The Official Zebralight Thread

Candle Power Forums

Help Support Candle Power:

Burgess said:
Can this SAFELY accept 14500 cells
Click to expand...
yes,
this is what google found

"Hey, I recently did some tests with the same ZL model and a Lumintop 14500. Runtime results are pretty consistent with yours, but I noticed an output increase compared to NiMH cells (only noticeable in high modes) and I'm wondering if that's your experience too. Here are some preliminary results:

H1 (Eneloop Pro): 475lm (3 mins) -> ~325lm (45 mins).
H1 (Lumintop 14500): ~650lm (3 mins) -> ~390lm (40 mins).

H2b (Enelop Pro): 236lm (92 mins).
H2b (Lumintop 14500): ~265lm (72 mins).

H2c (Enelop Pro): 140lm (180 mins).
H2c (Lumintop 14500): ~180lm (136 mins).

H1 with 14500 is pretty impressive I'd say, a flashlight this little is capable of maintaining almost 400lm for 40 mins. But as I go down the modes, the slight output increase doesn't justify the runtime loss (for instance, H2c is much better with an Eneloop, 40lm more is barely noticeable, but 40 mins of runtime is).
summary.. if you use LiIon the output increases slightly (not as much as on the 53 driver, and the runtime decreases by about 32%.. the advantage of LiIon is H1 will be brighter on LiIon than on AA, which loses ability to reach H1, after it discharges a little."

the key tip to know is, IF you use LiIon and then go back to AA, there will be a problem. The light will think the AA is a low voltage LiIon battery and will step down and shut off, to prevent overdischarge. Even though the AA is Fully Charged, the light thinks it is a discharged LiIon. Battery check will only give 1 blink.

The solution to the problem, is to hold down the switch button for 2 seconds, when there is no battery inside, before installing the AA battery

after that 2 second button hold on an empty light, the light will recognize AA Voltage to be Fully Charged. You can confirm this by doing battery check. It will give 4 blinks.
 
Last edited:
The advantage I could see in running a14500 in my SC5 is when I am traveling and don’t want to carry a battery charger. There are plenty of reliable 14500s that have integrated usb-c ports. Unfortunately there aren’t any NiMh with integrated charging ports.
 
Actually, I have several of the 1.5v lion batteries, including the ones you link to. I have tried most of the latest ones, including those that are supposed to handle up to 3A load. Some of them work with my ZLs, but they all shut down under load with an emisar d3aa, as an example, while a Nimh works fine. Given that, I will only use the 1.5v lion when I absolutely have to until the load handling improves.
 
Msf said:
they all shut down under load with an emisar d3aa
Click to expand...
good to know about the 1.5V rechargeable LiIon. If they trip in a Zebra, that suggests they are limited to 1.5A draw.

re USB 14500
a typical 14500 has a 3A max sustained draw, and USB cells are Protected

On Turbo the D3AA draws 5.65A
Disabling Tutbo prevents tripping the battery LVP on USB 14500

Zebras draw less than 3A, so Protection does not trip.

A D3AA draws 3A when it is making 950 lumens on step 7 of 7 (I lower that ceiling to 500 lumens, which is equivalent to 1.4A draw.

500 lumens is the max my SC53, so it is drawing less than 1.5A and protection does ot trip w USB LiIon.

I use Lumintop USB 14500 in my Zebra SC53, D3AA, and TS10. Since I disable Turbo, and lower the Ceiling on the Anduril lights (to draw less than 3A), the protection does not trip.
 
Last edited:
As far as USB 14500 Lumintop and Manker which are rated at 3A, I have not had them trip in any of my lights (d3aa, Zebralight, CWFs, etc).
The issues have been with the 1.5v lion of every brand I have tested (Keeppowers, Hinsons, Xtars). I have had decent luck with latest keeppowers and hinsons in my Zebralights, but they trip on anything beyond step four on the D3AAs. I run the D3AAs on Hanks stock settings.
But, if you want to use the 1.5v lion in your Zebralights, I have found two that seem to work well and provide decent runtimes. The Keeppower P1450TC work well and have an integrated USB port which is convenient for charging. The other, is the Hixon J818, but it doesn’t have an integrated USB port.
 
Msf said:
As far as USB 14500 Lumintop and Manker which are rated at 3A, I have not had them trip in any of my lights (d3aa, Zebralight, CWFs, etc).
The issues have been with the 1.5v lion of every brand I have tested (Keeppowers, Hinsons, Xtars). I have had decent luck with latest keeppowers and hinsons in my Zebralights, but they trip on anything beyond step four on the D3AAs. I run the D3AAs on Hanks stock settings.
But, if you want to use the 1.5v lion in your Zebralights, I have found two that seem to work well and provide decent runtimes. The Keeppower P1450TC work well and have an integrated USB port which is convenient for charging. The other, is the Hixon J818, but it doesn’t have an integrated USB port.
Click to expand...
Many of the older 1.5V liions are literal alkaline replacements...even the newer ones that do the 1.5V regulated drop to 1.1V for low battery warning. They're designed as alkaline replacements, so the overdraw protection would kick in for most things which would destroy an alkaline cell.
 
Msf said:
The advantage I could see in running a14500 in my SC5 is when I am traveling and don’t want to carry a battery charger. There are plenty of reliable 14500s that have integrated usb-c ports. Unfortunately there aren’t any NiMh with integrated charging ports.
Click to expand...
I have a set of these inbound now.

I am going to carrying only USB-C chargable devices on my May work rotation in an attempt to simplify/consolidate my load out. I ordered two 14500 as well.

Image 4-30-25 at 08.06.jpeg


Image 4-30-25 at 08.02.jpeg
 
this_is_nascar said:
...from off a click is low brightness, hold is medium and doubleclick is high. Modes are spaced by skipping steps in G6 and those steps are used in G7, with the G6 steps skipped.

Meaning, on a click from off on G6, L1 and L3 are used, hold from off is L5 and L7, double click from off is L9 and L11.
Click to expand...
This has been my preferred set up as well. Love it.
jon_slider said:
your G6 using Zebra Notation.. lol
lumens from SC54 factory specs:

1C L4 0.01 lm / L2 0.34 lm
2C H4 92 lm / H2 181 lm
Hold M4 2.6 lm / M2 14.1 lm

Long Hold M4 2.6 lm, H4 92 lm, L4 0.01 lm
Click to expand...
Your Zebra linguistics skills are strong!
 
Msf said:
Actually, I have several of the 1.5v lion batteries, including the ones you link to. I have tried most of the latest ones, including those that are supposed to handle up to 3A load.....
...The issues have been with the 1.5v lion of every brand I have tested (Keeppowers, Hinsons, Xtars). I have had decent luck with latest keeppowers and hinsons in my Zebralights, but they trip on anything beyond step four on the D3AAs....
Click to expand...
jon_slider said:
good to know about the 1.5V rechargeable LiIon. If they trip in a Zebra, that suggests they are limited to 1.5A draw....
...A D3AA draws 3A when it is making 950 lumens on step 7 of 7...
Click to expand...
Check out this test on some Xtar 1.5V USB-C LiIons. Indicates that the cut off is 3A for max current, 2A for sustained. Go back a littler earlier in the vid and he demonstrates that the heat generated at the circuit is a problem for sustained current. The active circuitry of protected LiIons, weather they be 1.5V or 3.7V, seems to be a limiting factor that I'm not sure they'll ever overcome.

@Msf , have you tried these specfic Xtars in the D3AA? Won't be able to run turbo, but still might enable step 7.
jon_slider said:
...I use Lumintop USB 14500 in my Zebra SC53, D3AA, and TS10. Since I disable Turbo, and lower the Ceiling on the Anduril lights (to draw less than 3A), the protection does not trip.
Click to expand...
On paper, those Lumintops USB14500s are rated at 4A. Not sure if that's actually true. I believe that's higher than any protected 14500 I know about. Regardless, they are great cells. I picked up a few after reading some of your posts and have not been disappointed.
Msf said:
...But, if you want to use the 1.5v lion in your Zebralights, I have found two that seem to work well and provide decent runtimes. The Keeppower P1450TC work well and have an integrated USB port which is convenient for charging. The other, is the Hixon J818, but it doesn’t have an integrated USB port.
Click to expand...
I'm going to add those Keeppower cells to my list of cells to try. I've had good luck with those Hixons also. Going to add a few more 1.5V USB rechargeables that have worked well enough for in Zebras where high amps aren't needed:
  • Fenix ARB L14 2200 (USB C)
  • Fenix ARB L14 1600 (micro USB)
  • EBL 3300mWh (micro USB)
    IMG_4316.jpg
I very much like these these 1.5V 14500 cells for Zebralights. They've supplanted Eneloops as my primaries. One perceived downside is that the voltage doesn't taper off so the battery indicator on the light always reads full. It will be 4 flashes nearly to the point where the light just shuts off. It'll step down for like 30 seconds, but that's it. There's a new Xtar cell that supposedly tapers down, but have not tried those.
 
Last edited:
sim1tti said:
On paper, those Lumintops USB14500s are rated at 4A.
Click to expand...
agree, glad they are working for you, I have several, they make good travel batteries for my D3AA and TS10, no need to carry a charger.

I lost one Lumintop USB 14500 to experimenting w Turbo.. after about the 6th time on Turbo, the protection would not reset..

sim1tti said:
Xtar 1.5V USB-C LiIons
Click to expand...
thanks for the detailed info on the 1.5V LiIons, have not tried them, but sound like a good option for an AA Zebra.. especially the USB-C version..
sim1tti said:
There's a new Xtar cell that supposedly tapers down
Click to expand...
great info!
 
Last edited:
jon_slider said:
I lost one Lumintop USB 14500 to experimenting w Turbo.. after about the 6th time on Turbo, the protection would not reset..
Click to expand...
Good to know. I'll be cautious about pushing them too hard. Thanks.
sim1tti said:
There's a new Xtar cell that supposedly tapers down, but have not tried those.
Click to expand...
I linked to the wrong cells earlier, to ones that don't taper. Hyperlink fixed now.
 
Wait a second here. Did they go back to a lighter gray anodizing with the SC54c N? Most pictures I’ve seen make it look the same as the SC53c n, but this pic is throwing me for a loop.
IMG_0870.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top