XeRay
Flashlight Enthusiast
Likely more true than we know.
Do flashlights have shelf lives?
- Thread starter mountaindewer
- Start date
Likely more true than we know.
A buddy of my brothers had a birthday today. Being the nice guy I am, I felt like giving him a little gift. He was complaining about the time change and it getting darker sooner. I dug out an xl50, brand new that i picked up at lowes, to give him. I gave it too him. I told him to open it and I'd show him how to do the modes. I pulled out some AAA batteries and loaded it up for him and put it together and clicked it on. Nothing.
I chuckled and shrugged it off with a "might be the batteries" and went back to check the batteries. All 3 were good. I had 1 more xl50 left. I quickly pulled it out and slapped the batteries In the second one, and It worked. I swapped the battery carrier over to the first one, nothing. I swapped tailcaps, nothing. So I put everything back in the second light, and tried both tailcaps, and both worked. So the problem lies somewhere in body of the first xl50. I then gave him the second one, and am trying to diagnose whats up with the first one.
So as I stated in an earlier post of mine to the OP, a modern maglite failing isn't nothing new to me. I've been done with the brand for awhile now, and this is just more conformation of it. This makes about the 4th maglite I've had not work right out of the package.
It had a manufacturing date of 03/17 on it.
Edit: OK, just to satisfy my curiosity, I pulled out the oldest light that I can recall buying. A maglite looking clone from craftsman, that was made in Taiwan. It had a horrible beam pattern, like those "inspection" Coast flashlights. I think it's been used a total of probably a minute. It's about 8 or 9 years old. Dug it out, put 2 AA batteries in it, and it worked perfect. So yeah, IDK what has happened to maglites reliability
I chuckled and shrugged it off with a "might be the batteries" and went back to check the batteries. All 3 were good. I had 1 more xl50 left. I quickly pulled it out and slapped the batteries In the second one, and It worked. I swapped the battery carrier over to the first one, nothing. I swapped tailcaps, nothing. So I put everything back in the second light, and tried both tailcaps, and both worked. So the problem lies somewhere in body of the first xl50. I then gave him the second one, and am trying to diagnose whats up with the first one.
So as I stated in an earlier post of mine to the OP, a modern maglite failing isn't nothing new to me. I've been done with the brand for awhile now, and this is just more conformation of it. This makes about the 4th maglite I've had not work right out of the package.
It had a manufacturing date of 03/17 on it.
Edit: OK, just to satisfy my curiosity, I pulled out the oldest light that I can recall buying. A maglite looking clone from craftsman, that was made in Taiwan. It had a horrible beam pattern, like those "inspection" Coast flashlights. I think it's been used a total of probably a minute. It's about 8 or 9 years old. Dug it out, put 2 AA batteries in it, and it worked perfect. So yeah, IDK what has happened to maglites reliability
Last edited:
How long will flashlights last in storage?
Im looking to grab a few more of current models I have which have served me pretty well. Question is, if I keep these lights in storage until my primary light fails, are there things which can degrade or fail in storage long term ? Does anything randomly fail on equipment not used, solder randomly detatch from electronic boards, or O-rings crumble? ( im just throwing ideas around here). should things be checked and serviced in some way periodically?
Being an equatorial climate( high heat and humidity) 6 months of the year, anything else to be aware of? (Probably much like Florida for American readers but a little more intense) For the record I store spare items in sealed plastic bags inside clip/oring sealed plastic tubs so humidity at least will not reach them. Though due to the expense of airconditioning here I cant provide them a cool enviornment 24/7, they will face a couple months of 100-110 inside temperatures each year.
Thanks for any thoughts, its a serious enquiry. I just dont have faith the moderate power levels and quality I like may still exist in similar models in 10-15 years time. Things move so fast in this industry.
Im looking to grab a few more of current models I have which have served me pretty well. Question is, if I keep these lights in storage until my primary light fails, are there things which can degrade or fail in storage long term ? Does anything randomly fail on equipment not used, solder randomly detatch from electronic boards, or O-rings crumble? ( im just throwing ideas around here). should things be checked and serviced in some way periodically?
Being an equatorial climate( high heat and humidity) 6 months of the year, anything else to be aware of? (Probably much like Florida for American readers but a little more intense) For the record I store spare items in sealed plastic bags inside clip/oring sealed plastic tubs so humidity at least will not reach them. Though due to the expense of airconditioning here I cant provide them a cool enviornment 24/7, they will face a couple months of 100-110 inside temperatures each year.
Thanks for any thoughts, its a serious enquiry. I just dont have faith the moderate power levels and quality I like may still exist in similar models in 10-15 years time. Things move so fast in this industry.
Last edited:
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Not sure if they sell silicone filled moisture absorbing sacks down under like those that come in shoe boxes or other items sent from China but storing items with those inside the container can help. Sounds crazy but storing in a diaper will make sure no moisture collects around it also. The modern diaper can soak up a bunch of water. Uncooked whitecrice can also be used. In a pinch, uncooked noodles too but they don't soak up near as efficiently as rice in cooler climates.
If you don't have extreme heat/cool cycles like an automobile deals with solders should be ok. So don't store in an attic or crawl space.
Not sure if they sell silicone filled moisture absorbing sacks down under like those that come in shoe boxes or other items sent from China but storing items with those inside the container can help. Sounds crazy but storing in a diaper will make sure no moisture collects around it also. The modern diaper can soak up a bunch of water. Uncooked whitecrice can also be used. In a pinch, uncooked noodles too but they don't soak up near as efficiently as rice in cooler climates.
If you don't have extreme heat/cool cycles like an automobile deals with solders should be ok. So don't store in an attic or crawl space.
PoliceScannerMan
Flashaholic
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Lights are always getting better, I would not worry about storing current lights, but I do understand your reasoning.
Lights are always getting better, I would not worry about storing current lights, but I do understand your reasoning.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Most should last more than 20-30 years without any issues. I have unpacked a Surefire A2 recently and it sat in the original packing for maybe 15 years, it worked on first press on the included original batteries! Most of the integrated circuits components are solid state and will last many years, the first thing that goes bad are usually capacitors because they contain chemicals that degrade over 10-20 years, but flashlights I think do not use these types. Rubber seals will degrade but these are standard size and cost cents. But even these will be fine after 20 years if not stored in high temperatures. Plastic will get brittle after many years. Storing them in cold and dry places will greatly prolong their life expectancy. But overall do not care about this too much, these items will probably outlive you (or your interest in flashlights), unless it's some very rare and of historical value.
Most should last more than 20-30 years without any issues. I have unpacked a Surefire A2 recently and it sat in the original packing for maybe 15 years, it worked on first press on the included original batteries! Most of the integrated circuits components are solid state and will last many years, the first thing that goes bad are usually capacitors because they contain chemicals that degrade over 10-20 years, but flashlights I think do not use these types. Rubber seals will degrade but these are standard size and cost cents. But even these will be fine after 20 years if not stored in high temperatures. Plastic will get brittle after many years. Storing them in cold and dry places will greatly prolong their life expectancy. But overall do not care about this too much, these items will probably outlive you (or your interest in flashlights), unless it's some very rare and of historical value.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Output is getting higher. I dont find that better, 700-800 lumens is all I needed. Also I find quality is getting less overall, for all products.
Output is getting higher. I dont find that better, 700-800 lumens is all I needed. Also I find quality is getting less overall, for all products.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Thanks bykfixer , here we use all those suggestions yep. moisture absorbing pellets form part of my normal storage. My field kit gets checked monthly to ensure the dreaded green fuzz(mold) is not getting into it. Also forms on rifle stocks in my safe. Not a concern for metal flashlight bodies of course, more the heat long term. Thanks for your comment regards solders.
Thanks bykfixer , here we use all those suggestions yep. moisture absorbing pellets form part of my normal storage. My field kit gets checked monthly to ensure the dreaded green fuzz(mold) is not getting into it. Also forms on rifle stocks in my safe. Not a concern for metal flashlight bodies of course, more the heat long term. Thanks for your comment regards solders.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Your first post here, and I am experimenting for you? lol.
Your first post here, and I am experimenting for you? lol.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Get some good silicon grease for your o-rings and seals, don't leave alkalines in the lights, you should be good to go!
Whenever I get those little silica packets from luggage, clothing, or whatever, I put them aside and use them in various gear bags or storage containers.
Get some good silicon grease for your o-rings and seals, don't leave alkalines in the lights, you should be good to go!
Whenever I get those little silica packets from luggage, clothing, or whatever, I put them aside and use them in various gear bags or storage containers.
Kestrel
Flashaholic
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Ultimate failure would most likely be the inevitable degrading of solder alloy connections.
This is a matter of temperature and atomic diffusion / kinetics - grain growth, dislocation consolidation, and crack propagation.
I expect that current failure rates will be elevated compared to old data from the mostly-discontinued lead-tin solders.
-----
We had a thread on this topic recently; if someone would be so kind as to find it, I would be happy to do a thread merge.
Thx,
Ultimate failure would most likely be the inevitable degrading of solder alloy connections.
This is a matter of temperature and atomic diffusion / kinetics - grain growth, dislocation consolidation, and crack propagation.
I expect that current failure rates will be elevated compared to old data from the mostly-discontinued lead-tin solders.
-----
We had a thread on this topic recently; if someone would be so kind as to find it, I would be happy to do a thread merge.
Thx,
thermal guy
Flashaholic
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
You can vacuum seal them with a food vacuum. Might work. Wait is there 2-U’s in vacuum??
You can vacuum seal them with a food vacuum. Might work. Wait is there 2-U’s in vacuum??
Katherine Alicia
Enlightened
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
other than the medium term failure points (corrosion and rubber embrittlement etc...), of greater concern for very long term is how long the MCU firmware will last, flash ram has a finite life for data retention. OTP chips aren`t so bad, but Anduril and the likes will eventually fail unless you re-flash it.
other than the medium term failure points (corrosion and rubber embrittlement etc...), of greater concern for very long term is how long the MCU firmware will last, flash ram has a finite life for data retention. OTP chips aren`t so bad, but Anduril and the likes will eventually fail unless you re-flash it.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
That's a great point on the firmware. I have seen this happen in retro computer parts from 80s / 90s. I guess in the end the old incadescent flashlights will last the longest. Or maybe some simple LED with direct drive or very simple circuits.
That's a great point on the firmware. I have seen this happen in retro computer parts from 80s / 90s. I guess in the end the old incadescent flashlights will last the longest. Or maybe some simple LED with direct drive or very simple circuits.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
My thought exactly ...
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?470164-Do-flashlights-have-shelf-lives
:D
My thought exactly ...
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?470164-Do-flashlights-have-shelf-lives
:D
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
Yes, I sometimes wonder how many people realize that flash-type memory degrades pretty significantly over time, and not only due to read/write/erase access and cycling.
Yes, I sometimes wonder how many people realize that flash-type memory degrades pretty significantly over time, and not only due to read/write/erase access and cycling.
Re: How long will flashlights last in storage?
If you are any kind of flashaholic at all you will keep buying new lights and are unlikely to wear out your lights quickly enough to ever use those NOS lights you have carefully stored. Haha. ;)
If you are any kind of flashaholic at all you will keep buying new lights and are unlikely to wear out your lights quickly enough to ever use those NOS lights you have carefully stored. Haha. ;)
