Review: Princeton Tec Byte Headlamp

In less than 8 days I have taken 2 back to the store. They work one time and then will not shut off. You can remove the batteries to no help. When shutting off a faint light appears and will not go completely off and you are not able go to the other three modes of the light. I have been able to rotate the head and get the light to go off. But the next time you use the light same thing happens. I would not recommend this light.

Under the hood of the Byte headlamp is a complicated circuit that is designed to drive serious power out of the LED. In order to do so, we must use a microprocessor. You can think of it as the brains of the lamp and its job is to control the boost circuit. The boost circuits job is to help us get amazing output out of such a small and compact design. If you turn the Byte on high, and let it run without turning it off, it will operate for 80 hours straight. After about an hour of run time, if you turn off the light and turn it back on, the microprocessor has to start thinking. It has to wake up. At this point in the run time, the voltage has decreased to the point where the microprocessor has to put some controls on. These controls then drop the total burntime to about 2 hours. This is due to the battery drain having gone below the microprocessors capacity level. Using lithium batteries can offer several advantages. They are lightweight, they will perform better in cold weather, and they will increase the “lead-in” burntimes. Lithium batteries will allow for three hours of on/off capacity on high before the microprocessor has to put on controls. This improves the performance by three-times.

I had the same issue as Larry. I thought the first time it was because I’d used it running in a downpour, it must have gotten wet. Took it back, read the directions AGAIN, and decided maybe I needed to remove the batteries after use and let it dry out (ridiculous). Doesn’t matter what I do: I use it once, it won’t shut off. Worthless.

Lori, I contacted customer service @ Princeton both by phone and email with very little luck. If they had only called as I had asked I would have explained what the problem was. The problem is that the batteries that come with the lights are dead. Probably meaning the lights have sat on a shelf for some time before being sold. Duracell batteries are not a good battery to begin with. As mentioned, I took one light back and got a replacement light. The same results as the first light, could not get the light to shutoff. Finally I tried a new set of batteries and the light works. Used it several times without problems. If Princeton had called me back I would have shared the following with them. 1) Do not sell the light with batteries. 2) When we the customers call in with the problem and explain what’s going on they should (customer service) be aware that when the batteries are weak they have the results you and I had. They would be able to (TELL THE CUSTOMER THE BATTERIES ARE DEAD OR ARE GOING DEAD AND YOU NEED TO REPLACED THE BATTERIES.) Hopefully in the future they sell the unit without batteries or least explain to the customer what’s going on. It’s beats the responds they posted above.

Just returned mine to amazon, 3 sets of batteries still acts up. looks like they need to found a new microprocessor for this model.

I just came across this forum because the same thing happened to my Byte. It was only the third time I had even turned it on (all times were inside for only several minutes)…and I got this faint glow when I tried to turn it off. I took out the Duracell batteries and popped in some Energizer Max batteries and poof, the problem is gone. It is a bit weird, but I can assure you that after this experience I will be taking my Petzl with me when I need a trustworthy headlamp.

I had the same issue with the faint glowing light after using the headlamp in cold Chicago weather.

I was so excited to finally have a headlamp which was small, with a red LED, and with long battery life.

Unbelievable, Princeton Tec. Had I needed to rely on this headlamp in the woods on a trip, this would have been an issue.

This headlamp is going to be returned tonight.

Best…

Ben

Exact same problem with the faint glowing light, but only after use outdoors in Canadian winter weather. Thanks for the tip on trying new batteries; I do like the light (when it works).

Thanks Larry! Actually, I ended up with the same problem with the 2nd one. I tried fresh batteries, both Duracel and Energizer, but no luck! Spent a little more, and am tolerating the extra weight of a Black Diamond Spot. It is fantastic. Disappointed because I’ve always liked Princeton Tec lights.
BTW, don’t you think its odd that when the batteries are dead you can’t turn it OFF?

Same problem here, it’s a shame they would not pull these off the shelf as I won’t be buying another product from them. Worked great for two hour long runs and has been glowing lightly ever since. I’m not up for putting in new batteries every time I use it. Thanks a lot Byte.

Must be an interesting and useful gadget, wouldn’t mind buying one if I start biking again.
Btw, check out my music: Jammin Squirrel Productions

I bought a P-Tech Byte and I’m having the same low intensity strobe problem everyone else is. The red setting is virtually useless compared to the cheaper single LED Ray-O-Vac lamp my friend was using. In my case the unit actually did fail in the field when I needed it the most. Inconvenient to say the least.

DO NOT BUY THIS LIGHT. Waste of money. You cannot count on it when you need it because it goes in to this “stuck” mode (where it’s low light and will not shut off or change brightness). This is the last thing you need to have trouble with in the wilderness. P-Tech, you should fix this and then offer FREE replacements to all your customers… and remove this current model from the store shelves.