SchwarzeWolke
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2014
- Messages
- 11
Ok, after reading more and more about flashlights and getting a grip how everything works I really want some of these!
Z41 Smart Switch
- Thread starter Mattaus
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
Any news on this project?
Mattaus
Flashlight Enthusiast
Received some boards during the week but they have some fabrication errors. At this stage I'll make do with what I have (they still work) for testing but I need to talk to the people who made the boards to see why they came out wrong. In Eagle and on the Gerber files everything looks fine.
Other than that it's just finding time!
Bimmerboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Take your time, Matt! No worries. Keep it fun! 
ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond
Flashlight Enthusiast
Take your time, Matt! No worries. Keep it fun!
+1 This is a hobby. Enjoy the build! We'll still be here when they are finally ready.
Your latest updates look fantastic. This is going to be a really polished item once you get it production ready.
Watching the build and seeing the updates is fun.
Mattaus
Flashlight Enthusiast
I've been mega busy these last couple of months renovating our kitchen (almost finished) as well as our en-suite which is tiny but nevertheless a total pain in the a** as I demolished it and have effectively started from scratch again. I even moved all the plumbing which is no easy task seen as it was all encased in a foot of concrete and ran through the footings of the house. Now my girlfriend is talking about extending or selling up and buying a bigger house. Fantastic.
Anyway, I digress.
I had a few minutes tonight to my self so I got stuck into the ULP prototype. Picture of the complete unit below:
A few notes:
1) The 3D printed spacers were effectively sanded to half their original thickness. I may make this a permanent change instead of just correcting the 'flipped' cavities. The reason for this is too complicated to bother typing out, but it makes sense
2) I originally had no spring internally for the coin cell. I've decided to include one now (its like a really thin plate) because it a gives much more solid feeling when assembled.
3) I'm testing the latest iteration of the firmware which is supposed to dim the output briefly when the coin cell voltage falls too low (instead of fully cutting power as per V1.0). This should avoid unintended mode changes. The only problem here is seen as the coin cell is still sitting at over 3V it might take me a LONG time to get down low enough. I might have to get hold of a bench top power supply to test this feature properly.
4) Assembly was easy enough. Not a 5 minute process though.
5) Installation into the tail was a bit of a pain. This is because the holes that were included to aid screwing the adapter in are straight through holes. The plastic spacers sit on the other side. If I slipped it effectively popped the lid off the switch and I had to take it out, reassembled and start again. I might try and include grooves in the adapter itself rather than the bottom PCB.
6) The switch boots I use have a central knub that needs to be cut down otherwise it presses too hard on the switch. I cut the first boot too short and it resulted in an air gap between the boot and the switch. Not a deal breaker, but not a nice feeling when you rest your thumb on the boot.
7) The switch is currently in a Z44 tail on an L2T host. If installed in a SureFire tailcaps the tail must be screwed on far enough that the ULP Switch adapter makes contact with the lip of the battery tube otherwise no electrical contact will be made. This is because SureFire anodize the internals of their tail caps. This is not an issue on SolarForce tailcaps as they are bare internally.
The prototype is working perfectly at the moment. The Z52/57 prototype is still in the assembly phase. I'm missing one PCB which I forgot about ordering with all the renovating that's been going on. It is on its way to me now though.
- Matt
PS. Because I'm proud of my handiwork...before and after. If my girlfriend gets her way it'll get ripped out or extensively remodeled in less than 12 months time!
Anyway, I digress.
I had a few minutes tonight to my self so I got stuck into the ULP prototype. Picture of the complete unit below:
A few notes:
1) The 3D printed spacers were effectively sanded to half their original thickness. I may make this a permanent change instead of just correcting the 'flipped' cavities. The reason for this is too complicated to bother typing out, but it makes sense
2) I originally had no spring internally for the coin cell. I've decided to include one now (its like a really thin plate) because it a gives much more solid feeling when assembled.
3) I'm testing the latest iteration of the firmware which is supposed to dim the output briefly when the coin cell voltage falls too low (instead of fully cutting power as per V1.0). This should avoid unintended mode changes. The only problem here is seen as the coin cell is still sitting at over 3V it might take me a LONG time to get down low enough. I might have to get hold of a bench top power supply to test this feature properly.
4) Assembly was easy enough. Not a 5 minute process though.
5) Installation into the tail was a bit of a pain. This is because the holes that were included to aid screwing the adapter in are straight through holes. The plastic spacers sit on the other side. If I slipped it effectively popped the lid off the switch and I had to take it out, reassembled and start again. I might try and include grooves in the adapter itself rather than the bottom PCB.
6) The switch boots I use have a central knub that needs to be cut down otherwise it presses too hard on the switch. I cut the first boot too short and it resulted in an air gap between the boot and the switch. Not a deal breaker, but not a nice feeling when you rest your thumb on the boot.
7) The switch is currently in a Z44 tail on an L2T host. If installed in a SureFire tailcaps the tail must be screwed on far enough that the ULP Switch adapter makes contact with the lip of the battery tube otherwise no electrical contact will be made. This is because SureFire anodize the internals of their tail caps. This is not an issue on SolarForce tailcaps as they are bare internally.
The prototype is working perfectly at the moment. The Z52/57 prototype is still in the assembly phase. I'm missing one PCB which I forgot about ordering with all the renovating that's been going on. It is on its way to me now though.
- Matt
PS. Because I'm proud of my handiwork...before and after. If my girlfriend gets her way it'll get ripped out or extensively remodeled in less than 12 months time!
SchwarzeWolke
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2014
- Messages
- 11
Are you also planning on doing a version for some bigger and popular lights like all the C8 clones?
Thinking about a C8 host with some driver which can be switched through an electronic one.
Is this even pssible or am I totally mistaken? Thought that the tail clicky acts as a clicky and electronic switch.
Edit: Nice work on your kitchen!
Thinking about a C8 host with some driver which can be switched through an electronic one.
Is this even pssible or am I totally mistaken? Thought that the tail clicky acts as a clicky and electronic switch.
Edit: Nice work on your kitchen!
I agree that using holes in the circuit board to twist in and twist out is not a great idea. Always better to have something in the housing to grip onto.
Nice job on the remodel. I have emailed your GF to suggest moving the window 12 inches to the left. Would distribute light better in the room.
eala
Nice job on the remodel. I have emailed your GF to suggest moving the window 12 inches to the left. Would distribute light better in the room.
eala
880arm
Flashlight Enthusiast
Nice work! Both on the switch and the kitchen!
Bimmerboy
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hahahaha...Nice job on the remodel. I have emailed your GF to suggest moving the window 12 inches to the left. Would distribute light better in the room.
Of course, the more work Matt does increases the chances she'll decide to sell.
Mattaus
Flashlight Enthusiast
Lol if she gets her way that wall will be gone all together.
This switch could easily be re-worked for various hosts. It's all about fitting the circuit to the light in question. What is making this particular design tricky is that the tail caps they are designed for are not particularly big. It's really cramped in there. If you had a light with a larger tail, I could theoretically re-work the switch very quickly and very easily. For example I have a SureFire M6 here that I am contemplating heavily modifying (internally, not the looks) and one upgrade I've considered is including my switch in the tail. Obviously this will wait until this project (and a few custom orders for some CPF members) is complete.
I'll hopefully have the Z52/57 prototype done within the next fortnight, though I'm nervous to see what mistakes/oversights have been made. The ULP switch threw up a fair few and it is mechanically MUCH simpler than the Z52/57 switch.
- Matt
This switch could easily be re-worked for various hosts. It's all about fitting the circuit to the light in question. What is making this particular design tricky is that the tail caps they are designed for are not particularly big. It's really cramped in there. If you had a light with a larger tail, I could theoretically re-work the switch very quickly and very easily. For example I have a SureFire M6 here that I am contemplating heavily modifying (internally, not the looks) and one upgrade I've considered is including my switch in the tail. Obviously this will wait until this project (and a few custom orders for some CPF members) is complete.
I'll hopefully have the Z52/57 prototype done within the next fortnight, though I'm nervous to see what mistakes/oversights have been made. The ULP switch threw up a fair few and it is mechanically MUCH simpler than the Z52/57 switch.
- Matt
DBCstm
Flashlight Enthusiast
The kitchen definitely looks much better now, excellent work!
Nice progress on the switch as well.
So, what time is Dinner?
Nice progress on the switch as well.
So, what time is Dinner?
Mattaus
Flashlight Enthusiast
The kitchen definitely looks much better now, excellent work!
Nice progress on the switch as well.
So, what time is Dinner?
Thanks Dale
Dinner time here will be 6pm tonight, so about 3am for you
DBCstm
Flashlight Enthusiast
I can eat at 3AM, just ask Mary!
ReAlLy NeEdInG oNe Of ThEsE sWiTcHeS! McClicky's don't fare well at 10.32A in an L2P.
ReAlLy NeEdInG oNe Of ThEsE sWiTcHeS! McClicky's don't fare well at 10.32A in an L2P.
climberkid
Flashlight Enthusiast
I can eat at 3AM, just ask Mary!
ReAlLy NeEdInG oNe Of ThEsE sWiTcHeS! McClicky's don't fare well at 10.32A in an L2P.
Oh boy!
DBCstm
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yeah Alex, I built a hot rod triple for an L2m shorty and the 18350's couldn't handle doing 11A for more than a few seconds. Had to move it over to an L2P and reduce my battery quality, significantly.
Had to move it over to an L2P and reduce my battery quality, significantly.AndyF
Flashlight Enthusiast
Any update on this interesting project?.
Mattaus
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'm still working on it but it's very slow going. I have a lot going on away from flashlights plus two other flashlight projects that take precedence (they're not for me).
- Matt
- Matt
Great Work !!
Megatrowned
Enlightened
