Zebralight H600w Issues

[durallymax]

I purchased an H600w about a year ago and it will no longer turn on.

Tech support said it was the batteries being too long. They were protected Ultrafires so I ordered some unprotected Panasonics. Still will not turn on.

The batteries come off of the Nitecore Intelli charger at 4.2V which I notice is right at the limit of the H600W. I don't have anything else that uses these batteries, is there a way I could discharge one a little ways to try it at a lower voltage?

I have read about all of the issues with batteries that were too long and not making a good contact with the tail cap so I double checked that issue. Tech support did say that some larger batteries have damaged the circuit board. Any way to tell if that is the case and is there a way for me to repair it?

Open to other suggestions as well. Thanks.

 

[mellowhead]

If it won't work with more than one type of cell (especially unprotected ones), I'd say there's most likely damage to the light - usually the PCB up in the head in ZL's. Unfortunately, ZL's are not a very user-serviceable light. You might have to bite the bullet on this one and send it in to ZL for repair.

The one thing that you can test for is a defect in the tailcap. Insert an unprotected cell into the light, and instead of screwing on the cap, use a piece of wire to connect the battery negative to the exposed metal on the bottom of the battery tube. You'll almost need three hands to do it, but you can at least satisfy yourself that you've tested what you can.

 

[Charles L.]

Sorry to hear about your light. Out of curiosity, which Ultrafire were you using? All of the ones I see reviewed on HJK's website are quite short -- 67mm or less. Could be wrong, but I thought ZL advertised that their lights were OK with batteries up to 69mm -- might inquire about that if it affects your warranty status.

Slightly OT, but I do worry about the tightening required to get some longer batteries to fit in my lights. I might go back to 2200mAh AWs or Eagletacs for my protected cells -- don't usually need the longer runtimes of the 3000+ mAh batteries for my recreational purposes, although I'm sure that others benefit from them. And perhaps I'm paranoid, but I leave the tailcaps loosened when my lights are not in use.

 

[durallymax]

If it won't work with more than one type of cell (especially unprotected ones), I'd say there's most likely damage to the light - usually the PCB up in the head in ZL's. Unfortunately, ZL's are not a very user-serviceable light. You might have to bite the bullet on this one and send it in to ZL for repair.

The one thing that you can test for is a defect in the tailcap. Insert an unprotected cell into the light, and instead of screwing on the cap, use a piece of wire to connect the battery negative to the exposed metal on the bottom of the battery tube. You'll almost need three hands to do it, but you can at least satisfy yourself that you've tested what you can.

Thanks for the response, thats what I was afraid of somewhat. I ended up getting an H602W in the meantime, it works fine with both batteries. I swapped the tailcap to the H600w and nothing changed. Guess I'll have to send it out. The H602 works better for a lot of my stuff but I'd still like the longer throw light for being outside.

Sorry to hear about your light. Out of curiosity, which Ultrafire were you using? All of the ones I see reviewed on HJK's website are quite short -- 67mm or less. Could be wrong, but I thought ZL advertised that their lights were OK with batteries up to 69mm -- might inquire about that if it affects your warranty status.

Slightly OT, but I do worry about the tightening required to get some longer batteries to fit in my lights. I might go back to 2200mAh AWs or Eagletacs for my protected cells -- don't usually need the longer runtimes of the 3000+ mAh batteries for my recreational purposes, although I'm sure that others benefit from them. And perhaps I'm paranoid, but I leave the tailcaps loosened when my lights are not in use.

Yes Zebra says 69mm. I put the panasonic unprotected cell up next to my BRC18650 ultrafire's and its actually about the same. The cell itself is longer but the panasonic is a flat top and ultrafire is a button head. I know both are listed under 69mm.

I guess I should've pursued it a little harder back in the day but it didn't sound like I was going to get very far with ZL and after reading around I think it may have been a waste of my time.