The Official Zebralight Thread .

[ScottsoSmith]

Double tap

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Telltale mark of hard users

“Clip-torn pockets is just part of EDC life”

Hard headed maybe?

 

[KITROBASKIN]

What happens if a 4.V plus battery is inserted but forgot to discharge the capacitor?

 

[Lips]

What happens if a 4.V plus battery is inserted but forgot to discharge the capacitor?

If you go from an Eneloop to Lith-Ion nothing happens and light works as normal.


If you go from a Lith-Ion to Eneloop without pushing the button first the light thinks a Lithium ion is still in there (because capacitor is still charged) and the voltage has dropped to 1.4v or whatever. The light comes on at high, drops to medium, drops to low and then off. No biggy!

.

 

[chillinn]

SC5 eneloop lights can also use Lith-Ion with about a 15% boost in H1

According to the test you linked, Liion is exactly 12.43% brighter than Eneloop for SC5. That'd be 618.37Lm with SC5w II on H1 (550Lm on Eneloop) and 534.05Lm with SC5c II and the LE version in H1 (475Lm on Eneloop).

Not for nothing, few can reliably detect an 8% difference in brightness when comparing side by side, and that is about the threshold. But most would need about a 20% difference in brightness to be able to notice the difference, again, side by side. There is no hope of noticing a difference of 12.5% brightness between two lights if not compared side by side. To be quite clear, if you had two identical SC5w II, one with an Eneloop loaded, one with Liion, and mixed them up, then turned on one and turned it off, then turned on the other, there is no chance a human could tell the difference, and it would be even more difficult with SC5c II and LE.

Thanks for posting, Lips!

 

[Lips]

According to the test you linked, Liion is exactly 12.43% brighter than Eneloop for SC5. That'd be 618.37Lm with SC5w II on H1 (550Lm on Eneloop) and 534.05Lm with SC5c II and the LE version in H1 (475Lm on Eneloop).

Not for nothing, few can reliably detect an 8% difference in brightness when comparing side by side, and that is about the threshold. But most would need about a 20% difference in brightness to be able to notice the difference, again, side by side. There is no hope of noticing a difference of 12.5% brightness between two lights if not compared side by side. To be quite clear, if you had two identical SC5w II, one with an Eneloop loaded, one with Liion, and mixed them up, then turned on one and turned it off, then turned on the other, there is no chance a human could tell the difference, and it would be even more difficult with SC5c II and LE.

Thanks for posting, Lips!

I never bought the SC5 II or even seen one in person. I think I'll buy one second hand now just to play with or maybe Zebra will update it at some point...

Decent thread on 4 Inductor SC5 vs 1 Inductor SC53 models for Eneloops

.

 

[defloyd77]

It was new to me as of 3 days ago. I get flashes in my peripheral vision from time to time. So late at night while on my laptop, I started getting flashes and thought it was by vision problem acting up. But the flash was repeating at regular intervals and more than I'd ever previously experienced. Finally I turned in the direction of the flash still thinking it was all in my eye. Then I was blinded by the light. Turns out it was my H502 on low battery. The first time that's happened. Ever. The Eneloop had been in the 502 for years!

My SC51W used to do this all the time before I got into the habit of regularly charging my batteries instead of letting them get to the point they needed charging. So this "feature" has been around for quite a while.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Got my new SC53c N, and it's a beauty! An SC53 is still the best possible thing that can happen to an AA battery.
(Or a AAA, as someone pointed out recently. One thing I prefer about the 53 series over the SC5 lights is that they take a AAA without any need for a spacer or tinfoil, because the spring is long enough to accommodate.)
This is only the second SC53 that I have owned, and my first I gave to a brother some years ago. So I'm glad to have one again.
I ran a few very rough tests, comparing it to an older-vintage H53w (back when the entire battery tube was corrugated, not just the tail end). Using ceiling-bounce and a cell phone lux meter, the readings are comparable for low and medium, and a bit lower on the high settings. Maybe 80% lower on H1 with an Eneloop?
Using Li-ion on each I got an H1 read of 85 for the H53w, and a read of 75 for the new SC53c. The units don't matter, but the ratio tells you something: the H53w is putting out about 500 lumens on a Li-ion, so the SC53c N is putting out about 450.
One odd thing -- the new light seems to have a very slow beacon. With a fresh Eneloop in it, tailcap tight and light off, it gives a flash roughly every 1 minute and 20 seconds. The battery is not low: four clicks on the light and it gives me four flashes for a full cell. So it does not think it has a low battery. But it was definitely giving me a beacon. Odder than that, when I tried to time it to see what the cycle was, the interval seemed to be creeping down, like 1:23, then 1:21, then 1:20, then 1:15. But I got bored after 5 minutes. For me this will not matter, because I always loosen the tailcap when I turn it off. For someone else it might?
Anyhow, I'm very pleased, and will put this into rotation for when the SC64 feels bulky.

 

[Lips]

One odd thing -- the new light seems to have a very slow beacon. With a fresh Eneloop in it, tailcap tight and light off, it gives a flash roughly every 1 minute and 20 seconds.

Your light is flashing low battery level on a full Eneloop while off?

 

[chillinn]

Maybe 80% lower on H1 with an Eneloop?

SC53c N has no mode brightness listed on the product page. But assuming the difference in brightness between H1 on SC5w II and SC5c II is the same as between the SC53c N and the SC53w, then SC53c N on Eneloop would be about 285Lm at H1 (which is the same as H1 on the previous SC53c on Eneloop). If SC53c N is 80% brighter on Liion, then that is 558Lm.

 

[SYZYGY]

A clip is also a benefit for being able to more efficiently index the location of the switch, though the excellent Zebralight side switch design is leagues above most other side switch flashlights.

good point...

The original clip ate my pockets, which I suppose meant that it was too tight. Maybe the thinner clip solves this by loosening the pocket grip.

i wonder if your pants pocket material is even thicker than mine. i wonder what would explain the difference in pocket wear.

I thought the original clip was too thin as it was.

functionally both the old one and new one seem fine to me, but i agree. both of them look and feel cheap. would probably be better with a clip thicker than the orig.

 

[lampeDépêche]

Your light is flashing low battery level on a full Eneloop while off?

That's one way to describe it. Full Eneloop, tight tailcap, light off, and a flash at roughly every 80 seconds.
But 80 seconds is not 10-20 seconds, which is the low battery flash.
So that's a reason not to describe it as "flashing low battery level on a full Eneloop." This flash may be a whole different flash.

 

[lampeDépêche]

SC53c N has no mode brightness listed on the product page. But assuming the difference in brightness between H1 on SC5w II and SC5c II is the same as between the SC53c N and the SC53w, then SC53c N on Eneloop would be about 285Lm at H1 (which is the same as H1 on the previous SC53c on Eneloop). If SC53c N is 80% brighter on Liion, then that is 558Lm.

I'm sorry -- I think I presented my findings in a confusing way. Let me try again.
I was comparing the new SC53c to an older H53w, both using fresh Eneloops. And it seemed to me that the figures for the L and M levels were roughly the same on both models. But on H1, it seemed like the SC53c was about 80% of the brightness of the H53w. So, if the old H53w was around 300 lumens on H1, then the new SC53c would be around 240.
I did not intend to say that the new SC53c on Li-ion is 80% brighter than something else. The new SVC53c H1 on Li-ion is certainly brighter than the new SC53c H1 on Eneloops, and there I'd estimate is roughly double, so somewhere in the mid 400s. I presented no grounds for calculating a figure of 558 Lumens, and that would not be consistent with how it looked.
But all of my measurements and estimates were extremely crude. All I can say with confidence is: the new SC53c is a bit dimmer than an old H53w, but the difference is not great.

 

[chillinn]

i wonder if your pants pocket material is even thicker than mine. i wonder what would explain the difference in pocket wear.

Clipping and unclipping many times a day?

And it seemed to me that the figures for the L and M levels were roughly the same on both models.

That would stand to reason and is expected because Zebralight modes are regulated.

But on H1, it seemed like the SC53c was about 80% of the brightness of the H53w. So, if the old H53w was around 300 lumens on H1, then the new SC53c would be around 240.

I apologize for misinterpreting. Let me try again.

Maybe 80% lower on H1 with an Eneloop? Using Li-ion on each I got an H1 read of 85 for the H53w, and a read of 75 for the new SC53c. The units don't matter, but the ratio tells you something: the H53w is putting out about 500 lumens on a Li-ion, so the SC53c N is putting out about 450.

Ok, I see, you're estimating what SC53c LE brightness on Eneloop is using H53c. SC53c LE is very likely to be 285Lm in H1 for reasons I explained above. H53w is 330Lm in H1, which means that in H1, SC53c LE is 86% of the brghtness of SC53c LE on Eneloop, fwiw. And since 75/85 is 88.2%, then if H53w is 500Lm on Liion and the ratio applies, then SC53c LE is 441.18Lm on Liion.

But where did you get a figure of 500Lm for H53w on Liion?That seems to be just a random assertion in your comment. Is it a guess? Is it a more accurate estimation? Is it something you remember from someone's test?

Making a lot of assumptions, but if they are accurate it all leads to what I suspected, which is that Liion only makes sense in SC53c LE to make that light noticeably, and considerably, brighter than it is on Eneloop, yet still not as bright as even the 475Lm SC53c II on Eneloop in H1. And any of the SC5x II or LE lights on Liion, while slightly but not noticeably brighter than they are on Eneloop, most would not be able to distinguish the difference in brightness than with Eneloop.

IMO, the way to go here with Zebralight AA is to just use an SC5x II or LE model on Eneloop Pro and call it a day. The excitement surrounding SC53c LE on Liion for a marginal increase in brightness and below the top brightness of SC5x II and LE on Eneloop seems unwarranted. Though some may prefer the slightly smaller SC53 LE host, it then becomes a trade off of slightly smaller but slightly dimmer on Liion compared to slightly bigger and slightly brighter on Eneloop. And since there is no noticeable increase in brightness using Liion with SC5x and LE, it serves little point to use Liion in those lights, as well as unnecessarily introducing risk for an undetectable benefit.

I was really expecting SC53c LE on Liion to be noticeably brighter than SC5w II on Eneloop, maybe 650Lm. I was way, way off, if lampeDépêche's measurements are correct.

 

[this_is_nascar]

The original clip ate my pockets, which I suppose meant that it was too tight. Maybe the thinner clip solves this by loosening the pocket grip.

I could be mistaken, but seems like there is a strong loyalty bias here, such that if I like x, if I think x is good, then everything about x is good; I take some offense if there is any criticism of some part of x, and I am compelled to defend it. Across the forums there is often the complement of loyalty bias, such that if there is some minor detail about x that I don't like, then x is entirely bad. Both positions are, of course, ridiculous.

Nothing is perfect, not even Zebralight: the tint lottery, a driver that is not constant current, even new product that is often on backorder, and discontinuing popular models without notice. But what is desirable about Zebralight is also unique to Zebralight, so we can overlook and live with flaws, and sometimes make adjustments to mitigate them. But insisting the flaws do not exist or that they are ideal for our purposes just comes off as complete nuttiness, you know, beyond the ordinary nuttiness of being obsessed with flashlights.

Not having seen or used the new clip, I can not say for certain, but I thought the original clip was too thin as it was. Metal is hard, skin is soft, and thin metal can become a blade, and even a dull blade can slice skin with enough force. Zebralight only increases its quality and utility by allowing clips to be removed and replaced, which I appreciate because I prefer a thicker clip and one that is deep carry

I've been on various messages boards and groups since the beginning of BBS's. I actually ran a small board for a period of time. They're has been brand loyalty since the beginning of time, with every type of product. Those that love something will not only defend the product with their last ounce of blood, but they will chastise you for offering destructive criticism or suggestions for improvement.

 

[RegularGuy81]

Is there a preferred 14500 cell for older ZL’s? I was researching a SC50w+ that i have and noticed its almost 200Lms with a 14500 (officially supported) Made me curious to try it out.

 

[defloyd77]

Got my shipping notice today, I ordered mine on the 12th.

 

[chillinn]

I was researching a SC50w+ that i have and noticed its almost 200Lms with a 14500 (officially supported)

SC50+ is 193Lm on Liion, about a 36% increase in brightness from 122Lm with Eneloop, so it should be noticeable, but won't knock your cap off.

 

[Lips]

That's one way to describe it. Full Eneloop, tight tailcap, light off, and a flash at roughly every 80 seconds.
But 80 seconds is not 10-20 seconds, which is the low battery flash.
So that's a reason not to describe it as "flashing low battery level on a full Eneloop." This flash may be a whole different flash.

Not good!
You could try the factory reset for the group your in, may fix it...
Three consecutive 5-click (or 6-click, 7-click) to reset the G5 (or G6, G7) back to the factory default settings.

Is there a preferred 14500 cell for older ZL’s? I was researching a SC50w+ that i have and noticed its almost 200Lms with a 14500 (officially supported) Made me curious to try it out.

I don't have that one but if the insides are like the SC30, bumper and spring, you should be able to use a vapcell F12 (new on the market) for 1250 mah capacity...
H10 button top for the SC53c N
Illumn.com 14500 Batteries

 

[lampeDépêche]

But where did you get a figure of 500Lm for H53w on Liion?That seems to be just a random assertion in your comment. Is it a guess? Is it a more accurate estimation? Is it something you remember from someone's test?

My mistake -- my old fully-corrugated model is an H52w, not an H53 model. That's the model that I used as a comparison for the new SC53c N.
If you look on the Zebralight Product Comparison Google spreadsheet

[I put a link in for it, but then it appeared on this page, which seems like a waste of hosting space -- everyone reading this thread knows where to find it on the ZL.com site.]

You'll see that it lists "max 500 Lm (1 minute) with 14500".
So, yes, an assertion. But not an entirely random assertion.