ANNOYING BLINKING FLASHLIGHTS AND HOW TO FIX

Seems like every flashlight one buys these days has modes: one you want, light, and a bunch of useless blinking ones.
In this video I fix the flash light and then I tear it down further by analyzing the integrated circuits.
More details on my blog @ electronupdate...

[@freshgino]

What an awesome video. No, you are NOT alone in wanting a single mode flashlight buddy

[@gustavfenk4021]

The flashing mode is useful if you are attacked by gang of criminals who happen to suffer from photosensitive epilepsy. They're going down!

[@SirHackaL0t.]

ALways a good question to ask when they hold you up. ‘Are you epileptic?’

[@atmel9077]

I think I could add two things here... -The "low brightness" mode is there because sometime you don't need the full brightness (!) and it will improve the battery lifetime. The "blinking" mode is used to attract attention and yes I agree that's not very useful... -The chip doesn't contains any EEPROM. Basically the "irritator chip" has a decoupling capacitor. When the switch is turned off, the chip does not know it but because the boost regulator is stopped, the voltage on the decoupling capacitor will gradually (but quickly) decrease, as the LED is still powered. The chip detects when this voltage falls below a limit (a little above the LED's forward voltage). At this point it turns the LED off and stops its internal oscillator. And then the only things that remain powered are a few latches to remember the state. So it will remember it but maybe for several minutes, not forever.

[@bitcoredotorg]

I'm with you - On/Off and or dimming modes - but NO flashing! I've never had a need to have a bright flashlight blink! If I need to attract attention - I'll rapidly cover and uncover the light manually. Insane that this is the current trend STILL.

[@gvii]

I think it largely marketed as an "emergency" flash. All I know is that it's the most irritating thing ever put into a flashlight. I don't even mind the lower intensity setting, there are times the flashlight can actually be too bright to see what you're doing in tight spaces. So that's not bad. But having to skip over the damn flasher drives me absolutely nuts. I don't know why that became such a thing, but I really, really wish it would quickly un-become soon.But great video, that's quite useful.

[@johncoops6897]

You ask why it "became a thing" yet you keep talking about "flashlights", so what's the problem? You ask for flash, so you get flash mode. Flash light. FLASH light. If you bought a Blue Light, would you complain if it was blue?

[@Ni5ei]

Having an extra toggle switch between the "irritator" and voltage regulator could let you choose between regular on/off mode and fancy mode. I hate the blinking modes as well but being able to lower the brightness to save battery power can be nice. I hardly ever need full power.

[@abandxz]

My flashlight only have blinking mode , any idea how to fix?

[@spacewolfjr]

When I lived in an apartment building, I once had a police officer "strobe" my window (it was very late at night and I was working on my computer) to get my attention. I wonder if that mode is for getting someone's attention / alerting?

[@fluffyfloof9267]

Yeah, i forgot to mention in my 1st reply; it's even got those pointy castellations around the lens - intentional or not, those are a useful tool for smashing windows.

[@MACTEP_CHOB]

What did he want?

[@vgamesx1]

From what I understand it's used to blind attackers, have you ever tried to see while using a flashing mode? You kinda can but it'll be much harder for the person with the light being pointed at their face.

[@spacewolfjr]

@@MACTEP_CHOB Someone in my building had overdosed on drugs (probably fentanyl). Because it was late at night the outer doors of the building were locked so they had no way of getting in. I ran down and let them in just as fire trucks and an ambulance arrived. Unfortunately, the guy passed away.

[@NiHaoMike64]

@@spacewolfjr He's a Darwin Award candidate...

[@LoPan12]

Most (all) flashlight enthusiasts hate non-hidden strobe modes. Better UIs will require multiple fast taps to get to hidden modes. Manufacturers put the strobe in so they can call it a "Tactical" flashlight, despite its ineffective use for self defense. If you can't already defend yourself, the half-second a blinky buys you is useless... Lots of us at r/flashlight are probably about to by-pass that diode.... Thanks!

[@j03lturn3r]

Go for the bypass dude. I have no regrets at all since I did my torch 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmqZ3iDp5psl6M

[@MobiusHorizons]

That looks like a chip that would be used in bike headlights. The flashing mode is used to warn of the biker's presence with reduced battery consumption I believe. I don't really think it's that useful even in that use-case, but at least it makes some sense. My guess would be they wanted the 50% output, and didn't want to spin custom silicon, so they repurposed the controller from a bike headlight.

[@mfbfreak]

Flashing lights can cause target fixation, so you will get the attention of a car driver and he'll then procede to subconciously veer into your direction. This, and any confusion with ambulances, fire dept etc is the reason why in the Netherlands, flashing lights are prohibited on bicycles.

[@hardscorerockkssss]

my power babk light has this function

[@Tinker001]

You sir, are an actual hero.

[@compu85]

If you could disable just the flashing mode, that would be great IMHO. The low mode uses a lot less battery

[@robertfrench80]

Thanks for the fix! I purposely shop for flashlights WITHOUT the annoying flash mode. Awhile back, I found a particular model of Ultrafire FL using an 18560 Li-ion cell and when I purchase more I have to search for the model number to arrive at the same one.

[@SunSatlON]

Love your videos. Keep them coming

[@Systemrat2008]

Thank you I have a number of LED lights and they all have that very annoying feature.

[@SS-zl3go]

Lets hope someday we can buy a reasonably priced LED flashlight with 2 modes: ON and OFF.

[@j03lturn3r]

DIY 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmqZ3iDp5psl6M

[@309electronics5]

I kinda dont hate the chip i wish they could remove the flash setting and hold the dim setting only on or off is soooo boring

[@saltcar]

@@309electronics5 I use my flashlight for a flashlight, not entertainment

[@user-zh2wl2sl2u]

I replaced the circuit with a microcontroller i had and added code that does the 10-100 percent modes and has no flashy flashy mode nor sos it works awesome dont like flashlights that dont have low intensity mode

[@user-zh2wl2sl2u]

​@@saltcarhe did not tell you he liked sos or flash mode he told you he liked the lower intensity wich is not a entertainment mode bruh, go read his comment better

[@xenoxaos1]

IIRC. Typically the save state is based on a capacitor discharge. If it's above a threshold, it knows it was recently on and changes the mode

[@maginatd9404]

that thing is designed the blinking mechanism is against armed attackers with guns because when you flash at them they can move and shoot directly ar the beam when you light at some one in the night a vertical tube of light is betwen you witch gives out your possition, but when its blinking it forces your pupil to expand and constrict very fast and if you are moving and shooting first he cant pick up sight second he cant focus give the flashlight to some one in the dark to use it infront of you at 20 meters range and see why

[@dos541]

Thanks for the tip another thing about the cheap flashlights that annoys me is when they flicker due to bad contacts in the switch I even have a flashlight that will turn off if shaken too hard ps I've also seen a version of that chip witch uses a small smd cap to remember its last setting for a few 10's of seconds witch is way too long

[@lime_4964]

Thank you so much man, this video helps me a lot

[@uwezimmermann5427]

Thank you for pointing out that the irritator was actually a second chip! While I might see a use for the reduced intensity saving battery life, however the fact that I always have to toggle through all modes is annoying. I will have a look if my flashlights have the exact same construction which they probably do - and then there will be no more blinking soon!

[@user-zh2wl2sl2u]

I replaced the circuit with my own, with atmel attiny 85 and inbuilt memory chip to syore last mode, it has 10-100 percent power modes and no flashy flashy

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

I have the brand new Energizer flashlight PMHT61 that the strobe light comes on by itself without out it being touched. I got it from Walmart in August of 21 and never used it never dropped it but all of a sudden the strobe light pops on all by itself, could you tell me what's the problem?

[@fluffyfloof9267]

It's a utility flash light, and as such quite useful in traffic. In an accident, at night/low light, in order to visually mark the wreck, or to warn traffic with a noticeably different light. Some utility light can even blink SOS. Also, shining a bright blinking light directly in an attacker's face might prevent injury. Not sure whether this would impress non-human attackers. ;)

[@spacewolfjr]

Are you still using your Raspberry Pi underground vault? Any chance we can get an update? :)

[@eric_d]

Are there actually people that want their flashlights to blink, or do the manufacturers just THINK people want that? It's even worse when the flashlight has different lights on it that are controlled by the same button. I got a nice flashlight as a gift a few years ago that has 2 different sections with clear LEDs, and a 3rd section with red LEDs, and they cycle in order. I would MUCH prefer being able to turn each section on and off without having to go through an entire cycle of all the different modes and light sections.

[@douglaspendergraft1055]

Wonderful tutorial! Hope your next video is on how to disable the panic button in a vehicle key fob!

[@arcadeuk]

Every flashlight and head-torch i have bought for at least 10 years has the infuriating 3 modes, full bright, 50% bright and flashing which can't be skipped. The normal implementation is different than you show here however, as it is almost always a soft power button going to a micro-controller, rather than an on/off switch as you have shown here, so not easily by-passable. The micro-controllers are so cheap it is probably worth me looking into knocking up a simple program that just does on/off state and swapping that into all my flashlight devices, either that or swapping the momentary button for an actual power switch, however I think the micro-controllers are cheaper than a switch

[@j03lturn3r]

Bypass is really easy to do 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmqZ3iDp5psl6M

[@dosgos]

I think the flashlight makers are trying to sell a menu of features beyond basic on-off. The added features beyond dimming really are quite useless.

[@dinkc64]

Love the die photographs, thank you!

[@pa4tim]

That is why it is called a Flash(ing) light :-)

[@aperson6187]

I thought that the flashing mode was to use less power; if you get caught out you can swtich to that mode and use less power. walking etc by strobe is fine (is sub-optimal)

[@sandybeebe9149]

i got the lux pro and it just has on and off but the on is strobing and the off is light out ..This flash light was expensive.. lowes will not accept exchange either and no money back .For such a small flash light I paid 25 dollars .I'm pretty disappointed in lowes and have a feeling i will not be the first person to try to do a return because of malfunction . ps I tried on and off but it was to no avail .

[@BurtGummer85]

What is the difference in the two battery design? I have the larger model.

[@jfmc2581]

It will run off an AA at 1.5 volts OR a 3.7 Volt battery. But if you use the 3.7 it can never use the AA 1.5 volt again. Does it burn out part of the circuit on purpose at 3.7 volts?? Thanks!!

[@yourmomma2995]

i agree, i hate the strobe modes.... i think most people do, why they still make them with it i will never know. ALL i want is high and low modes.

[@zukjeff]

blinking is for use as bike headlight here in OZ.

[@Chrisfortier1]

Welcome back. Been a while.

[@j.w.7688]

Your obviously a smart guy, no doubt. But do u hav a version of this for dummy's like me? I hav a Nebo Rebel light i use on my vest for duty. Its a really nice trail type light but the DAMN strobe activates wen im just trying to turn the light on. It causes me, every night, to DROP THE F BOMB!! Cant stand the strobe feature.......

[@danielblazsovics8966]

Great video, managed to fix my flashlight!

[@whitcwa]

The strobe mode is supposedly for self-defense. It is as useful as the crenellated bezel. Not at all.

[@r_1901]

Bought a 3-pack of cheap imported LED flashlights which had that strobe mode. Strobe mode and half-bright mode have failed on 2 of the 3 after a couple years intermittent use. Now I just get plain on/off at full bright mode, and replace batteries more often. "It's not a bug, it's a feature." Still use my remaining strobe-capable light when bicycling at night.

[@j03lturn3r]

The flashing is torture ! Bypass is the go 👍

[@rishardlampese8947]

I need to do this to three of my Bell & Howells but can't get to the damn circuit board. I'm just gonna replace 'em with the single mode ones.

[@stevenA44]

The strobe mode is to blind an attacker. I don't need that on a flash light though. High/med/low should be good enough.

[@TheJohny589]

Very Good video!!! but I'm looking todo the opersit I'm not a electrician.... just want to know how to take out PCB and LED BOARD to go in a new setup. I want to reg this fast flashing strobe badboy up for a bike light as I love the strobe mode, and can't find the cree T6 led made for bikes that flashes that fast!!! 🤬 So amazing 👏 I will attempt to wire up board and led to another set up. Will of course look for more educational videos 🤓

[@NewLife4GVN]

The purpose for the blinking is in case you fall off of a trail hurt yourself and you can't call for help and it's at night you can put the blinker on and they can find you.

[@simpleKyle]

If you are too hurt to press call on a touch screen then I doubt you'll be able to muster the strength to press that lil'clicky bit enough times to make it flash and then position it in a way where somebody might see it. Th e bigger flaw in that logic is that it now would take 2 hands to try and signal any Morse code because you would to dim it with your other hand. It's a gimmick for dum-dums. ... --- ...

[@HereXEG]

Also to signal air craft but its real propose is to tell you your 🔋 is going dead. If you have it on for a long time and it just starts flashing, its time to change the 🔋.

[@jp-um2fr]

WARNING - These torches that use different modes have a habit of turning themselves on. With an unprotected 18650 battery this means death. The unprotected batteries are slightly shorter and may not make a good contact. This means the slightest movement can cause the unit to swtitch on. I just soldered 2 small washers on the end of the battery, naughty maybe but it's better than having a 0V 18650. They are almost useless even if a charge can be started. Just found your channel - subd.

[@TheJohny589]

Subscribed 💯💡

[@3dsmaxrocks699]

Thanks! I can't stand the different modes. And when the batteries start to get old and don't hold a charge as well as it used to, the flashlight has a mind of it's own and changes modes when it feels like it. And that's usually when you are working on a small part or hunting for something in a rug etc.

[@roosnothanks9281]

I was looking to deactivate the irritating hyperflash mode in my torch 🔦 but my circuit board is different from yours , however I changed the wiring and guess what it's still hyperflashing 😭 Anyone?

[@BurtGummer85]

I've never understood these flashlights. You have to pay more for the same model with single mode. Seems like they know people want single mode flashlights.

[@adriansamler2600]

Totally agree - I just want on and off! I like your trick but I don't think I'll fiddle with mine.

[@bastardoplano9149]

OMG I hate these multi mode flashlights! So freaking annoying. Who wants blinking mode????

[@willflaxington7081]

Absolutely, the flash sucks, escpeially when you need quick shine on a dark highway. Last thing a person needs is to play with a flasher... so annoying. Flash light needs two modes bright and turn off, that's it.

[@phillipicus7446]

I don't like blinking flashlights either I don't know why all flashlights seem to have in these days

[@mongychops68]

Slooowww down!! Cant entirely tell what you are saying

[@309electronics5]

I love the dim settings but the flashing is kinda anoying and its not for epileptic people like an old preschool friend of me who always had to look awat when i turned on my flashlight switching trough all the modes but only on and off is to boring for me i love the dim settings but the flashibg setting... Just buy a stroboscope at that point

[@tracyrreed]

That's a strobe mode for signalling and being seen as well as self-defense for blinding an attacker. Lots of LED flashlights have that. It's a feature, not a bug. :)

[@Mentorcase]

It's an irritating feature!

[@mattpeterson553]

It's a bug, Not too many people are attacking me when I'm crawling around in the attic, changing an outlet in my basement that a previous owner painted over, swapping out the air filter in furnace, etc.

[@randydicotti3975]

I've been pleading with Chinese manufacturers to eliminate the blinking option for a decade. They just ignore me....and millions of others who hate it.

[@smb9114]

The strobe mode is for getting people's attention. If you were in a large crowded area and someone you knew was far away and didn't see you, you could put the flashlight in strobe mode and point it at them. It would be very effective at getting their attention.

[@HassanDibani]

I have seen mounts for those light that go on bicycles and the like. The flashing makes sense when used that way (though illegal to use in most European countries).

[@JulioPerez-ft7pe]

SOS emergency is what the flashing light is for.

[@timmywashere1164]

Only if it flashes briefly three times, then for longer three times, then briefly three times and pause and repeats . . . - - - . . . . . . - - - . . . Thus spelling out S O S in International Morse Code I believe the video here is about the strobe feature that is the bane of some many epileptic dogs and people that like a flash light that just turns on and off, which could also be used to flash SOS

[@allegory7638]

When stuff is designed with no clue or consideration of what the end-user wants. It's a flashlight, I want to push once for on and once for off. And, how about the on-off switch being on the side at the front, where's it comfortable, natural and useful. I must be some kind of dinosaur.

[@dosgos]

Is the Irritator a new type of IC?

[@electronic7979]

👍

[@buckstarchaser2376]

The irritation function is so that cops can attach it to their firearm and blink it in your face. As you correctly identified, this feature causes irritation. Since most people will instinctively act to block an irritation, such as raising a hand in front of their face, this gives the officer a legal justification to fire until exhausting their ammunition supply, under the "I was in fear for my life" clause. Hearing the gunfire, and not wanting to be seen as un-cool, and snapped with towels in the locker room, other nearby officers will join in on the firefight, and other officers will speed over to the scene, probably causing chaos and injuries en route, to also provide backup, but mostly so they can take pictures of the formidable combatant, and notorious would-be terrorist mastermind, honorably cut down before whatever evil plans could come to fruition. Those pics will be seen as a badge of honor, and proof that said officers "were there when it happened. That day when justice was served, 'old school', the likes of which don't happen anymore". As you can see, this little "irritation" chip does a lot of work.

[@HereXEG]

The blinker is also a sign your 🔋 is going dead.

[@ac4nl]

Greetings. Nice video. A strobe flashlight for self-defense is used on potential suspects who may present a danger but are not lethally armed. The strobe light is disorienting to the person it is aimed at which makes it difficult for them to concentrate.

[@user-xg1gm7yn7e]

Folks . . . it is a security feature . . . shine it in the eyes of an attacker. There are many such flashlights that have this feature. You are over thinking. It is not a flaw . . . your thinking is flawed.

[@tinalindsey9609]

Don't call the company because they don't know.. I got a dumbass foreigner and a bad connection, I called back and got the same person.. OMG 😮

[@A3Kr0n]

My flashlight has an extra annoyance: After flash mode it has SOS mode.

[@johncoops6897]

Next time, buy yourself a TORCH rather than a flashlight.

[@spiketheimpaler4698]

The strobe is to disoriantate an attacker

[@fernandoferraz3527]

That is a tactical flashlight, so thats why it blinks

[@AnujArya_Curious]

Irritator😜😅

[@Pidalin]

Everyone wants flashlighs which has just on and off, but today producers are idiots and do things complicated for no reason. Lower brightness would be nice feature but it's useless because of flickering and PWM regulation, so I want just on and off and reasonable brightness, which is mostly some decent 3W LED on full power.

[@jakp8777]

I’m waiting for a WiFi connected flashlight.

[@tylerbailey470]

Obviously someone irritated by something like that doesnt have a clue about tactical situations or home defense or signaling to aircraft ect. There is a purpose for the flashing. Nicer weapon lights flash much faster it's a cheap version of that.

[@SirHackaL0t.]

great video but the audio is far too hot. Very distorted.

[@troytaylor1913]

The blink mode is mostly for cyclist. It makes the cyclist more noticeable even during the daylight.