I just got this, and while it seems like a decent enough light, it has some problem out of the box. Sent Xtar an email:
Hi, I just got the flashlight from the post office and I'm having problems with it out of the box. On high mode it just flashes (like strobe but cycles from low to high in gradient like sine wave with varying frequency 1-2 times a second), and medium and low, it flickers. Draws between 0.04A and 0.8A on high, and problem is not with tailcap and I don't want to touch anything inside yet.
I took everything apart and then the high got stuck at 50ma. Then I tried cleaning that piece best as I as you suggested and it went back to the oscilation in output. Even if I can clean it somehow to the state where it will remain on full it kind of makes me nervous it'll be intermitant.
It's a shame because the light is pretty good and worth the money.
Quite weird. Check also if the charging mechanism "pill" is securely tightened. Other than that i'm all out of suggestions. You may not know but when charging a battery you have to swithch the light on to start charging. (took me a while to figure it out). :)
I don't have mine at hand anymore i gifted it to a relative since it was the best thing gift worthy atm at hand. I miss it sometimes.
Yeah, I tried unscrewing and putting back everything I can. The problem is just wierd because it's not failing to work, but predictably fluxuating in output like a slow strobe on high. Oh well, we'll see how it goes on their end.
I agree it's worth the $10 over a normal p60 xp-g if I end up getting a working one. :)
Got it a few days ago. I bought it for the friend of mine with the new XTAR 18700 cell (as gift). Really nice light. The beam profile is excellent: it throws very well (tight hotspot), but it also has (less intense) second hotspot, I mean it's not only very tight hotspon and spill, it also has second very useful "hotspot" (sorry, don't have a good camera to show you what I mean). Had to email Miles to ask how the charger works. The only one drawback is that the time to change modes is veeeery big, up to 10 seconds or so, i.e. if you turn the light off, and than, seconds after, you turn it on again, it will change mode. Definitely this should be changed (Miles told me that it will forward my advice to their RD department). In any case, a very good light (especially for that price).
UPDATE: other two minor "bugs": very sharp crenelation (IMO) and it doesn't tailstand very well (the rubber cap protrudes about 0.5 mm or so)
Miles offered to either ship out another driver or another light. I suspect the driver isn't the only problem since the fluxuation changes when take it apart and it, IOW not very confidence in the rest of the light right now.
I also asked if we end up going to new light if I can upgrade to the xml version since I find the spot to be kinda small if I ever need to use it indoors. The xml won't produce more throw but bigger spot. Not a huge deal either way, we'll see what happens.
I just received the upgraded R01 XM-L version today. Singapore post was rather slow in getting it to me. SashiX - Your concerns about the A01 were all addressed in the R01 replacement. Tailcap has been changed to a more recessed version, but has gone to a forward clicky, which is kind of weird with multi-mode memory, but for those who want to eliminate several of the modes through the DIY driver, is probably a godsend. Memory has been reduced to three seconds. I believe the crenelated bezel is the same, but I didn't find it overly sharp myself. Its a fairly shallow crenelation. Will begin working on the testing and reviewing tonight.