I recently purchased a Gerber (formerly CMG) Infinity and for the last week or two I've been carrying it in my pocket. The few times I've tried to use it, sometimes the light doesn't engage right away. The tail cap is screwed all the way down, but it seems I have to shake it a couple of times for it to work. I had such high hopes for this light, and so far I'm rather disappointed.

Anyone else have similar problems? Ideas to remedy it?

Thanks

I have 6+ of the CMG Infinity Ultras in my family. I bought one for everyone in my family. 90% of all electrical problems are caused by a bad connection. Take a wooden pencil with a good eraser and clean the contacts at both ends where the battery will make contact. Make sure you keep cleaning the eraser on your pants or something so it stays clean. When you can rub the eraser on the contacts and it does not turn black it is clean. Then try the new Panasonic Oxyride 1.7 volt AA batteries. I put one in my Infinity Ultra about a month ago and it is still super bright. I also have to put some lube around the O-ring to make it turn easy. I have not tried the new Gerber.

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This may not be your problem, but I no longer shake flashlights any more. I use an anti-oxidizing grease called Penetrox. You can pick it up in the electrical dept of any decent hardware store.

Flash lights are made up of multiple electrical contact points that rely soley on a bit of pressure to complete the pathway (battery to spring, bulb to battery, switch contact to chasis of bulb, etc). If one or more of these contacts has oxidized or has minimal contact pressure the resistance goes up and the voltage goes down. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I look in the flashlight for all contact points for the current flow (battery ends, spring, base of bulb, side of bulb, etc). I use a pencil eraser followed by a bit of rubbing alcohol to clean the contact points. Last, I put a thin film of the grease on the contact points (including the battery ends). Sometimes I will tweak a spring or contact point a bit to increase the pressure.

It is truely amazing. The flashlights always have a consistant output (no need to shake to perk up the lumens). Many of my flashlights have been brighter after this treatment as well.

If this doesn't work your flashlight may be suffering from a cold solder joint in the tail cap or head.

D'oh! I just unscrewed the cap of my New Infinity to look it over and the *&%$# "O" ring broke! These guys need to do a better job with the O rings. My little Gerber AAA LED light has an O ring that is too small. The cap can unscrew in your pocket, or tighten up and inadvertantly turn on (not good for battery life). I put a couple of wraps of teflon tape on the threads, but it is not long before the thing is loose again.

Maybe time to buy and ARC <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck, TR

Maybe?

When I tried to use it once, the light was on when I pulled it out of my pocket. The next time it didn't work, I thought the battery died, so I replaced it--thinking it was on in my pocket forever.

It's a new light, so I sure hope nothing has had time to oxidize, but I think I'll give it a check and maybe a grease treatment anyway.

What's your favorite ARC?

I like 'em all. But probably the Arc AAA. IMHO, the Arc LSH-P was the best CR123 light Arc made.

I haven't heard of this problem with the Ultra but some units of the old Arc AAA had a circuit bug that made the oscillator occasionally fail to start up. The failure was pretty intermittent and so the light would usually start within a few tries, sort of like an old car in cold weather. Arc LLC replaced those lights under warranty before they went out of business. I don't know if the current incarnation of Arc is doing anything about those old lights. My own semi-EDC Arc AAA has the problem but the failures are so rare that I don't let them bother me.

In your situation I'd just contact Gerber for a warranty repair.

Do the newer Infinities (with the tailcap switch) use a spring inside to help the connection? My older Infinities (the only kind I own) don't have a spring, but something in the back of my mind is telling me the newer ones do. If so, I'd suspect a spring problem. Maybe it's been over-compressed and is now failing at what it's intended to do - assure a good connection. Just a guess.

I thought I was the only one that greased the contacts. I have always just used a very light coat of Vaseline and it works quite well. I learned this many years ago from a TV repairman. Light years ago, TV tuners were rotary from channel 2 thru 13 and after some time they got dirty and the picture flickered and you were constantly spinning the tuner to get a good contact. The repairman took the tuner out and it was covered with many little knobs that made contact with springs and these contacts got dirty. He cleaned the contacts with an old bath towel till they were shiny and also the springs. Then he coated the whole tuner with a good dose of Vaseline. I know that sounds improbable but having been treated with the Vaseline, the tuner never flickered again. I always figured it was an "arcing" problem rather than a "dirt" problem though.

I know it works because I routinely put a very light film on both ends of batteries before I install them and never have a problem.

Switch to a Mag Solitaire?