Why I chose a Skilhunt H300 for Winter weather, instead of a Zebra H600

[jon_slider]

My winter kit includes a Skilhunt H300 with Molicel P30B Cold Tolerant LiIon (with a Convoy Button top spacer) and 2x CR123a as backups

(Powder skiing on a full moon, headlamp off)

The H300 uses a reflector with clear lens. The stock LED is a cool white, Low CRI XHP-50.3 Hi LED. (I swapped in a High CRI 5000K XHP-50.3 Hi LED).

(stock low cri on left, high cri mod on right)

The H300 is intended for use as a Night Skiing light, and as a vehicle light year round. The stock battery is protected, which means the body tube fits longer batteries, including 2x CR123a. And the Voltage range of the H300 goes up to 8.4V, which means 2x CR123a (6.6V combined), is within the Voltage range of the light. (A Zebra H600 has a max Voltage range of 6V)

Unprotected Flat Top such as the Molicel P30B (rated to -40F) also work in the H300, though they are shorter. They benefit from using the Convoy Button Top spacer to prevent the battery from losing contact if the tail gets tapped.

Both the Molicel and the CR123a backups, tolerate higher and lower temperatures than regular LiIon.

Temperatures here range from 5F in winter, to 90F in summer. In summer the interior temperature of my car in the glovebox, as well as in the rear cargo area, reaches 115F.

A Zebra H600d weight w headband and battery is 4.4oz (1.1oz lighter than the H300 w stock battery and headband). The Zebra H600 is 0.27” shorter than the H300.

An advantage of the Zebra is the indented button, that does not require lockout the way the H300 demands.

A disadvantage of the Skilhunt headband is the clamp opens up over time and gets loose, even with no light inserted. I added the O ring for this reason.

(Skilhunt sent me a free replacement clamp, but I added the O ring since it is the same type that opened up last time)

battery weights:

2x CR123a weigh 32.3 gms combined

a Flat Top Molicel P30B 18650 weighs 44.5 gms

the stock Skilhunt protected 18650 weighs 50 gms (it is rated to -4° F)

it is also possible to use USB-C 18650 (rated to -4° F) in the Skilhunt… (but they lack the cold tolerance of the Molicel)

compare and contrast Skilhunt and Zebra:

[Lightbringer]

Do you need a cold-duty cell for starting up, only? Or wouldn’t the cell warm up internally with use?

[jon_slider]

@Lightbringer

Do you need a cold-duty cell for starting up

yes because the light will be stored either in a car or a backpack, at ambient winter temperatures

And if the battery is frozen and does not produce full output, it also wont generate as much heat, plus it will be operating in a sub 0°C environment.

my understanding is that Output and Runtime is reduced as ambient temperature goes lower, so it seems it is helpful in terms of Output and Runtime, to have the option to use a -40C rated Molicel, and some -40C rated CR123a. And not risk any possibly poor performance, from relying exclusively on -20C rated LiIon.

otoh, the molicel has 25% reduced capacity to begin with.. so not sure what will run longest in real life… a 4000mAh 18350 w USB-C with -20C rating, or a 3000mAh Molicel rated to -40C, or a pair of CR123a rated to -40C

I dont have any real world testing experience, so I chose a light that can run all 3 options. And included one of each in the kit: (a Molicel is inside the headlamp)

The handheld Zebra is also loaded w Molicel, plus a spare..

can you see the madness to my method?;-).. lol

[Lightbringer]

I’d probably be snug inside with a nice gooey-rich hot chocolate, but hey…

[no_motor]

I’d be inside waiting for the plow to come around and dump more snow at the end of the driveway.