SciFi 445 1W Problem

[mitchellcloud]

Hey there, I've tried searching this problem on Google and on these forums, but haven't found anything helpful. I received a 1W 445 laser (the 501B) from SciFi lasers last year. It's been working great up until the last month. I was going to email the joker directly, but it seems like that has all gone to a bad place recently. Anyway, the laser has been working really well until this month. I charged the Keeppower 18350 900mAh (18350 KeepPower 900mAh ICR18350 Protected Button Top) batteries I bought from Illumn on a Nitecore i4 Intellicharger (2014 Edition) until it was full (all three bars were full). I tried to turn it on after I loaded the batteries but nothing happened. This happens occasionally with this laser. It usually just takes me taking the batteries out and reloading them again a few times and then it turns on. Anyway, I did this a few times and it blinked on once for half a second. I reloaded the batteries a couple more times and then it turned on and stayed on. I loaded it in my backpack and tried to use it again a couple nights later. It did a very similar dance except it wouldn't work consistently. It would turn on and work fine for a few seconds. If I tried to turn it on again after a few minutes however it wouldn't light. It worked on and off again that night. The next night I tried again and now I can't get it to light at all. Nothing I am trying is getting to to turn on again.
My questions are - Is there a possibility that I overcharged the batteries? How can I check that if I did? (I don't own a voltmeter, but I can buy one quickly - I've been meaning to buy one for a while now anyway). Could the diode or the other electronics be messed up and would there be a way of testing those? Is there something else that may be helpful to investigate?
Thanks for your help! I love this laser and don't want to replace it if at all possible.

 

[Deleted member 42751]

Seems like a problem with the contacts. I think that I had this problem before with my Eitan 520. Can you post a picture of the inside please?

 

[mitchellcloud]

The contacts don't appear to be loose at least to the touch, but hopefully these pics might illuminate the situation a bit better. I took the pictures of the pieces seperately, but then took a picture down the tube to the diode end of the housing. Thanks a bunch for your help!

 

[olympus mons]

try bypassing the tailcap button and see if it fires. Put batteries in without the tailcap and with a probe, make contact with the battery to the host. Make sure there is no paint on the contact point of the host.

if you have an I4 charger I doubt the battery is the issue. from your description it sounds like a contact issue somewhere hence probably the tail switch. I have had a couple fail on me and I'm sure Eitan was using as cheap and crappy components he could find to save a buck.

if thats the problem a piece of copper foil would work too to bypass the switch I can send you if you don't feel like ordering a new clicky. You would then just turn the cap for on/off.

 

[mitchellcloud]

Geniuses. That worked. I connected it without the tail cap on and the laser came on. I didn't have a probe, but I just connected it briefly with some wire I had laying around. I started looking at new tailcoats online, but then I found this video online describing how to fix the tail cap. You just have to tighten the silver washer down. Now it's working again with the original tailcap. I may still buy a new tailcap, but for now it's working like it's supposed to. Here's the link on how to fix the tailcap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_PosvfRD6A Apparently there are a lot of videos online about how to fix ultrafire housings. Who woulda thought.

Thanks for your help you all! I was a bit intimidated to post on here for the first time. I've been stalking these forums for about a year now and was worried I was going to post a stupid question. Thanks for being super helpful and kind!

 

[Deleted member 42751]

Geniuses. That worked. I connected it without the tail cap on and the laser came on. I didn't have a probe, but I just connected it briefly with some wire I had laying around. I started looking at new tailcoats online, but then I found this video online describing how to fix the tail cap. You just have to tighten the silver washer down. Now it's working again with the original tailcap. I may still buy a new tailcap, but for now it's working like it's supposed to. Here's the link on how to fix the tailcap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_PosvfRD6A Apparently there are a lot of videos online about how to fix ultrafire housings. Who woulda thought.

Thanks for your help you all! I was a bit intimidated to post on here for the first time. I've been stalking these forums for about a year now and was worried I was going to post a stupid question. Thanks for being super helpful and kind!

Great! I'm glad you were able to fix it.
Also - I forgot to say - welcome to the forum! Enjoy your stay.

 

[bdgreenb]

it's always satisfying to see the forum working the way it's supposed to! well played everyone

 

[Chrisbee]

Nice! Also, I'd just like to mention that those 501b hosts can be found for pretty cheap, and the internals can be swapped out pretty easy. You can pick up a different color host, swap out the module, and have a "brand new" laser!