OGC Optik7 Flashing LED Warning - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-16-2004, 05:54 PM

I bought this 7 LED Flashing Light and mounted it on the back of my bike in
November 2004. A few days later, I rode home from school and it was wet on
the ground. When I got home, I noticed that the light had shut itself off! I
turned it back on again into the first (of 3 modes) and watched it cycle
itself into the other 2 modes over several minutes and eventually shut
itself off again.

So I took the unit apart to see what was happening. If you notice the
design, there isnt' a separate sealed switch.. instead there is simply a
regular micro switch that is placed inside at the bottom of the unit, which
can be depressed by pressing against the outer casing and bending it
inwards. As an experiment, I turned the unit on and spit on it. Sure enough,
the spit shorted the switch and turned the unit off.

I took off the front flasher (5 LED light made by the same company, but
different design) that uses a regular sealed switch at the back. I put both
into the sink and filled it up with water. Immediately, the Optik7 cycled
through the modes and then shut itself off. The front flasher however, kept
blinking completely submersed in water.

I have contacted Christian Pelletier ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]) from OGC, who said he
would replace it with a 5 LED version. However, I wanted to post this online
incase anyone else is using one of these lights. The fact that they are
meant to be mounted on the seatpost, and get directly sprayed by water from
the rear tire exactly where the badly sealed switch is seems to pose a
safety threat in my opinion. Especially since any contact with water and the
light switches itself into the "off" position. Also, since it is located
behind you, you don't know that it has turned itself off until it is too
late.

DEFINITELY a flawed design in my opinion that wasn't tested properly before
being released. Which is a shame for an important safety product.

I've checked the light I have, and there is no flaws with the manufacturing.
The seal is there and in place, and it was closed properly. The next time it
rained, I even went out to test it again and it was off within 10 minutes
(yes, the batteries are fully charged). Again, when I opened the case, a
slight amount of water had gotten into the case at the bottom right where
the micro switch is.

I put up a little webpage with some pictures of the light and a copy of this
text...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Mike