ACETECH Lighter S Tracer Unit Issue

[Rogerborg]

Oh, I wouldn't have another.  I'm still having a back and forth with Acetech, who seem determined to drip feed everything they want me to tell them one email at a time, rather than just listing it all up front.  Who do they think they are, airsoft site owners? 

 

[Musica]

seems they had a bad run on their lighter range my BT is still kicking and my pal has used it the past 2 game days and thinks its better than his nuprol one.

 

[Rogerborg]

After many many many emails to "Evan" at Acetech "UK" (snort, guffaw), I was rather surprised to receive a text from DHL saying that my parcel from Acetech will be delivered next Tuesday.  Followed by a demand for import duty, fortunately only £3.04, for my "LED SEARCH LIGHT".

Well, well.  Let's see what I actually receive, but it is looking like they do support their product.

 

[Rogerborg]

BUMP from beyond the grave.

I should have said, I did actually did finally receive a replacement Lighter-S, which worked every bit as well as the first one. As in...

Just to confirm, mine has lost the LEDs on one side, 2 out of the 4 in there.  There's no obvious breaks in any of the solder,

Yup, the replacement is now doing the same.  It's also erratically shorting on one side, so the LEDs either don't come on, or stay on solid, and I can feel the circuitry heating up.  Gentle touches on the circuitry turn the LEDs on and off, so I reckon it's just mis-soldered somewhere rather than component failure.  I can't spot the problem beyond some solder-spatter which I've gently removed with a plastic spudger.

Surprise, surprise, ex-Workmate Eddie's replacement unit is also doing the same.

However...

a dip in isopronol

And a soft brush scrubbing has ameliorated the issue, for now.

They are fragile though, and I won't be buying another or recommending them, especially now that spitfire units can be had for £40 delivered from AliExpress.

 

[MagpieTactical]

Yeah I wasn't impressed with my. Lighter S, it did the sporadic not working even though fully charged etc

A couple of months ago I (stupidly) bought a Brighter C. 

Lights up BBs brilliantly.  But the flashing LEDs when just idling (I. E. On but not shooting) were a huge beacon during a night game, so very hard to sneak about before shooting. 

 

[Hatchet]

Yeah I wasn't impressed with my. Lighter S, it did the sporadic not working even though fully charged etc

A couple of months ago I (stupidly) bought a Brighter C. 

Lights up BBs brilliantly.  But the flashing LEDs when just idling (I. E. On but not shooting) were a huge beacon during a night game, so very hard to sneak about before shooting. 

Ah, I ran my AT2000R for the first time at the weekend and had the flashing whilst not shooting happen to me. I had assumed it was due to low battery (had done maybe 3000+ rounds in the morning) but then off/on seemed to resolve it. One to watch perhaps.

 

[Rogerborg]

Mmm, tracers seem to be a bit... foibly.

When this Lighter-S finally gives up the ghost, I reckon I'll send to it to Big Clive to see what he makes of the circuitry.

 

[CrackCommandoUnit1972]

My unit has been fine since I bought it ages ago.

I feel like I am missing out by not getting to smash it into tiny pieces.

 

[Rogerborg]

My unit has been fine since I bought it ages ago.

I feel like I am missing out by not getting to smash it into tiny pieces.

Go on, treat yourself.

They work fine while they work, there's nothing wrong with the design as such.  They just seem to be quite fragile.

Oh, the blinkenlight on my 2nd unit has given up the ghost as well, which is actually a relief.

 

[Crome]

Just to indulge a pet theory are you guys suffering issues after playing in a wet/damp environment? My old Lighter S that I ended up returning to Amazon seemed to die entirely after playing a particularly wet night out and the units definitely aren't water tight. Would be suprised if thats the case for everyone but still something to consider so thought I'd chime in.

 

[Rogerborg]

Only ever used indoors, and stored inside.  After some magnified viewing, there are some solder points that are very close together and not the neatest, so it is entirely possible that they're shorting themselves out in the damp.  That's why I gave mine an isopropanol brushing, to try and remove any spatter or tracking, and it does seems to have sorted it for now.