ENEDED

[silicoon]

I did not know the circumstances. Thank you JasonWW.

@JasonWW

@mrheosuper

@JasonWW

@mrheosuper

uhm oh, but you know, astrolux has some bad things about thier light, recently it’s their astrolux s42

The new MF01 and MF02 are not built by Manker. They share their design with Mateminco. It’s all a bit confusing, but so far their have not been any bad reports of this light.

nope, not anymore, manker stopped cooperating with astrolux since s41( they said)
Astrolux S41 quality issues?
more info here

Okay, I’ll retract what I said earlier.

It seems that Banggood’s manufacturer makes the Mateminco labeled version of this light for the Chinese market at a lower standard and lower price (I think around $50?).

Then they make the Astrolux labeled version for the international market with changes that give it a higher standard and higher price ($70).

To me it would be smarter for Banggood to not use the Astrolux name any more as it has a bad reputation in the past. Maybe make up a new name, but they seem to have their reasons to keep using “Astrolux”.

I have no interest in TIR lights so I will not be buying this one, bit the MF02 looks more appealing. I will be judging these two lights based on current info and reviews and not based on old reputations.

I wish I could do the same for Imalent, but every light they make has issues. Arg! Lol

[Ilmatic]

as someone else posted in the other group

Faulty astrolux mf01

[hIKARInoob]

^ On the positive side, you should have better mode spacing now…

[JasonWW]

So what are the details?

Is that a stock driver?

In Lexels review the driver was basically 3 drivers combined on a single pcb. In the video, where only 2 banks of leds working on the lowest level then all 3 banks work on the other 4 levels?

[JasonWW]

@hIKARInoob

^ On the positive side, you should have better mode spacing now…

As far as problems go, that one’s not so bad. Still usable. I wonder how Banggood will try and correct this.

[hIKARInoob]

@JasonWW

@hIKARInoob

^ On the positive side, you should have better mode spacing now…

As far as problems go, that one’s not so bad. Still usable. I wonder how Banggood will try and correct this.

I’m more concerned whether it will not get worse over time, and whether this is an isolated case or not. Honestly, this does not inspire confidence. There are only a few lights delivered so far, and there is already a flawed sample…

[JasonWW]

@JasonWW

@ramptosd

Can anyone confirm if I use say a Samsung 30Q button top, I should be using unprotected cells with this light?

Yes, most folks will be using unprotected cells.

You can also use protected cells, but they tend to reduce the max output. Make sure the output current of the protected cell is fairly high.

You can use flat top cells as well if you don’t mind removing the plastic rings that protect from accidental reverse polarity.

You can keep the rings and still use flat tops if you add solder blobs to the cells.

Even though in Charles BridgTecs video it looks like protected cells will fit, Lexel says that they wont. Maybe the battery carrier length was extended a tiny bit from prototype to production unit? I think so. Lexels 30q unprotected cells compress the springs almost fully. Charles LG HG2 unprotected cells seem to have much less spring compression.

It may be best to stick with unprotected cells. That way you know they fit and you’ll get full power from the light.

[leroycp]

Received Nichia model today. So far…works well. Quite well built. Nice tint profile. Has a great feel to it. I made certain to place cell carrier side 1 towards head and used fresh BT 30Q. I am very satisfied and will use later tonight. XPG3 should arrive soon.

[JasonWW]

@hIKARInoob

@JasonWW

@hIKARInoob

^ On the positive side, you should have better mode spacing now…

As far as problems go, that one’s not so bad. Still usable. I wonder how Banggood will try and correct this.

I’m more concerned whether it will not get worse over time, and whether this is an isolated case or not. Honestly, this does not inspire confidence. There are only a few lights delivered so far, and there is already a flawed sample…

Yeah, but I do feel a lot better knowing that the driver can be replaced with one running narsil. So the worst case scenario is you spend another $25 or so and get an upgraded driver. Your still less than the retail price of $109.

The lights that worry me are the ones that are not easy to fix, like an Imalent DT70 for example. It’s way more expensive and I don’t think anyone makes a driver for it. If it goes out your really screwed. The MF01, I’m not worried, only mildly concerned.

[hIKARInoob]

@JasonWW

Yeah, but I do feel a lot better knowing that the driver can be replaced with one running narsil. So the worst case scenario is you spend another $25 or so and get an upgraded driver. Your still less than the retail price of $109.

The lights that worry me are the ones that are not easy to fix, like an Imalent DT70 for example. It’s way more expensive and I don’t think anyone makes a driver for it. If it goes out your really screwed. The MF01, I’m not worried, only mildly concerned.

True. I’ve got an DOA Haikelite MT02. They’re sending me a new driver. Easy fix. :partying_face:
I just don’t have a lot of soldering experience. The three sets of wires to the led board seems like a pita to me.

Edit: this kind of easy access to repair makes a light so much more attractive.

[Flying_Luminosity]

I just noticed that one set of LEDs in my light is slightly less bright than the other two on the lowest level. Not much (nowhere near as bad as in the video), but it’s definitely noticeable.

[JasonWW]

I wish all companies would be willing to offer replacement drivers. Sadly not all do.

I’d be impressed if Astrolux would send that fellow a new driver. Assuming he can solder, it would be an easy swap. I won’t be worried about buying their products then.

I’m interested in the MF02, but that one uses a 12 volt xhp35 so there is no narsil driver available for it. I would hesitate to buy it if more defective mf01 get reported. If they offered a replacement driver for that model, if you got a bad one, then I’d get it for sure.

As you might guess, all my lights are either Convoy, Eagle Eye or custom built. I can get new drivers for all of them. :+1:

[JasonWW]

@Flying Luminosity

I just noticed that one set of LEDs in my light is slightly less bright than the other two on the lowest level. Not much (nowhere near as bad as in the video), but it’s definitely noticeable.

What battery voltage is that at? Lower voltage or fully charged? Maybe that makes a difference.

[hIKARInoob]

@JasonWW

I wish all companies would be willing to offer replacement drivers. Sadly not all do.

I’d be impressed if Astrolux would send that fellow a new driver. Assuming he can solder, it would be an easy swap. I won’t be worried about buying their products then.

It makes sense that Banggood would offer sending a driver only. Sending a driver only is much cheaper than sending the light to China and back. In the DOA period of three days, Banggood is also paying shipping to China…

Generally, you have sample to sample variation of output with lights. Since the MF01 has three independent drivers, it makes sense that you could get different outputs of the three sets of leds. Too bad if it is really noticeable though…

[JasonWW]

I was under the impression banggood had no way to receive lights for warranty work. They either offered partial or full refunds.

Do banggood allow lights to be shipped back to china?

[Flying_Luminosity]

@JasonWW

@Flying Luminosity

I just noticed that one set of LEDs in my light is slightly less bright than the other two on the lowest level. Not much (nowhere near as bad as in the video), but it’s definitely noticeable.

What battery voltage is that at? Lower voltage or fully charged? Maybe that makes a difference.

Brand new Samsung 30Q, fully charged to 4.21V.

The difference in output is actually larger than I first thought:

Really hoping that it won’t get any worse!

[hIKARInoob]

@JasonWW

I was under the impression banggood had no way to receive lights for warranty work. They either offered partial or full refunds.

Do banggood allow lights to be shipped back to china?

I assume Banggood will ship it to the manufacturer.
According to Banggood: Only high value products need to be returned. High value is determined by our service team and is usually an item around $70 or more. If it is not high value then you do not need to return it and can keep the faulty product.

This makes sense. I asked whether the MF01 needs to be returned in case of DOA, but I didn’t get a defined answer: it was dependent on the type of failure or something…

[andrewmac]

Is the code available?

[JasonWW]

@Flying Luminosity

I just noticed that one set of LEDs in my light is slightly less bright than the other two on the lowest level. Not much (nowhere near as bad as in the video), but it’s definitely noticeable.

Which version do you have, 219c or xpg3?

[Flying_Luminosity]

@JasonWW

@Flying Luminosity

I just noticed that one set of LEDs in my light is slightly less bright than the other two on the lowest level. Not much (nowhere near as bad as in the video), but it’s definitely noticeable.

Which version do you have, 219c or xpg3?

The Nichia version.

I noticed something else that’s strange. When I screw on the head and the breathing light comes on, the light works fine (apart from the sets of LEDs having different output levels in low mode). But at that point the engravings on the tube aren’t aligned with the switch and tripod mount. If I tighten the head by another 20° or so, so that everything is aligned nicely, the light flickers in all modes or shuts off completely. And the red battery indicator comes on after a few seconds in turbo mode. But when I loosen the head again, the flickering disappears and the switch stays green in turbo.

Not sure what to make of all this.