NEBO Master Series SL25

The NEBO Master Series SL25 is a rechargeable spotlight with a magnetic base, a mode select dial and a tripod mount, made by NEBO. The maker lists a 500 lumen spot mode reaching 400 metres, a 600 lumen white flood mode reaching 38 metres, and a 30 lumen red mode. Run times are listed as 6.5 hours on spot, 6 hours on flood and 10.5 hours on red¹.

Before you use it, take out the battery spacer fitted for shipping. The maker's manual says: "This unit uses a battery spacer during shipping. Remove the battery spacer before operation." To reach the battery, unlatch the battery compartment at the back of the unit¹. Charge it with the included USB-C cable, which the maker says takes 3 hours at 2.0A or up to 12 hours at 0.5A².

It is a substantial light, listed at 624g with the battery and 155mm by 56mm by 195mm, so it suits a shelf, a vehicle or a kit bag rather than a pocket². The maker rates it IP67 for dust and water and impact resistant to 2 metres¹. This page sets out what it does, how to charge and store it safely, and what to check before relying on it.

What the SL25 is and who it suits

The maker describes the SL25 as a rugged, rechargeable spotlight with a mode select dial, a magnetic base and a tripod mount, and says it has "a light beam a quarter mile long"¹. In practice it is a handheld searchlight: bright enough to pick out a path, a garden boundary or a vehicle at distance, and heavy enough that you would notice carrying it for a long walk.

The magnetic base is the feature that changes how you use it. The maker says it "securely attach[s] to any metal surface, freeing up your hands while providing directed light"¹. That makes it useful for work under a bonnet, on a steel rack or against a metal door frame, where a torch would otherwise need holding or propping.

The body is aircraft grade aluminium with a rubberised shock-absorbing exterior, which the maker says is impact resistant against accidental drops¹. The maker's product page lists impact resistance to 2 metres².

It is not a lantern and it is not a head torch. If you want a light that fills a room during a power cut, a battery or rechargeable lantern does that better; if you want both hands free while moving, a head torch is the usual choice. The SL25 suits the jobs those lights do not: seeing a long way, lighting a specific spot, and clipping to metal or a tripod.

Light modes and how far the beam reaches

The maker's manual sets out four positions on the Mode Select Dial: LOCK, Spot, Flood and Red¹. Press the trigger button to turn the unit on and off, and rotate the dial to cycle through the modes¹.

Figures as listed by the maker¹.

Spot is the long-throw mode: a tight beam for looking into the distance. Flood spreads light over a wider area at a shorter distance, which is what you want for lighting a workspace or a doorway. Red is the dimmest and longest-running mode, and it preserves your night vision better than white light, which is why it is often used for map reading or checking equipment without losing the dark. There is more on this in what red light mode is for.

The maker's manual and product page give slightly different figures in places: the manual lists spot run time at 6.5 hours, and the product page lists the same 6.5 hours for spot but 6 hours for flood¹. Where the two documents differ, treat the shorter figure as the one to plan around.

The manual also describes an integrated zoom that "allows you to effortlessly adjust the beam from a wide flood to a focused spot, simply by sliding the lens housing or twisting the lens sleeve"¹. That gives you a continuous range between the two beam shapes rather than only the fixed modes.

Run time and what to expect as the battery drops

The headline run times are 6.5 hours on spot, 6 hours on flood and 10.5 hours on red¹. These are the maker's figures for a fully charged battery, and they are the numbers to use when planning how long a light will last through an evening.

The SL25 has a feature the maker calls Smart Power Control, which "automatically adjusts light output based on remaining battery charge, gradually reducing brightness to extend runtime as the battery depletes"¹. In plain terms, the beam will dim as the charge falls. That is deliberate, not a fault, and it means the last hour of run time will be noticeably dimmer than the first.

If you need a light that holds full brightness until the cell is nearly flat, this is not that light. If you need the longest possible run from one charge, red mode gives you the most hours. For a comparison of how torch run times are quoted in general, see lumens, beam distance and run time explained.

Before first use: remove the battery spacer

The SL25 ships with a battery spacer fitted. The maker's manual is explicit: "This unit uses a battery spacer during shipping. Remove the battery spacer before operation." To access the battery, unlatch the battery compartment at the back of the unit¹. The maker's product page repeats the same instruction².

If the light does not switch on out of the box, the spacer is the first thing to check. It is a small part, so keep it somewhere safe if you intend to store the light for a long period, and keep it away from children and pets.

Charging the SL25 safely

The maker says to use the included charging cable to recharge the unit¹. Charge time is listed as 3 hours at 2.0A, or up to 12 hours at 0.5A². In other words, a higher-output charger fills it faster; a low-output one will take most of a day.

While charging, the last indicator light flashes. When charging is complete, all the indicators light continuously¹. Unplug the cable once charging is finished rather than leaving it connected indefinitely.

Battery safety advice from the fire and rescue service applies to any lithium-ion device, including this one. The London Fire Brigade advises that if a battery swells you should turn off the device and not remove the casing or tamper with the equipment⁴. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service advises that if equipment is stored without being used for any length of time, the battery should be removed³. The maker's own warning for this torch is to keep it away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks and open flames, and not to incinerate it².

For more on charging and storing rechargeable lights, see charging and storing rechargeable torches safely, and for charger compatibility see can the wrong USB charger damage a torch battery.

Reading the battery indicator lights

The SL25 uses four LED indicator lights just above the Mode Select Dial¹. The maker's manual sets out what they mean:

Figures as listed by the maker¹.

To check the battery without turning the beam on, press the trigger button while the Mode Select Dial is in the Lock position¹. That is useful before you put the light away or take it out: a quick press tells you whether it needs charging.

The same four lights double as the charging indicator: the last light flashes while charging, and all lights stay on continuously when charging is complete¹.

Built for rough use: IP67 and 2 metre drop resistance

The maker rates the SL25 IP67. The manual explains that this rating "ensures complete dust-tightness and water resistance up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes", and that devices with IP67 "can withstand accidental submersion, making them ideal for outdoor use or in challenging environments"¹. The product page lists the same IP67 rating without the detail².

The maker's product page also lists impact resistance to 2 metres². Combined with the aluminium body and rubberised exterior¹, that means the light is designed to survive being dropped and being caught in rain or a puddle.

IP67 is not a diving rating. It covers accidental submersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes, not prolonged use underwater. If you want to understand how these ratings work in general, see what IPX ratings mean for torches and lanterns.

Mounting it hands-free: magnet, tripod and belt clip

There are three ways to use the SL25 without holding it.

• Magnetic base. The maker says it "securely attach[s] to any metal surface, freeing up your hands while providing directed light"¹.
• Tripod mount. The product page lists an M6 tripod mount². The maker's guidance on its tripod-mountable lights says the feature "incorporates standard threading for secure attachment to any tripod, creating hands-free lighting"⁵.
• Belt clip. The maker says the belt clip "is designed so that it can be mounted on either side of the base. Simply screw the Belt Clip in the desired position"¹.

Size, weight and what comes in the box

The maker lists the weight as 624g with the battery fitted, and the dimensions as 155mm long, 56mm wide and 195mm high². That is a light you would carry deliberately rather than slip into a pocket.

The maker lists the box contents as a lanyard, a USB-C charging cable and a gift box². The battery spacer is fitted in the unit as shipped¹.

Keeping it safe to use

The maker's safety warning for the SL25 says: "Do not shine the light directly in someone's eyes." If the beam shines in your eye, look away immediately. Do not use magnifying instruments that could concentrate the beam. Keep the light away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks and open flames, and do not incinerate it².

At 500 lumens the spot beam is bright enough to dazzle. Keep it pointed away from faces, and be careful with children who may want to look into it. For more on this, see is it safe to look into a bright torch and torches, candles and children: keeping them safe.

To lock the light off, turn the Mode Select Dial to LOCK¹. That prevents accidental activation in a bag or drawer, and it is also the position from which you can check the battery.

Where to get help and support

The SL25 is made by NEBO, and the maker's instruction manual and product page are the first place to check for operating instructions and specifications¹. If you have a question about a specific unit, contact the retailer or the maker directly.

If you are building a lighting kit for power cuts, the emergency lighting at home section covers torches, lanterns and candles, and the power cut checklist sets out what to keep ready. For a light that fills a room rather than throws a beam, see lantern or torch: which lights a room better.