The Official Zebralight Thread

[R.VanWinkle]

Jon, id, DC38, thanks for the info!

And thanks to all the folks on this thread making it such a great resource. I bought the H53Fc N almost five years ago after reading the positive comments here. Before buying I remember reading the specs showed max of 2.0 volts and was a little bummed I hadn’t gotten in the game sooner for an earlier version that could use 14500s. Well just the other day I was scrolling around here looking for something to read and lo and behold learned I can use LiIons! Eneloops have been great for 99% of uses but every now and then turbo would sure be handy.

I ordered two of the Lumintops ($24 with shipping at present) and hope they’ll make it through any tariff mayhem OK!

 

[jon_slider]

I ordered two of the Lumintops ($24 with shipping at present) and hope they'll make it through any tariff mayhem OK!

Congrats, I hope they work well for you

fwiw, I noticed recently, that my 2023 SC53c N does not give accurate battery readings.

Using the Zebra battery check (4 Clics from off), I just tested the USB 14500 I have been using in the light, . It only gives 1 flash.

I took the battery out and tested it on my DMM and it measured 3.92V..

iow the Zebra battery check is unreliable, it reads lower than the actual battery voltage..

Reminder, there is no LVP when using LiIon in an AA Zebra ...
The USB 14500 has LVP, just in case I forget to check battery voltage periodically.

 

[R.VanWinkle]

I use unprotected cells in all of my larger lights, so I’m glad you recommend protected given my use case for the headlamp. I seldom use it, but when I do it is often for a lengthy task, and generally run it till it dims, then grab another Eneloop when I come in to get a tool or take a break. Could easily see damaging a LiIion if I forget that is what’s in it. Or if my wife takes it to tend to her rose garden. (That’s what I got it for originally; never knew how useful it would be.)

 

[jon_slider]

I use unprotected cells in all of my larger lights, so I'm glad you recommend protected given my use case for the headlamp.

thanks for discussing battery options, Im recently on a deep dive down that rabbit hole, here is some of my recent learning

AA/14500 Zebras:
all batteries w USB ports are Protected Button Tops

14500 Button Top batteries w USB ports are the same length as Unprotected Button Tops

Only Button Tops fit in an AA/14500 Zebra

Flat Top 14500 are always Unprotected and do not work in a Zebra

AA Zebras dont have LVP for LiIon, so Protected Button Tops are safest, and USB makes them very convenient.

The Lumintop 14500 w USB-C Protected Button Tops have been working well for me in my Zebras (also in my D3AA and TS10).

AA Zebras battery check is unreliable w LiIon, they can read 1 blink when actually over 50% full.

18650 Zebras:
18650 batteries w USB ports are 70mm long, and they are always Protected Button Tops, that are 5mm Longer than Unprotected Flat Tops and do not fit in a Zebra

18650 Zebras Do have LVP and Only Unprotected Flat Tops will fit. They are 65mm long.

18650 65mm Flat Top batteries with Cold Weather ratings include the Molicel P30B

 

[DE73]

The fourth replacement lamp seems to work. I have checked it for the two previous bugs, hopefully I don’t find any new ones.

 

[jon_slider]

The fourth replacement lamp seems to work.

thank you for your persistence, very glad you got a working light in the end

so.. if you dont mind confirming some details..
is it correct that you paid postage 3 separate times, to return the defective lights to China?
how much did that cost in total?

 

[DE73]

thank you for your persistence, very glad you got a working light in the end

so.. if you dont mind confirming some details..
is it correct that you paid postage 3 separate times, to return the defective lights to China?
how much did that cost in total?

I only returned one light, the second blinking one. The postage was 12,5 USD. So I also have two defective lights, for me they are scrap and I will never use them.

 

[dc38]

I only returned one light, the second blinking one. The postage was 12,5 USD. So I also have two defective lights, for me they are scrap and I will never use them.

Send me one? XD

 

[DE73]

thank you for your persistence, very glad you got a working light in the end

so.. if you dont mind confirming some details..
is it correct that you paid postage 3 separate times, to return the defective lights to China?
how much did that cost in total?

I was playing with programming G6 and now the fourth lamp starting to behave similar to the third. If I leave it off for some minutes it's not possible to turn it on. Only way is to losen and then tighten the tailcap and then it's working again. Reset to factory settings did not help. :-(

 

[jon_slider]

I was playing with programming G6 and now the fourth lamp starting to behave similar to the third. If I leave it off for some minutes it's not possible to turn it on. Only way is to losen and then tighten the tailcap and then it's working again. Reset to factory settings did not help. :-(

very sorry to hear that.. I hope you will buy some Eneloop batteries.. imo your Alkaline batteries are the source of all the problems.

 

[DE73]

very sorry to hear that.. I hope you will buy some Eneloop batteries.. imo your Alkaline batteries are the source of all the problems.

Just ordered Eneloop Pro, it’s not the battery I want to use but I’m interested to try. Very strange that it worked for two days without problems. I did not use it so much but tested it maybe ten times with many different batteries. Al off a sudden it’s not working with any off all the AA I purchased to try.

 

[AMD64Brunette]

I feel like I'm having an affair with flashlights.

I'm cheating on my Zebralight H54 with another woman. Her name is Nitecore.
(Ms. NU25, to be exact.)

 

[DE73]

How do you have group 6 and 7 programmed and why? I think I saw some chart and diskussion some time ago but can’t find it now.

 

[jon_slider]

How do you have group 6 and 7 programmed and why?

my G6 is
1 Clic from Off for Lows (level 3 or 5); because I want the light to turn on to my lows, for use on my nightstand with 1 Clic. This avoids preflashes and mistaken high outputs.

Hold for Medium (level 7 or 9); because after 1 Clic for On at Low, Hold steps up in brightness. Or from Off, Hold gives me a useful Medium (after preflashing Low).

2 Clic from Off for High (level 10 or 12); because 2C is the common command to reach the highest level in other lights

G7 is all the lowest modes, still 1C Low, Hold Medium, 2C High.

I use this G7 to test which 2 modes I want to program to G6 at 1 Clic. The lowest useful level for middle of night walk to bathroom, without stepping on the cat or her toys. My second lowest for enough light to walk through the house after I turn off the lights at night.

 

[sbslider]

How do you have group 6 and 7 programmed and why? I think I saw some chart and diskussion some time ago but can't find it now.

For me right now, why is to keep the light from coming on at a level higher than 3 for keeping cell drain to a minimum. in the future I'm sure I'll program it differently. Why, because I can . . . .

This thread has the original inputs from @Lips regarding how to program, I found it very helpful.

 

[jon_slider]

This thread has the original inputs from @Lips regarding how to program, I found it very helpful.

Great chart but it uses terms like L1, L2 which are very confusing, they actually mean Level 4, Level 2, so I changed the notation in this copy of that chart for clarity:

here are two types of notation:

but Zebra uses L2 to mean levels, 1, or 2, or 3, so even more confusing. I find using level numbers 1 - 12 makes the most sense.

 

[sbslider]

Great chart but it uses terms like L1, L2 which are very confusing, they actually mean Level 4, Level 2, so I changed the notation in this copy of that chart for clarity:

good point, L1 and L2 can be confused with those references from the Zebralight website description for each light.

 

[cave dave]

Just ordered Eneloop Pro, it's not the battery I want to use but I'm interested to try. Very strange that it worked for two days without problems. I did not use it so much but tested it maybe ten times with many different batteries. Al off a sudden it's not working with any off all the AA I purchased to try.

Did you try a 14500 by any chance? If so before you go back to using Nimh or alky, take all batteries out and hold the button for a few seconds to reset.

 

[jon_slider]

using Nimh or alky

fwiw
I created a thread on Reddit asking if anyone with an SC54c N had issues using Alkaline, only one reply, but they said yes.. Alkaline is UnReliable in their SC54c N

Anyone else here own an SC54c N, does it work on Alkaline?

 

[this_is_nascar]

fwiw
I created a thread on Reddit asking if anyone with an SC54c N had issues using Alkaline, only one reply, but they said yes.. Alkaline is UnReliable in their SC54c N

Anyone else here own an SC54c N, does it work on Alkaline?

To what extent are you looking to see if it works? Mine will fire-up on alkaline and change modes, although, I'm not sure it will go to maximum output.