New Astrolux SC possible driver issue *update* FIXED

My first thought too!

Have you used those cells with lights that draw similar current? Maybe the cells just can’t handle it.

It could be the protection tripping on those batteries since turbo is basically direct-drive. High-ish amps on a cheap protection circuit causes it to trip and will do that flash.

Yep, none of the protected 14500s I’ve tried in the SC work on Turbo (protection always trips). FYI, The purple Efests work great.

I don’t think any of the IMR batteries that I tried have a protection circuit.
I also thought that the Windyfire IMR 14500’s have been tested and shown to be of fairly good quality. I have used all of these batteries in an Luckysun mini 30 ( the only other 14500 light I have that has DD turbo) and they have worked fine.

Yeah, the Windyfires should work fine. Maybe the FET is bad on the driver? Try resetting the UI and disabling the thermal protection and see if that does anything.
If not, you might have to open up a ticket to get a replacement.

I have reset the ui to factory settings and tried to adjust and also disable the thermal protection but was unable. In the thermal calibration mode it is suppose to start at medium and ramp to turbo but it doesn’t. Just the same flash so I have no way of knowning if I have actually changed anything.

Definitely try this. I just got an SC today, myself. It would come on in moonlight and slowly ramp itself up to turbo all on it’s own. After resetting the FW it seems to be working properly. Hope yours is something simple.

EDIT: you were replying while I was typing, lol.

Assuming the Astrolux SC is identical to my Kronos X5 CU, you shouldn’t have any problem with the Windyfire 14500 IMR. I read the review of HKJ and bought them straight from the manufacturer (kudos to both of them).

The Windyfire 14500 is fine. The thermal protection is kicking in. Read the UI instructions and turn it (thermal protection) off. It is not needed in the copper edition.

I don’t think it is the thermal regulation kicking in. I could be wrong. But I tried multiple times to turn it off but was not able. The flash that is produced in turbo mode is the same bightness as the middle modes. So I don’t think it is shutting down due to heat. I’m thinking it is a driver issue.

I am sure you are familiar with the UI, but just in case:

To disable thermal calibration: Enter programming mode (turn light on and rapidly half-press 16 times). Then, during the “low-strobe” period following 7 flashes, half-press again. As soon as you do this, you should see a low/medium constant output. Immediately click the light completely off during this low/medium output. Thermal protection should now be off. :beer:

If that is not possible, then something is wrong!

ive been through the process to turn thermal regulation off multiple times now. Turbo mode has yet to work so I have no idea if it actually worked. If it was shutting down due to thermal regulation then once it was turned off then turbo should work normally but it has not. I have tried programming it to single mode turbo. Still half second flash of mid level light then nothing.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Sounds like you got a dud then. I’d open up a ticket for a replacement.

If you got it from BG, you might contact Neal directly via PM here on the forums. :beer:

So I contacted Banggood about the issue and linked to this thread. They ask me to try other batteries and try changing the UI. I feel like I have tried all I can with what I have. Any suggestions to either prove or disprove a bad driver? Also something I didn’t mention before is the high mode doesn’t seem any brighter than mid mode. When switching modes it goes moonlight - low- med-med-med-turbo(which doesn’t work). This may not be anything wrong just my perception. They offered to send a new driver if I was 100% sure it was bad. Problem with that is my soldering skills are not the best. I would hat to ruin the light trying to fix it myself.
Thanks

Definitely NOT right. You should see very distinct output levels between moonlight and turbo, regardless of how many levels you program in between. The only reason I am still leaning towards a battery issue, is that what you describe can occur with sub-par cells, and/or those with protection circuits, and/or cells that are below the voltage limit and trip the light’s built-in (low) voltage protection. Are you sure your charger is functioning properly? Can you measure the voltage with a multi-meter once charged?

If you can indeed rule out a battery issue, I think it pretty much confirms you have a dud (bad driver). Personally, I would just request a complete replacement at that point, not just a driver. You might have to upload/email a video demonstrating the issue, but that shouldn’t be too hard to do. :beer:

Also check for anything else in the circuit that simulate a weak battery — tighten the tailswitch, look for crud on all the threads, maybe bypass the tailswitch if you can do the rapid clicks while just bridging between tube and end of battery with a piece of metal.

Ok. I tested the amp draw with my cheap harbor freight multimeter and here is what I came up with.
In the 7 mode group using a Windyfire 14500 measuring 4.15V. Starting with ML through turbo. 0.2-0.3 - 1.4 - 3.5 - 3.6 - 3.7 - 2.1 for split second then drop to 0.6 but no light Tail cap light is off as well.
I then tested a Samsung INR18650-25r by removing the body tube and placing the battery down into the head touching the driver. The results were exactly the same as the Windyfire.
I then tested a Panasonic NCR18650B with the same results.
Next I tried a tangsfire 14500 probably the least capable cell I own and received the exact same result. I then tried the same test using my Luckysun mini30 and in direct drive mode the Windyfire drew 5.7 amps. Any ideas.

Just an update. Got the new replacement driver in from Banggood and the flashlight works correctly now. Big thanks to everyone for the help and +1 for Banggood for sending the driver

Patience and persistence. Kudos to you for having both.

Got my sc today. Saw tons of pics but I’m still shocked at its size. What a cool lil light! Give her a run tonight….