Please remove the battery tube from the head (if unable to unscrew by hand, cushioned tools may be needed, due to the glue) and then check to see if there is any glue or small amount of grey stuff on the annular gold contact where the tube makes contact with the head. It has to be squeaky clean, as well as all contact points. Before re-assembling the tube to the head, grease the threads and grease the inner wall of the head where the o ring needs to travel down as the tube is screwed into the head. Max hand tight is indicated, but just a small amount of additional tool tight may be needed.
Did all that a while ago after IMALENT claimed it was the issue.
Like Charles Bridgtec, he gets commission on sales.
I’m finding a lot of “reviewers” are failing to mention universal faults lately.
I dislike charles bridgtec, he dodges all the questions about problems and it is just a puppet. I will never use one of his affiliate links.
IMALENT were keen to send me a 2nd light after they saw my review:
The 2nd light is also faulty and also makes just a touch over 10,000 lumens like the 1st MS03.
Basically you can use Turbo for a few seconds (Occasionally not once) or if you’re lucky a couple of times then you can’t use it again (or high mode) until you break the tailcap connection.
Looks like this light will sort the good reviewers from the greedy.
Thanks for the update, do you have the FW21 Pro? I was gonna get the MS03 but might get that one instead.
I would currently advise against the FW21 pro after seeing a post where someone melted his emitter domes and phosphor off by using turbo.
I’ve not been asked to review a FW21 yet and I don’t personally buy LUMINTOP lights anymore due to poor build quality.
I am due to review the Astrolux EC03 soon which I believe will be brighter than advertised at turn on.
It’s been a long time since I personally had an issue with Astrolux.
Well my ms03 functions as should.
I cam confirm the short turbo time, but mine does over 12000 Lumens, when you calculate an error of 10% this one might do 13k.
If you want it, i am willing to sell it
The Turbo lasts 45 secs as stated and can do it a few times unless it glitches and gives the red light with Turbo/High lockout.
Yours will glitch eventually! Everyone but greedy affiliate reviewers have the issue.
What kind of 21700 battery can i use instead this proprietary imalent 21700 battery on this MS03?
Anything with a stupidly big magnet/solder blob on it. The light is only good for 2200 lumens so take your pick.
Ahh, thanks. Still not decided yet, saw so many pros and cons about this MS03
Oh lordy.
I think that there may be variation between samples. There are a lot of people on the German forum that have not reported any issues with the MS03. I purchased two of them, and after cleaning up the glue from in between the tube and the head, and tightening the head and the tube down very tightly, I have no issues with the factory battery. I have this issue with the very large solder blob 40T cells, but I do not have this issue with the factory batteries.
My historical perspective: Before the R90TS was released, I was interested in Imalent high power flashlights, but I was advised to wait for Imalent to improve its QC. That happened when the R90TS and MS18 were released. I got both, and they are the Kings of Flood and Search.
This light is speced at 9,500 lumens by Vinh, but to my eyes, it tops the TM9K and the FW21Pro and the NSX53. My only disappointment with this exciting light is that it is factory rated at 13,000 lumens, and Vinh rated at only 9500. However, to my eyes, it is a little bit more visibly brighter than the other three that I just mentioned above. Someone in the German forum said that unprotected cells yield another thousand lumens, but I have the red light issue with large solder blob unprotected cells. Also, there are a few people in the international community who do report lumens close to 13,000. To my eyes, Vinhs’ rating may be 2000 lumens too low.
Vinh’s ratings are fine, he doesn’t use a shitty tube, his measurements are usually close to mine (as are Maukka’s) and I got approx 10000 twice at turn on.
I suspect you will get the red light sooner or later with the stock cell as I could use Turbo quite a while before the first red light.
When does the red light issue appear?
Does it never activate Turbo again once it appeared? (So its useless and just a 2000Lm light?)
Or After switching to turbo for several times?
The red light can come on after a second on turbo or after a few activations. There’s no pattern.
Twisting the tailcap off and on resets the light so you can use Turbo/High again.
When I reviewed the light in the Dangerous Place I only had one hand free so resetting was impossible. So avoid the MS03 if you’re planning on holding a dog lead, camera, gun or umbrella etc in your other hand.