The following was posted by LRI on LRI's website discussion board and I though it would be helpful information here for those storing Photon 3 flashlights for long periods in survival kits...


"While the P3 does use a small amount of current to maintain it's memory of which mode was last used, this amount of current draw *shouldn't* cause any noticeable decrease in battery life under normal use. If the light will be sitting in an emergency kit or otherwise sit unused for several years or more, then you might want to leave the plastic tab in to insure that the batteries are as fresh as possible when you do finally need to use it.

To replace the plastic strip if it has already been removed, just remove the batteries and lift up the back of the circuit board so that you can peak under it and see what is going on. With the light facing away from you, you should see a small gold colored bar that is slightly raised off of the circuit board, and passes from one side to the other just forward of the rear switch. On one side, it is soldered directly to the circuit board. The other side simply presses against a contact on the circuit board. If you slide the end of the plastic strip between these two contacts, it will disable the electronics just as it was when you first received your light.

Another easy way to disable the electronics, is to simply remove the batteries from the light.

Bryan Avery
PhotonLight.com"
2/16/2003

Great tip. I've given up on the Photon 3s due to the short battery life when not used. I thought at first that I had a defective unit and replaced it. Same issue with the replacement. After two months or so both had dead batteries. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I have bought several Photon3's (over 80 !! no, not only for my own usage ...)

A few had the same "leak" problem : 3 or 4 months after being activated, the batteries were empty, even when the lights were simply put inside a kit.

You should check with Bryan Avery at Photonlight.com and have your failing lights replaced.

Most of my Photon3's are in use for over 6 months and the batteries are still good.


Alain