Thoughts about the SC21 from Sofirn

Normally I get lights with Anduril (bar throwers) not because I need all of the functions, but because there are basic ones I want to be able to use: Ramping, memory, lockout, and battery check. Sofirn really got the UI on the SC21 right (except for one). The button is pretty easy to push compared to the soft touch buttons on their larger lights so having an electronic lockout is really nice. It seems to be a trend that 4 clicks is lock/unlock and that is very appreciated because a standard like that is easy to remember. The UI is very similar to Anduril 2 muggle mode, but there isn’t a battery check which is the one thing missing and that would be really helpful, especially with a 800mAh battery. I find myself carrying lights with built in charging more and more because there is always a USB-C cable somewhere to top a light up instead of carrying an extra battery. The tradeoff is the smaller battery, even compared to the Zebralight. The “standard” parts sizes are also much appreciated. Unless I custom order a light, there’s always changes I want to make. The reflector is a 20mm size which seems odd because the diameter is smaller than a SC31/FC11. The stock LED is very acceptable, with only a hint of lemongrass in the corona but looks way better with a TIR which takes it to almost zero while white wall hunting. The only other change I would like to see with the UI is the ability to turn the button LED on in some way. I really find some kind of auxiliary light helpful, especially if I am somewhere I don’t know. It has an aux light, so there should be some way to turn it on. That’s my main complaint with the FWAA/Zebralight too, but at least with the latter, moonlight is low enough to work.

I really hope they make this light with Anduril (or the SP10), but even if they don’t, it’s a pretty great EDC light for the price. The UI and onboard charging really makes it a step above most AA lights.

The Sofirn SC21 is an extremely nice light. It gives my favorite 16340 based lights (mostly Olights) serious competition at a much lower price point. My favorite interface has been Olight’s and the stepped version on the SC21 is almost identical. In addition, the SC21 has a high CRI LED and doesn’t require a proprietary battery, unlike the Olights. The areas where the SC21 is not the equal of the Olights is esthetics and size. The SC21 is as large as some of my 18350 based lights. A very good light that that is a keeper.

Loving it apart from the weak magnet, but this morning a reddit post prompted me to test the LVP.

It doesn’t work. Light didn’t switch off, just dimmed. It was barely on when I checked the voltage, ~2.45V. It recovered to ~2.55V and now recharging. Not happy with that, could have killed the battery.

I tried the magnet in all sorts of ways and mine seems to be fine in all different angles, and seems to stick to knives just fine.

The no LVP is not a good choice though on a light with such a small battery. I just basically assume most lights like this have it, which I will have to be more careful about and check my other lights…

Anyone check the come-with cells? I did, twice clocked in at 473mAH, nowhere near the rated 800mAH. (Opus 3100. Tested a known-good 30Q which clocked in within 50mAH or so.)

Same for come-with cells from 2 other mfrs, so I think whoever’s supplying cells might be, umm, “taking shortcuts”.

So… dunno if I’d worry about no-LVP killing a cell unless I’d have a good one in there.

When I did my failed LVP test, above, recharged 707mAh so no wonder they dropped from 900 to 800mAh on the label.

during your test

did the red indicator light in the switch, also fail to come on?

Switch light worked as intended. Solid red and then blinking red as voltage dropped.

Make sure you run a capacity test at 0.2C = 160mA. These little cells may have a lot of voltage sage which would measure much less mAh

I agree with carsknivesbeer that no LVP is not a good choice, especially if it ships with an unprotected cell.

thanks, good to know

I agree it is less than ideal, to not have LVP in the light, when using Unprotected cells.

here are some things that make that less scary than before the new chemistries came out.

1. The cell is probably IMR/INR, and probably not unprotected ICR (needs verification).

2. There is a RED Light to warn the operator that the battery needs charging. I call this LVWarning instead of LVProtection.

3. We can use a protected cell of our own choosing.

It’s a nice light. I’m enjoying mine. Now if they will make another one like it for 10440 cells, I’d like that even better.