Fenix light quality

chiefjason

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Just had to share. I know I'm not the only one that likes their lights. I've had one for years, probably 7 or 8 years. It's an older PD30. All the finish is worn off any high spot or edge, and checkering. It's got a big spot worn on it from carrying it in the same pocket as my knife for a while. I've dropped on warehouse floors, out of my tractor, and on the tile at home. Generally just abused it carrying it every day.

Lately the light had been acting funny. It developed a random hi/low that it should not have. I could click it on and get a low, then put pressure on the switch to get a high. Strobe quit working. It didn't really bother me because of how I've treated it.

I took it with me on my kayak float last week. Tucked it into a ziplock bag with my wallet, phone, and keys. At some point my boat took on water in the well behind me between the boat leaking, rain, and just water splashing in. I didn't really check the contents until several hours in and the bag was full of water. Luckily Apple decided to go water proof. But I figured I might have really done some damage to the light just sitting in water. Nothing I could do so I just left it in the bag. It stayed wet all day.

Got home and tossed my phone and keys in the bag of rice just to get any residual moisture out. Remembered my light and took it apart and tossed the pieces in. After it dried I pulled the switch off and cleaned it up too.

That dang light works like it was brand new. Easily 5X brighter than it was before the soak, with the same batteries. I actually forgot how stinking bright it could be. Strobe is back. I'm actually very impressed with the abuse this light continues to take. I've picked up a couple used Streamlights and they have both eventually failed and I don't even carry them. They sit in nightstands. In all honesty, I wonder if they are not fakes since I got them from pawn shops though. But I can't seem to kill this Fenix. I'm beyond impressed.
 
Hope to get similar results with my PD35, got it last year on their website with a promo code.
I'm using their lithium battery and charger. Did not want to take a chance on knock offs.
 
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Lost 1 Fenix but still have another. Took it for a walk the other morning. Single cell AA. May have to try washing it because it seemed dim. Changed battery and looked the same. Have a AAA Itp keychain light about 90 lumens that ive edc'd for 10yrs. Essential equipment.
 
Lost 1 Fenix but still have another. Took it for a walk the other morning. Single cell AA. May have to try washing it because it seemed dim. Changed battery and looked the same. Have a AAA Itp keychain light about 90 lumens that ive edc'd for 10yrs. Essential equipment.
I've an 7 year old LED flashlight that periodically does the dimmage. I think it's due to oxidation of the threads, unscrew the ends, add a very small amount of oil, reassy and bright again.
 
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I'm a big Fenix fan. I've honestly lost count how many I have. I got this one on sale at least 8 years ago at REI and it's been my edc ever since.
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Have several, gifted several, got my dad hooked on them too for around the house
Great lights for the money

Had one fail on me - they sent some replacement parts to try and then sent a whole new unit.
 
I've an 7 year old LED flashlight that periodically does the dimmage. I think it's due to oxidation of the threads, unscrew the ends, add a very small amount of oil, reassy and bright again.

My Fenix would die all together, take apart wipe threads, back to life. It had some other quirks I don't recall the specifics of. Had it about two years eventually it died of something non traumatic.

The one I bought my FIL didn't work out of the box. Not sure he ever warranted it.

I liked my Fenix, seems like their price crept up. My little pocket streamlight has been flawless for years, no thread cleaning or messing with, just change batteries on occasion.
 
I love mine. First high dollar light I've ever had and worth every penny compared to the higher end, way higher priced lights.
 
I've got a dead one. Thought it was just the battery, but no work. Lightly used and about 5 years old. Maybe I'll hunt it down and try the thread wipe thing. It was a nice light whilemit worked.
 
Fenix is my preferred "mid-range" light and "mid-range" is what I consider to be good "working" lights. I have EDC'd one for years and I have s lot of lights. I think the build quality is better than most competitive lights. What I really like I'd the best is the beam pattern. They are generally spot, but with a good spill pattern. So, the appear brighter than competitive lights.
 
I have a UC35 that has been absolutely solid. I’ve been pretty rough with it, had it submerged in water, and it sits in my truck console baking in the summer heat all day. I take it out an charge it every few months and it is always just as bright as when it was brand new.
 
I've an 7 year old LED flashlight that periodically does the dimmage. I think it's due to oxidation of the threads, unscrew the ends, add a very small amount of oil, reassy and bright again.
Do the threads contact something? Or does that make it a bad ground? Or what?

Just trying to figure out how cleaning the threads on an end cap would affect the light...
 
Do the threads contact something? Or does that make it a bad ground? Or what?

Just trying to figure out how cleaning the threads on an end cap would affect the light...
The end cap is the ground (negative) side of the battery, dirty contact is high resistance = voltage drop.

I use Deoxit contact cleaner on all my lights and ham radio gear. You use the smallest drop, it is a bit expensive,
you can find it at guitar center and on amazon. The 5% is most common. https://caig.com/
I got the pump sprayer so no hazmat shipping charge.
 
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I had one (don't remember the model) that rattled around in the bed of my truck for three months before I realised it was there, it still worked once I put a new battery in. Would probably still be fine today if I hadn't lost it somewhere.
 
I have three older ones, all use AA batteries. I lost my one AA model and bought a replacement, then found the lost one. The replacement went into a drawer as a backup for when the found one broke. It has been in that drawer for about 3 years now, the old one is still going strong.

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Ive had a PD25 for a while and i have been happy with it. I got a PD35 and so far its awesome.
 
This thread made me want to go check out their site. Looks like if you sign up for their emails you get 20% off and free 3-day shipping on your first order........

https://www.fenixlighting.com/
 
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