BLF A6 FET+7135 Light Troubleshooting and Mod thread

The SANYO B's are the same as Panasonic B's - you should not see any difference. If you want high performance, you really need to be using high performance cells, like the Samsung 30Q, LG HG2, LG HE2/HE4 or higher capacity 10A cells like the SANYO GA or LG MJ1.

That post was supposed to say 18650GA. I have some Sanyo 18650GAs on the way that I’m hoping to see some better results with. I’ll go back and correct it the post avoid any further confusion.

My step down from turbo is 55 sec., I’ve read it was timed not thermal step down. My main reason for mentioning this is my A6 doesn’t seem to go into “TURBO” level. I mean it steps up to the highest setting (level 7 and level 4) in each mode but it also only pull 3.2amps on the highest level (I mentioned all this on another thread) with an NCR18650GA which pulls 4.75 amps on 2 other DD lights I have. I have taken this light completely apart and cleaned and polished some contacts and it has made no difference. I was going to bypass the springs with some braided wire, but I don’t think that’s the problem since almost everyone else is pulling over 4 amps tail current without bypassing. Do you think touching up the solders on the components might help?

The A6 should pull well up into the 4A range with any cell capable of producing it. With top cells it will do 5A. With spring bypasses and top cells, I’ve seen results over 6A. Literally. A friend recently sent me 2 A6’s to do spring bypasses on and after doing so, each one pulled 6.18A at the tail.

@cccpull, i wonder if there are some V1s still floating around.

You know, that might be it, since there’s another forum member (not sure if here or cpf) with the same readings. In that case; is there a fix?

Hi everyone! :slight_smile: I’m having an issue. The driver works normally, until I use the high mode. If I use the highest setting, afterwards the moonlight mode is VERY dim. So dim that it flickers and the pattern in the emitter is easy to see, AND the next two medium modes are exactly the same brightness. In the bike mode, all that you can see is the flashing, not the continuous light.
Randomly the modes go back to normal with the proper moonlight mode and distinguishable medium modes. But once I use high for a bit, the problem starts all over again.
Has this happened to anyone? I have the driver in a BLF-X6 with the XM-L2 on copper that the X6 had.

That is a little weird. But it’s your 2nd post here; is it fair to guess that you came in, leaped at the light, but maybe didn’t read all the comments about it?

They started off hearing from people with a lot of experience taking these things apart and improving them.

Over time, word got out that there was this super flashlight, and a lot of people jumped in.

People with very different experience, or none, with this kind of light.

Have you made clear you don’t know how to install a replacement driver?

Have you asked if they will give you a free temperature-controlled soldering station to install that?

No, don’t do that. Seriously, the biggest mistake you can make is generating a LOT of email and posts while trying to get their support to respond.

Dealing with China support folks takes at least as much practice to get right, as soldering drivers. You need to know how to do both things, for this kind of light.

Yesterday I received my exchange long(er) body tube from Banggood (Thanks!), it was a long wait, but it actually helped - less force needed to make contact and even wall thickness.
But for a second run tube I’m a little astonished, there was a lot of burring of the aluminum inside one end, actually at first it was difficult to insert a cell before I removed the burr.

Hi,
you’re right that I have not posted much here, but I am quite active in the sister forum (TLF) an read quite a lot here.
The flashlight is great but as was already mentioned quite a lot the quality differs a lot between each light.
I told them and I think after about 3 or 4 emails the agreed to send the driver, when I mentioned that I have read the whole thread and tried everything that was written here. I even went to a friend with much more advanced soldering skills than mine who had a look on the driver and resoldered the 7135, but with no effect.
Currently I hope that I will get the replacement head quite soon, because I really miss the moonlight and battery level function.

That sounds like the 7135 chip is flaking out sometimes. It may be fixable by re-melting the solder joints on that chip. It’s the one with three pins on one side and one big pin on the other side. It only takes a quick touch to melt, and you should melt the two outer pins plus the big one on the other side.

I’m guessing, if you’ve moved the driver, that you can solder. :slight_smile:

I’ll definitely try that. Thanks for the help ToyKeeper! :bigsmile:

UPDATE: Issue fixed! I’m so happy!

Starting work on post #2

Off the subject…… I ordered parts from RMM to mod one of my a6’s into a triple! Everyone in my house will need 8) . Richard has already shipped my parts and I’m pretty excited to say the least. I already went and stocked up on some flux and solder as I need to complete some more spring bypasses as well. :party: :bigsmile: :smiley:

I love this light but I’d love it more if it had more throw. Is there a drop-in reflector that would help in this regard? A less-than-perfect beam pattern would be OK given a great hotspot.

Not looking to go into any ‘heavier’ changes, this light is nearly perfect as-is in every other way. Just wanting to get it closer to what my C8 does.

Phil

Probably not going to happen, due to the size of the light, specifically the diameter of the head.

I’m no reflector expert but there is a link for a tir lense in the op. I’m not sure what the hotspot is like with that lens. But I think someone did put it in their light. Maybe you could find a smooth reflector in the same dimensions.

The current reflector is approx 20mm in diameter by 12mm in depth.

dudunphy,

Infreakingcredible thread…. This thing just keeps getting better… Your time and dedication on this thread are doing many people much good in helping with not only the BLF A6 lights, but any others they may have problems with…

The problem is never the problem, SOLVING the problem is a always the actual problem, and this thread is a huge help…

Wouldn’t be possible without some of the organizers/developer’s showing up here! Standing on the shoulders of giants as they say! :wink: Thanks RemanG!

I don’t think an optic will give a tighter spot but a smaller emitter should. It’s possible there’s a deeper reflector with the same OD but the head might not screw on all the way.