Spark SX5 with separate battery pack and multiple battery configurations

[eh4]

Thanks beast.

 

[Bolster]

Questions about the SX5:

So, regardless of which cells you use (whether 3 AAAs or four 18650s) to power, the top lumens is always 350 for the cool and 320 for the neutral? It never goes brighter with more power? Just longer runtimes?

Would it be possible to convert the separate battery pack (designed for 18650s) into a 4AA battery pack? That should still be below maximum voltage at 6V even if wired in series.

 

[B0wz3r]

Questions about the SX5:

So, regardless of which cells you use (whether 3 AAAs or four 18650s) to power, the top lumens is always 350 for the cool and 320 for the neutral? It never goes brighter with more power? Just longer runtimes?

Would it be possible to convert the separate battery pack (designed for 18650s) into a 4AA battery pack? That should still be below maximum voltage at 6V even if wired in series.

Since the only difference is run time, it probably uses a buck driver (if I'm remembering my driver circuits correctly), to be able to handle the voltage range for everything from 3xAA to 4x18650. Whether it carries voltage in series or not is a crucial assumption though, but you're much more knowledgeable about that kind of stuff than I am. I suppose one of us could fire off an email to Spark to ask, or PM Jake25 to ask.

 

[dparr]

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?

Does anybody know what kind of run times the SX5 will get with a single 18650?

Would it be somewhere between the 3AA pack and a single 26650?

I'm trying to decide what battery/batteries options would be best for my use.

I'll be using it for cave trips that go up to 12 hours. I've always been a AA guy but I'm willing to change if I get more efficient run times. My SX5 is comming in tomorrow.

 

[Bolster]

Does anybody know what kind of run times the SX5 will get with a single 18650?

Wouldn't a single 18650 yield one quarter of four 18650s, as published? If so, (for neutral):

4 x 18650 = 320lm / 11.5 hours, 170lm / 25 hours, 55lm / 86 hours, ...

So, 1x18650 = 2.9h, 6.2h, and 21.5h. So about 1/3 more than 3AAs.

What level were you thinking you'd mostly use it on, over 12 hours? Carry 1 26650 in the light and one spare, and you'd have 170 lumens for 20 hours (nice buffer zone there in case something goes awry).

Not much perceptual difference between the 320/(350 cool) and the 170/(180 cool) lumen settings, btw. It's there, but hardly worth the decrease in runtime. The 170 setting seems to be the "bang for the buck" setting IMO.

One more question: Do you really want to put a single 18650 in the tube, alone? I know spring pressure is reported by the mfg to keep it there but...if you get a good bump? Why not make a sleeve for your single 18650 so it can't move around?

And...why doesn't Spark make a smaller, slimmer battery tube that would hold one 18650?

 

[Bolster]

Since the only difference is run time, it probably uses a buck driver (if I'm remembering my driver circuits correctly), to be able to handle the voltage range for everything from 3xAA to 4x18650. Whether it carries voltage in series or not is a crucial assumption though, but you're much more knowledgeable about that kind of stuff than I am.

Not! I'm ignorant. I'm just assuming if you wire 4x1.5v eneloops in series you get 6V which is under the 6.8V printed on the light. Of course that's a lot of make-work to add one cell, it's easier just to change out, or to use a higher power cell. I've sworn off li-ions next to my brain, but now I'm thinking I might allow a single li-ion on my hip, so am contemplating this crazy 26650 option...

 

[dparr]

Wouldn't a single 18650 yield one quarter of four 18650s, as published? If so, (for neutral):

4 x 18650 = 320lm / 11.5 hours, 170lm / 25 hours, 55lm / 86 hours, ...

So, 1x18650 = 2.9h, 6.2h, and 21.5h. So about 1/3 more than 3AAs.

What level were you thinking you'd mostly use it on, over 12 hours? Carry 1 26650 in the light and one spare, and you'd have 170 lumens for 20 hours (nice buffer zone there in case something goes awry).

Not much perceptual difference between the 320/(350 cool) and the 170/(180 cool) lumen settings, btw. It's there, but hardly worth the decrease in runtime. The 170 setting seems to be the "bang for the buck" setting IMO.

One more question: Do you really want to put a single 18650 in the tube, alone? I know spring pressure is reported by the mfg to keep it there but...if you get a good bump? Why not make a sleeve for your single 18650 so it can't move around?

And...why doesn't Spark make a smaller, slimmer battery tube that would hold one 18650?

Thank you for your answer. It's just what I wanted to hear.

So, just to throw all of the figures out for one 18650 in the cool white SX5:

350lm / 2.9 Hours
180lm / 6.2 Hours
60lm / 21.5 Hours
8lm / 10 Days
.5lm / 95 Days

I will mostly run on the 180lm and 60lm settings depending on passage size.

I was also concerned about about only spring tension holding the 18650 in place.

I found and I plan on getting one of these:
http://dx.com/p/18650-to-26650-battery-converter-case-sleeve-white-94487
So I would have a 18650 tube within a 26650 tube.

I will soon be getting a couple of 18650's and a charger. Any recommendations?

Thanks again.

 

[Stanley_BA]

Did anybody who owns this headlamp try to measure the currents? I bought the SX5 NW, and I was surprised about the not very big difference in light between the 8lm and 55lm mode. And when I measured the current from fresh battery, it is 25mA and 52mA respectively. This is relation 1:2 which doesn´t correspond with the relation from the manufacturer which is cca. 1:11. Is my light defective or are the other also like this?
(my complete currents are as follows from low to super mode: 1,4mA - 25mA - 52mA - 460 mA - 921 mA)

 

[jbhubbell]

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.

As a fellow sd6 owner i wont be buying one either. The reason this is not very interesting is the lack of light and the lack of different beams. I guess as a cave light it would suffice 75% of the time, but what about when i need real power to see down a pit or some borehole a couple hundred feet? I dont need my weakest lamp bringing 4 big batteries with it.its like dating a fat girl with tiny boobs.

 

[Trevtrain]

Did anybody who owns this headlamp try to measure the currents? I bought the SX5 NW, and I was surprised about the not very big difference in light between the 8lm and 55lm mode. And when I measured the current from fresh battery, it is 25mA and 52mA respectively. This is relation 1:2 which doesn´t correspond with the relation from the manufacturer which is cca. 1:11. Is my light defective or are the other also like this?
(my complete currents are as follows from low to super mode: 1,4mA - 25mA - 52mA - 460 mA - 921 mA)

I received mine yesterday. (NW emitter)
Tailcap current readings as follows:
(New) Sanyo 2600 unprotected cell @ 4.20V - 1.6mA, 16.5mA, 92mA, 398mA, 740mA
12 month old protected panasonic @ 4.02V - 1.6mA, 17.8mA, 86mA, 550mA, 895mA

Added
On 3*AA Eneloops @ about 1.38V each - 1.6mA, 17.4mA, 89mA, 547mA, 784mA

 

[Trevtrain]

Critics of the low output

I think some of the people criticizing the relatively low output (for an XM-L) may do to keep in mind what Spark have managed to offer here.

At the risk of sounding like a proper Spark fanboi (not true, this is my first purchase of their product) perhaps you could consider that they seem to have been trying for a light that will take almost any kind of battery you want to put in it whilst still offering usable output and worthwhile runtime.

I thinks someone described it as the "swiss army knife of battery options" but I'm too lazy to go dig up the exact quote at the moment.

This light will run on 3*AAA, 3*AA, 1*18650, 1*26650 or even 4*18650 if you spring for the optional battery holder. In fact I'm not sure you couldn't get it to run on beans with a few tweaks! The "fat girl" referenced above gives you something like an 11 hour runtime on Max or 25 hours on High. If long hiking, canoeing, caving, cycling, camping, etc trips are your flavour then how is this not a good thing? :shrug:

More impressive is that there is NO apparent drop in output performance with the AAA cells (except perhaps if you were silly enough to use Alkalines instead of NiMH). This is in stark contrast to a lot of lights that are simply workable on NiMH but only really get up to speed on Li-Ions. :thumbsup:

So with a tailcap draw approaching 1A, that is already more than 1C for AAA cells and about 0.5C for Eneloop AAs. Buy not making this a 1000 lumen powerhouse they avoid the inevitable complaints about what a miserable runtime the light has on high with "regular" batteries, etc.

What could they realistically do for those who want more, other than to offer another model with higher output which runs on 18650 or larger only. Wait a minute - DOH, didn't they actually do this as the ST6 and SD6?

I think if you are not satisfied with the output, then buy/keep using the more powerful models and be happy.

If you want to peer several hundred feet down a borehole, I really question whether the headlamp form-factor is the appropriate tool anyway. Couldn't you just carry a dedicated hand-held thrower with wrist lanyard and do the job properly?

Anyway, I looked about at quite a few models before settling on this one and so far I'm happy with what it is. I have brighter hand-held lights but this one is intended to supplement them, not replace them.

 

[uk_caver]

Re: Critics of the low output

If someone really wants to look down deep shafts or up high avens, then a small light using an XML in an OP reflector would seem a fairly interesting choice.

Even using a rather larger diameter smooth reflector, I'm personally not entirely decided between XP-G(2) and XP-E(2) as my preferred emitter for a caving light spot beam - the former gives a nicer beam for lighting the near-to-middle distance, the latter for real distance work.

 

[B0wz3r]

As a fellow sd6 owner i wont be buying one either. The reason this is not very interesting is the lack of light and the lack of different beams. I guess as a cave light it would suffice 75% of the time, but what about when i need real power to see down a pit or some borehole a couple hundred feet? I dont need my weakest lamp bringing 4 big batteries with it.its like dating a fat girl with tiny boobs.

4x18650 won't give you enough run-time for caving?

 

[cxax]

Sorry for digging out such an ancient thread.

Does any of you have/use the AC adaptor for 18650 battery pack? The battery pack can be used with 1 to 4 18650 batteries to run the lamp but how about the charging? The AC adaptor is 2A, does it mean it gives 2A to single 18650 and 0.5A to four 18650?

 

[Father Azmodius]

I have the pack, but not the adapter. I just pull them and charge outside of the holder.

 

[Trevtrain]

All cells are parallel so any current applied will be split across whatever number of cells you have in the carrier. So you are correct, it would be 2A to a single cell and 0.5A to four.

I don't have the "AC adaptor pack" and nor can I find much information about it. Is it a proper "charger" with 4.20V termination?

I either remove the cells and charge them individually or hook a Cottonpickers charger with alligator clips to the carrier. As the maximum current on my CP charger is only 700mA, this method is very slow and really best suited to solar charging when regular AC is not available.

 

[cxax]

All cells are parallel so any current applied will be split across whatever number of cells you have in the carrier. So you are correct, it would be 2A to a single cell and 0.5A to four.

I have just received the same reply from Spark.

I don't have the "AC adaptor pack" and nor can I find much information about it. Is it a proper "charger" with 4.20V termination?

This is genuine Spark adaptor, well at least the cable , as it is labelled as: HXY-042V2000A. Although it is a wall charger with dedicated cable, not a cradle type charger. There is a dicrepancy in information about this charger, one says it's ok and one it's not. Well I will give it a try. Hopefully the external battery pack will not turn into a pipe bomb

 

[cxax]

After a sleepless night I can finally add few words to this discussion.

The charger is rated 2A thus I decided to start with two 18650 to obtain approximately 1A charging current. I used the dedicated charger, 4x18650 battery pack and two (brand new) Keeppower 3400mAh batteries. I started to charge about 10pm and the green light appeared about 5am (next time I will use a stopwatch), which was a little bit longer than I expected. I measured the voltage and it was 4.12V on both batteries. Thus my multimeter is not accurate enough (unlikely) or the charger terminates at 4.12V. It seems it is safe. Next time I will try to do more accurate measurements.