Vortex Sparc Weirdness: Bug or Feature?

[MingTheMerciless]

Last couple times to the range I have cussed myself out as I find the Sparc is still on from the last visit. This evening I figured out why that is.

So I hold down the power button 5 seconds. The dot shuts off like I expect. But... when I release the button it instantly comes back on again. Hold down the dot. Shuts off. Let it go and poof its back on again. I can't shut it off.

So I figured I would at least minimize the drain and put it on night vision mode. Pressed the middle button and... no effect. Brighter and dimmer buttons work as expected. Removing and replacing (with the same) battery didn't fix it.

Anyone heard of this before? Its a fairly new unit. Mebbe 6 months old. Been handled a lot as the rifle has seen a fair amount of range use. But we aren't talking about rough conditions here. Either I have a defective sight or I enabled some kind of always-on mode I didn't know exists.

[ExtremeX]

If you are having issues with it send it into Vortex... You have a lifetime warranty on that unit, and their customer service is fantastic.

USA
•Phone: (800) 426-0048
•Email: info@vortexoptics.com
•Fax: (608) 662-7454
•Write us at 2120 West Greenview Drive, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562

http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/contact_us

[MingTheMerciless]

Was just checking. After I posted I found the manual and confirmed this is not some kind of mode. On the plus side it shuts off after 6 hrs (just chk'd and its off now) and is good for 3600 hrs on the low brightness setting.

[LBDamned]

replace the battery.

Same thing happened to me a few months ago - I called Vortex, was told this is what it does when battery dies...

I replaced battery = works normal.

[MingTheMerciless]

Outstanding. Thx!

[NotPukeGreen]

Mine does the same thing, even with a new battery.
usually i just unscrew the cap a little and back on.Then it works fine, seems like a bad connection.

[lwlaml]

+1

I bought them on eBay. Cheap enough to keep a couple in the rifle bag.

replace the battery.

Same thing happened to me a few months ago - I called Vortex, was told this is what it does when battery dies...

I replaced battery = works normal.