Fenix HM70r keeps 'blinking' (advice?)

[Winnat's Caver]

I purchased a Fenix HM70r off of AliExpress last may, and whilst it worked well for the first few trips it soon started having issues with turning off randomly, not turning on, and eventually not working at all (I charged it regularly and stored it with the cap off as recommended)

I wondered if the issue could be with a faulty battery, so I bought a new one off Tony and the Fenix started working again, although recently its started playing up in a different way. Once its batteries drop below a certain level it will start 'blinking' (perhaps after 6-8 hours of use after a full charge), where the light will rapidly turn on and off three times, before going back to normal. Once it starts 'blinking' if I manually turn it off it often refuses to turn back on.

Is this normal for a HM70r? Do I just need to make sure it's better charged? Or should I replace it? Any advice would be great.

 

[dougle89]

Have you read the manual? Doesn't it say something along the lines of light will blink to indicate low battery and revert to the next power setting down?

Personally I'd be dubious of an AliExpress one and just buy a legit one from ActionStash [other suppliers are available]

 

[alanw]

Beware of Counterfeit Fenix Merchandise! - Fenix Lighting

Notice of possible Counterfeit Fenix Merchandise! A fair warning to our valued and loyal customers: beware of overseas dealers offering Fenix merchandise at significantly reduced prices. Like other growing brands with excellent product quality & service reputations, Fenix flashlight, headlamp...

www.fenixlighting.com

 

[Winnat's Caver]

Have you read the manual? Doesn't it say something along the lines of light will blink to indicate low battery and revert to the next power setting down?

Personally I'd be dubious of an AliExpress one and just buy a legit one from ActionStash [other suppliers are available]

There is mention of the battery level flashing on low voltage, although It isn't clear in the manual whether this is the same as the light itself flashing. I think I'll look into ActionStash if the problem continues or gets worse!

 

[dougle89]

There is mention of the battery level flashing on low voltage, although It isn't clear in the manual whether this is the same as the light itself flashing. I think I'll look into ActionStash if the problem continues or gets worse!

My hm60 flashed after we'd been in a mine that I used turbo mode a lot in for about 4 hrs, couple of disco blinks then dropped a level

 

[Fulk]

I've had an HM70R for nearly two years now and my wife's had one for just over a year, and we've had no trouble at all with them; nor have we experienced the sort of erratic behaviour you describe, Winnat's, so I would say there's definitely something wrong with your lamp.

With regard to leaving the cap off – I can't remember reading about that anywhere, and in any case the through-the-case charging system would imply that Fenix do not recommend that you do this. For what it's worth (and I'm not suggesting that this has anything to do with your problem) we always remove the batteries to charge them, just so as to check that water hasn't somehow leaked in (or worse still that thebattery itself hasn't leaked), but we then replace the batteries and cap.

 

[dougle89]

I've had an HM70R for nearly two years now and my wife's had one for just over a year, and we've had no trouble at all with them; nor have we experienced the sort of erratic behaviour you describe, Winnat's, so I would say there's definitely something wrong with your lamp.

With regard to leaving the cap off – I can't remember reading about that anywhere, and in any case the through-the-case charging system would imply that Fenix do not recommend that you do this. For what it's worth (and I'm not suggesting that this has anything to do with your problem) we always remove the batteries to charge them, just so as to check that water hasn't somehow leaked in (or worse still that thebattery itself hasn't leaked), but we then replace the batteries and cap.

I think the cap off this is more an unofficial preventer for the parasitic drain, at least with my 60 I find it drains slightly when left for a couple days

 

[Fulk]

I'd probably lose the damn thing if I left it off!!!

 

[cavemanmike]

Send it back, there’s usually a good warranty with them

 

[Winnat's Caver]

My hm60 flashed after we'd been in a mine that I used turbo mode a lot in for about 4 hrs, couple of disco blinks then dropped a level

sounds similar to what happens with mine

 

[Winnat's Caver]

I've had an HM70R for nearly two years now and my wife's had one for just over a year, and we've had no trouble at all with them; nor have we experienced the sort of erratic behaviour you describe, Winnat's, so I would say there's definitely something wrong with your lamp.

With regard to leaving the cap off – I can't remember reading about that anywhere, and in any case the through-the-case charging system would imply that Fenix do not recommend that you do this. For what it's worth (and I'm not suggesting that this has anything to do with your problem) we always remove the batteries to charge them, just so as to check that water hasn't somehow leaked in (or worse still that thebattery itself hasn't leaked), but we then replace the batteries and cap.

This is good advice, thank you
In terms of leaving the cap off, it seems to be a thing a lot of older SUSS cavers do, apparently so moisture isn't trapped inside?
I'll see if I can get it returned.

 

[Steve Clark]

Not exactly your symptoms but there is a lock
mode if you hold one of the buttons down for 3seconds. Hold for 3 seconds to reset. If you press one of the buttons when locked it will just flash a few times and go off again.

I thought I’d broken a hm65r after getting it wet inside but it had just gone into this mode.

 

[cavemanmike]

I seem to remember there is a utube video that fenix put up to troubleshoot some problems, it might be worth a look 👀

 

[old spot]

"whilst it worked well for the first few trips it soon started having issues with turning off randomly, not turning on, and eventually not working at all"

I had exactly this with my HMD 65R. Sent it back to fenix and they said that there was debris in the battery compartment which was causing the problem. They cleaned it up, returned it and I haven't had a problem since.

 

[Winnat's Caver]

"whilst it worked well for the first few trips it soon started having issues with turning off randomly, not turning on, and eventually not working at all"

I had exactly this with my HMD 65R. Sent it back to fenix and they said that there was debris in the battery compartment which was causing the problem. They cleaned it up, returned it and I haven't had a problem since.

perfect! Glad to know it can be fixed. Will send it back tomorrow

 

[marsrat]

I purchased a Fenix HM70r off of AliExpress last may, and whilst it worked well for the first few trips it soon started having issues with turning off randomly, not turning on, and eventually not working at all (I charged it regularly and stored it with the cap off as recommended)

I wondered if the issue could be with a faulty battery, so I bought a new one off Tony and the Fenix started working again, although recently its started playing up in a different way. Once its batteries drop below a certain level it will start 'blinking' (perhaps after 6-8 hours of use after a full charge), where the light will rapidly turn on and off three times, before going back to normal. Once it starts 'blinking' if I manually turn it off it often refuses to turn back on.

Is this normal for a HM70r? Do I just need to make sure it's better charged? Or should I replace it? Any advice would be great.

Hi.
Had this issue with my HM70R (then realised I didn't charge my batteries properly) though had the issue occasionally afterwards. Oftentimes rust forms at the battery connection inside the torch itself, you'll need to clean it.

 

[alanw]

Oftentimes rust forms at the battery connection inside the torch itself, you'll need to clean it.

Fibreglass pencils are good for this. About £4 on eBay