EA4 didn't survive labor day weekend!

So we’d been camping Friday and Saturday night. Both nights saw a rain of about 45 minutes. Since I had bought Fasttechs diffuser, it was our camp lantern. I hung it in a tree on Friday night, and while we we’re out it rained. We came back and had to dry out our bags and tent. EA4 fine. Brought it into the tent, went to sleep and everything was great. Almost the same deal Saturday night… except that it was in the tent most night and a little rain got in because it was a heavy downpour. But this was rather indirect. Dried up the wet parts, got ready for bed- turned out the light.

Woke up Sunday and decided to check out the light. It wouldn’t turn on and I noticed some moisture behind the lens. The weird thing was, the diffuser was on during both times it rained, effectively giving the head of the light an extra seal. I took out the batteries and put them back in. Immediately I got strobe and couldn’t turn it off. Then basically I spent the next five minutes taking out the batteries, and having it do different weird mode switching when putting them back in. Sometimes the light would turn on as soon as I tightened the tailcap, and wouldn’t turn off. If I do this enough- remove batteries it will eventually have its regular five modes, but they’re all very close together now.

By the way, I’ve tested the light with full submersion several times, but for not more than a minute or two. It’s always been fine. But I guess it can’t survive a full weekend of being sorta outside in the elements.

Maybe it was the switch cover? Maybe it was the lens. The battery compartment was always dry though.

Abridged version.

This light is not fully waterproof/resistant. It can’t withstand a few rainshowers, or being outside in the humidity. Be careful.

sounds just like my kung recently…

I’m not surprised, I pulled the EA4 clones apart and the rubber boot only sits over a piece of locating plastic with no force against the housing at all. I wouldnt dare to put it under the water and wouldn’t even try to test if it was splash proof.

That's surprising for an IPX-8 brand name light.

I guess I’ll contact the place where I purchased? So now goes the month long process of doing the RMA thing with Fasttech. Oh boy. To be honest I’d rather have something else though. I like the light, but since I tend to use it in the elements, I’d rather not have to deal with the same thing again in a few months when it gets wet again.

Actually, it’s not surprising to me anymore. This is the second time this month a major light brand failed to live up to a manufacturer claim- in my possession.

Yep, it could have very well been this. It was about 95 F in the day and about 73f at night. Not a big change, but the light was in 90 degree shaded areas- but I believe the dewpoint was reached.

So how does one avoid this? Never use a flashlight when the light might be exposed to elements?

Sorry to see this happening to you EA4, which one is the second light?

your theory is very logical explanation.
well certainly you can troll and having good knowledge at the same time :smiley:

Perhaps it would help to seal the light in a zip-lock bag while it’s cooling down? Then no or at least minimal humid air would be present to do it’s dastardly deed.

A plastic bottle with o-ring seal that is large enough to hold the light will make a good travel canister, a silipak for absorbing moisture would also be a good idea, placed inside the bag or canister to aid in pulling ambient moisture from the sealed container. Simple enough to do under extreme conditions to help guarantee the light.

Hmm, would like to read some research done on this, never tried to use light for that much time outdoors in bad weather, so Im curious whether it matters or not what kind of light you bring outdoors!

Would drying it first, then opening it to release hot gas and allow cool gas to equalise pressure for a few minutes possibly diffuse this issue ?

Sounds like something a bridge dwelling troll could test :wink:

It’s how you keep condensation out of a multi-thousand dollar camera lens in a temperature transitional situation. How is it any different? Believe me, a $2,000 12” long 3” diameter lens that’s been in the direct sunlight for hours can seriously pull some humidity out of an air conditioned room! Exactly what sports shooters do with $12,000 lenses. Just wondering why you think a $30 flashlight is so special?

Hot aluminum and hot glass in a damp cool environment, with sophisticated electronics (my Image Stabilization system is more than $500 by itself), looks like a very similar situation to me!

Yeah, think so. Drop the light in a zip-lock bag, squeeze out excess air, leave it to cool. I’m betting you’ll see problem solved.

this phenomena can be observed with half empty mineral water bottle (or just any other plastic water bottle).
when the half empty bottle is stored in room temperature (25 celcius or higher), it can creates fog by itself inside the bottle on the dry surface part eventhough the bottle cap is tightened. be sure it is water tight because otherwise there will be leakage everywhere when carrying.

im not surprised… nitecore makes crap.

:slight_smile: need some coffee now, but the laughter is a good way to wake up!

Sorry, I did read all of it but must not be awake enough to interpret what I’m reading. Have no recollection of your post, but remember the ones before and after. Sucks getting old! :stuck_out_tongue:

Kreisler is probably right. Even my watch (movado automatic) did not survive steam when I have to wear suit in hot weather.

My G-Shock has never had issues with going into sauna and into either not-so-warm shower or outdoors afterwards.

I will test it the same way this winter, Im sure it will survive without any ill effects!

My 12xT6, Xiaozhi, 3T6 and Warrior recently spent a few days in the exact same conditions (moisture/wet tent, night rain, condensation inside the tent, and all were heated up a lot before bed) and all survived with flying colors! Now dont ask me why I needed so many high powered bright lights when there were only two of us most of the time! I withstood lots of similar questions/female complaints on my lights and extra batteries and “reasoned” in my “defense” it was because my dogs also each needed a light. :smiley:

I wonder if the damp iPhone trick would be a cheap easy way to avoid this problem. Stash it overnight in a zip lock bag with rice. Cheap and easily acquired desiccant with the added bonus of being an extra food source.