SL series flashlights from Spark Tech-SL5 series flashlight is released

[Doug]

Anyone else in SoCal? How long did it take to get your light?

[Got Lumens?]

Well I'm impressed 5 Days to VT!
GL

[wacbzz]

So, after the information that GlobalPlayer and Heinz posted, are we to assume that regular 18650's (say AW's or Redilast's) do NOT work "correctly" in this light? We have to use unprotected 18650's?

[Esko]

So, after the information that GlobalPlayer and Heinz posted, are we to assume that regular 18650's (say AW's or Redilast's) do NOT work "correctly" in this light? We have to use unprotected 18650's?

No. If the assumptions are correct, the right solution is to use only high quality cells (like AW or Redilast) and AVOID using unprotected 18650's. At least the ones that are old, abused, or low quality. Of course, the other possible solution is to avoid using the turbo mode. 800 lumen vs. 500 lumen is not such a big difference in real life.

The protection circuit was not a problem in Heinz's test. Quite the other way. If there were no protection circuit in the old Trustfire, there could have been some serious troubles ahead.

[russthetoolman]

Got mine today, nice full beam and the small size and light weight is amazing.
I have not been able to remove the bezel to use the frosted lens, is there a trick or is it real tight? I used a soft piece of pine to grab the bezel and it is tearing the pine and not unscrewing...
Russ

[Doug]

What is the bezel made of? Is there a silver stainless steel option? I guess I could always get a SS bezel from someone else... anyone know the size?

[xyber]

Got mine today, nice full beam and the small size and light weight is amazing.
I have not been able to remove the bezel to use the frosted lens, is there a trick or is it real tight? I used a soft piece of pine to grab the bezel and it is tearing the pine and not unscrewing...
Russ

Hi, the head bezel is not glued, actually it was tightened by hands, please try again.

[moshow9]

Got mine today, nice full beam and the small size and light weight is amazing.
I have not been able to remove the bezel to use the frosted lens, is there a trick or is it real tight? I used a soft piece of pine to grab the bezel and it is tearing the pine and not unscrewing...
Russ

Maybe try pressing the bezel into the bottom sole of a tennis shoe? Worked for me on a couple of Jetbeam's that I used to own.

[wacbzz]

No. If the assumptions are correct, the right solution is to use only high quality cells (like AW or Redilast) and AVOID using unprotected 18650's. At least the ones that are old, abused, or low quality. Of course, the other possible solution is to avoid using the turbo mode. 800 lumen vs. 500 lumen is not such a big difference in real life.

The protection circuit was not a problem in Heinz's test. Quite the other way. If there were no protection circuit in the old Trustfire, there could have been some serious troubles ahead.

Hmmm...I swear that I read both Heinz and Xyber write that they had to use unprotected cells to power the light correctly and that the light was actually tested with only unprotected cells. I hope you're right and I simply read their posts wrong...it has happened before!!

[ernsanada]

SB Flashlights is giving away with purchase a FREE Xtar 18700 (18650) 2400mAh lithium ion battery. On the webisite they are protected batteries. So they must be ok to use,

[russthetoolman]

Tennis shoe is a great idea I had not thought of, thanks for sharing, I will try that now
Edit, shoe worked!

[xyber]

Maybe try pressing the bezel into the bottom sole of a tennis shoe? Worked for me on a couple of Jetbeam's that I used to own.

haha, good idea!

[xyber]

SB Flashlights is giving away with purchase a FREE Xtar 18700 (18650) 2400mAh lithium ion battery. On the webisite they are protected batteries. So they must be ok to use,

Hi, ern, Spark SL6 requires high quality cell to run with. Please try it and let us know.

[Lips]

Your SL design looks very nice and much better than the SC600 IMHO


Search Redilast or AW 18650

These batteries are made for high-current incandescent flashlights here on CPF and should be able to handle high current applications. These batteries work when most 18650 will trip the circuit in hotwires like the Mag85 & more powerful…

Max discharge current: 5.8A 2900 mah 18650 protected over and under from Redilast or AW here on CPF

Xyber (Love that you guys pushed the power on the SL's)

Can yo give us the lumen output per mode on the SL5 AA.
* the types of batteries it can use
* dimensions

[xyber]

Your SL design looks very nice and much better than the SC600 IMHO


Search Redilast or AW 18650

These batteries are made for high-current incandescent flashlights here on CPF and should be able to handle high current applications. These batteries work when most 18650 will trip the circuit in hotwires like the Mag85 & more powerful…

Max discharge current: 5.8A 2900 mah 18650 protected over and under from Redilast or AW here on CPF

Xyber (Love that you guys pushed the power on the SL's)

Can yo give us the lumen output per mode on the SL5 AA.
* the types of batteries it can use
* dimensions

OHH, Lips, thank you very much. Yes, we have confirmed that AW, Redilast and Sanyo can run with SL6.
Here is the spec of SL5
SL5-210CW
210lm/0.9 hours
120lm/1.8 hours
36lm/8 hours
10lm/30 hours
2lm/86 hours
SL5-2180OW
180lm/0.9 hours
100lm/1.8 hours
36lm/8 hours
10lm/30 hours
2lm/86 hours

Diameter: 25mm
Length: 93mm

Actually SL5 & ST5 use the same circuit. We are conservative on the specifications, SL5 is powered with 750mA on turbo with one AA, with 14500 it is up to 850mA.

[Esko]

Hmmm...I swear that I read both Heinz and Xyber write that they had to use unprotected cells to power the light correctly and that the light was actually tested with only unprotected cells. I hope you're right and I simply read their posts wrong...it has happened before!!

You are mostly correct. They had used unprotected cells, but they didn't have to. By the way, some of the cells inside AW/Redilast batteries are actually made by Sanyo.

Unprotected cells should be safe to use with a light that has a low voltage shut down. However, if there is a possibility of very high discharge currents, they should be avoided. There wouldn't be any protection against that. A high quality cell can become bad, too. The possible causes are mistreatment, heavy use, or just becoming (very) old.

I think the behavior should be examined more thoroughly. This could be an issue, and if it is, it should be solved as soon as possible. I have no idea what could cause this kind of behavior. Shouldn't it be quite the opposite? High internal resistance -> less current? It is also strange, that when xyber tested CR123s, they worked fine. But it is not quite the same with Heinz's test.

Heinz, could you test the old Trustfire with another high current device? Just to make sure that it can handle it.

[JAG]

today my SL6 arrived. a fine little flashlight !

but i have a problem with the switch:

sometimes, when the SL6 is on, and i want to change to super-mode by clicking twice on the back-switch, the flashlight is going off.
sometimes when the SL6 is on and i will switch it off by clicking once on the back-switch, the flashlight keeps still on.

and sometimes it works correct. i couldn´t detect any system. i use AWs 2600 - 18650 rechargeable batteries.

what could be the reason for this ?

same problem with the front-switch, too !!!

[goose2283]

Paypal sent for one SL6-740NW with shipping to Canada: $89+$17=$106.

Would you please include frosted lenses for the SL6 and the ST6 headlamp?

Thank you!

[xyber]

today my SL6 arrived. a fine little flashlight !

but i have a problem with the switch:

sometimes, when the SL6 is on, and i want to change to super-mode by clicking twice on the back-switch, the flashlight is going off.
sometimes when the SL6 is on and i will switch it off by clicking once on the back-switch, the flashlight keeps still on.

and sometimes it works correct. i couldn´t detect any system. i use AWs 2600 - 18650 rechargeable batteries.

what could be the reason for this ?

same problem with the front-switch, too !!!

Hi, it is not the battery problem, please clean the tube and tighten the tailcap to try again.
If there is still issue, we will replace it for you.

Thank.

[JAG]

now i cleaned the tube, the threads and all the shiny parts of the tube with pure alcohol, but the problem is still the same.

it is not very often and i couldn´t detect a system. but i think the switch have to work reliable.

thank you for your service to offer me replacement.

how is procedure for replacement ?

[Got Lumens?]

*** DO NOT USE RCR123A ***
. . . . . It Will Kill The Driver ! . . . .
. . . . . . . MAX 7.6 Volts . . . . . . . . .

Huge unnecessary quote removed.
Norm

Thanks for tip

[Doug]

Xyber: my name does not have the model I asked for... Just to be clear, I want the SL6-800CW.... and if you could pick the coolest white for me, I would appreciate it!!

[Alankujala]

Hello Xyber! I have received my flashlight to Reno Nevada in less than a week after my order! Very impressed! I am having a little trouble with my torch turning of after about 5 seconds though after double clicking into turbo mode. I am using 2 brand new, fresh Panasonic CR123A's. Wrong battery for this light? All the other modes work fine. Please let me know....Thanks!

[russthetoolman]

Regards to the switch issue mentioned above, I have noticed different timing between side and tailcap switch. My side switch requires a quicker cycle than the rear.
EDIT, my misinformation deleted and Xyber's explanation is in a post below about how the tailswitch has a short momentary mode before ramping, used for signaling.

Russ

[xyber]

Done!

[JAG]

Hello Xyber! I have received my flashlight to Reno Nevada in less than a week after my order! Very impressed! I am having a little trouble with my torch turning of after about 5 seconds though after double clicking into turbo mode. I am using 2 brand new, fresh Panasonic CR123A's. Wrong battery for this light? All the other modes work fine. Please let me know....Thanks!

CR123 are not recommended for the SL6 ! please read the post #128 from hiltihome.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...=1#post2654831

[JAG]

Hi, it is not the battery problem, please clean the tube and tighten the tailcap to try again.
If there is still issue, we will replace it for you.

Thank.

now i cleaned the tube, the threads and all the shiny parts of the tube with pure alcohol, but the problem is still the same.

it is not very often and i couldn´t detect a system. but i think the switch have to work reliable.

thank you for your service to offer me replacement.

how is procedure for replacement ?

something new about replacement-procedure ??? cause i am not happy with the switch-bug of the SL6 :-(

[xyber]

Hello Xyber! I have received my flashlight to Reno Nevada in less than a week after my order! Very impressed! I am having a little trouble with my torch turning of after about 5 seconds though after double clicking into turbo mode. I am using 2 brand new, fresh Panasonic CR123A's. Wrong battery for this light? All the other modes work fine. Please let me know....Thanks!

Please try 18650 cells.

[xyber]

Regards to the switch issue mentioned above, I have noticed different timing between side and tailcap switch. My side switch requires a quicker cycle than the rear. I wish they had the same timing because it causes a lot of presses to get the timing right when transferring between the two switches.
So, I don't know if the different timing of the tailcap vs sideswitch is "normal" or a bug. That's my opinion, I could be wrong.
Russ

Hi, Russ, there should be no time gap. You might need some time to get used to the SL6 UI, actually you can find another hiden mode in it by holding on the button and release it before it goes into mode ramping. It is a momentary on feature.

[xyber]

something new about replacement-procedure ??? cause i am not happy with the switch-bug of the SL6 :-(

Hi JAG, it can be shipped out tomorrow.