TITAN PLUS

Woods Walker

The Wood is cut, The Bacon is cooked, Now it’s tim
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
5,433
Location
New England woods.
Never a problem with any of my 4/7 mini or 1XAAA. Never an issue with the iTP A3 which I gave to my mother years ago. It's beaten up on her keychain dropped and treated with totally disrespect. LOL. All those lights also have centered LEDs. This stuff isn't rocket science. It is quality control. Pure and simple and I don't do care if the name is SF. I checked back to see if the issues have been resolved but looks like no so will see again in another few months. Kinda like the new smart quark lights I will periodically check the forum until it appears all is clear.
 

Vox Clamatis in Deserto

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
1,126
We've had rock-solid multimode twisties for, what, a decade by now? :rolleyes:

This stuff isn't rocket science. It is quality control. Pure and simple and I don't do care if the name is SF. I checked back to see if the issues have been resolved but looks like no so will see again in another few months.

So my dilemma is should I even bother calling SUREFIRE and sending it back?

I've written about my similar mode change problems with my Titan-A's. As Kestrel points out, it seems that some of the folks that SureFire sued for patent infringement had figured out how to do a reliable mode switching twisty light years ago. Now SF seems to be reinventing the wheel, perhaps unintentionally using us enthusiasts and early adopters as beta testers.

On one hand, it's just a little AAA keychain light. On the other, it carries the SF brand and sells for a hefty premium over other lights of similar size and design.
 

Crazyeddiethefirst

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
2,005
Location
Southern California
Just to throw my 2 cents in, I have has the Titan Plus for months. It is my almost forgotten light only because it goes everywhere I go(outside the house), but I am often carrying a new EDC to try out. Still, it has had significant use and has performed and held up well.
I realized Ned asked me a question about the O ring I never answered. My Titans both have perfectly centered O rings, even though one photo made it appear not to be on the Titan Plus. You may recall I was the first to throw both Titans in the water, both as a test and because I have a great deal of confidence in SF(just my opinion-please don't try to tell me how bad they are-I have over 160 lights and in a situation where my life is on the line, I trust them that much). I am not saying that they are always the best( obviously innovation takes time and some companies are A Lot slower than others). Sorry,back to topic: because they are rated IPX-7, and I only did 20 minutes, not 30, there were skeptics. I repeated the test, but got tied up and accidentally let the lights sit, while on, submerged completely for over two hours . Not a drop of condensation or sign of leakage(Sorry Ven, I forgot to take pictures this time).
Still not a single flicker. If I try to change modes 10 times in 2 seconds the light will stutter and stay on low x2 then medium x2. If I change modes like normal use (i.e. 1-2 seconds), it is spot on perfect. In my earlier comparison I mentioned a 4.2v Lithium 10440 would not work in the light. Since then, while in the mountains, I accidentally put a 10440 in and it worked-probably increased output by 50%(visual estimate in very sub-optimal conditions). Lost the low mode, kept med & high. I only used it with the 10440 for around two minutes without problems but heat was significant so I switched to another light. Upon getting home, the 10440 showed 4.02v. After replacing the 10440 with an Eneloop Pro,
Everything works great. The finish has held up well. The detachable tail still works without having felt any less secure, and I feel confident in the pocket clip(I know a couple other CPF'rs had a different experience, YMMV).
I read with interest the "low-low" mentioned above but could not achieve it with the Eneloop Pro. DCcowboyscr, I would recommend calling Surefire(NOT e-mail). I have had excellent customer service from them.
In summary, is it perfect, no, but in my collection of say30-40 AAA lights, it is definitely in the top 10%. I understand others have had a different experience and I am not trying to change their minds or in anyway lessen their dissatisfaction. I draw some of my most influential information from reading the actual life experiences with lights from other CPF'rs, especially those whose experience and objectivity show in their posts. I am trying to emulate those I respect, and I value all input-sometimes a newbie will ask an awesome question no one else has. Thanks to all.)
 
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archimedes

Flashaholic
Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
15,780
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CONUS, top left
Having followed this thread since it began, I had a fairly accurate idea of this item before purchasing, and accept its features and limitations.

I think that some or most of the disappointment stems from how a few seemingly minor issues keep this from reaching the pinnacle of AAA torches.

It is also perhaps a bit surprising that these couldn't be easily avoided or corrected by a large manufacturer with substantial resources, and for an item at a premium price point.

For a brand famous for "reliability" , it is just disconcerting to have a UI that is (to some degree) "unpredictable" and apparently just accepted as such :shrug:

Also, @Crazyeddiethefirst ... I wasn't clear from your post above if you could, or could not, get into "moonlight" ( LL / low-low ) mode ?
 
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Crazyeddiethefirst

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
2,005
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Southern California
Could not get to low-low, would love it if I could as moonlight(or close) is very useful to me...thanks for pointing out the grammar mistake that caused it to be unclear-corrected.
 

parnass

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
2,576
Location
Illinois, USA
Can u take a picture of the led
I use a flat bed scanner instead of a camera and it won't take a good picture with the flashlight in that position. I've tried. Sorry.

That said, the LED is almost perfectly centered in my Titan Plus.
 

dcowboyscr

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
151
Location
Greenwood(Indianapolis), Indiana & Orlando, Florid
I guess I'll call SUREFIRE tomorrow and see what they can do. I've had a lot of Surefire's over the years and other than a couple click switches that broke and a E2D that even on fresh batteries would say 1 out of 20 times come on low and ramp up to 500 lumens I've not had any problems with Surefire's over the years.
 

DimmerD

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
317
Location
Clinton Louisiana
I have had mine a few months now and have to say it's my favorite EDC so far. Yes I did have to return it due to flickering issues and that is the biggest bummer about this light that I have had. I use it mostly on low (regular low) with an occasional medium. I can switch from off to low to medium as fast as I can twist it every time. I love the warmish tint and the flood, exactly what I need for working on printers and computers.
 

Bucur

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
214
Location
Yalova, Turkey
It is so nice to have the opportunity to read such a topic before placing an order for a Titan Plus. I did both. Now that I am about to receive it, I am eager to see if mine will have its LED and O-ring centered. If so, I will enjoy my AAA light that runs @ 75 lumens for 2+ hours flat with its included NiMH battery, exceeding 2 ½ hours with Lithium primary. What else could I wish for?

300 lumens for an hour? Come on! Even if I didn't know what the applicable ANSI standard is, I would still know what 300 lumens are and what a tiny AAA battery is. A burst mode of 300 lumens, however, is unheard of when it comes to this battery format. I know the Plus is relatively heavy but I will be surprised if its weight will matter to me in this size. If the light is as nice in real world as it is in the pics and vids, I will end up with a winner in my search for an EDC flashlight with pocket clip. Winners don't come for cheap, but neither do Surefire's. I wonder if I will be able to resist my urge to chop the clip hook for obtaining a tail standing winner, though! :)
 

Bucur

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
214
Location
Yalova, Turkey
I received my Titan Plus today.

yWSNdt.jpg


I feel lucky that the seal is seated properly because I am ill-fated with LED location.

UpmdMe.jpg


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I liked the beam profile a lot. More focused than a mule and diffused enough for close-up tasks. It fills my room with light in medium mode and the hot spot does not hurt my eyes at close range in low. I also liked the tint. It is warmer than my cool white flashlights, again easy for my eyes.

I am impressed with the 300 lumens mode. Frankly, I seldom need such a power indoors but when I do, my new mini-EDC will come handy. When the room is well lit and my eyes are not dark adapted, finding a tiny washer or screw or a dangerously sharp pin that I drop on the floor does require big lumens. Up to now, I was grabbing a larger flashlight for this until the tiny object reflects signals about its whereabouts. I reckon I will no longer have to do so when my mini-EDC flashlight is already at my hand. Other than that, 300 lumens are just for show and fun. And, fun it is! :laughing:

The pocket clip is as solid as I would expect from Surefire. The light is very heavy for what it is but even at almost twice the weight that it could otherwise be; it is still about 60 grams. It gave me an unsubstantiated feeling of robustness. I also like the anodizing color and I am happy with the overall feeling of quality.

However, Surefire's understanding of "designing, perfecting and manufacturing" a flashlight in the USA did not perfectly match my expectations, this time. This is my second Surefire and my understanding of"perfecting" also includes LED centering. I was hoping that they would have addressed to this problem until now. In view of my other flashlights, I wonder if Surefire needs sending the Titan Plus units to China for LED centering before releasing them for their customers to buy at a premium. If they did, I could have believed that I now have one of the "world's finest keychain lights".
 
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benlg

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
7
I bought both Titans, love the regular one for the size and weight. But I also like the detachable key ring and higher lumen on the Plus so picked up both.
 

Bucur

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
214
Location
Yalova, Turkey
I chopped the tail. My Titan Plus can tailstand now. In return, I am now deprived of the anodising on the rear cap. I am not planning to use my quick-detach tailcap with ring but I can, if I wish.

QaLQ9f.jpg


sVv0Rt.jpg


6M1RXe.jpg
 

Bucur

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
214
Location
Yalova, Turkey
Really nice work! Am I brave enough to try such a thing?

Thank you for your encouragement. If you have access to a lathe, it really doesn't take too much bravery. It all depends on how badly you need it to tailstand. If you need this as much as I do, go ahead. Once the cutter touches the anodising, it no longer hurts! :D
 
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