Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin

[ernsanada]

I just received the Solar Force L603, 3 SSC from Waion

From Waion's Thread,

- UXO-bin SSC P4 LED x 3
- 16340 x 3 or CR123A x 4 (a battery extension tube included)
- OP metal reflector
- a free functional tail-cap switch assemble included: two output levels + flashing mode.

Fit and finish is excellent.

Type II Anodize is excellent.

I am having problems with the rear switch. It goes from high, low then dim. The light does not shut off, stays in dim mode.

The other switch does not work at all.

I am using AW's Protected RCR123's, the batteries fit with ample room. I have the light in the 3 RCR123 battery configuration.

Uses 3, SSC U Bin.

Comes with extra rear clickie and battery tube so you can run 4 CR123's.

Fits AW's Protected RCR123's with ample room.

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Left to right, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin, Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt Luxeon, 2D Maglite, Pelican 7060

Left to right, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin, Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt Luxeon, 2D Maglite, Pelican 7060

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These beam shots are taken with fully charged batteries. The Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin is using 3 AW's Protected RCR123's. The Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite is using Radio Shack 2D 4500 mAh nimh rechargeable batteries. The Pelican 7060 is fully charged (18650 size).

I waited 2 minutes before taking lux readings from my Wavetek Meterman LM631 at 1 meter.

Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin - 2410 lux @ 1 meter.

Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite - 4610 lux @ 1 meter.

Pelican 7060 - 10,850 lux @ 1 meter.

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Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin @ 82"

Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite @ 82"

Pelican 7060 @ 82"

Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin @ 82" Stepped down exposure.

Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite @ 82" Stepped down exposure.

Pelican 7060 @ 82" Stepped down exposure.

Left, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin. Right, Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite @ 82"

Left, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin. Right, Pelican 7060 @ 82"

Left, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin. Right, Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite @ 82" Stepped down exposure.

Left, Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin. Right, Pelican 7060 @ 82" Stepped down exposure.

 

[ernsanada]

I finally got the momentary on, off. Twist on and off switch to work. The light is whole lot brighter.

I'm getting 2 different readings for the 2 different switches.

Charging batteries for new lux readings.

 

[ernsanada]

Revised Meter Readings due to the momentary on off, twist on off switch having greater brightness.

These beam shots are taken with fully charged batteries. The Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin is using 3 AW's Protected RCR123's. The Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite is using Radio Shack 2D 4500 mAh nimh rechargeable batteries. The Pelican 7060 is fully charged (18650 size).

I waited 2 minutes before taking lux readings from my Wavetek Meterman LM631 at 1 meter.

Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin (3 Way Switch) - 2410 lux @ 1 meter.

Solar Force L603, 3 SSC U Bin (momentary on off, twist on off switch) 4080 lux @ 1 meter.

Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite - 4610 lux @ 1 meter.

Pelican 7060 - 10,850 lux @ 1 meter.

 

[ernsanada]

My 3 way switch stays on in the off position. The light is very dim.

I think I have a bad 3 way switch. I tried another switch, on off and the light works.

The momentary on off, twist on off works but it's intermittent. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work.

 

[cheapo]

will it work with 2 18650?

 

[ernsanada]

will it work with 2 18650?

Sorry, I can't get any Protected 18650's to fit.

 

[johnny13oi]

Can you take some measurements on how big the AW protected RCR123A's are. Do you know if the silver ultrafire protected 16340s work in there?

 

[johnny13oi]

Hello FRIENDS! :wave: Flashlights are cool!

sorry my girlfriend is posting these comments.

 

[vetkaw63]

Ernsanada,
What driver does the Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite use? What is the runtime?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[martonic]

Thanks as always to Ernest for terrific photography and another fine review!

2 x 17670's fit, by using the extension tube intended for 4xCR123, but they do not have enough voltage to power it up.

My L603 came with two tailcaps and two tactical switches, both working. Waion said there is a problem with the three-mode switch and he has asked the manufacturer for a solution, but a replacement is not certain. (Note: the 3-way switch was billed as a "free extra").

The lux numbers, while not bad, do not tell the whole story of the L603. It has a large and very bright spill area, much more than you might expect from the deep conical reflectors. Outdoors at night it illuminates a large area. As is usual with LED's, the color depth is not as good as you get with an incan. However, it is still a very bright light with an appealing form factor and solid construction. :thumbsup:

 

[johnny13oi]

Do you know of the approximate lumens it's putting out? And if the silver protected Ultrafire's work in them?

Any idea what's driving the LEDs?

 

[Olaf]

Do you know of the approximate lumens it's putting out? And if the silver protected Ultrafire's work in them?

Any idea what's driving the LEDs?

here are the specs for the lights power.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Solarforce-3-Le...yZ106987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[john2551]

Ernie,

This light will be perfect to compare against the upcoming Wolf-Eyes Thunder series & the ElektroLumens FireLion.

John

 

[johnny13oi]

Since the different levels capability is in which switch is used, I am guessing that the switch is where the driver is being housed?

Any info on whether the ultrafire silver protected 16340's work in the flashlight? I have read they are generally 2mm longer and might not fit into certain flashlights. How long are the AW protected RCR123A's so I can have an idea if the ultrafire's will work.

 

[martonic]

AW protected RCR123A's are exactly 34 mm long, with a measurement error < 0.2 mm.

 

[ernsanada]

Ernsanada,
What driver does the Miller Mod's 3 X UV1J 3 Watt 2D Maglite use? What is the runtime?
Thanks,
Mike

This is what Eric (Millermods) says about the light in his thread. "It will not be a parallel Lux configuration. It will be using 3 or 4 separate drivers integrated on one driver board. This offers optimal efficiency and power distribution."

Custom Maglite Tri/Quad Luxeon up to 12 watts from 1 to 2 NIMH D cells (9-12Ah)

 

[johnny13oi]

Is there enough room for an extra 6mm in length in the battery tube to accommodate longer batteries without the extension tube?

 

[ernsanada]

Is there enough room for an extra 6mm in length in the battery tube to accommodate longer batteries without the extension tube?

This is the gap I get with 3 AW RCR123's in the battery tube. I measure 5.61mm from the battery end to the tube end.

 

[johnny13oi]

Wow thank you very much. Does the switch end allow for a little extra room? I know some do and some don't. If the spring can compress further than the sides that makes contact to the body of the flashlight then that will allow for a little extra room for the batteries also. I am just asking because 5.61 mm is really close to the 6 mm that I am trying to find. Thank you very much again for the picture and measurements.

 

[ernsanada]

Wow thank you very much. Does the switch end allow for a little extra room? I know some do and some don't. If the spring can compress further than the sides that makes contact to the body of the flashlight then that will allow for a little extra room for the batteries also. I am just asking because 5.61 mm is really close to the 6 mm that I am trying to find. Thank you very much again for the picture and measurements.

I built up the battery to reach the top of the battery tube with tin foil. I put the foil on the 2nd and 3rd battery. The light turns on with the twistie switch.