the loose head can be fixed too by using fatter O-rings.
Looking forward to receiving this light.

Except for Emisars or BLF-Lights, that is what most of us do anyway, I guess :smiley:

From what I hear, the head on the Jaxman Z1 doesn’t rattle.

Ok, driver in my first one is seriously compromised; now only operates in 3 modes L/L/M - compared to the fully operating one.

Not sure I can be bothered with challenging BG over the issue, but wondered if anybody could point me to a good replacement driver that would work with this setup?

Don’t quite remember, but wasn’t it the A6 driver they were putting in these?

Actual driver boot is ∅22mm like Jaxman Z1, doesn't it? You could go Kaidomain's H2-C boost driver plus XHP35 HI. Sense resistor is 1206 imperial units, 75mV sense, thus add an R100 over the stock R050 for up to 2.25A driving current. More info here: Buck and Boost Drivers, Testing, Modding, and Discussion (Pic Heavy)

Cheers ^:)

No, I would not bother BG with issues with this one. We knew that this is the Cometa with known issues and we are getting them cheap because of that. See it as a wonderful host and that you have to look over every part to get it right.

As long as they’re not glued shut. :person_facepalming:

Its got the upgraded BLF driver from the X6 driver.

I was going to put an SST4O in mine but the hole is to small for the LED. So i will drill the hole out with a 5mm drill bit see how i go.

I’m amazed at you guyz
doing this all over again
at whatever price

I was never in the Cometa group buy. And this time it is not about receiving a outoftheboxperfect flashlight but about great material for a nice DIY project for little money.

The Jaxman Z1 is using a 22mm driver but i heard that the Cometa is using a 17mm driver.
Can someone confirm the driver size from the currently sold Cometa?

@chinooker
I did not bought in the Groupbuy. But at this price i could not pass! It is still cheap if you take it as a pure host.

Can someone please list all "hot spots" one needs to look upon when disassemling the Cometa, i.e. all potential hazardous areas that might cause shorts? So far, I noted:

  • solder joints on LED aluminum board (potential for bad solder jobs)
  • sharp edges on the pill that might damage the insulation of wires
  • insulation disc on the rear side of the pill is crucial as the outer rim of the pill might cause shorts when in contact with the positive pole of the battery

Anything else?

Received mine this morning, but no free gift (the 2x18650) only the 26650 in a bag. I’ll see how it stacks up against my modded Warsun X50, X65 and UF-1504 later. On first impressions, size wise, its a little more pocket friendly.

My 18650s shipped separate by slower mail so keep an eye out.

My “shipped” package (w/o cells) is still in the “label created” stage, ie, nothing was handed over yet.

The other (w/ cells) is still back-ordered.

Kinda interesting to see how this plays out. :smiley: