Ravemen PR1600 – Remote Issue – Do they all do this?

Hi,

I recently bought one of these lights as I’ve read several favourable reviews and on paper it’s dual-beam design seems ideal for the sort of riding I do (even mountain bike rides in the winter seem to involve plenty of road to link up the still-ridable trails).

The light’s great, sturdily made and the output seems nice and bright; the road beam does its thing well – I really want to like this. However the remote is driving me up the wall, particularly the press-and-hold to flash (which the instructions seem to refer to as “Emergency Mode”).

Firstly you need to hold the larger button on the remote for around 4 to 5 seconds, by which time the moment has generally passed whether using it to signal another road user or to add extra light when you need to see something urgently. Secondly, flashing from the light returns to the brightness level you were previously on, but from the remote engages single beam mode on full brightness after a flash. Thirdly, the remote doesn’t flash at all when on both beams with low brightness, whereas the switch on the unit will give a brief flash and then go back to a low level.

I don’t know anyone else locally with one to compare it with, and I’ve not seen the above mentioned in any reviews. I emailed the shop I bought it from asking them to check another one in stock and let me know if they all do that, or if mine is faulty; however they’ve just replied with returns authorisation and asked me if I want to exchange it or get a refund. As I’m not sure if another one’s going to be any different, I’m not sure whether to exchange it for another one, downgrade to the PR1200 where the wired remote does seem to flash logically or just get my money back and look for something else.

So, can any other owners confirm if this is how they all work, or if I’ve got a dodgy remote, please?

Thanks in advance!

I’ve just brought one too. Where does it mention this “flash” function in the blurb?

The instruction manual states about the wireless button:

Press the small button 2s to turn on/off the light, single click to change
brightness level; Single click the large button to change modes.
Open the remote switch from the back cover and place the battery
inside with the positive pole facing up.
Transmission range: 0-1 meter; the signal may be weakened due
to low battery and low temperature.

No mention of flash.

Has this linked to No. 4 (menu button)

2) When power is on, press the button 0.3s and hold to activate
Emergency mode, release to go back to previous mode and
brightness level.

But not mentioned in the wireless button.

I agree it’s not specifically mentioned in the little leaflet as being activated by the remote, however for the Menu button it does say:

When power is on, press the button 0.3s and hold to activate Emergency mode, release to go back to previous mode and brightness level.

It’s also mentioned on the website:

Turn on/off the light and change brightness levels safely without releasing the grip; single click to Max output for signaling or emergent lighting

Which I agree could be referring to switching to mountain biking mode and back, but I have seen reference to activating emergency mode from the remote on some of the websites selling it.

Just checked mine:

Press and hold small button on the wireless remote = turns light on / off.

Press and hold large button on the wireless remote = no change.

Press and hold light menu button (4) = high beam flash which goes off when released.

When using single road light, you can press large wireless button to turn the second light on and then quickly press it again to turn it off, kinda like a high beam flash.

Hope that helps.

OK, I’ve just checked again, review here states

Saying that, though, if you need a short blast of full power for an unexpected descent you can press and hold the smaller of the two buttons (on the remote or the light itself) which gives you the full 1,600 lumen until you let go. A very clever little addition to get you out of trouble.

(Which seems odd as the small button on my remote turns it off with a long press, but it is the smaller button on the light itself).

Sale page here says:

The wireless remote switch gives you easy control of brightness levels easily. You can use wireless remote switch to control the emergency mode to simulate like a high beam similar to automotive to alert opposite riders or cars. Long press to activate max output for emergency needs or dark area.

So I don’t think I’ve entirely decided through wishful thinking that it should be able to flash from the remote. Besides it does on mine (eventually).

Press and hold large button on the wireless remote = no change.

Fair enough, thanks for checking!

Not quite sure what ‘flash’ is referring to.

I have the PR900, comes with a wired remote which is just one button/switch that does the same job as the ‘menu’ button on the unit?

– Short press to cycle through menu
– Hold for ‘full beam’ (max output/both emitters), release to return to existing mode

That’s it. No ‘flash’ on the menu, but there is a pulse.

Am assuming the small switch on the 1600’s wireless remote functions the same as the small switch on the unit? ie menu button?

The large button on the unit is

-Power on/off
-Mode/emitter selection ie ROAD or MTB

– Hold for ‘full beam’ (max output/both emitters), release to return to existing mode

Yup, that’s what I’d meant by “flash” sorry for any confusion with the actual flashing mode… It seems like that would be one of the most useful things for the remote to do.

Am assuming the small switch on the 1600’s wireless remote functions the same as the small button on the unit?

That would be what I’d expect, but they’re different, the long press options seem to match the small / large buttons on the unit, but the short / click options are then the other way round. Plus the long press on the large remote button on mine takes so long to do what the wired remotes on the 900/1200 seem to do quickly that the moment has generally passed.

Just looked over the online manual for the 1600, and (oddly) it doesn’t mention remotely activating ‘emergency mode’ (I call it high beam)

On my 900 the wired remote takes about 0.3 seconds to activate high beam. This is the same delay (give or take a millisecond) as the button on the main unit*

As for the wireless remote the manual does say cold temps and/or old (remote) battery may affect the operation. You might also check if you have any other devices interfering with the signal?

*The 0.3sec lag from press/hold to full beam is (I find) fine in use as long as you are using it to

1. Alert other road-users. ie sufficient to warn of presence, rather than ‘scolding’ in the heat of a ‘moment’, where you might be pushed to activate it in time, and arguably better served in performing evasive manoeuvre!

or

2. When entering a short unlit/rough section. Unless travelling warp-speed, in which case I’d have a higher/safer mode selected beforehand anyhoops.

I suppose could always order a wired remote (£4.99?) and test it see if any difference?

As for the wireless remote the manual does say cold temps and/or old (remote) battery may affect the operation. You might also check if you have any other devices interfering with the signal?

Yup, I’ve tried a fresh battery and it seems to be the same whether I’m trying this on the kitchen table or in the woods, so I can’t see anything else interfering with it, besides all the other functions work fine.

The scenarios you mention, along with the “where’s the turning, I’m sure it was somewhere here” , “you’re passed, feel free to pull in, Mr. Truck” and “Was that a badger?” moments make me think that this would be one of the most useful things for the remote to do so you didn’t need to take your hands off the grip.

If the buttons on the remote did what the buttons on the light did, it would be so close to ideal 😉

I suppose could always order a wired remote (£4.99?) and test it see if any difference?

I did think about that, but the earlier lights with the wired remote use MicroUSB, and the PR1600 is USB-C, so even if I wanted to take a punt on the wiring being there, the plug won’t fit…

Secondly, (sic) flashing from the light returns to the brightness level you were previously on, but from the remote engages single beam mode on full brightness after a flash.

Just now tested the wired remote on my 900 and it works the same either from the remote or the unit.

ie

-Hold remote button – activates full power/both emitters. (Emergency Mode)
-Release remote button – returns to prior mode/level

Thirdly, the remote doesn’t (sic) flash at all when on both beams with low brightness, whereas the switch on the unit will give a brief flash and then go back to a low level.

Same as above. Hold = Emergency Mode, release = returns to last mode/level.

If the buttons on the remote did what the buttons on the light did, it would be so close to ideal 😉

Which is what I’ve got. Was going to ‘upgrade’ to the 1600 though, but now you’ve gotten me wavering. 4-5 seconds to activate ‘emergency mode’??????????

Has to be a dud surely?

The 1200 might be more ideal for me tbh, as the 900 is already enough light. I just fancied a bit more lumenosity for offroad, also USB charge mode (recharging in operation) and, ironically, a wireless remote.

Thinking now may be better to stick in the ‘if it ain’t broke’ camp, because I absolutely love this light, it’s been a game-changer.

USB-C/micro-USB adapter?

Not ideal but…bit of heat-shrink-sleeve/hairdryer action? Fixed on the end of the wired remote.

Has to be a dud surely?

Well that was one of my thoughts. Hence the thread. However from what @qwerty said, probably not.

The 1200 might be more ideal for me tbh

I’ll admit that a “downgrade” to the 1200 is emerging as my favourite option at the moment.

^ Devil’s advocate, what might that ‘downgrade’ achieve that wireless remote (with heat shrunk usb adapter) wouldn’t?

What happens when you press/hold the small button on the unit?

Also just to correct myself…seems according to manual that the 1200 doesn’t operate while charging. So the extended runtime via powerbank seems like a no-go. Maybe just the 1600 that offers that option.

tbh I’ve never gotten low enough on power to worry, as most of my rides are under 4hrs (mixed terrain) and on mostly road/gravel a full charge will last a good three rides on med/low settings

Small button on the unit does just what I want (after a half second or so full power until you let go, then back to whatever you had before).

Downgrading to the 1200 should give me exactly that on a wired remote, same as yours.

Had the usb port been the same, I think it would have been a reasonable chance that the wired remote would work on the new unit. However with a new design of usb port I think that the chances that the wiring and software will recognise the previous generation remote is minimal if I am honest…

^
Maybe time to try

http://www.ravemen.com/contact/

So what is the point of the remote switch other than to toggle from dipped to high beam?

One button lets you switch between dipped and main beam. The other cycles round the brightness levels in each mode. You can also turn it off and on completely from the remote.

A lesser frustration is that switching between dipped and main always reverts to full brightness in the new mode, so attempting to dip when on a low brightness level with both beams can actually make you brighter.