Old style Novatac with new circuit

[DM51]

The engraving on the new one is completely different - looks very cheap and nasty.

 

[Polar Light]

I bet you the spring in the head is the problem. Either under compression it's moving off the nipple of the battery or where it's soldered to the head is not contacting properly.

At the first try the light worked on 2 lowest modes but not on high mode. Looked like that something did not tolerate higher ampereage. Could be the soldering of positive spring.

Are we sure this isn't some kind of counterfeit? If it's real I guess we can chalk it up to "Virtual manufacturing"

I bought this from Lighthound. I have sendt them mail and I am waiting for response.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

John will take it back (Lighthound). It looks as though the vendors have changed for all the parts, perhaps even the engraving. Nope. Definitely the engraving is done someplace else. 100%
The light not working is totally unacceptable. Don't do a fix on this yourself. Send it back to Lighthound, he will pass it back to Novatac.
I've been waiting to see how the third gen would turn out. Glad I have first and second.
I must say though, that when NT first came out, there was quite a stir on the forum regarding things that people thought were there to cut costs, but in actuality, increased costs. One example is the polycarb lens. Optical grad polycarb was used and cost a heck of a lot more than UCL. It was done so the lens would not break... ever. Even when thrown as hard as one could at a cement wall. (Did that!)
This though... this does look like other vendors were used. Perhaps to cut cost, or perhaps because the previous vendors could no longer supply what was needed (this happened more than once).
The other reality is, we are snobs. Me included. I am probably one of the worst, so don't take this the wrong way, but...
CPF is a very small market. Yes, there are lots of people here and we like our lights, PERFECT. The vast majority of people who buy these lights though will only compare it to a maglight. The majority are also confused by anything more than on/off, so even the T and E confuses them. I've seen it first hand on several occassions. As a small manufacturer, CPF can be a great market, but if you are looking at selling 50k of lights in a month, CPF can't bear that unless the lights are a penny a piece.
So, it does not look like I will be picking up a new NT light anytime soon, because I don't fall in the majority of folks. Most of us here do not. It is sad to see these issues, and I hope they get them resolved quickly.
Anyone else have a 3XXXXX NT to compare?

 

[tebore]

Since you know the things you know about NT. Why did they go with retaining rings to hold the electronics in the body. You could PM me if you can't disclose it publicly. That to me didn't make much sense as threading would have helped heat dissipation. I could understand doing itwith the switch because the boot might need replacing. There were some nice improvements in switch constructions. Also the contacts could be plated.

John will take it back (Lighthound). It looks as though the vendors have changed for all the parts, perhaps even the engraving. Nope. Definitely the engraving is done someplace else. 100%
The light not working is totally unacceptable. Don't do a fix on this yourself. Send it back to Lighthound, he will pass it back to Novatac.
I've been waiting to see how the third gen would turn out. Glad I have first and second.
I must say though, that when NT first came out, there was quite a stir on the forum regarding things that people thought were there to cut costs, but in actuality, increased costs. One example is the polycarb lens. Optical grad polycarb was used and cost a heck of a lot more than UCL. It was done so the lens would not break... ever. Even when thrown as hard as one could at a cement wall. (Did that!)
This though... this does look like other vendors were used. Perhaps to cut cost, or perhaps because the previous vendors could no longer supply what was needed (this happened more than once).
The other reality is, we are snobs. Me included. I am probably one of the worst, so don't take this the wrong way, but...
CPF is a very small market. Yes, there are lots of people here and we like our lights, PERFECT. The vast majority of people who buy these lights though will only compare it to a maglight. The majority are also confused by anything more than on/off, so even the T and E confuses them. I've seen it first hand on several occassions. As a small manufacturer, CPF can be a great market, but if you are looking at selling 50k of lights in a month, CPF can't bear that unless the lights are a penny a piece.
So, it does not look like I will be picking up a new NT light anytime soon, because I don't fall in the majority of folks. Most of us here do not. It is sad to see these issues, and I hope they get them resolved quickly.
Anyone else have a 3XXXXX NT to compare?

 

[bee-man]

I too had a 3XXXX (returned it). Issues: the spring fell out when I took the battery out, the reflector had been wiped :shakehead, the inside of the lens appeared to be slightly contaminated, the positive terminal of the battery was dented in or concave, and the button was hard to press. The over all package just looked and felt really cheap compare to the other NT's I've used.

 

[gottawearshades]

I love my two 11- - - NovaTacs, and now I ready to move on the new Ra Clicky (whenever they ship . . .).

No need to pile on NovaTac here, but it looks like I got in and out at the right time.

 

[Thujone]

No need to pile on NovaTac here, but it looks like I got in and out at the right time.

Ditto...

 

[manoloco]

I have a novatac that has the lowest levels flickering issue, at this point this is supposed to be normal, i had an RMA# to return they would look for one without it, but the problem was in the software, and that hasnt changed, now if i send mine back, and mine has a much lesser problem than what im looking here in the pictures, they will probably send me one of those in return ...


i shouldnt have procrastinated so much (altough my job doesnt allow me to be out at hours that the post office operates), so i guess my best option is to keep mine (the problem only appears when the batteries are a bit spent), what to do what to do...

 

[Rossymeister]

I Just Hope The Quality Is Good On the New Models That Are Soon To be Released.

If They Are Anything Like This One Is, They Have Definitely Lost Me As A Customer.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Unless they change vendors again, or get the current vendors to come on line, the new models may have the same issues. I would bet that they are trying hard to resolve this now. Also, we don't know how many issues they have had with the new vendors and with the third run of lights. If they have too many come back, you can bet they will beat feet to fix it as it would be a huge concern with some of the contracts that they have and are attempting to get. It must be reliable.

 

[Axion]

I hope they get their act togeather. I'm the type who'd be willing to pay a little more to support a "local" company provided that the product is equal to or better then the foreign made competition and I got a bit excited when I found out Novatac was made in the US. But companies like Dereelight and Nitecore are putting out some darn high quality products and I'm certainly not going to pay twice the price of what a C2H costs for a light that has any problems. In fact for what a 120P goes for I'd expect pretty much perfection given how nice my extreme and C2H are for $70-$100

 

[nanotech17]

both of mine 120-T are find but check out the O-ring on the black one.

The reflectors are ok - both with U2SWOI & U2SVOH respectively

Tailcap lettering a bit different though

 

[SnWnMe]

120E SN 20398 has the old style nipples and knurling.

 

[SLC]

I love my two 11- - - NovaTacs, and now I ready to move on the new Ra Clicky (whenever they ship . . .).

No need to pile on NovaTac here, but it looks like I got in and out at the right time.

dito

 

[DM51]

So it looks rather as if anyone thinking of buying a Novatac would do well to go for a used one with a low serial #, at least until they've fixed these issues. Are all those below #30000 OK?

 

[streetmaster]

Wow. What a disappointment.

I'm SO glad I just got my 120E from BoTach Tactical. Serial 14319. Old style contact, good knurling and anno.

Now I'm afraid to buy any more.

This is mine...

 

[MikeG1P315]

Bummer!

I'm a bit nervous, now. I just ordered a 120p from Your Corner Store. Oh well... I'll post my lottery results when I get it. Hopefully its either a lower SN or they've worked out the kinks. :shrug:

If only the new Ra Clicky was shorter... the EDC are such perfect size (imo).

 

[cfromc]

I've got a very low serial # 120P. It was mint until a few days ago when I got a tiny ding in the tailcap. I don't plan on selling it anyway and now it looks like a lifelong keeper. The only problem I ever had was the flicker but after I cleaned off the excessive grease (that I put on) from all the contacts, it works fine. Maybe I should try to find an older spare tailcap...

I've found the Novatacs going for cheap around the 'net, maybe this is why.

 

[manoloco]

the flickering issue on mine only happens now on spent batteries and on the 3 lowest levels, as i have been told i had good luck with mine! go figure..

To tell you guys the truth, i was procrastinating sending the light and using the warranty in hope they would improve, and fix the flickering issues by updating the software or solve the programming bug, then i would send it; it was my best chance.

alas it seems they took the opposite route.

 

[gswitter]

I picked up a second 120P a month or two back through the deal at Keenzo - serial #30594. It has the spring on the head, but no messy soldering, and the laser engraving looks fine. So far it's been problem free. I use the lowest level frequently, and I have yet to notice any flickering.