Zebralight SC64c LE w/High CRI Nichia 219B R9080 $150

Thank you for the kind words here and via PM. It has been a rough couple weeks, but nobody died or anything that serious, and things are looking up a little.

I’m pleased to say all outstanding BLF orders are now shipped. As usual, if you selected a tracked method, I don’t have any idea whether PayPal actually sent you the tracking number, because that’s how they roll. I will go through my records tonight and send tracking numbers where appropriate just in case.

Good to hear things are looking up for you Bob!

+1 regarding would love to purchase a 219b ZL headlamp! :+1:

I would love to be able to offer a Nichia Zebralight headlamp, but the only model with the correct pads and driver voltage is the H53. I built one of these to test, but it’s limited to about 165 turn-on lumens with the floody version. I personally find it a somewhat unsatisfactory mod to actually work on compared to the SC64c because you have to smash the glass, which does some (non-functional) damage to the exposed edge of the reflector and also requires using one of my limited stock of replacement lenses. Unfortunately with the 18650 models, the only possible emitter swaps are either a different XHP35 or XHP50, and the high CRI XHP50 models are good enough there isn’t anything better available to swap in.

This all comes down to the integrated driver Zebralight has been using since about 2011. The LED pads are on the driver itself, so you have to use an LED that fits the pads and has the correct voltage. Zebralight used XM-L2 in almost everything before switching to XHP, both of which have few worthwhile emitter swap options. The SC64c and the other XP-L2 models only exist because of the quirky requirement Zebralight used to have for tint binning with the high CRI models. The XP-L2 EasyWhite is guaranteed to be extremely green at 4000K, but it was the only option that met their tint binning requirement. It’s literally the only reason 3V Zebralight models with standard XP pads exist. The SC64c and the various AA models are the only ones that support the 219B, LH351D, SST-20, etc. Since Zebralight follows spec sheets religiously, we even got lucky with the SC64c being limited to 3A, which is right on the upper end of somewhat acceptable for the 219B with the excellent thermal management.

On the plus side, Zebralight came to their senses and changed the SC64c to LH351D after I posted my original Zebralight mod. It’s still a bit green on the low settings, but much better than the XP-L2 EasyWhite at any level. But, not an R9080 219B of course.

Thanks for the explanation Bob. You are doing great work.

Headlamps are my go to for work. Just dreaming of one that had such a nice emitter as the 219b.

Do you know of a high quality headlamp that would work w the 219b? If so, maybe you can PM me and we can work out the details to purchase this mod. :wink:

E21A would be nice if possible now…

I received my sw45 last night and its everything I hoped it would be-really fantastic! Big thanks to Bob_McBob for this excellent service! I hope anyone who is on the fence, jumps on this great opportunity before its too late :slight_smile:

Basically the ultimate EDC light for us snobs. :slight_smile:

Hey Bob, hope you are doing well.

Are you able to do a triple Nichia with optics.

I just received a new shipment of lights. There are three unspoken for if you’re on the fence :beer:

:smiley:

maukka, I’m a great admirer of your tests and measurements. I have a ZL sw35 on the way as well, and I’m thinking about battery choices and protecting the emitter. Have you done a tailcap current test at turn-on for H1?

Thanks,
Mike

Just wanted to bump the thread to say I am shipping lights from the latest batch now, so watch out for a shipping notice soon :slight_smile:

Great news! Thanks for the heads up Bob. :smiley:

Can’t wait!

Wow, Bob_McBob! I received my sw35. This is truly beautiful work that you do. My eyes tend to be drawn to flaws, but your work is immaculate! Thank you so much!

Do you have a beamshot of the dedomed LH351D?

I’ll try to take a comparison shot tonight or tomorrow. As a point of reference, the beam is tighter than the XHP35 HI in the SC64w HI because the die is smaller.

Speaking of the SC64w HI, the light on the left there is also modded with a high CRI LED. It’s a 4000K XHP35 HI which is closer to 4500K on turbo, and the tint is as good or better than the best stock SC64c LE (LH351D) samples I’ve tested. It also has a higher output at nearly 950 lumens FL1 (stock is about 1080, not the claimed 1300). I have more of these specific LEDs and I’m wondering if there would be any interest in me offering this mod in addition to the Nichia SC64c.

https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/ew9z1o/ned_zebralight_sc64w_hi_cri/

Wow, the drop in output from stock is very minimal! XHP35 HI is a great LED!

Did you ever get that beamshot of the dedomed LH351D?