I have the old Thrunite TN30 U2 and I had to send it back twice before I got one that did not have flickering problems.
Some members have talked about the same thing happening with the newer TN30 U3 version.
Is buying a TN30 still a lucky dip in having flickering problems as I had with the U2 version?
All of the TN31s that I have bought for myself and others still work great with no issues whatsoever.
The only issue that the TN31 ever appeared to have had with some buyers was with the battery holder contact rings where some type of coating needed to be cleaned off before they got a good connection.
All of mine look to be a different color compared to the photos of the contact rings that were giving some buyers a connection problem.
Is the TN30 series just driven too hard for the heatsinking it has or what?
I think Thrunite is just getting rid of a lot of their old stocks of the U2 version before they bring the price down to a reasonable level.
Does anyone have any opinions on the flickering issues or the current high price of the newer TN30 U3 version?
The problem with the TN31 and TN30 is mostly the battery carrier and head plate coating. Many people, as well as myself, think the TN31 doesn't suffer from flickering issues because it isn't drawing as much current as the TN30.
Roughly 30% of my TN30s had a flicker or developed a flicker in transit. Another member on this forum (jmpaul320) received a light from me that flickered. I tested it before it shipped and it didn't flicker. I gave him a refund and he sent the light back and it had a horrendous flicker issue. I think the main issue with this light was a loose battery carrier center post. I ended up tightening it and polished everything and it worked amazing. The flicker issue was completely eliminated and the light output increase by more than 5%.
As for the updated version, it is a XM-L2 U2 emitter. It is a very noticeable increase in light output over the U2. The U2 version is no slouch but the XM-L2 is one heck of an emitter.