Zebralight H501 Part 2

[BWX]

I hear ya. I lost my first 501 after about 2+ mo. The replacement I bought died after 4mo. of frequent use,, no warning, no nothing. The replacement for that one now sits in the corner collecting dust. Can't really bring myself to trust it again. Everytime I go to turn it on, part of me expects it to not work again.

Exactly! Does anyone have one that's lasted more than 2 years? I would highly doubt it.

 

[Shorty66]

I`d too doubt that as the h501 didn`t been avaible two years ago 😛

I ordered mine a few days after it where avaible along with two others for some friends. One of them was deas on arrival but has been replaced in no time and those working three are still going strong despite beeing used frequently.

My H60 was ordered when it was anounced on their website and it still works like on the first day.

Perhaps you guys with ZL-Problems got some gremlins or so... :nana:

 

[davidt1]

I already did some tests with my h51 and a Petzl tikka xp diffusor:
It works but the output is reduced a lot and the angle is far from the h501`s 80°.
I decided to keep the h51 as is and use my h501 for pure flood needs.

@davidt: Sry, i wasnt abl to do beamshots... but i will soon when i get back home again.

I am hooked on the 80 degree flood beam, so I will most likely buy the H51F even if it's a little bigger than the H501. As for the H51 and SC51, as much as I like the side click (SC51) and UI, the lack of an emergency mode might keep me from buying them.

I am looking forward to the beamshots.

 

[BWX]

I`d too doubt that as the h501 didn`t been avaible two years ago 😛

I ordered mine a few days after it where avaible along with two others for some friends. One of them was deas on arrival but has been replaced in no time and those working three are still going strong despite beeing used frequently

Perhaps you guys with ZL-Problems got some gremlins or so... :nana:

LOL- I bought my h501 like 1 year and 4 months ago (or close to that) so I figured they must have been out longer. What date did they come out?
Iuse mine just about every single day. I would consider it heavy use, but it's never abused.. I wonder if that has something to do with it dying so fast?

First H501: 11 months
Second H501: 2 months
Third H501: 1 month (it was second one sent to China and repaired)
Fourth H501: will get it in mail in a week I hope- been gone for 2 weeks already.

 

[LowBat]

Checking my records and a previous thread I ordered my Zebralight H501 at 4 am on March 16, 2009, which was three hours after Zebralight started accepting orders for them. That means the longest anyone could have owned this light (except for a pre-production) is 18 months.

I'm happy to say that my 18 month old H501 has performed flawlessly on numerous night hikes clipped to my shoulder strap. It has also seen service hanging upside down push pinned to trees while lighting up picnic tables on several camping trips. Come to think of it I've also used this little wonder standing on it's tail, clipped to my shirt, attached to a frig with a magnet, hanging off a tree branch, and even under water on one occasion. Oddly enough about the only way I haven't used the H501 is strapped to my head.

 

[davidt1]

Checking my records and a previous thread I ordered my Zebralight H501 at 4 am on March 16, 2009, which was three hours after Zebralight started accepting orders for them. That means the longest anyone could have owned this light (except for a pre-production) is 18 months.

I'm happy to say that my 18 month old H501 has performed flawlessly on numerous night hikes clipped to my shoulder strap. It has also seen service hanging upside down push pinned to trees while lighting up picnic tables on several camping trips. Come to think of it I've also used this little wonder standing on it's tail, clipped to my shirt, attached to a frig with a magnet, hanging off a tree branch, and even under water on one occasion. Oddly enough about the only way I haven't used the H501 is strapped to my head.

I was one of the first to buy one too. Mine died after about 18 months of heavy use, and I mean heavy use -- 3 hours a day and switched on and off a dozen times a day.

It's just a wild guess, but I think the heat might be the cause. Zebralight was kind enough to send me a repaired replacement, which is still working.

 

[BWX]

I just got my 4th replacement H501. This one has the moonlight mode double-clicking from low, another flashing mode double-clicking from medium and a slow strobe double-clicking from high.

Yeah I think it might be the heat that's eventually killing these lights, or it could be the electronics or both.. I used all the ones I had every single day, using indoors at night instead of turning overhead lights on and off while walking through the house. I use it for chores like vacuuming too, and have attached it to the handlebars of my bike.

There are times when using it and leaving it on high for 1/2 hour at a time, it would tend to get pretty warm. I wouldn't say it ever gets hot, but maybe over time being "very warm" for many extended periods of time slowly takes its toll? It seems as though it should be able to handle that though.

I just wish it was more durable- I don't think a year from now that I will own a working H501, and eventually Zebralight are going to quit sending me replacements. I won't buy any more Zebralight products even though I really like them, it's just not worth the price considering they only last for me, on average, about 5 months. :-(

 

[davidt1]

Nah, I don't worry about it. I am very sure Zebralight does not like losing money by sending out replacements. Companies learn and improve. Their SC series have been out for a while now. There have been very few reports of problems. The H series now have a larger body to handle the heat better.

 

[Gusto]

Hello, guys. I'm really considering the H501w, myself. What exactly happened to your lights? Did it just not turn on anymore? 😕

 

[davidt1]

Hello, guys. I'm really considering the H501w, myself. What exactly happened to your lights? Did it just not turn on anymore? 😕

I don't know for why my H501 (after 18 months of heavy use) failed. The important thing is Zebralight took care of me and sent me a replacement. I am thinking of getting an H501w myself. I have heard good things about the neutral tint.

By the way, I like your idea of a compact light combo for throw and flood.

 

[davidt1]

I don't know for why my H501 (after 18 months of heavy use) failed. The important thing is Zebralight took care of me and sent me a replacement. I am thinking of getting an H501w myself. I have heard good things about the neutral tint.

wrong quote. never mind. can't delete for some reason.

 

[pae77]

. . . I am thinking of getting an H501w myself. I have heard good things about the neutral tint.
. . . .

I have had two different H501w's and both of them had what I consider to be the best tint I have yet seen on an LED light. Unlike the SC50w, they were not at all yellow and not too warm either. Both examples were really a perfect neutral white tint, imo. The only other tint I've seen that came close to what I consider a true neutral white was the neutral white tint of my LF2XT. Anyway, the light and tint made by the H501w is very pleasant, imo.

 

[FroggyTaco]

Yeah it's too bad the XP-E & XP-G are so efficient.

The XR-E in the H501w is a really nice emitter.

 

[dracodoc]

They never received the package. And there is no way to add insurance to USPS first class international, so my H501 is just lost.
So there is a lesson learned in the hard way:

If you ever need to mail your light to Zebralight for exchange or repair, don't ship it to China directly.

What can I do now?

My H501 start to develop a flickering in low mode after 6 months. They suggested me to send it to Shanghai Office directly, said it will be much quicker.
I sent it in July.20, still no update today. The tracking of USPS is useless, only said it left NY on July.22.

It have been 2 weeks without H501, I have to use my nitecore D20.

 

[pae77]

That is very unfortunate and I'm sorry for your loss.

However, the lesson is not necessarily to not ship to China directly, although I would think in most cases it's better, faster and cheaper to ship to ZL's offices in the US (Texas, iirc). The lesson should be, if you are going to ship to China, use a more expensive method then international first class that includes tracking.

It might still be worth contacting ZL and telling them what happened. Perhaps, if you can show proof of purchase, and maybe even some kind of proof of mailing, they might take pity on you and send you a replacement unit anyway.

In the future, if sending a unit direct to China, it also couldn't hurt to take a few digital photos of the light and the package with the label before and after sealing it up for mailing. Might come in handy in situations like this.

 

[Woods Walker]

I have had two different H501w's and both of them had what I consider to be the best tint I have yet seen on an LED light. Unlike the SC50w, they were not at all yellow and not too warm either. Both examples were really a perfect neutral white tint, imo. The only other tint I've seen that came close to what I consider a true neutral white was the neutral white tint of my LF2XT. Anyway, the light and tint made by the H501w is very pleasant, imo.

The tint on my H501w is nice but then again the standard H501 isn't all that bad too. I prefer using the H501w over the H501.

 

[kiwicrunch]

LOL- I bought my h501 like 1 year and 4 months ago (or close to that) so I figured they must have been out longer. What date did they come out?
Iuse mine just about every single day. I would consider it heavy use, but it's never abused.. I wonder if that has something to do with it dying so fast?

First H501: 11 months
Second H501: 2 months
Third H501: 1 month (it was second one sent to China and repaired)
Fourth H501: will get it in mail in a week I hope- been gone for 2 weeks already.

I'm surprised to hear this. I bought my H501w in May 2009 (17 months ago) and use it every day. So far it's given me nothing but faithful service and beautiful light- except once with dirty contacts (which isn't really the fault of ZL, and is easily remedied).

 

[dracodoc]

Thanks for the suggestions. The next step shipping method will be much more expensive compared to first class, especially for a package that only weight about 2 oz.
The reason I shipped the light to China directly by first class was because I was told that way the light would arrive faster, but I didn't expect the possible problem with USPS. Otherwise I'll just send it to TX - instead of expensive international shipping or take pictures to be prepared for lost package, I'd rather wait for some time.

I contacted Zebralight for this 2 days before, but I'm not holding much hope.

That is very unfortunate and I'm sorry for your loss.

However, the lesson is not necessarily to not ship to China directly, although I would think in most cases it's better, faster and cheaper to ship to ZL's offices in the US (Texas, iirc). The lesson should be, if you are going to ship to China, use a more expensive method then international first class that includes tracking.

It might still be worth contacting ZL and telling them what happened. Perhaps, if you can show proof of purchase, and maybe even some kind of proof of mailing, they might take pity on you and send you a replacement unit anyway.

In the future, if sending a unit direct to China, it also couldn't hurt to take a few digital photos of the light and the package with the label before and after sealing it up for mailing. Might come in handy in situations like this.

 

[ASheep]

Well after all that bad news about Zebralight failures, I have a happy story :twothumbs
I arrived home today to find a notice that I had a package at the post office, I raced there before they closed to receive my new H501w. Prompt shipping from China, Less than 2 weeks to Australia is very good for free shipping!

I opened the package, very good minimalist recyclable packaging, and fired up my new light. It's absolutely great! I honestly didn't expect the pure flood to be so perfect! Now I know why this bad boy is number two on the must have list! After 2 minutes I was accustomed to the UI, I can now switch straight to moonmode without blinding myself. :twothumbs

I also discovered that the iTP A2 EOS fits perfectly in the ZL headlamp holder, So I now have a floody ZL and a throwier A2 EOS on my head, The perfect mix for camping/hiking! When camping I always have a proper thrower holstered, for the off chance I need that, but the A2+ZL seems to be able to cover most of my bases!

I hope it will prove as reliable as some of my other lights...

So a question after this excited rant: What other lights fit into the ZL headband loops?

 

[davidt1]

Velcro or elastic material should work better than the stock silicon holder because they can accommodate different sizes.