zebralight H501 UI question

[SlowInTheDark]

Hi all

I have a zebralight H501 headlamp and use it a lot. I have a question about the UI.

If I turn the headlamp off from 'Medium' mode, and then turn it back on in 'Low' mode, the headlamp gives a momentary flash of 'High' before reverting to 'Low' mode.

This momentary 'High' flash only happens when the headlamp has been previously turned off from 'Medium' mode.

If previously turned off from 'High' or 'Low' mode, then re-starting in 'Low' mode works perfectly (no 'High' flash).

I haven't read of this phenomenon anywhere on the Forums, and I'm curious to know whether all H501 headlamps work this way. Does yours?

Thanks
SITD

 

[SlowInTheDark]

*bump*

Any H501 owners wanna slaughter 30 secs and test this? Basically,

1. Put the H501 into High mode.
2. Turn if off.
3. Turn it back on again into Low mode.

4. Put the H501 into Medium mode.
5. Turn if off.
6. Turn it back on again into Low mode.

Do you notice a difference between 3. and 6. ?

On mine, with 6. I get a High mode bright flash before it goes to Low, but with 3. it goes to immediately to Low (no flash).

Thanks
SITD

 

[davidt1]

Mine does not do that.

 

[chicken dave]

I have an H501W, about two months old. Mine does the same thing (I have the flash). Never noticed it until I tried after reading your post.

Dave

 

[uplite]

Mine doesn't do this either. H501w, purchased in August.

What you describe sounds a lot like the "pre flash" that is common to the Fenix/Quark/etc drivers.

But the Zebralight uses a very different design. It flashes once when you "unlock" the tailcap, but then the controller is running all the time and should always give you the mode you select with the button.

Press the button, and it comes on immediately in LOW mode. If you release the button very fast, it goes to HIGH mode. If you release it after about 1/2 second, it stays in LOW mode. If you hold it for more than 1 second, it goes to MEDIUM mode and starts cycling through the modes.

-Jeff

 

[uplite]

Oh! I do have one possible explanation for what you see...

When you DOUBLE-CLICK the button, the Zebralight turns on LOW, flashes HIGH, and then switches to MEDIUM.

Perhaps you are double-clicking the button, or the button is too sensitive and is reading a single-click as a double-click?

Just a thought. That would give the flash before it settles on medium.

-Jeff

 

[SlowInTheDark]

Thanks guys for the replies.

uplite:
It flashes once when you "unlock" the tailcap, but then the controller is running all the time and should always give you the mode you select with the button.

I sometimes get an automatic momentary HIGH mode flash when I insert a new AA cell, sometimes not. I have been wondering about the inconsistency.

uplite:
Press the button, and it comes on immediately in LOW mode. If you release the button very fast, it goes to HIGH mode. If you release it after about 1/2 second, it stays in LOW mode. If you hold it for more than 1 second, it goes to MEDIUM mode and starts cycling through the modes.

That's a good description of the UI, and mine does work like that IF I have previously turned the headlamp off from LOW or HIGH mode.

However, if I have previously turned the headlamp off from MEDIUM mode, and want a LOW mode restart (press and hold for about 1/2 sec), I get a momentary flash of HIGH mode before it settles on LOW mode.

uplite:
Perhaps you are double-clicking the button, or the button is too sensitive and is reading a single-click as a double-click?
Just a thought. That would give the flash before it settles on medium.

Thanks for the thought but this issue is a function of the mode the headlamp was in when it was turned OFF.

LOW mode restart when previously turned OFF from HIGH or LOW mode -> normal expected UI operation.

LOW mode restart when previously turned OFF from MEDIUM mode -> momentary HIGH flash before settling on LOW mode.


It just so happens that specific circumstances make this anomaly more of an issue than it should be. I frequently use MEDIUM mode, but almost always need to start the headlamp in LOW mode.

In addition, could the unwanted momentary HIGH mode flashes be detracting from runtime? My runtimes are less than expected from the zebralight numbers.

Thanks
SITD

 

[uplite]

I sometimes get an automatic momentary HIGH mode flash when I insert a new AA cell, sometimes not.

This may be a clue. The light should flash EVERY time you connect the head to power, to let you know it is working.

Intermittent behavior usually implies a bad contact or switch. Or maybe low-voltage cells. What kind of cells are you using?

FYI, I tried what you suggested with my H501w. Put the light in MEDIUM mode for ~30 seconds, turned it off, waited 1-30 seconds, turned it on in LOW mode. Works every time, straight to LOW, no flash.

If I were you, I would email Zebralight to see what they think.

-Jeff

 

[Shorty66]

Yeah, your light seems odd.
Mine flashes everytime i screw on the tailcap and doesnt ever flash if i use the button.

Seems like yours might be faulty.

 

[chicken dave]

Slowinthedark-
Mine works exactly as you describe. The only way I get a flash when inserting a battery is if I push the button while the tailcap is loosened or removed. For example, loosen cap/tighten cap, no flash. Loosen cap/push button/tighten cap, it flashes. My runtime seems fine - about two hours on high, using a three-year-old 2400 mAh rechargable.

If yours is faulty, mine is also, in exactly the same way. I'm not concerned about it. I've used it just about every day, and I love it.

Dave

 

[uplite]

The only way I get a flash when inserting a battery is if I push the button while the tailcap is loosened or removed. For example, loosen cap/tighten cap, no flash.

Ah, right.

If you turn the light off, then loosen the cap, then tighten it again very soon, it will not flash. I assume the controller keeps running from stored power in the capacitor(s) for a few minutes.

If you let it sit for 10 minutes or so, the stored power will be used up, and it will flash when you tighten the cap.

Or you can bleed the stored power immediately by pressing the button. Or by loosening the cap while the light is still on.

-Jeff

 

[Cemoi]

@ SlowInTheDark:
I have a red H501, which behaves like yours:
- Off from Low or High: switches on to Low without any flash.
- Off from Medium: very short flash* when turning it on to Low.
I never noticed this before, and I don't care.

*brighter than Low mode, but not as bright as a High mode flash, more like a Medium.

I get the expected flash when screwing the tailcap after inserting a battery.

 

[matrixshaman]

I don't think I ever even read the H501 directions but this is how mine works. I do a fast click from off and it goes to High. I do a slow click and it goes to low (maybe a high flash briefly IIRC). If I slow click and hold it starts cycling up through medium and to high. I thought that is how it should work or at least it seems like a great idea for the UI. I just checked it and I don't seem to detect a high flash if I hold down the button - it just starts on low. It might be different if I test it in the dark but right up against a wall that's how it appears.

 

[chenko]

I noticed my H501w does the flash on battery insertion only when the switch was clicked with no battery in the flashlight. I might assume that some capacitor remains charged for some time after battery removal, that would make sense.

I also have had the pre-flash thing sometime when turning on to low (press and hold), but I don't remember if I had switched the light off in medium setting before that. Not of an issue though.

 

[SlowInTheDark]

Thanks guys for the further replies.

uplite:
If you turn the light off, then loosen the cap, then tighten it again very soon, it will not flash. I assume the controller keeps running from stored power in the capacitor(s) for a few minutes.

If you let it sit for 10 minutes or so, the stored power will be used up, and it will flash when you tighten the cap.

Or you can bleed the stored power immediately by pressing the button. Or by loosening the cap while the light is still on.

Thanks man. I think that solves the erratic flashes on cell insertion I've been seeing. Sometimes I'm inserting a new cell immediately after pulling a dying one, sometimes I'm waiting.

Cemoi:
- Off from Medium: very short flash* when turning it on to Low.
I never noticed this before, and I don't care.

*brighter than Low mode, but not as bright as a High mode flash, more like a Medium.

Yer, that could well be right. It's quite noticeable in the environment I'm restarting so seems like HIGH.

chicken dave:
My runtime seems fine - about two hours on high, using a three-year-old 2400 mAh rechargable. If yours is faulty, mine is also, in exactly the same way. I'm not concerned about it. I've used it just about every day, and I love it.

I like the lamp too. Like I said before, there exist specific circumstances which make this pattern more noticeable in my case.

I'm getting 90mins HIGH from a new (4 cycles) Sanyo 2500mah cell. Ambient temperature 27-28 degC. It seems too short. Perhaps my charger is not doing a good job. May I ask what voltage your cells come off your charger?

Thanks
SITD

 

[uplite]

I'm getting 90mins HIGH from a new (4 cycles) Sanyo 2500mah cell. Ambient temperature 27-28 degC. It seems too short. Perhaps my charger is not doing a good job. May I ask what voltage your cells come off your charger?

Depends on the cell. I've seen voltages from about 1.35 to 1.45 volts. Maybe a little higher or lower. I have some new Sanyo 2700 cells that seem to be the most erratic...some seem to get only 1 hour on high?...they probably need more charges to "break in".

BTW, I totally understand the flash you describe (after turning off in medium and turning on in low), but my h501w never does this. Maybe different batches of drivers or something. If it was my light I would probably contact zebralight to see what they can do.

-Jeff

 

[tbenedict]

Just received my new 501W and it does it as well. If turned off from medium or high, it will flash a little when turning on in low. It also has a brief flash when inserting the battery.

It doesn't do it if turned off in low and I haven't intentionally turned it off in med or high and waited a while to test it.

Edit: Mine only does it when turned off from medium.

 

[Launch Mini]

Mine is brand new. Fresh battery & I get a quick flicker when I turn it on.
I wouldn't say it's a High flash at first, but when you press it the first time, there is a distinct flash before it settles down.