Solarforce L600 problem (now with beamshots next to Surefire M4 LOLA)

boosterboy · Oct 3, 2007

So I received my Solarforce L600 from lighthound today.

I put in a pair of AW protected 18650s with a magnet spacer.

Then I turned it on and the bulb lit up normally.

I left the light on for 4 minutes to compare the brightness with other lights, and turned it off when the light got really really hot.

Then I take out the cells to charge them up again.

I come back in 4 hours, and put back the same pair of 18650s and the bulb would not light up.

What should I do? short of contacting lighthound asking for a replacement

boosterboy · Oct 13, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

lighthound promptly replaced my bulb for free.

Light has good clean beam, decent throw, great spill too.

bezel is 42mm.

Quickstrike · Oct 13, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Is there a pretty big difference in light output, when compared to your Novatac 120T?

Is this what you would have expected from a ~600 lumen light?

Overall are you happy with your purchase?

If you can take some beam shots, that would be great!

I just got word that my L600 might be another week (shipping from Hong Kong :().

TIA,
-Quickstrike

Monocrom · Oct 13, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

My L600 should be here by Thursday, at the latest. Will keep an eye out for that problem.

Thank You for posting.

boosterboy · Oct 15, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Quickstrike said:
Is there a pretty big difference in light output, when compared to your Novatac 120T?

Is this what you would have expected from a ~600 lumen light?

Overall are you happy with your purchase?

If you can take some beam shots, that would be great!

I just got word that my L600 might be another week (shipping from Hong Kong :().

TIA,
-Quickstrike

Oh hell yes, there's a big difference.

But no way this thing is "600 lumens", it's more like 380-400.

Quickstrike · Oct 16, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I just got my light today. Seems OK.

Was kind of expecting more.

One thing that should be noted, if it wasn't clear before.. this is a real flooder. The light is very diffused.

Instead of getting a nice hot lumen spot, you get a rather faint spot with an even fainter "broad" circle of light around that.

When compared to my Fenix P3D R100, the white LED beam seems brighter and more striking than the yellow incandescent glow of the L600M.

If you overlap the 2 beams from these flashlights, you will find the L600 flood spreads a fair bit further than the P3D.

My light shipped with Ultrafire 18650 protected rechargeable batteries. They work after 2-3 initial clicks.
IIRC a WF-500 owner said that their light would not even flicker with the above protected batteries... which seems odd, as the L600M is a brighter light and probably draws more power. Any explanations for this?

Overall seems like a pretty decent light for the money.
I just might be more of an LED guy than I thought... after buying my p3d's.

Monocrom · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Quickstrike said:
My light shipped with Ultrafire 18650 protected rechargeable batteries. They work after 2-3 initial clicks.
IIRC a WF-500 owner said that their light would not even flicker with the above protected batteries...

That's a bit disappointing to hear. When my L600 arrives it will also have the same type of batteries. Bought it over the WF-500 specifically because of the better bulb and slightly better build quality.

Does it take 2-3 clicks to turn on the light just the very first time you use it, or every time you turn the light on?

boosterboy · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

any ideas on how to mod this bulb into the Ultrafire WF-500 reflector?

i know the bezel of the L600 is smaller than the WF-500.

SCEMan · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I'd love to see a comparison to the R500. My Scorpion's flood is huge compared to my Fenix P3D R100's and absolutely swallows it if both beams are overlapped. Maybe the smaller bezel of the L600 vs. R500 narrows the beam somewhat.

Quickstrike · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

SCEMan said:
I'd love to see a comparison to the R500. My Scorpion's flood is huge compared to my Fenix P3D R100's and absolutely swallows it if both beams are overlapped. Maybe the smaller bezel of the L600 vs. R500 narrows the beam somewhat.

That is pretty difficult for me to believe. The L600's flood is already massive!

Doesn't the R500 also have a deeper reflector? So the light may be thrown more?!

The problem I have with the L600, is that it spreads all those lumens so far out in every direction. There may be 400 or so total lumens, but the way it emits the light isn't very practical for me.

The P3D for example has a very bright, and substantial enough (IMO) flooded beam pattern. The L600 will light up the floor and ceiling more when aimed at the same spot, but everything is pretty dim and scattered. You might see something in its large beam, but I find it will usually require you to focus the center of it on your target.
I like how "everything" that is illuminated by the p3d is clear and bright by comparison.

If that makes sense.

About the 18650 Protected batteries. From my short experience last night, it seemed to be rather hit or miss.
But generally speaking, the initial start up will take 2-3, sometimes slightly more clicks.
If you immediately try to turn it on again after 5-10 seconds, it will usually start up immediately on the first click.

Monocrom · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Quickstrike said:
.... About the 18650 Protected batteries. From my short experience last night, it seemed to be rather hit or miss.
But generally speaking, the initial start up will take 2-3, sometimes slightly more clicks.
If you immediately try to turn it on again after 5-10 seconds, it will usually start up immediately on the first click.

Thanks for responding. :)

My L600 should arrive tomorrow. Considering what I'll be using it for, an immediate start-up every time is not necessary. (Would be nice, but not too important).

SCEMan · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I guess we'll need to see some real-world comparisons as I can only comment based on your observations. My R500's flood is waaaaay brighter than my Fenix P3D R100. It throws almost as well as my MRV, but illuminates a large area. I'd be interested in an L600 if it's performance is comparable to my R500.

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Y'all are scaring me now. I've got a Lighthound L600 on the way.

We'll see :confused:

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I got it, now I get to chew my nails waiting for the batteries to charge.

I'm assuming that the two little, stupid strong, magnets are the buttons that go on the + side of the batteries before I install them into the flashlight, right?

Also, the switch doesn't seem to have a positive "click" feel, but being an on/off flashlight it doesn't really need one, but this is normal, yes?

Quickstrike · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

DanielG said:
I got it, now I get to chew my nails waiting for the batteries to charge.

I'm assuming that the two little, stupid strong, magnets are the buttons that go on the + side of the batteries before I install them into the flashlight, right?

Also, the switch doesn't seem to have a positive "click" feel, but being an on/off flashlight it doesn't really need one, but this is normal, yes?

Did you buy the AW rechargeable batteries?

Mine didn't come with magnets.

Yeah, the button is rock hard. It simply pushes the spring closer to the cells.

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Quickstrike said:
Did you buy the AW rechargeable batteries?

Mine didn't come with magnets.

Yeah, the button is rock hard. It simply pushes the spring closer to the cells.

Yes, I got the AW batteries. These little guys remind me of rare earth magnets they used in disk drives.

L600
AW 18650 (x2)
WF-139 Recharger
15mm Spacers

It came with a small keychain LED light :)

Quickstrike · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

DanielG said:
Yes, I got the AW batteries. These little guys remind me of rare earth magnets they used in disk drives.

L600
AW 18650 (x2)
WF-139 Recharger
15mm Spacers

It came with a small keychain LED light :)

Cool. I didn't know about the AW's prior to my purchase.

So I ended up buying 6 Ultrafire 18650's. Oh well, they probably work just as well after the additional "press" of the button... or 2.

Have fun with the long recharge times. I have the WF-139 as well, but from what I have read, Lithium Ion batteries in general take a long time to recharge.

Be sure to post your impressions -- when you have the time!

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I obsess on things but I tend to read way too much about stuff that I get in to and the AWs seem to be universal in good reviews.

The charger says 4 hours for 1800 mAh so I'm wondering how long 2200 mAh will long, I'm thinking 6 hours. DO NOT LEAVE IN CHARGER, got it ;)

Oh, don't worry about that, I tend to post my opinions about anything that's caught my attention :crackup:

Li-ion batteries don't get memories and don't need broken in, at least according to:
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=4 so I might take these guys out at 4 hours and see what it gives me.

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

I went up and the battery charger was green so I took 'em out and plugged 'em into the light.

Immediate findings:

1) HOLY COW that thing's bright. None of my other flashlights' beams show when their beams are held at the same distance as this light and inside the brightest spot of this light's beam. It will damage your eyes if you look into it.

2) My tailcap switch does not work. It stays in the "on" position. I guess if you're going to have an on/off switch stuck, on is the appropriate way for it to be stuck. I'm currently using it as a momentary on by pushing on the tailcap and if I need it to stay on, I screw it down to tight. If it never gets replaced or fixed, that's basically okay.

3) The light is a wide spill with enough of a bright spot and enough throw to impress a pro baseball pitcher.

4) The spill will light up a room all by itself. This is one beast of a light throwing piece of aluminium!

I like it and I'm a'gonna keep it handy :sold:

DanielG · Oct 17, 2007

Re: Solarforce L600 problem

Lighthound responded almost immediately about this and said the tailcap is made to do exactly that, press for temporary light and screw it down for solid on.

I like it!

Solarforce L600 problem (now with beamshots next to Surefire M4 LOLA)

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