Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

[peterharvey73]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Initially used Ultrafire 2400 Protected with SC600 - it would only run on turbo for 30 seconds, or later on just 2 seconds, then cut out permanently!
Had to untwist, and re-tighten tail cap to switch the flashlight on again.
Also, after a few days use, realised that the SC600 chewed up the 18650, albeit Ultrafire's optimistically claimed 2400 mAH, very quickly!!

Just received Redilast 3100 mAH - fits into SC600 fine & runs fine.
Hopefully turbo will run 5 minutes continuously tonight, and hopefully longer run time than the Ultrafire 2400 Protected too...

 

[moldyoldy]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

PeterHarvey, Your experience with a very short run-time on an off-brand 18650 is unfortunately too common. Since 18650s can be cells from old laptop battery packs, it is very easy to unknowingly employ a bad/weak cell no matter how nicely wrapped. Hence I suspect that the 18650 size, or the light that is in, is unfairly condemned as having something wrong. There are many good 18650 brands, but nothing cheap.

My AW 18650 cells of 2200mah or greater and in a TK35, V60C, SC60 or SC600, all provide a welcome relief of long run time even on high. Meaning relief from the relatively short runtime of pedigreed RCR123 or variations thereof - which seems to be about 1/2 hour or slightly more. I actually obtain run-times similar to those claimed for the light on whatever level selected, often in the couple hour range.

Even though one of the cells is an AW unprotected cell 2200mah, the SC60 has a low-level cut out at 3.0volts. The SC600 progressively cuts back levels. In one case, I let it go until the SC600 reached the lowest level but due to a time crunch, I missed the opportunity to find out if the SC600 would actually cut off the light after the lowest level.

 

[jhc37013]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

PeterHarvey, Your experience with a very short run-time on an off-brand 18650 is unfortunately too common.

Yep I have a few Ultrafire 300mah that has problems with higher current draw light's, say 2.5A and over. I can still get good use out of them if I use them in light's that draw ~1.5A or less maybe 2A. One or two things happen when I use them on these high output light's, the light will either turn off or more often it sags and the max output significantly drops, you might not even know it unless you've seen your light's max output with a quality 18650.

 

[selfbuilt]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

PeterHarvey, Your experience with a very short run-time on an off-brand 18650 is unfortunately too common. Since 18650s can be cells from old laptop battery packs, it is very easy to unknowingly employ a bad/weak cell no matter how nicely wrapped. Hence I suspect that the 18650 size, or the light that is in, is unfairly condemned as having something wrong. There are many good 18650 brands, but nothing cheap.

This is an excellent point.

Although I don't like veering too far off-topic in the review threads, the issue of battery quality does HUGELY affect your experience of a light. This is particularly acute in the case of some of the newer heavily-driven lights, where poorer quality cells can fail quickly. And this isn't limited to 18650 - the same can be said for RCR. And there are separate (but related) issues with primary CR123As.

I encourage people to wander around the electronics/battery-included subforum here, for information on the various types of cells, as well as more general background. My personal experience of the ultrafire/trustfire "brand" is that they are highly variable from one batch/supplier to the next, and you never know what you are getting under that wrapper. This is because they are not unique brands controlled by one factory - they appear to be a loose set of standards agreed to by a conglomeration of manufacturing sites (that all produce under the same label). Throw in all the known counterfeiting of other non-affiliated sites, and you are left in a very difficult position of knowing what you are actually getting.

I also recommend everyone working with Li-ions get themselves a decent charger and a decent DMM (digital multimeter) - and take regular voltage readings of their cells. Again, my experience of Ultrafire cells is that many can have issues of low capacity and high self-discharge (both indicating a poor state of health). It seems to be especially true - in terms of Li-ions - that you get what you pay for. :candle:

 

[peterharvey73]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Tested my SC600 with Redilasts 3100 mAH last night.
No more auto cut off like the Ultrafire 2400's.
In fact surprisingly, the Redilast 3100 mAH seem to be a bit brilliantly brighter than the Ultrafire 2400's.
The Redilast also seems to make the switch around the SC600 heat up much more quickly than the Ultrafire too...

 

[samgab]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

This is an excellent point.

Although I don't like veering too far off-topic in the review threads, the issue of battery quality does HUGELY affect your experience of a light. This is particularly acute in the case of some of the newer heavily-driven lights, where poorer quality cells can fail quickly. And this isn't limited to 18650 - the same can be said for RCR. And there are separate (but related) issues with primary CR123As.

I encourage people to wander around the electronics/battery-included subforum here, for information on the various types of cells, as well as more general background. My personal experience of the ultrafire/trustfire "brand" is that they are highly variable from one batch/supplier to the next, and you never know what you are getting under that wrapper. This is because they are not unique brands controlled by one factory - they appear to be a loose set of standards agreed to by a conglomeration of manufacturing sites (that all produce under the same label). Throw in all the known counterfeiting of other non-affiliated sites, and you are left in a very difficult position of knowing what you are actually getting.

I also recommend everyone working with Li-ions get themselves a decent charger and a decent DMM (digital multimeter) - and take regular voltage readings of their cells. Again, my experience of Ultrafire cells is that many can have issues of low capacity and high self-discharge (both indicating a poor state of health). It seems to be especially true - in terms of Li-ions - that you get what you pay for. :candle:

All excellent points from selfbuilt. Anyone trying to skimp on buying cells, take heed. Why buy a great light like the SC600 then cheap out on the cells/charger and never get the true performance of the light?

Tested my SC600 with Redilasts 3100 mAH last night.
No more auto cut off like the Ultrafire 2400's.
In fact surprisingly, the Redilast 3100 mAH seem to be a bit brilliantly brighter than the Ultrafire 2400's.
The Redilast also seems to make the switch around the SC600 heat up much more quickly than the Ultrafire too...

That's not the cell making it heat up, it's the emitter. You now have a cell which is capable of supplying sufficient current for the driver circuitry and emitter to function as they were designed. A side effect of that is a lot of heat is produced by the emitter as a byproduct of it's inherent inefficiency. The SC600 effectively dissipates this heat through the entire body, but focused around the head nearby the switch area. All perfectly normal, and as it was designed to work. Congratulations, you now have a quality cell and a properly working SC600. :thumbsup:

 

[minnstars]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Initially used Ultrafire 2400 Protected with SC600 - it would only run on turbo for 30 seconds, or later on just 2 seconds, then cut out permanently!
Had to untwist, and re-tighten tail cap to switch the flashlight on again.
Also, after a few days use, realised that the SC600 chewed up the 18650, albeit Ultrafire's optimistically claimed 2400 mAH, very quickly!!

Just received Redilast 3100 mAH - fits into SC600 fine & runs fine.
Hopefully turbo will run 5 minutes continuously tonight, and hopefully longer run time than the Ultrafire 2400 Protected too...

Yup thats what happened to me too. Thanks for shaing! My SC600 went back in the mail today. So, I call BS on a $100 light that then insists on only eating $25 Batteries. My other flashlights work just fine on Ultrafire 18650 Batteries, so am I too to cheap to own a Zebralight?

Add to that the must hit the perfect timing on the "double clicky" on the SC600.... (can you believe "6 double clicky"?) user interface. IMO only a hard core flashaholic could love this light ... and or someone who owns lots of $25 batteries :naughty:.

I finally realized great output & runtime isn't more important then ease of operation and total cost of ownership. No more Zebralights :wave: .... on to the: Fenix PD32, Jetbeam III ST Cycler ... or maybe the Eagletac D25LC2?

 

[raynstacy]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Yup thats what happened to me too. Thanks for shaing! My SC600 went back in the mail today. So, I call BS on a $100 light that then insists on only eating $20 Batteries. My other flashlights work just fine on Ultrafire 18650 Batteries, so I am probably to cheap to own a Zebraligt?

Add to that must hit the perfect timing on the "double clicky" on the SC600.... (can you believe "6 double clicky"?) user interface. Only a hard core flashaholic could love this light. I have finally realized great output & runtime isn't more important then ease of operation and total cost of ownership.

No more Zebralights :wave: .... on to the: Fenix PD32, Jetbeam III ST Cycler ... or maybe the Eagletac D25LC2?

I use 18650s out of new laptop/ packs and my sc600 work just fine.

 

[samgab]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

...too cheap to own a Zebralight...

Your words; no one elses.
That's okay, no flashlight is perfect for everyone. 99.9% of users don't have any trouble figuring out or using the ZL UI. For the other .1% there are a huge selection of alternatives... But this thread is all about the SC600, not those alternatives.

 

[minnstars]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Done ... moving on. Thanks.

 

[kwak]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Yup thats what happened to me too. Thanks for shaing! My SC600 went back in the mail today. So, I call BS on a $100 light that then insists on only eating $25 Batteries. My other flashlights work just fine on Ultrafire 18650 Batteries, so am I too to cheap to own a Zebralight?

Add to that the must hit the perfect timing on the "double clicky" on the SC600.... (can you believe "6 double clicky"?) user interface. IMO only a hard core flashaholic could love this light ... and or someone who owns lots of $25 batteries :naughty:.

I finally realized great output & runtime isn't more important then ease of operation and total cost of ownership. No more Zebralights :wave: .... on to the: Fenix PD32, Jetbeam III ST Cycler ... or maybe the Eagletac D25LC2?

Absolutely no Zebralight fan boy here.
I think it's disgraceful that those of us that showed faith in the company by pre-ordering the SC600 and paying for it months before it was released have been screwed over by the fact that the vast majority of cells don't fit in the first generation light.

Then those that waited it out get the newer version with bigger cell tube.

So terrible customer service IMO.

I also agree that the UI is really poor, i much prefer the down switch system on most my Fenix lights.


But blaming a torch for not running inferior batteries is very silly.
It's like buying a a Corvette ZR-1 then taking it back because it doesn't perform as well as it should on 20 year old watered down fuel.

If you buy one of the more powerful torches then it's absolutely essential that you invest in good cells.
This is not just ZL, my Fenix TK21 is a LOT more sensitive ti poor quality cells than my SC600, i have some 2400mAh TrustFire cells that are THAT bad they don't work in most of my lights.

Good quality cells don't NEED to be expensive either, i bought 2 x Panasonic 3100mAh unprotected cells for £19.

These work fantastic in all my torches with a low voltage cut-off.



Cheers
Mark

 

[kreisler]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Then those that waited it out get the newer version with bigger cell tube.

Different body tube sizes (length + diameter was changed?) exist? i didnt know that.

ZebraLight should publish a list of working 18650 (and Protected 18650) cells, ordered by manufacturer: TrustFire, UltraFire, Xtar, Panasonic, Samsung Unprotected, Sanyo Industrial, etc.

i do like that fact that they release slightly improved hardware revisions without changing the model's name. Reminds me of software updates (e.g. WinZip, WinRAR 4.0, M$ Office 2010 RTM, etc.). When a new major version number is released, i go ahead and download and install the last stable version before the upgrade happened (i.e. WinRAR 3.97, M$ Office 2007 with Service Pack 3, etc.). Same with college textbooks (Second Edition, 1st printing. Etc. Second Edition, 7th printing. and published Errata/Corrections by the publisher); and i will never ever *buy* a first printing of a new edition Wiley or Prentice Hall text again!

With flashlights, the early bird gets the desired item earlier and maybe even at a better price (introductory price), but the one who waits it out gets the refined more mature hardware revision. Actually this happens elsewhere too, very good example: PC motherboards (by ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc.). When you open the retail package you would find a tiny sticker on the motherboard saying explicitly "hardware revision 2.0b" or something like that.

Sorry for playing the smart aleck -- i am observing the ZL product line too, and one day i would buy a used SC51 or SC600. Possibly. ( i dont have any serious or regular or frequent use for flashlights. yet, within 1 month i already ordered 4 lights for myself and several other torches as gifts. i'd buy a ZL only if they are close to perfect, with no more real flaws. To me, one of the flaws in SC600 is that it doesnt run on 2x RCR123 (or does it?). Anyway i will ramble more in some other post. it's already late. happy thanks giving all. ha. )

 

[peterharvey73]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Been using my SC600 for nearly 2 weeks now.
At first, inadvertently switching the SC on turbo mode @ 2 am in the morning was a problem; because I did not press long enough.
Thus, I thought magnetic rings would be better than side switches.
However, after a while, @ 2am in the morning, you really learn to do a long press to go directly into the low mode; then the SC's side switch is fine!
It takes a bit longer to learn to do a long switch.

The SC600's switch is really well designed.
It works on the premises that most people use high/turbo, then low, and rarely using mid.
Thus a single click turns on hi/turbo.
A long click turns on low.
While holding it down will ramp from lo, to mid, to hi.
These three levels have a sub-level which can be accessed by a double click.
So very well designed.
Just takes some getting used to, to do a long click for low mode @ 2am in the morning.
Now, I'd say that a side switch is better than a magnetic ring.
Though a magnetic ring is initially faster to learn.

As for which type of switch is better, my SC600's stiff recessed switch, or my TM11's feather light flush switch?
I'm not sure just yet.
Both good but in different ways.
The TM's switch draws a lot more standby power, and the TM doesn't mind coz it has 4x18650's.
The SC600's side switch which draws little standby power, is more appropriate for it's single 18650 design...

 

[moldyoldy]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

I concur with PeterHarvey73 on the ZL UI method. Actually, a couple months of relatively rapid sampling of the existing flashlight user interfaces has changed my preferences. My preference was a "twisty", but only when one-handed. Most tail-switch-tapping systems are cumbersome to manage frequent output level changes with one hand when the hands are occupied by various tasks.

The key differentiator (non-combat) seems to be how to change output levels with one hand. The ZL UI using a relativey light-touch side clicky has become my preferred method for changing lumen output. The magnetic ring is a close second. In third place is a twisty. A distant last preference is the tail switch, especially the "tactical" tail switch since that light cannot tail-stand.

With the ZL UI, I frequently change between the two levels of high. Low and medium levels are used, but rarely the second setting at each of those levels. Probably the primary negative of the ZL UI is how the strobe setting is reached - way too many double clicks in some specified period of time. I tried it out once to prove I could do it, reset it back to normal, and thereupon ignored that setting.

Why? The side clicky seems to be easier and quicker. A "fast" click for high. A "slow" click for low. At any coarse output level, a quick "double-click" to change within that level. Admittedly the SC600 with the stiffer switch causes a few more missed changes than when using the SC60 or SC51. With a magnetic control ring I waste too much attention feeling around the head of the light trying to find the ring, or I attempt to turn it in the wrong direction especially when switching hands. Multiple twists on a "twisty" are not convenient to cycle thru output levels, but one-hand operation is still possible and highly desirable. Tapping on a tail switch to cycle thru the levels is a two-handed operation and the least desirable. as always, YMMV!

My other usage/ownership trend is an increasing dislike for multiple cell lights, especially multiple cells end-to-end. I want run times a lot longer than a half-hour at full brightness, but the flashlight length was bothersome and not very EDC-able. My need/want for a longer run-time combined with a short body length was solved by lights using the 18650 cell, which Zebralight re-introduced me to via the SC60 and SC600.

 

[swan]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

On the switch issue, ive had the sc600 for a week now and like the ui , sort of makes the tail clickies feel a bit old school. This is my first ZL and i liked it so much i got the ZL h31 yesterday and in comparison the switch is on the h31 is less recessed and the softer to use . Also as as side note, i am waiting for an aw 2900 but have been using my jetbeam 2300mah cell [charged to 4.18v] in the sc600 with no problems and just checked the voltage at 3.68 since i got it and still holds turbo 750 , seems to work well with this light. Well done Zebralight.

 

[yifu]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

Different body tube sizes (length + diameter was changed?) exist? i didnt know that.

ZebraLight should publish a list of working 18650 (and Protected 18650) cells, ordered by manufacturer: TrustFire, UltraFire, Xtar, Panasonic, Samsung Unprotected, Sanyo Industrial, etc.

i do like that fact that they release slightly improved hardware revisions without changing the model's name. Reminds me of software updates (e.g. WinZip, WinRAR 4.0, M$ Office 2010 RTM, etc.). When a new major version number is released, i go ahead and download and install the last stable version before the upgrade happened (i.e. WinRAR 3.97, M$ Office 2007 with Service Pack 3, etc.). Same with college textbooks (Second Edition, 1st printing. Etc. Second Edition, 7th printing. and published Errata/Corrections by the publisher); and i will never ever *buy* a first printing of a new edition Wiley or Prentice Hall text again!

With flashlights, the early bird gets the desired item earlier and maybe even at a better price (introductory price), but the one who waits it out gets the refined more mature hardware revision. Actually this happens elsewhere too, very good example: PC motherboards (by ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc.). When you open the retail package you would find a tiny sticker on the motherboard saying explicitly "hardware revision 2.0b" or something like that.

Sorry for playing the smart aleck -- i am observing the ZL product line too, and one day i would buy a used SC51 or SC600. Possibly. ( i dont have any serious or regular or frequent use for flashlights. yet, within 1 month i already ordered 4 lights for myself and several other torches as gifts. i'd buy a ZL only if they are close to perfect, with no more real flaws. To me, one of the flaws in SC600 is that it doesnt run on 2x RCR123 (or does it?). Anyway i will ramble more in some other post. it's already late. happy thanks giving all. ha. )

There were 3 versions of the SC600.
The first was the one with switch issues (random mode changes) and a length that didnt accomodate higher capacity 18650s,
the second version had the battery tube increased by 0.9mm and comes with a clip in the box,
the third version now available has a lanyard attachment, additional "step" regulation as well as a lower parasitic drain.

 

[kreisler]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

just curious. are buyers of the first versions entitled to get a free copy of the current version shipped? is there a clear "no!" from part of the ZL company? (With software PC programs, the user is entitled to download all forth-coming updates 3.97, 3.98, etc. for free!)

 

[Zenbaas]

just curious. are buyers of the first versions entitled to get a free copy of the current version shipped? is there a clear "no!" from part of the ZL company? (With software PC programs, the user is entitled to download all forth-coming updates 3.97, 3.98, etc. for free!)

Wishful thinking

 

[sdr]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

There were 3 versions of the SC600.
The first was the one with switch issues (random mode changes) and a length that didnt accomodate higher capacity 18650s,
the second version had the battery tube increased by 0.9mm and comes with a clip in the box,
the third version now available has a lanyard attachment, additional "step" regulation as well as a lower parasitic drain.

Indeed! I just received my light yesterday, ordered directly from ZebraLight, and it came with the clip and lanyard ring. I took a few pictures just now to show you exactly how the light has been modified to accommodate the ring.

The clip seems quite secure and the lanyard ring mounting hole has been integrated into the body of the light. It is non removable. Therefore this would be an entirely different body from the first production run of these lights. The light is evolving!

On a personal note, I initially found the UI for this light somewhat confusing. That confusion was resolved by watching the OP's excellent video review about 4 times and then taking the light outside and becoming acquainted with the switch; e.g., using it! Now I love it. I am currently running Trustfire Protected 2500mAh batteries and experiencing no problems. I contacted the people at ZL and they recommended either the Panasonic NCR18650 or AW2900 to obtain the optimum performance from the fine little light. "Little" being the operative word! I can't believe how small this light actually is. However, it is small only in physical size. It is huge in performance! I went ahead and ordered an AW2900 and once it comes I will use the Trustfires as back-up since I have two new ones and haven't had any issues with either one.

Currahee!

 

[kwak]

Re: Zebralight SC600 (1x18650, XM-L) Review: RUNTIME, BEAMSHOTS, comparisons & more!

just curious. are buyers of the first versions entitled to get a free copy of the current version shipped? is there a clear "no!" from part of the ZL company? (With software PC programs, the user is entitled to download all forth-coming updates 3.97, 3.98, etc. for free!)

ZL aren't interested.

That's why i'm really trying not to buy any ZL products again.

As i say those of us the pre-ordered paid full price, we have faith that ZL would produce a good product THAT much that we gave them our money without ever seeing a working example, reading any reviews or seeing any independent pics.
They pushed the release date back, no complaints from us.
They had my money sitting in their bank account for a good 2 months before i received anything.

So we put all that faith in them, put up with all that only to have a torch that no cells over 2200mAh fit.

I'll not say "i'll never buy a ZL again" as they offer some great lights, but for sure i'll never pre-order from them again and i'd STRONGLY recommend no one else to either.

Shame cause apart from the UI i really think they produce some fantastic torches.



Cheers
Mark