Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS +

[hatman]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

If you really want a ZL that is 14500 capable, get one of the SC50's... they have them on clearance right now. My main EDC is a 50w+ and I don't see any reason why I should 'upgrade' to a 51w. I am considering getting a 51c though; but I'm a neutral snob and don't do ANY cool tints, so I'm biased. 😀

Did you get the 51C and are you using primaries or some other battery?

 

[flatline]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

I'm interested in the SC51W. I would like confirmation though as whether or not the pwm is noticeable [as in: annoying] on low-low or medium modes?

Some are saying yes, others are saying not noticeable.

cheers,
Marc

I don't normally mind PWM, but I do find the L2 level to be annoying (it's a flicker right on the edge of my awareness that makes me think my eyes are playing tricks on me).

The PWM on the other level (H2?) is unnoticeable. I can barely detect it if I'm looking at it, but it has no negative effect during use.

--flatline

 

[Lite_me]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

I'm interested in the SC51W. I would like confirmation though as whether or not the pwm is noticeable [as in: annoying] on low-low or medium modes?

Some are saying yes, others are saying not noticeable.

cheers,
Marc

The PWM on the SC51w doesn't bother me at all. Even though I do have some older lights with PWM that do bother me.

 

[Marc999]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

The PWM on the SC51w doesn't bother me at all. Even though I do have some older lights with PWM that do bother me.

Thanks for the feedback. I also heard back from a Zebralight rep. [from zebralight customer service] in regards to PWM. Apparently they have moved the 2 PWM modes to 2 lesser used light settings [M2 & H2] as well as increased the PWM frequency. So now the 0.18 setting is current controlled.

 

[Flying Turtle]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

This is good news. Thanks Marc. Not going to immediately move up from my SC50, but now it's a possibility.

Geoff

 

[Marc999]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

I don't normally mind PWM, but I do find the L2 level to be annoying (it's a flicker right on the edge of my awareness that makes me think my eyes are playing tricks on me).

The PWM on the other level (H2?) is unnoticeable. I can barely detect it if I'm looking at it, but it has no negative effect during use.

--flatline

Regarding durability, has anyone here accidentally dropped their sc51 or sc51w on the ground? I'd like to know if it can withstand some abuse like this.

 

[Ian2381]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Regarding durability, has anyone here accidentally dropped their sc51 or sc51w on the ground? I'd like to know if it can withstand some abuse like this.

If its the same with SC50w I did, dropped mine more than 3feet on a solid marble floor. It survived with av few dents near the swith and tail.

 

[FroggyTaco]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

I have dropped both mo my SC50 multiple times onto concrete & asphalt and less firm surfaces and they continue to work as advertised.

 

[Federal LG]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

+1

Unfortunately... because I really hate when gravity pulls my lights onto the floor!

 

[Marc999]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Hey guys,

I just received the SC51W. Great light, lots of fun. I'm still trying to get the button press timing down pact to access low mode without accidentally releasing too quickly and getting high mode. Nervous thumb!

Could someone please explain how to access 1 of 2 brightness settings for H2 mode? 86/120 lm? It mentions 6 double clicks; is that a total of 12 clicks [6 doubles] and then double click again to get 86 or 120? Or is one of those H2 settings the strobe?

thanks,
Marc

 

[Enzo]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Let me suggest you watch this video on the light and how to operate. This video convinced me to buy the SC51, great light!

http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_20&products_id=2235

 

[Lite_me]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Hey guys,

I just received the SC51W. Great light, lots of fun. I'm still trying to get the button press timing down pact to access low mode without accidentally releasing too quickly and getting high mode. Nervous thumb!

Could someone please explain how to access 1 of 2 brightness settings for H2 mode? 86/120 lm? It mentions 6 double clicks; is that a total of 12 clicks [6 doubles] and then double click again to get 86 or 120? Or is one of those H2 settings the strobe?

thanks,
Marc

The easiest way for me to explain it is... when in High mode, start dbl clicking until you see the light start to strobe. The next dbl click will be your 86Lm setting, the next will be the 120Lm setting. Dbl clicking again will start it strobing again. Do it again and you'll be back to 86Lm again, and so on. It will keep cycling through 86Lm, 120Lm and strobe. Stop at the level you want to program for your H2 setting and click once to turn the light off. That will now be memorized as your H2 setting. H1 will always be 172Lm.

 

[Marc999]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

The easiest way for me to explain it is... when in High mode, start dbl clicking until you see the light start to strobe. The next dbl click will be your 86Lm setting, the next will be the 120Lm setting. Dbl clicking again will start it strobing again. Do it again and you'll be back to 86Lm again, and so on. It will keep cycling through 86Lm, 120Lm and strobe. Stop at the level you want to program for your H2 setting and click once to turn the light off. That will now be memorized as your H2 setting. H1 will always be 172Lm.

Thanks, that's a great explanation and it works. I also received a reply from a Zebralight rep. that explained it similar to you. From H1 or H2, 7 dbl.clicks [each double = 2 clicks], = 86lm, 8 dbl.clicks = 120, 9 dbl.clicks = strobe. Turn off to set desired H2 setting.

 

[Mikellen]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Well, the Med modes have longer runtimes on the w version vs the cool. And you'll not likely notice the difference in output between the two. Cool vs the warm. And the Med modes have some very useful output for intermediate needs. It's surprising how much light the 26 Lms actually is on M1. I use that setting a lot on my SC51w. Runtime for that mode with the new XX Eneloop is 15 hrs. That's an amazing amount of light and runtime for a single AA light.

Could the specs be a mistake? It just doesn't seem right to me that the runtimes would be lower on the cool white led compared to the neutral.
I would think the cool led would be a tiny bit brighter but maintain the same runtime.

Any explanations? :shrug:

 

[tbenedict]

This might be the wrong thread, but I got some enlightenment from comparing the specs of models on their site. They all have the same runtime on the current reg levels. What was more interesting was the c was more efficient on the low level PWM levels and the Cree versions better on the high end. This was consistent with what I read in other threads I read about the emitters.

Feel free to laugh, I still have a lot to learn.

 

[bodhran]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

Nothing to laugh about. I think we all are still learning.

 

[kreisler]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

That said, you can still use 14500 with the SC51 as well.

How come? Does the PROTECTED TrustFire 14500 fit, are you sure?

The website says:

Operating Voltage Range: 0.7V - 2.5V
Battery: One 1.5V AA (NiMH, lithium or alkaline). 14500 Li-ion batteries are not supported. Batteries are not included in the package.

selfbuilt, you have quoted the webpage for SC51 correctly (see my quote). it says "not supported" and "2.5V" max. How come you tested the SC51 with Protected 14500's? Shouldnt 14500's fry the driver?

 

[selfbuilt]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

selfbuilt, you have quoted the webpage for SC51 correctly (see my quote). it says "not supported" and "2.5V" max. How come you tested the SC51 with Protected 14500's? Shouldnt 14500's fry the driver?

Although the current specs state that, I tried 14500 on my engineering sample and it worked fine. However, since 3.7V Li-ion is not supported, you are running a risk of damaging the light if you try it. Note also that circuits tend to evolve over the life of product, so there is no guarantee that currently shipping lights still perform the same as my early sample.

The question of what is "supported" in specs isn't absolute. In some case, you will immediately destroy a circuit when running out of spec, in other cases it is simply not supported and may lead to problems/damage (or at a minimum, looses warranty coverage). It is impossible to know from a spec sheet which is the case, as it depends on how conservative a manufacturer is being.

To quote the episode of ST-TNG where Scotty made an appearance: "A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper." 😉

 

[kreisler]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

So you did run the risk of damaging the zebra, poor animal! *ggg*
in your test, the zebra survived .. but there is no guarantee that all sc51 samples would do so. (the sc50 is certified for 14500's. interesting too!)

Scotty? i only know Ally McBeal 😉

 

[tobrien]

Re: Zebralight SC51 (XP-G R4) & SC50w (XP-E Neutral) 1xAA Reviews: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOT

yea, I own an SC51 and did a double-take when I saw you wrote 14500 as being supported in the review haha