My thoughts on the Solar Storm SC01 (mini review)

LED Flashlights – General Info
22

I wonder how hard it would be to get a blf version with faster pwm and a higher high, and more tint options?

23

On/Off is looking pretty good now.

24

we don’t have any custom firmware or builds for a boost/linear regulator driver (AA/14500), there is one for the 14500 only

If the driver is 15 or 17mm then there are the DD drivers on ATtiny but you loose the AA boost functionality

Biggest problem is right now… noone has had a successful teardown of the SC01 to get to the pill and driver…

25

[quote=WarHawk-AVG]

I’m not getting the ramping to (max low mode) on the first click I’m at medium and from there it ramps up slightly then flashes and stays put, it’s hardly any difference from one to the other. It was ramping up from medium then flashing and going to a low but it’s not doing that now. So I have a hidden moon and blinky, a medium and high but a pretty much useless ramping function. (I can live with that actually because of the moon mode)

Must be the driver is bad, unless there are more drivers than just one being put into these.

26

release on double flash, click hold again, it will reset to low back to ramping, right now you have it ramped up

I got my SC01 from BG

27

Thanks I see what you mean and it does go back down a little but not to a low just the same medium that you get with the first click.

It goes back to medium after the double flash and click hold again, which is only a little lower than high.

28

My SC01 is working well, but the SC03 is draining cells. I'm using Efest IMR 16340's and they are going dead in either one day, or couple days - not sure. Hhmm... I'll have to check the parasitic drain.

Really not sure if the entire flashlight body is one piece or if there's a glued joint. Taking the SS bezel off gets you access to the star/LED, but dunno if the pill is screwed or press fit in. Tried some pressure on the driver to push it out the front, but didn't work. Also tried CCW screwing the pill from the top - no go. Well, if the SC03 has a driver issue, just may be forced to go harder til it's out or something breaks...

Dealing with FastTech on an issue -- I'd imagine it's a nightmare. I've had no probs with issues/credit with them before, but that was back when they were good and responsive...

29

I’ll see what i can do when mine show up in a couple days.

30

My SC03 does have a high parasitic drain issue, the SC01 doesn't. I can actually measure a current on the SC03 (0.001A) when it's off on my DMM, while on the SC01 and other e-switch lights it measures 0.000 amps. Guess with a cell in it, I'll have to turn the tailcap a 1/4 turn loose when not in use.

31

Thanks for letting us know that Tom. I’ll make sure to keep mine twisted just in case. I walked mine around a while ago and I like it but it’s a bummer about how the dimming isn’t right on this one. I’m just going to keep it and use it as a three mode.

32

Thank you for your mini-report. I thoguth about getting one fo these, but your report now changed my mind on it, and will stick with my comparable Ultrafire UF-T20, and my Olight S15 for single-AA lights.

33

thanks for the chime in. i just recieved a sc03. my gripe is that theres no way to start on high mode

34

You’re welcome. I guess it’s not really a bad light for the price. It’s just kinda OK. If you know what I mean?

35

If these ran $12 or less…would make great Christmas presents (that or SK68’s)

36

Yep

37

If there is a BLF edition, hope to see it with cooling fins as in the Palight version to better handle 14500 heat.

38

Just received my 14500 batteries and popped them in. The light works just fine, quite some output for this size light.

But once I’ve set it on my own low mode, it looks like it wants to ramp up in very small irregular bursts. Is this the PWM I’m noticing? I’ve got several lights (c8, nitecore p12, 3t6, supfire M6 e.o.) and with those lights I don’t have this problem.

39

No PWM is when it makes things like rain seem to strobe. If you point a light with PWM at a white wall you shouldn’t notice it. Turn the shower on and point it at it and you will. The worse the PWM the more of a strobe light the water will look like.

I am also having some flickering issues with mine and plan to take it apart and see if I can find a short someplace.

40

The PWM is pretty bad on the SC01, but it seems fine for my intended use as a backup flashlight. The ~$12 quoted in this thread sounds about right. Definitely not worth $20.

Now I just need to sort out the XM-L mess with the units from BG...

41

I see wallbuys has the SC01 in XM-L2 T6 tint for $11.86 shipped. Are these worth it now at this price, or better to get some more Convoy S2+ deal thats going for $12 instead?

I know I can at least get the Convoy, s2+ with a 3A driver for about $12.5 shipped, as I already ordered one. Which one do you think is the better deal, now that they are at even prices?