UnOfficial Zebralight Modification Options.

[jon_slider]

thanks for all the details

I agree there is no LVP in the 53 series. Even thought Vapcell H10 w 10A discharge rate causes Auto shut off, it can be overriden and the battery can overdischarge.

the F12 battery, caused no Auto Shutoff and it can be overdischarged:

Ive read reports of a battery option, that can not be overdischarged in an SC53:

The Lumintop USB 14500.. Acebeam sells the same battery.

Ive read reports that its length works, even though it has a charging chip, it is neither too long, nor too short.

 

[Mr. LED]

I wouldn’t lend a flashlight with unprotected battery and no LVP to an untrained or trained person. I have many Malkoff and Surefire with unprotected batteries, have to keep an eye on them, no LVP.

 

[Lips]

Amazing that cell is shorter than Vapcell F12 with Lumintop having the charging port and protection circuit... Any test on true capacity... That's a good option for stopping over-drain!


Lumintop 14500 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery with USB Type-C charging port

Size	50.5*14.5mm

Vapcell F12
Specifications:
Typical Capacity: 1250 mAh
Min capacity: 1150mAh
Nominal Voltage: 3.6V
Discharge End Voltage: 2.5V
Max. Continuous Discharging Current: 3A
Dimensions:
51.35mm (L) x 14.0 mm (D)
Max Weight: 22g

 

[Mr. LED]

I have this exact battery, two of them. I can do a capacity test. The ones I have is micro USB, but still 920mAh.

 

[aznsx]

re: Decent protected 14500s with short OAL.

FYI: Although not in Zebras, I've been using these with good results for well over a year in my length-critical 14500 lights. My initial 4 averaged 768 mAh on discharge test @200 mA. using Opus BTC-3100 v2.2 when new. I've since bought more which are still in the packages. I can't find my results @ higher discharge currents or follow-up test results at the moment, but in they've passed my use test, and as you see, they're quite short.

Nitecore NL147R 14500 750mAh 3.6V Protected 2A Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Button Top Battery with Micro USB Charging Port - Retail Card

Nitecore NL147R 14500 Li-ion BatteryNow with a Built-in Micro USB Charging PortThe Nitecore NL147R 14500 Li-ion Battery now features a built-in Micro-USB charging port. The charging port on the side of the battery allows the user to charge the battery dir

www.batteryjunction.com

 

[jon_slider]

Here is a review of the SC65c Hi by Bob_McBob, Zebra whisperer, par excelence

he has modded an SC65 to High CRI XHP35,

it is Brighter than the SC64w Hi!
(Im waiting for the Tint DUV report)

and the SC65c Hi driver is more efficient than the SC64w Hi driver
(waiting on actual numbers)

fwiw
the SC65c Hi driver is not 519a compatible,
the SC64c LE is 519a compatible.

spoilt fer choice ;-)

 

[jon_slider]

New info about LVP on LiIon.. Bob_McBob says his 7A discharge rate LiIon exhibits LVP in the SC53c N

this coincides with the tests Lips did, in which his 10A discharge rate LiIon also exhibited LVP, while his 3A discharge rate LiIon did NOT exhibit LVP

ymmv

 

[Mr. LED]

Which still does not make sense to me. The light does not “know” which cell is in there, nor is using current that’s even close to those numbers. Anyone can explain?

 

[jon_slider]

The light does not “know” which cell is in there

maybe the batteries have different resistance, and the Zebra LVP is interacting w that

I dont actually know Why Both McBob And Lips have reported that the 10A H10 exhibited LVP..

plus now McBob is reporting a 7A cell is exhibiting LVP.. The ONLY test that shows No LVP is the one by Lips, specifically in regards to the 3A LiIon..

in any case, the Eneloop option gives longer runtime according to Tim

more info in this thread

 

[jon_slider]

fwiw, regarding the H53Fc N, according to this review:
https://timmcmahon.com.au/posts/zebralight-h53fc-n/#performance

the runtime on M1 on Eneloop Pro is almost 2 hours longer than on LiIon (and the output is the same)

the runtime And output on H2 is also the same for both Eneloop Pro and LiIon, 1.5 hours

on H1 the runtime is equal on both chemistries, 1 hour. Only H1 has an output advantage on LiIon

 

[Megalamuffin]

PSA, for people interested in using LiIon in the SC53c N.
(corrections and additional info welcome):

Zebralight deleted LVP from the driver, to make room for more mode groups, and officially the light is not LiIon compatible.

USB Rechargeable Protected 14500 LiIon from Lumintop, fit and work in SC53c N.

When going from 14500 LiIon, back to AA, remove the LiIon and Press the Switch for a moment, while the light has no battery inside, before inserting the AA battery.

This resets the battery meter so it works w AA Voltage after using LiIon..

What is the battery meter?

 

[jon_slider]

What is the battery meter?

this is how I would expain it.. maybe someone else w more experience can explain in more detail.. I dont own a Zebra, just passing on info Ive seen in several other threads:

from the zebra website:
"This light uses the main LED (flashing 1 to 4 times) to indicate the estimated remaining capacity of the battery. To start the battery indicator, (from Off) short-click 4 times without pause."

possible explanation:
the light needs to use a different voltage scale when it goes back to AA after being on LiIon

if the battery detection reset process is not followed, the zebra could think an AA is a dead LiIon and might step down the output..

and if you try to check battery level w 4 clics, it might give an incorrect battery reading. For example, when the AA is actually full, because the battery meter is using the LiIon voltage range as its reference scale, instead of the AA voltage range, the battery meter could report a low battery.

if you follow the directions yourself, please share what you learn about what happens when you go back to AA from LiIon

 

[jon_slider]

Update, latest SC53c N do not work w LiIon thanks to StephenD and ilikeguns40 and Lips, for sharing info.

"I have the protected lumintop 14500's with usb-C charging, which someone else said worked fine. The light is turning on but it only has two modes. "

"My older SC53c N when it was released worked fine with a li-ion. This newer model does not"

"Recent batches of SC53c N come with all new driver circuitry and software designs meant for SC54/H54 series lights"

 

[jon_slider]

fwiw

the SC65c Hi driver was changed slightly, efficiency went up about 4% (around Oct 17), details here, and parasitic drain went down slightly (4.4uA), details here

imo, neither change is significant

 

[Mr. LED]

Agreed Jon, so long that even though I bought a new one, I’m keeping the “old” one as well.