Streamlight SL20L run times

[michiganstud]

Hi all. Streamlight launched a newer update to the original LED SL20L. It boasts 100 more lumens and a 3.25 hour run time.

My question is about batteries. Which battery will run longer, the original 2200 mah NI-Mh battery or a 1800 mah Ni-CD battery?

I really don't like the Ni-Mh batteries.

The second part of my question, my old Ni-CD battery will fit if I take the sleeve out. Will I ruin the light if I try it???

 

[rwolfenstein]

Hi all. Streamlight launched a newer update to the original LED SL20L. It boasts 100 more lumens and a 3.25 hour run time.

My question is about batteries. Which battery will run longer, the original 2200 mah NI-Mh battery or a 1800 mah Ni-CD battery?

I really don't like the Ni-Mh batteries.

The second part of my question, my old Ni-CD battery will fit if I take the sleeve out. Will I ruin the light if I try it???

Streamlight does make lithium ion batteries for most of their lights. My work stinger is a lithium ion stinger DS.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I'm pretty sure the NiMH battery would last longer with that difference. When you say "old Ni-CD battery will fit if I take the sleeve out" do you mean the sub-D batteries like the old SL-20X uses? The SL-20L uses a front-terminal battery only, the same one the Ultrastinger does. The old battery won't even connect. At one point they made it in both NiMH and Ni-Cd, but I think it's only NiMH now. As far as I know Streamlight only makes Lion batteries for the short Stingers, not the Ultrastinger or SL-20L.

 

[michiganstud]

I'm pretty sure the NiMH battery would last longer with that difference. When you say "old Ni-CD battery will fit if I take the sleeve out" do you mean the sub-D batteries like the old SL-20X uses? The SL-20L uses a front-terminal battery only, the same one the Ultrastinger does. The old battery won't even connect. At one point they made it in both NiMH and Ni-Cd, but I think it's only NiMH now. As far as I know Streamlight only makes Lion batteries for the short Stingers, not the Ultrastinger or SL-20L.

You're totally right. I didn't even think about the connections. Amazon does have a Ni-Cd battery specifically made for the SL20L. Connections correct and all.

 

[ABTOMAT]

The older narrow batteries were Ni-Cd, probably made for the Ultrastinger but it fits both. I basically like the SL-20L, although it's definitely designed for backwards compatibility rather than pure performance. Wish the new Ultrastinger had kept the knurled body instead of that rubber sleeve.

If you're shopping batteries just be careful you don't get one for the original SL-20XP it's another one of those narrow batteries but the terminals are different.

 

[michiganstud]

The older narrow batteries were Ni-Cd, probably made for the Ultrastinger but it fits both. I basically like the SL-20L, although it's definitely designed for backwards compatibility rather than pure performance. Wish the new Ultrastinger had kept the knurled body instead of that rubber sleeve.

If you're shopping batteries just be careful you don't get one for the original SL-20XP it's another one of those narrow batteries but the terminals are different.

Agreed on the ultrastinger!! That rubber sleeve is awful.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Agreed on the ultrastinger!! That rubber sleeve is awful.

Glad I'm not the only person who thinks so. With that sleeve and the TIR optic the new one is a lot chunkier and heavier than the original. Plus the beam is like a laser. Give me the old body and the SL-20L's reflector in an Ultrastinger.

 

[rwolfenstein]

Agreed on the ultrastinger!! That rubber sleeve is awful.

When I used to wear a sam brown my sl20xp and the stinger led would get stuck in their holders due to those rubber sleeves.

 

[M@elstrom]

I really don't like the Ni-Mh batteries.

Why is that?

 

[michiganstud]

Why is that?

If I leave the SL20L off the charger its dead in less than a month, and that's with no use. I leave it in my patrol bag and it dies. The self discharge is awful.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Is it definitely self-discharge? I think the power circuits of newer Streamlights have an always-on component. The buttons themselves are just momentary, not actually on/off.

 

[michiganstud]

Is it definitely self-discharge? I think the power circuits of newer Streamlights have an always-on component. The buttons themselves are just momentary, not actually on/off.

I really don't know? Is there another issue ya think?

 

[rwolfenstein]

I really don't know? Is there another issue ya think?

I am surprised that your work car doesnt have a charger in it. I used to leave my stinger charging in the charger which is wired into the console. Those new smart chargers prevent it from overcharging the battery.

 

[ABTOMAT]

I really don't know? Is there another issue ya think?

If, and I'm not 100% sure, it uses a "soft power" arrangement then part of the circuit will always be drawing a tiny amount of power. Or it could be defective, dunno. I don't have a good battery for my SL-20L right now, but I have NiMH batteries in other things and I don't have to charge them regularly at all.

 

[rwolfenstein]

I think the only light I ever owned that had a parasitic drain to it was a foursevens quark smart, it had this annoying flashlight green light on it. I eventually put olight RCR123s in it cause it would drain just by it sitting on the counter. Needless to say, I let it go.

 

[letschat7]

I wish the runtime on my SL20 was better.

 

[michiganstud]

I wish the runtime on my SL20 was better.

The runtime on the newer 450 lumen model IS longer. 3.25 hours as opposed to the 1.5 hour on the prior model.

 

[letschat7]

Great. How comes I can get a trillion hours on a P17 with alkalines but the SL20 only steps down and shuts off?

 

[michiganstud]

I am surprised that your work car doesnt have a charger in it. I used to leave my stinger charging in the charger which is wired into the console. Those new smart chargers prevent it from overcharging the battery.

We are on our own to choose what light we want to use and of course everyone has a different light they think is better. So to have everyone's charger in our trucks would be way too much. I use a different truck on certain days so even leaving my charger plugged in to the outlet wouldn't be good either.

 

[rwolfenstein]

We are on our own to choose what light we want to use and of course everyone has a different light they think is better. So to have everyone's charger in our trucks would be way too much. I use a different truck on certain days so even leaving my charger plugged in to the outlet wouldn't be good either.

Interesting, up here each car is not a take home car, they stay on post. Each car is equipped with a charger with a light in each car. Like for instance the explorer has a pelican 8060 and the charger as a sl20xp. Granted the dayshift dollies don't ever use them and the batteries go bad very fast. I just keep a charger at my desk for my issued stinger DS so I can keep it charged.