Short version is all I’ve got since I didn’t really follow it very closely myself, but as I understand it the original design for the head left the optic loose somehow, so that when the bezel was torqued down the optic was prone to twisting and shearing off domes. Maybe the factory knew this and that’s why they were glued originally? I don’t know - that’s speculation.
Regardless enough folks had damaged emitters at delivery that they redesigned the head to hold the optic still (and also sit lower I think) so that the bezel won’t cause it to twist. And now they’re no longer glued.
At least that’s my understanding. But I never ordered one of the earlier run lights and just barely followed the whole saga myself. Maybe someone else can correct me if I’ve misrepresented something.
I just got my S14S, the LEDs and lens are 100% okay. No flaws from what I can see. Only minor complaints at all is the knurling is quite aggressive and it pinches the bottom o-ring just a little.
At this point I think its a buy. I waited for the issues to get ironed out myself and the light I received a few weeks ago has no issues to speak of. I’ve seen others post the same sentiment, but as always ymmv.
Well, i bought mine early december when it was around $ 33.
I think that’s a bargain for a stainless steel quad light with a pure copper head.
It’s the latest version without glue, so i can do what i want with it to improve / adapt it.
My only complaints are that the O ring in the bezel is too thin so the lens can move a little (even after putting a piece of diffuser sheet between optic and lens), the clip is pretty useless and cheap looking, the knurling is so sharp you can use it as a file, and i’m not sure if it should step down a mode after only 37 seconds in turbo mode.
For the rest, i love it and i would certainly buy it again for that price.
The 37 seconds (supposed to be 40) are a feature of the used BLF-A6 driver, which was developed for the BLF-A6 that needed about that timing to prevent overheating. Banggood just used that driver without adapting anything for the S41 (I’m not sure if they even have the knowledge to mess with firmware) , that with its copper chunk could use a bit longer stepdown timing.
I hate to be one of those people, but the best way to “fix” the driver (assuming you consider it inadequate) on this light is to dump it for a better one. I was actually pretty surprised (aka disappointed) to see that they had just wholesale copied over the A6 driver for this light. Mine immediately came out and was replaced by one of MtnElec’s Bistro drivers — more programmable, temp regulation instead of stepdown, and a great thru-board bypass. Reflowed 4 219cs to make the upgrade complete and it became a much better light altogether. I think the host is worth doing the upgrades.
I’ve read somewhere that a TPAD + carclo quad optic can be used if diameter on the optic is reduced. However, from what I can tell, the height of the set up differs from stock?
Has anyone successfully rebuilt this with carclo optics? I’m on the fence on this light and this could be a deciding factor.
I have built an S41 with Tpad quad and fitted Carclo. Used XP-L HI 3A and it works great with MtnE Fet+1 on Bistro.
However I have Not tried it with the new designed heads they are now using. Optic is now supported in the copper head, not the legs of the optic as a Carclo would be.
Sounds like quite the pocket rocket. I’d be interested in doing something similar with 4x 219C.
How did you reduce the diameter of the optic? and did you notice any fitment issues? The original s41 optic and board has a different height than a tpad + carclo.
I’ve used these Nichia 219CT 4000K R9050 with the Mtn. Fet+1 Bistro and I don’t think it could get any better… at least for my skill levels.
Edit: Plus I never did buy the complete light, I waited until the heads got straightened out and bought the heads only with using my points at BG the cost was $27 and $4 per LED, used all A6 no ano tubes and Astro tubes for the rest, always thought the SS tubes and switch would be just to heavy for my liking and it worked out great, especially the no ano A6 tubes all buffed up shiny, looks real good.
