I recently purchased a Manker LAD and while it is a nice flashlight overall, it does have one problem. It is almost impossible to double click it fast enough to get into strobe and the optional modes. Has anyone else experienced this and is there any solution to the problem ?
Thanks,
Mike
FWIW my E11 / UT01 is kind of like that. I have to pretty intentionally double tap it to get it to strobe… I think they are designed this way intentionally to avoid accidental strobe.
Due to the small and slightly stiffer button, I have found while trying to multi-click, it’s is more challenging to do this one handed. But, it is quite easy to perform a double click while holding two handed or when other methods are used to brace from underneath. I use the tip of my thumbnail for better response, due to button size.
Thanks…using my thumbnail did the trick.
Mike
Reported this issue at launch. The LAD is very problematic with this issue. The timing and I believe an improperly debounced switch is also responsible. It seem to get worse after a while. See if you can consistently do it even with your thumb after a while. Flawed design, but the UI has several issues for this type of light.
I consider my LAD very practical for a non flashoholic that just needs a light that turns on at a useful level with a single click.
I cannot access strobe intentionally… I have tried and tried. I asked a young woman to try, and she figured it out on the second attempt. The only way I know to get Strobe, is to charge the light. It always comes off the charger ready to turn on in strobe… bugs the crap out of me… but I quickly figured out that if I just turn it off, the next single click is low mode, no strobe. I certainly cannot double click fast enough to turn of strobe in any other way.
I like the UI very much. I like that I can set mode memory to the red mode for use as a nightstand wake to pee light.
I like the brightness options very much, on mine, the N219c version, the first mode is 10 lumens… very practical all around, even if used as a single mode light by a newbie, they would quickly discover the other 3 modes by single clicking…
Definitely a light I recommend as a gift. Non flashoholics wont have to listen to me explain whey they should not buy alkalines… I particularly appreciate that the LAD comes With a mini USB charging cord… its a complete package. As a gift, the recipient does not need to source anything, to keep the light functional.
I especially like the single button UI, simple. I also really like that it is impossible to activate accidentally, and imo it carries very well on a keyring. I like the form factor too, and the low weight.
I also like that the 219c is a 4000k Color Temperature, Im not a fan of Cool White myself, though it is definitely much brighter.
No light is perfect, but, being unable to get into strobe is not a dealbreaker for me. What bugs me more, personally, is that the LAD has some sort of PWM: (please dont argue about whether it matters to you, Im just reporting it)
JAM. Just Another Manker. I know I am rather pessimistic but God knows what still drives people to pay only to have problems when you can have so much fun in the flashlight world elsewhere…
This is an awesome light for its intended purpose. Keychain for non-flashaholics. GF got no problems with it, neither have I (flashaholic). Build is awesome, just sandpaper the red LEDs and it does best what it was designed for: Keychain light.
I agree
I used 600 grit rolled up, did not need to remove the bezel.
for fun, I took a pic after only sanding 1. I used it that way for a day, then sanded the other one. I like sanded better.
pet peeve, I googled red straw hat LED and it describes a wide floody beam pattern. these LEDs are spot leds, nothing wide beam about them, even after sanding, the beam is no wider, it just has less artifacts, less throw, and less brightness… on my meter, they read less than 1/4 lumen… the other brightness specs are also way off… but I still think the light makes a great gift… and I find I actually want to keep it for myself.
Has there ever been one manker light built either by them or contracted by blf/CPF to build a light that didn’t have issues. I’m almost being sarcastic but also serious at the same time. Every light I’ve seen released on here within a week or two problems start popping up. I was two seconds away from buying a cometa before I did some research several months ago and saw a light that direct shorted.
On another note its good manker listens to our input. What really annoys me though. Blf has some of the best light engineers in the world. Its world community. They take our input and ideas and use them as their own and time and time again refuse to do a group buy just for blf. When we basically take them by the hand to build a great light. And they still mess it up. Using inferior parts before production to literally save pennies or bad drivers just thing after thing
I trimmed the button's boot down - found it clicks a little better this way. Basically what you do is reduce the surface area of the rubber boot so it applied more direct pressure to the center of the switch. Sorry, didn't get a good pic of the cut down. I've done this on a few lights with stiff buttons - works good:
Tom E,
Thanks for follow up on your previous breakdown pics.
That switch inside is really tiny, compared to the bottom plunger on the boot, what’s the trick to getting the boot reinstalled, back in?
Looks like a bit of a gap exists between the plunger (at rest) and the switch, I’m wondering if a shim in between might work.
SUCCESS! Well sort of.
The good news-
I created a much better button response improvement by sticking a shim of electrical tape to the button plunger. So now I mostly can operate with my thumb tip (not my nail).
I used a “double” layer of electrical tape (0.013” thickness).
The bad news-
This thickness is probably just a little to much, if I lay the light button side down on a tabletop and press, the light will turn on.
May be better to use a single layer of tape (0.0065).
The boot is tricky to get back in, so I actually stuck the shim on while it was installed in the body.
Your results might vary.
I did the same as TomE did , on my UT02 , when i changed the rubber boot for the one from the Convoy L6 and works great …
Think I got the trick from you George 
. Seems to work well with Manker and Manker style lights.
As long as it works for all of us , it doesn’t matter who did it first 
Received 2 more Lads today, 219c & XP-G3 cw.
Button response is a tad better on these. My 1st one had a black usb cord, these have flat white cords.
Red lights are a little different. Top center light in photo (my original) is actually brighter, but has more artifacts.
Beamshots on medium.
Nice! Those might be the real Straw Hat LEDs, the beam looks twice as wide as the first batch, and less artifacts… Probably no need to sand those down.
Thanks for the beamshots of the two different LEDs also.
Hey I had a problem with a LAD. My father took it out of his pocket and it was flashing/strobing with the red lights. Clicking and click and hold several times didn’t do anything the first ten times or so. Then after a click it started flashing/strobing with the white led (low output). I connected the light with micro USB, and it stopped. I haven’t had a problem since then. This is not LVP, as the light would just switch to red leds. Anyone had the same problem?
I threw mine away as the battery died within half a year and only about 10 cycles. :rage: Pity, as I like the form factor and the specs. Would only work with the charger attached and not without. Actually quite pissed-off as it isn’t cheap and I expect better from Manker.