Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Problem with PB Superflash - anybody else experience this?

I have a PB Superflash taillight (it might actually be the Smart equivalent) and if the road is wet it starts to do weird things. It will either turn off of go from flashing to steady and you can't turn it off or back to flashing. Road doesn't even have to be especially wet. I went for a ride this morning after a storm last night but for the most part the road was dry just with the occasional puddle which I tried to avoid and the light went to steady mode by itself. I pulled the batteries out and left it all day and it was OK again for the ride home.

Have you checked to see of the rubber seal is seated correctly and there aren't any rips in it? Where's the water getting in from? I used one for about a year, often in heavy rain, with absolutely no issues.

I have a PB Superflash taillight (it might actually be the Smart equivalent) and if the road is wet it starts to do weird things. It will either turn off of go from flashing to steady and you can't turn it off or back to flashing. Road doesn't even have to be especially wet. I went for a ride this morning after a storm last night but for the most part the road was dry just with the occasional puddle which I tried to avoid and the light went to steady mode by itself. I pulled the batteries out and left it all day and it was OK again for the ride home.

Exact same thing happened to mine under similar conditions. I just went online to their site and explained it in an email or online form. I got a quick response along with another shipped out right away. The new one came with a return shipping box for the old one. No questions asked. They said they haven't seen a problem but weren't going to argue.

The center large LED does not look to be a water tight seal to the lens surrounding it. Not sure. In any case a thin cheap sandwich bag over the light held tight with a piece of tape will keep it rain or splash proof.
A friend of mine dropped one I loaned him in a sewer grate, and then fished it out!

After drying overnight it has been fine ever since.

Have you checked to see of the rubber seal is seated correctly and there aren't any rips in it? Where's the water getting in from? I used one for about a year, often in heavy rain, with absolutely no issues.

I actually have two of them but neither have a rubber seal. They are Smart Superflash brand, maybe the genuiune PB SF ones have the seal?

Other 'feature' that one of them has is it doesn't strobe, it just flashes like a regular blinkie light. It still seems as bright as the one that strobes though. It's the strobe one that plays up in the wet weather - the other may too but I don't use it much as I prefer the strobe, it's used mainly as a spare or as a supplement (put it in the rear jersey pocket).

I actually have two of them but neither have a rubber seal. They are Smart Superflash brand, maybe the genuiune PB SF ones have the seal?

Other 'feature' that one of them has is it doesn't strobe, it just flashes like a regular blinkie light. It still seems as bright as the one that strobes though. It's the strobe one that plays up in the wet weather - the other may too but I don't use it much as I prefer the strobe, it's used mainly as a spare or as a supplement (put it in the rear jersey pocket).

I took one apart before I posted, and the seal is kinda of difficult to notice as it's attached to the body of the light. Mine is a Plant Bike one though, so perhaps it is a Smart/PB thing.

I sent mine back to them and they sent me a new one in less than a week.

I actually have two of them but neither have a rubber seal. They are Smart Superflash brand, maybe the genuiune PB SF ones have the seal?

Other 'feature' that one of them has is it doesn't strobe, it just flashes like a regular blinkie light. It still seems as bright as the one that strobes though. It's the strobe one that plays up in the wet weather - the other may too but I don't use it much as I prefer the strobe, it's used mainly as a spare or as a supplement (put it in the rear jersey pocket).

I have been using two planetbike superflashes for the last two years through heavy rain and snow and I have never encountered this problem. I have, however, encountered the problem with other lights like the planetbike spot. water makes it go haywire.

perhaps the cheapo knockoff is a cheapo knockoff for a reason.

I have been using two planetbike superflashes for the last two years through heavy rain and snow and I have never encountered this problem. I have, however, encountered the problem with other lights like the planetbike spot. water makes it go haywire.

perhaps the cheapo knockoff is a cheapo knockoff for a reason.

It's not a knock off. Smart is the OEM manufacture of the Super Flash, and sells it's lights under it's own name outside of North America.

It's not a knock off. Smart is the OEM manufacture of the Super Flash, and sells it's lights under it's own name outside of North America.

ah
I was unaware of this fact.
thanks.

yes, this happens to mine. you can wrap the seem in tape for each use. where do you have it mounted? mine is mounted on the back of my rack so the rear tire kicks up the moisture into it. I'm hoping my new fenders will help with that but I may still have to put a small peice of tape on the top seem.

I've used two Superflashes for a couple of years now in all types of weather, and have never had a problem with them.

I have two, and on both of them the switches don't work well. Today I had to take the light off its' mount and press the switch against a wooden bump to get the switch to work. I could not activate the switch with my finger.
Anyone else experience this?