Fire Hazard from Flashlight?

Running a lithium ion flashlight unattended can be a potential fire hazard.

Running extremely hot unaware: Can be a potential fire hazard.

I try to keep things that can become hot away from stuff that can burn, if made hot enough.

Fail to do so: That leaves burns on my body and my clothes, on occasions when my lights had accidental power-on.

Well, at least my mind is safe.

:welcome:

I would consult manufacturer and dispose of batteries. Consult both flashlight manufacturer and battery. Probably get replaced for free.

azure5 said:

Hi,

Pretty new to flashlights here. I just recently bought a Zebralight SC600 Mk II L2 and I'm very happy with it. My question is as follows; recently I left it on in my pocket of a pair of pants that I wasn't wearing. It was LITERALLY on the lowest setting, I think like half a lumen or something, but even so it was EXTREMELY hot when I discovered it. It probably was an hour or two, but the battery can support that level for months. Just wondering if there is any fire hazard in such a situation? Thanks

Click to expand...

Your hand works as a fairly good heat sink if you are holding it from the gitgo, pants not so much. If it gets too hot holding it turn it off for a while.

azure5 said:

Hi,

Pretty new to flashlights here. I just recently bought a Zebralight SC600 Mk II L2 and I'm very happy with it. My question is as follows; recently I left it on in my pocket of a pair of pants that I wasn't wearing. It was LITERALLY on the lowest setting, I think like half a lumen or something, but even so it was EXTREMELY hot when I discovered it. It probably was an hour or two, but the battery can support that level for months. Just wondering if there is any fire hazard in such a situation? Thanks

Click to expand...

If it was on the moonlight mode, that indicates a problem. Shouldn't even be able to feel the heat when running in sub-lumen mode. Check that cell very carefully, something is shorting to generate that much heat.

azure5 said:

Hi,

Pretty new to flashlights here. I just recently bought a Zebralight SC600 Mk II L2 and I'm very happy with it. My question is as follows; recently I left it on in my pocket of a pair of pants that I wasn't wearing. It was LITERALLY on the lowest setting, I think like half a lumen or something, but even so it was EXTREMELY hot when I discovered it. It probably was an hour or two, but the battery can support that level for months. Just wondering if there is any fire hazard in such a situation? Thanks

Click to expand...

Hot,,, can be very subjective from one person to another. Especially if you are new to the type of lights you are referring to. I can see how one would think HOT compared to an older led without cree technology or a old tungsten light. but to be certain I would check it with an IR thermometer and give a better description of what you consider hot. Remember 140* water supply will scald you, But in an enclosed inside a pants pocket for 2 hours, 80 or 90* feels pretty warm, but I wouldn't consider it hot?? still not a good place to store your light!

MikeSalt said:

If it was on the moonlight mode, that indicates a problem. Shouldn't even be able to feel the heat when running in sub-lumen mode. Check that cell very carefully, something is shorting to generate that much heat.

Click to expand...

This!!!
That light should run nice n cool in firefly mode.

Not to say heat won't eventually build up when left on in a confined space.... for hours and hours, not one or two.

Have it checked.

I just did a run time of a light bezel down so heat would back up into the light as a comparison to runtime with keeping it cool.
After 9 hours the 10 lumen Nichia emitter had only gotten the outside of the light to 78°F

My everyday carry lights are ZebraLight SC600 Mk 3 and SC32 and both are kept in my pockets locked out by turning the tail cap a fraction of an inch.

If you leave any flashlight in your pocket, especially for a longer period of time, the metal will definitely heat up - simply because of your body heat building up in such a small place. Because it was on moonlight mode, I am also assuming that such is the case; on moonlight mode there should be absolutely no heat. Maybe if you can describe the conditions/what you doing previous to taking it out? That could explain a lot.

azure5 said:

Hi,

Pretty new to flashlights here. I just recently bought a Zebralight SC600 Mk II L2 and I'm very happy with it. My question is as follows; recently I left it on in my pocket of a pair of pants that I wasn't wearing. It was LITERALLY on the lowest setting, I think like half a lumen or something, but even so it was EXTREMELY hot when I discovered it. It probably was an hour or two, but the battery can support that level for months. Just wondering if there is any fire hazard in such a situation? Thanks

Click to expand...

Was that the setting you last used it on? Or did it spend most of that time on a much higher setting where it then ramped down due to thermal protection?