Bike Light Repair Dimming on Use
Discussion
I've recently bought a Lifeline Pavo Motion Control 3500 light for off road night riding.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-pavo-3500-lumen-...
It has three outputs in two modes. One mode is motion control which detects motion and then dims the output upon detecting no movement to save the battery when stationary.
When I used the light, either in normal mode or motion control mode, it dims to the lowest setting after just a few moments of riding. It won't stay in any output that I select and dims to the lowest output after a few seconds. It seems to last longer upon first being switched on (45 seconds) before switching to a lower output which makes me think there's a thermal/heat dissipation issue. Generally it only lasts on high output for about 10 seconds before dimming if its been on a while and warm. No amount of movement or shaking the light has ever made it change modes into a higher setting.
I have nothing to lose as wiggle have refunded me and allowed me to keep the light but it's all but useless to me in the current form. I'm keen to have a go at trying to fix it but have very limited knowledge. Could this be a thermal issue? Perhaps open up and see if there's any thermal paste around the LEDs? Perhaps an issue with whatever's used for the motion control setting but appreciate that'd be much harder to sort.
Just asking if anyone else has any ideas as it's wasteful to throw out a brand new light and I'm keen to learn.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-pavo-3500-lumen-...
It has three outputs in two modes. One mode is motion control which detects motion and then dims the output upon detecting no movement to save the battery when stationary.
When I used the light, either in normal mode or motion control mode, it dims to the lowest setting after just a few moments of riding. It won't stay in any output that I select and dims to the lowest output after a few seconds. It seems to last longer upon first being switched on (45 seconds) before switching to a lower output which makes me think there's a thermal/heat dissipation issue. Generally it only lasts on high output for about 10 seconds before dimming if its been on a while and warm. No amount of movement or shaking the light has ever made it change modes into a higher setting.
I have nothing to lose as wiggle have refunded me and allowed me to keep the light but it's all but useless to me in the current form. I'm keen to have a go at trying to fix it but have very limited knowledge. Could this be a thermal issue? Perhaps open up and see if there's any thermal paste around the LEDs? Perhaps an issue with whatever's used for the motion control setting but appreciate that'd be much harder to sort.
Just asking if anyone else has any ideas as it's wasteful to throw out a brand new light and I'm keen to learn.
Fair play to Wiggle for refunding you.
I've always used 2 cheapo led torches, one on wide beam and one on zoom always gave me enough light to dodge the trees at night. I only get 4 or 5 hours before lights start to dim and and two hours later it's like a glow worm, but TBH I'm too old for long marathon rides these days.
None of which answers your question, but as the light is effectively free you've got nothing to lose taking it apart.
I've always used 2 cheapo led torches, one on wide beam and one on zoom always gave me enough light to dodge the trees at night. I only get 4 or 5 hours before lights start to dim and and two hours later it's like a glow worm, but TBH I'm too old for long marathon rides these days.
None of which answers your question, but as the light is effectively free you've got nothing to lose taking it apart.
I have a couple of Nite core torches that sound similar. Flashing/not flashing; different levels of light, low,medium and retina burning light .When on the brightest setting it turns itself to a lower one after a period of time to preserve battery life and let the bulb cool down. So it could be your does the same but was obviously faulty.
Cheers folks, as you say I've nothing to lose so I'll have a poke around. The battery and LEDs are obviously fine as it's incredibly bright on full it just dims when it shouldn't. I'm absolutely novice with electronics but it seems logical to me to assume it's a thermal issue so I'm keen to open it up and see if there's a problem with how it's been put together.
Wiggle have been completely decent. Can't fault them, especially given their current problems. It feels really wasteful to just buy something else and not use this though so I'm hoping I can tinker with it and get it to work. Even if I can get it stable on the second lowest setting would be fine as this light is being used for my canal tow path commute as I've got another light for night mountain biking now.
Wiggle have been completely decent. Can't fault them, especially given their current problems. It feels really wasteful to just buy something else and not use this though so I'm hoping I can tinker with it and get it to work. Even if I can get it stable on the second lowest setting would be fine as this light is being used for my canal tow path commute as I've got another light for night mountain biking now.
sebdangerfield said:
Cheers folks, as you say I've nothing to lose so I'll have a poke around. The battery and LEDs are obviously fine as it's incredibly bright on full it just dims when it shouldn't. I'm absolutely novice with electronics but it seems logical to me to assume it's a thermal issue so I'm keen to open it up and see if there's a problem with how it's been put together.
Wiggle have been completely decent. Can't fault them, especially given their current problems. It feels really wasteful to just buy something else and not use this though so I'm hoping I can tinker with it and get it to work. Even if I can get it stable on the second lowest setting would be fine as this light is being used for my canal tow path commute as I've got another light for night mountain biking now.
I know technically it’s not a “torch” but as I see it it’s just a torch for a bike.Wiggle have been completely decent. Can't fault them, especially given their current problems. It feels really wasteful to just buy something else and not use this though so I'm hoping I can tinker with it and get it to work. Even if I can get it stable on the second lowest setting would be fine as this light is being used for my canal tow path commute as I've got another light for night mountain biking now.
It might be worth asking you question to the real torch geeks in "torch thread"
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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