Terminator troubles

[daugerbot]

I just got my 445nm laser from Sci-fi Lasers (Eitan has been a wonderful seller. My questions have been answered quickly and politely.) and it's not working. I put the batteries, Trustfire 26650's, in exactly as the manual stated. I'm getting nothing. Now, I'm terrified that after the month+ that I've waited to get this that I've broken it. Alternately, the batteries could be DOA, given the brand.
From the manual " The Positive side of the batteries should get inside the laser ( to the spring inside the body of the laser ) while the Negative side towards the tailcap." Obviously, English isn't his first language, but I felt like it was still fairly clear.
I'm feeling pretty screwed right now. I seriously don't want to play the customs game again. Suggestions?

 

[Blord]

Contact Joker for repairing the laser. He should handle any problems with his lasers.

 

[Livinloud]

Wondering why there have been numerous problems with the Term/Dominator lasers. Is it the driver that is giving people trouble or what is the deal?

 

[daugerbot]

I was able to get a faint blue light out, but it would flicker, had no focus and didn't turn on and off with the button. I've contacted Eitan and he said it might be a contact issue with the tailcap. After fumbling, I've lost the faint blue light.

 

[Livinloud]

What charger are you using? Sounds like batteries/charger could be a problem

 

[ScottW]

Eitan tests them before shipping, so the most likely culprit (as LL said above) would be battery or charger. I'd certainly try to eliminate that before sending it back to Eitan.

I feel your pain... I recently got a 405nm from Eitan, and it quit after only a couple days. Eitan WILL make it right, no worries there, mine is in his hands being repaired as we speak (he diagnosed it as a bad driver). But it is painful waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the slow mail service.

I recommend finding a way to test/verify the batteries are good and fully charged before doing anything else.

 

[daugerbot]

Well I'm waiting on a charger from amazon. But my batteries are brand new. So idk. Are you sure that a low battery would make it only come on at random times, be completely unfocused and not respond to the tail cap button?

 

[Pi R Squared]

WHAT?!!! You are using batteries that haven't been charged yet?! Batteries sometimes arrive mostly charged but more often not, however it does also sound like the tail cap. Most of them can easily be taken apart so the parts can become loose sometimes.

Alan

 

[Livinloud]

It is 100% UNSAFE to ship fully charged batteries. Most batteries come around 3.5v (iirc, which is a safe level for shipping)

 

[ScottW]

Lithium batteries will usually have some charge when they arrive, but you can't count on it being enough to operate. So it is always good practice to give them a full charge before first use. How an undercharged (low voltage output) state will affect the laser would depend on how low and what driver is used, but it is possible you could see intermittent and low level output as described.

At this point, knowing you haven't charged them, I would recommend waiting for the charger and see if a full charge resolves your issue. If it doesn't, then check with Eitan first but you might want to try bypassing the tail cap with a jumper (make a good clean connection, using heavy wire, and only if you are comfortable and Eitan agrees with this test). That could help diagnose whether the problem is the tail cap and/or switch.

Hang in there. I know the waiting is tough! But if anything is wrong, Eitan will take care of it.

 

[Thejoker301]

Hi

No worries. You contacted me by email ... I replied. Just answer and we will fix it

If the laser died during shipment as said in the manual I will replace it for free.

:beer:

 

[daugerbot]

Just to update, the laser is not broken in any significant way. It was working! However, after I charged the batteries (trustfire 26650's) with the trustfire charger (I know) it has stopped working. Or at least it's not responding. I watched them as they charged and took them off as soon as the light turned green, cleaned the terminals and the contact points on the host.

 

[Devil_Master]

Have you checked that the components of the tailcap have not come loose? If the Terminator has the same tailcap as the Dominator, here is a video showing how to disassemble and reassemble it:

Make sure that the metallic ring is screwed in real tight, or else it won't make a stable contact (or any contact at all) to the host.
Also, I have noticed that screwing the tailcap to the host when the batteries are not in tends to make the entire tailcap fall apart when you remove it again, so it's better not to do that and leave the tailcap unscrewed when you are not using the laser.

 

[Thejoker301]

Yes we are working on it.

Actually he did make it work for about a day. Then it stopped working again.

I will soon send him a video of how to check these stuff. The tailcap is not the problem as he did complete the circuit with a simple wire.

I think it is something with the extension tube or inner contacts.

In either way , if he will not be able to fix it by his own , he will get a free repairing service. I will replace any part that caused a failure.

:beer:

Have you checked that the components of the tailcap have not come loose? If the Terminator has the same tailcap as the Dominator, here is a video showing how to disassemble and reassemble it:

Make sure that the metallic ring is screwed in real tight, or else it won't make a stable contact (or any contact at all) to the host.
Also, I have noticed that screwing the tailcap to the host when the batteries are not in tends to make the entire tailcap fall apart when you remove it again, so it's better not to do that and leave the tailcap unscrewed when you are not using the laser.