BULLETPOINTS: Flashlight Maintenance

Words by Ren Alcantara

Since most of us are stuck indoors, there’s really not a lot to do. Not being out means our EDC gear isn’t really getting the use they would normally see, and that incidental neglect can sometimes be a problem. As the lockdown continues, take the time to give your flashlights a once-over to make sure they’ll function as needed when you need them. Every few months, I go over my lights and batteries to make sure everything is up to spec and ready for use.

The first thing to do is check for external damage. Rubber buttons can wear out over time and develop holes and tears, exposing the light’s circuitry to moisture—a sure fire way to cause a failure. Depending on the exact material the rubber is made of, staying in enclosed spaces can make them brittle and crumbly, so give their integrity a check as well. While you’re on the exterior, if you have a lanyard, check that the lanyard loop hasn’t chewn through the lanyard itself as can sometimes happen when edges abraid the material. If you’re running a clip, make sure the tension is good around the flashlight tube, and between the clip and body.

A good-quality EDC light will likely have a metal case, and while it’s tough, it’s not impervious to damage. Give the case a lookover and see if there are bumps and scrapes that might affect function. The battery tube can get deformed by getting caught in a door (ask me how I know) or some other form of pinching situation, and dropping one on asphalt or concrete can give it sharp edges that can tear up pockets and pouches. Make sure everything is in good shape, and while you’re at it, give the light a good wipe with a microfiber cloth to get rid of any dirt or solvents that may be on the surface. Avoid alcohol, as it can cause plastics and rubber to degrade.

Check the emitter head to make sure that it’s intact, with no cracks, chips, or anything that might let moisture in, or cause the glass or plastic to shatter and injure the user. This happens more than you might think (again, ask me how I know), and isn’t something people generally think about, so it pays to give it a close inspection.

Once that’s done, open it up, take the battery out, and check the o-rings that seal the light and keep it air-tight. This is going to be different depending on the brand and make of your light, so consult your user manual or a YouTube video if you’re not sure. Also worth noting is that some lights, like the Lumintop FW series of lights, have little bits that might fall out and get lost depending on how you disassemble the light. Clean out the inside of the tube. While the o-rings and threads are all accessible, give them a good wipe, and re-lubricate them.

Now, I’m not going to go into which lubricant you should use, as it will depend on what material your o-rings are, so check the manufacturer guidelines and go with that. I myself have used silicone grease for a long time and I’ve had good results. Don’t over-lube, as that will attract dirt. Just enough for a little shine will do well.

Next up, give the cell a little attention. I generally charge my batteries externally, with a quality charger so I can rotate the different cells, and I can more closely monitor the charge on each one to avoid over-charging. I also take care not to let the charge drop below 40 percent of the rated capacity, so it helps that my lights have voltage indicator functions.

A quick word on cells. I always try to get quality cells so I get the best performance from my lights. A few minutes on the Internet will let you know what’s good and what to avoid, as well as how to keep from buying counterfeit cells. You likely spent a fair amount of money on your light, so it doesn’t really make sense to feed it cells of poor quality. As such, it pays to take care of the cells, as they can be investments of their own.

Once everything has been inspected, cleaned, and lubed, and once the cells have been charged for either storage or use, you can put the light back together, give it a quick function check, and put it away with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your gear will be ready when you need it.