Nitecore EA45S Review. Lots of Pics.

Received mine on the weekend. It turned on one day and does not turn on anymore. Tried numerous batteries and no-go.

Anyone encounter issues with their EA45S?

Mario
Ottawa

MarioP, I have had no issues with the latest EA45S’s I have bought. But that being said, in the last few days the first one I bought, about a year ago IIRRC; developed a problem.

It comes ‘On’ in ‘Low’ when the ‘Off/On switch’ is pressed. But when the ‘Mode switch’ is pressed it turns ‘Off ’. :frowning: :question:
I assume something has gone wrong with the switch, but that is just a guess.

I have the reflector out, all the solder joints & wires I can see appear OK. I am now trying to figure out how to get the switch, boards, LED, & the rest of the “innards” out (without destroying them) to check what I can’t see.

This is the first Nitecore of many I have ever had any problem with at all.

So, when I get the “innards” out and check them maybe I’ll know more.

As far as your’s goes, sorry; I have no idea my friend. :frowning: Good luck though.

IF I find out what is wrong with mine I’ll report back. Maybe that might help you.

Please keep me informed. I too assume something in the switch went bad….but I am not knowledgeable (or brave) enough to take it apart.

Mario

It might be in lockout mode. Try pressing both switches at the same time.

Mike

That is a good point ‘mikeyx’! :+1:

Thanks Mike. Already tried it, but it may be stuck in lock out. I can’t get anything, no battery indicator…nothing.

Any other secret switch combination?

Mario

Try cleaning battery contact points. Has worked for me on other lights.

Taking the batteries out and then putting them back in (or just taking the tail cap off and then back on) should clear any lockout mode. Let it sit for a while without cells to make sure any caps drain down, then try it again. Good Luck.

tried everything…not only does it not work, batteries are completely drained within 24 hrs……

That ain’t good………. :person_facepalming:
Keep us posted on the outcome ‘MarioP’, good luck. :+1:

UPDATED / 11-23-2016

I’m not 100% sure what the results mean, but are those results considered good or bad after two months? I have this light as my nightstand light, so I wan’t to be sure it’s gonna go when I need to use it. Granted I charge the batteries up every few weeks just to be safe.

A more knowledgeable person may disagree, but I would consider this good. :+1:

In 65 days of being in “Lock Out” with no (zero) use, the four batteries lost an average of 0.09425v each. (less than 1/10 volt.)
That comes out to 0.00145v per day.

Seems pretty good to me. :+1:
:wink:

Voltage loss in NiMH cells is going to occur over time, even for low self discharge cells, so your measurements don’t really say much about how much the light is draining them.

To really see how bad any parasitic drain may be, you could get two sets of 4 cells, test them all for capacity, recharge them, then put 1 set in the light and leave 1 set out of the light. After a period of time, test both sets for remaining capacity and see how much of a difference there is between them. They’d both should have the same amount of self discharge, so any difference in capacity could be attributed to the light.

I agree, that is a great idea & I may do it some day… if someone else doesn’t do it first.
Right now I am just interested in seeing how long it will go and the light still be usable if needed. And I know there are many variables in that, how long to be used, mode etc., etc.

UPDATED / 12-10-2016

OK, the last “Lock Out” voltage listed was measured yesterday 12-10-2016….. 83 days after starting.

I then turned the light on Turbo and it ran for 73 minutes before going into what I call “Low Voltage Lock Out”. (It will only work in the lowest mode)

Please note, when the light got to hot in Turbo mode it would drop down to High mode. When it cooled a few minutes I would put it back in Turbo mode.

Thus ends this highly unscientific “test”. :wink:

But as far as I am concerned the parasitic drain when this light is in Lock Out is nothing to worry about. It can sit around for a long time in LockOut and still have plenty of juice to run it when you need it.

Thanks. Doesn’t seem to be any problem with my example either.

I love the form. I love my EC4S with XHP-50. I think this EA45S is one of the best lights made. Much easier to carry than a mini soup can.
Getting this much lumens and throw with AA batteries makes this a must have survival / prep light.
You can recharge AA nimh with a solar setup.

Your welcome ‘arow55’, glad yours is the same. :+1:
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I’m with you about the EA45S ‘pirate joe 22’.

I use Eneloops in mine & could not be more pleased with that combination.

Of course any AA will work, but I have had such good luck with Eneloops; they are the only thing I use. I have some that were made 10 years ago that are still going strong. That is very difficult to beat in my book. :slight_smile:

PS / I think if I had to choose only one light, the EA45S would be it.

Anyone able to confirm that this light is discontinued?

According to this it is