I have the same cells but still haven’t received the replacement parts.
From the above comments, it would seem that even the ‘extended’ tube is a tad on the short side… A thin copper (or paper clip) ring inside the tail cap may still be helpful.
Do the people at Astrolux have a number of 18350 cells to try out before going into production? Do they even try? You have to wonder… :person_facepalming:
I have a few Astrolux lights and i like them all.
This S42 thing seems to come from another bunch… Kinda odd.
We compared the s41 with the aspire 18350 to the s42 xpg 3 with 18650 lg hg2, s42 got hot really quick, s42 had a brighter overall spill/spread, s41 had a brighter hot spot.
I received my repair parts yesterday. Thanks to the posted troubles others have had installing the usb cover I had some time to think about how I would tackle the job. I ended up selecting a pick I’ve used to extract broken keys from locks and for some gunsmithing tasks. It’s like a really thick dental pick but with a slightly “S” shape curve instead of the usual flat “C”. I wouldn’t call it an easy job since I was trying not to damage the cover but it went in without damage after a few minutes. I’m going to carry it at work for a few days this week just to see how well the cover holds. The UI will keep me from carrying it more than a few days though. I ended up in strobe mode by accident a few times the last time I tried to use it at work and that just won’t do.
Got my parts. I can get the breathing light (whatever that is) bit nothing else with an Efest button 18350 or a 16340. Plug it in, I get a blinking green light. Nothing else.
I got the blinking green when charging, solid green when charged.
But nothing after that.
I don’t have the time or the skills to try to locate and rectify a fault. Is it worth trying the paperclip coil? I can’t see what that would achieve, since power is reaching the head to turn the breathing light on?
I’m no torch enthusiast in the sense of understanding and tinkering with the magic that goes into making these things work - I’m just an enthusiast in the sense that I like them.
I’m not at all enthusiastic about this utter abortion of a torch.
Astrolux have not covered themselves in glory with this one.
Unless anyone has any suggestions I think I’ll be returning it or going for a PP dispute.
I think you’re supposed to pull it from the inside.
So you stick the end through the hole and then pull the rest through from the inside with tweezers.
Because when you pull it it stretches and gets a little thinner.
The head on mine clearly is faulty - I tried the tail on the head of my S41S and it works fine. Tried the head of the S42 on the tail of the S41S, no go.
S42 head is dodgy. It is allowing the breathing light to operate but won’t power up.
Is there something obvious I could do to get it to work? I mean without soldering and shenanigans like that?
Only the 18350 tube length and usb port cover have been addressed… and apparently you still need some of the shortest cells. The UI is still the same and very annoying to say the least.
Unless you really want usb charging you should check the TK’s Emisar D4 review thread - that’s what the S42 should have been:
The D4’s lack of built-in charger is probably a feature. Built-in charging is generally a way to make lights more accessible to the general public who don’t already have (or want) separate batteries and chargers. However, a hotrod light probably shouldn’t be very accessible to muggles.
It makes more sense for lights with much lower output, like the Olight S20R.
By including a charge port, the S42 and E14 II seem to be a little confused about who they’re designed for.