Spark SX5 with separate battery pack and multiple battery configurations

[Esko]

I went to Spark home page and noticed, that there was a new headlamp in selection. Spark SX5. It has a separate battery pack with the ability to use 26650, 3*AA or 3*AAA, and 1-4x18650 or 2-8xCR123 with an optional battery pack.

Super:350lm
Max: 180lm
Med2: 60lm
Med1:8lm
Low:0.5lm

without battery:90g
with battery and headband:140g

Runtime up to 11,5h on Super (with 4x18650). Up to 380 days on low!

User manual

Looks like a nice and versatile headlamp. It seems to be that currently there is no information anywhere except at the home page, neither can I see any official announcements yet. The beam profile is not mentioned either. I believe there will be more information soon.

See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

 

[Bolster]

I like it already. Even if I don't buy one I like it. What an excellent work light this could be for anyone who doesn't have to lie down flat. The rear-mount pack disqualifies it for my use, as I must often lie on my back and work over my head...this would create quite the uncomfortable lump. If you could move the location of the battery pack to the side or to the top of the helmet, that would be awesome.

Been very happy with my SD52, it's my go-to light for crawlspace spelunking. But 3xAA FTW! Would give 170 lm of neutral light for 4+ hours, or 55 lm for 14+ hrs, sweet. An entire long day's work and no cell changes, would be nice. I'd need it floody of course.

Based on my SD52 experience, I'd expect the actual lm to appear less than published, but with 170 lm you could afford to give up a few.

 

[jake25]

The 18650 battery carrier/pack can be recharged as well. We should have these next week . The 18650 battery pack has a 2m long cord for attachment to belt or etc

 

[Bolster]

[OT Jake 25 but if you ever get to ask Xyber whatever happened to the SD5...?]

 

[jake25]

I guess it was just a thought and it was scratched

 

[rojos]

Is the lens swappable or is frosted not an option?

 

[Esko]

-> Jake

So, the manual pictures a tubular 1-4x18650/2-8xCR123 carrier but the photos show a rechargeable 4x18650 soft bag. Web page talks about 80cm cable, but you say it is 2 meters. Are these two different battery carriers/packs which are both available or have the specs just changed? I also think that the standard rear mount battery pack should have had a sleeve for 1x18650 (and 2xCR123) configurations, too

 

[jake25]

Lens I'm uncertain about. The standard pack is the 3 AA, AAA and 1 26650 pack. The 18650/CR123 pack is extra. From what I understand in my talks with Spark the cable that comes with the 18650 pack is much longer than 8cm, long enough to extend to a belt, maybe not 2m. What I was uncertain about due to lost in translation, was if we could use the standard pack on our belt or not. 1x18650/2xCR123 sleeve isn't out of the question so I will ask him about that.

 

[Esko]

I am surprised due to the small amount of responses. This is the very first Spark/ZL style headlamp with a separate battery pack. It is also the most versatile one by a big margin. I remember that in the past when Xyber still was an active member in MarketPlace, some people were requesting these kind of headlamps. Perhaps the lack of communication has had an impact on the interest, too.

Now to the sleeve. Without it, the standard headlamp is only usable with AA, AAA and 26650. If I bought the light, I would make the sleeve myself and use the light with 18650. After all, it is the most powerful commonly used battery option. Personally, I hate long/loose cables and would use the optional package only if I needed the extended high power runtime of 4x18650 battery pack (or possibly if I used the light in very cold environment). So, in my opinion, the sleeve would be a very useful accessory.

On the other hand, I believe I won't be buying this light either. At least not in near future. It looks very nice, but I already have ST6 and SD6 (+optional reflector) and two 1xAA Zebralights. And only one head. My next headlamp is probably a more traditional model with a sturdier headband for more stability, or possibly a self-made headlamp with a non-circular beam or with electric zoom. None of those in near future either.

 

[jake25]

Esko. 18650 can be used without a sleeve due to spring tension according to Xyber. Standard battery pack and 18650 battery pack can be used behind the head or on the belt. Lens is removable like ST6. Cable is 80cm like on the website. Anything I missed?

 

[Bolster]

I am surprised due to the small amount of responses...

I was noticing the same. Looks to be an enthusiast-grade headlamp that does high-demand, long-run, cave lamp style duty. What might be holding people back? The cable probably has an impact. I wonder how many people think, "what I have now is good enough, and no cable." I do have questions about the future of battery-pack-in-back style headlamps, when 200 lumens for nearly and hour from a single AA becomes normative. Maybe battery-back lamps will become more niche products, or work-related products.

If Spark wants to sell a gazillion headlamps, they need to design compact 1AA and 1AAA headlamps, sit back, and let the cash roll in. That's where the market seems to be.

But...I gotta say, I like this concept. If I can move that battery pack elsewhere from the back, then...possibilities. For me it would be AAs...no interest in multiple 18650s near my head or elsewhere on body.

Need to know beam style (if it's a spot/spill, then no sale) and price, of course.

 

[jake25]

I was noticing the same. Looks to be an enthusiast-grade headlamp that does high-demand, long-run, cave lamp style duty. What might be holding people back? The cable probably has an impact. I wonder how many people think, "what I have now is good enough, and no cable." I do have questions about the future of battery-pack-in-back style headlamps, when 200 lumens for nearly and hour from a single AA becomes normative. Maybe battery-back lamps will become more niche products, or work-related products.

If Spark wants to sell a gazillion headlamps, they need to design compact 1AA and 1AAA headlamps, sit back, and let the cash roll in. That's where the market seems to be.

But...I gotta say, I like this concept. If I can move that battery pack elsewhere from the back, then...possibilities.

Need to know beam style (if it's a spot/spill, then no sale) and price, of course.

Like this?

 

[Bolster]

One more comment. The cable needs to run inside a channel of the headband. Basically you need a long "pocket," or a velcro cover, or whatnot, to cover up that cable. As is that thing would be snagging on everything when I do crawlspace work.

 

[jake25]

One more comment. The cable needs to run inside a channel of the headband. Basically you need a long "pocket," or a velcro cover, or whatnot, to cover up that cable. As is that thing would be snagging on everything when I do crawlspace work.

Bolster that is the exact same idea I gave to Spark but they didn't act upon it.

 

[Bolster]

Like this?

...but compact.

 

[Bolster]

Bolster that is the exact same idea I gave to Spark but they didn't act upon it.

Not surprised! Headlamp manufacturers are into designing the light, I'm sure, not the headband. The headband probably gets secondary attention.

 

[Mooreshire]

I'm hoping to hear that it has a user-serviceable cable. For me these days, if breaking the cord ends the life of the light then I won't bite. The same would apply to any light where the cable goes through the elastic (which is indeed a fine idea) - that elastic still needs to be easy to replace when it wears out before the light does.

I prefer rapid switching from flood to spot, and removing and pocketing a reflector or a diffuser doesn't meet that criteria for me. I think that a 4x18650 arrangement should have been the main design, not some optional add-on. This light wishes it was a half-priced Kavelight or Stenlight, but it isn't. It's surely better than an H7, but only because it doesn't have a hinge or a plastic head.

It will have to cost less than $150 with the extra accessories before I would consider it a contender.

That is the problem with trying to make an enthusiast-grade headlamp though... we enthusiasts have impossible and quite personal combinations of requirements and we already own lots of lights. :naughty:

 

[Esko]

Standard battery pack and 18650 battery pack can be used behind the head or on the belt.

Ok. Once I saw the tubular pack in manual, I thought about that. But 4x18650 is quite a lot bigger than 1x26650 and I thought that it wouldn't fit the holder. Well, silicone is flexible... Not sure how many people would like to have a 4x18650 pack in their head though.

It is good to know that 18650 can be used in standard pack without a sleeve. However, if it is something that Spark is not ready to advertise in official specs, it doesn't sound like a very good solution anyway.

The cable needs to run inside a channel of the headband. Basically you need a long "pocket," or a velcro cover, or whatnot, to cover up that cable.

+1 for covered wiring. Not a must for me, but certainly an attraction. However, even though the cables are not covered, they should be well attached to the headband. IMHO the "hooks" seen in the pictures don't look good. Might be ok with the standard pack, but I don't think they work well with the extension cable. If I saw those before, I would have suggested to check (for example) Petzl Myo RXP as a good example of how to do it.

See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

Not surprised! Headlamp manufacturers are into designing the light, I'm sure, not the headband. The headband probably gets secondary attention.

This seems to be unfortunately true. And this is the main reason why I wrote that my next headlamp will most likely be something else than Spark or ZL. I am especially disappointed with ZL headbands. They are too flimsy and the material is low quality. It seems to stretch easily. ZL lovers would probably say that extra headbands are cheap, but I don't want to be buying extras, I want it to be done well. Spark headbands are better but not good either. I find myself keeping them looser than I'd like to, in order to prevent stretching.

I have no experience in high quality headlamps like Lupine or Scurion, but after using Spark and ZL, if I were a headlamp manufacturer I would be paying special attention to headbands. It seems to be clearly a weak spot. Another thing is that this is the first Spark/ZL headlamp that has clearly been designed to be a headlamp. The previous ones (especially Zebralights) are a lot like flashlights that have been attached to simple and cheap headbands. The only difference is that the led and the side button have switched their place.

 

[f22shift]

What's that on the right? Is it a 3 aaa or 1aa. If 1aa it needs to go on a diet.

Like this?

 

[dealgrabber2002]

Waiting for Spark to make an 1AA, 90 degree flood, add-on adapter with reflector to give it some throw, XP-G2, with current magnetic add-on to the tail and a clip. BINGO!