Concept Behind Reverse Clicky

With the addition of the Aurora and the Fenix, I'm now faced with the reverse clicky. I've stated in previous post that I don't care for this type of clicky. Is there a conceptual advantage to this type of clicky that has caused some lights to use this method? Why would a manufacturer use the reverse clicky instead of the "standard" version? Is it a regional thing, maybe?

TIN, it's most likely cheaper to manufacture a reverse-clicky switch with a decent current carrying capacity. They also seem to have a lower profile. Here is a thread that shows the internals of a Q3 switch.

Paul

Hi TIN-

I don't know if there is any advantage. The only thing I have noticed is that you are going to use the light in a blinker type mode it is somewhat easier to reliably cycle it on and off once the tailcap has been clicked. Don' t know how often this comes up. Obvious big disadvantage to me is if you want momentary light you have to turn it on constant first and when you release it is on.


As for region, I have only seen the reverse clickie in lights manufactured in Asia. Not all Asian lights have this feature, so I don't know if or where some preference for this feature exists.

They can scrap the concept as far as I am concerned.

MARK

Compared to a regular clickie, a reverse clickie sux.

But compared to a light that only has a clickie on/off (no momentary), at least you have the option of a 'momentary off' (for whatever reason*).

Also, reverse clickies don't accidentally turn on in your pocket/bag (of coz if they had tailcap locks, that would be best)

* some far-fetched reasons why a reverse clickie might be good (I have too much time) :
1) While your light is on constant on, you can signal with morse code, whereas a clickie would have to be turned off first, same goes for a twistie.

2) If you are checking out enemy grounds with torch on constant on and you hear someone coming, you can go 'stealth' easily without any sound. If he discovers you and whacks you on the face causing you to drop your torch, you can still find it easily later after beating him up because it will be on.

A regular clickie would have to make a click sound and a twistie is even slower to turn off.

3) I'm just plain nuts and am finding ridiculous reasons why a reverse clickie rocks

At one time in the past, I used momentary on with my lights. Probably when I was feeling more 'tactical'. And I certainly use expensive incandescent 123A eating lights in momentary mode often. But for most of my lights (and especially an efficient LED light) I simply see no point in holding my finger on the button. Just turn it on. Use it. Then turn it off. There are very few situations where a momentary on is actually needed...

edit: I think the only advantage of 'normal' clickies is that you get light quicker. But once again, I don't think many of us use lights in a situation where the extra fraction of a second is meaningful.

Mark

IIRC reverse clickies are easier to manufactur in a reliable way and thus cheaper and more widely available. And as Minjin said ... for non-tactical long-running LED-lights like the Fenix I really don't care as long as the switch is a decent one.
bernie

P.S.: it is a different story with a high-powered SF light ... there the true clicky is much appreciated.

Thanks for the input guys.

If you are checking out enemy grounds with torch on constant on and you hear someone coming, you can go 'stealth' easily without any sound. If he discovers you and whacks you on the face causing you to drop your torch, you can still find it easily later after beating him up because it will be on.

Click to expand...

Of course, if it's YOU that gets beaten up, he'll find it easier to steal your flashlight, too...

Anyway, I also detest reverse clickies and LOVE momentary-on. I'm thinking all that on-off clicking, for only a moment's light when needed, will somehow wear out the switch prematurely.

Can someone explain the differences between a clickie and reverse clickie ?

2dim : Nah, what's the chance he'll be a flashaholic too? haha Maybe he'll be distracted by the sudden switching on of the light and you can land a punch of your own...

nystrpr : a clickie is a torch with a button that when pressed lightly, will provide momentary light and if pressed all the way, will "click" into constant on mode.

A reverse clickie does nothing when pressed lightly while its off. Full pressure will "click" it on. While it is on however, pressing the button lightly will momentarily shut off the light.

Hello Nystrpr,

When you press a clickie, the light turns on momentarily, then you can click it to keep it on.

When you press a reverse clickie, nothing happens. The light turns on once it has clicked, then can be momentarily shut off with a slight press.

Tom

OK, I'm not a big fan of them either, but there is one advantage in that accidental-on is less likely. In other words a clicky that allows momentary-on may be subject accidental (if momentary) activation while in a pocket, bag or even cupboard drawer. Yes, there are button guards and LOTC to prevent this sort of thing with some clicky lights but in general reverse-clicky lights are less prone to accidental activiation.

Before I get slammed I did say I'm not a big fan of them - in fact I only have three lights with reverse-clickies and two of them are cheap (almost disposable) lights that I keep for emergencies only. The third is a Brinkmann NexStar that AFAIK isn't even produced anymore.

Jon

I have been wondering why asian manufacturers have inverted the so-natural concept of the Click switch, that "naturally" has, so far, turned on and then clicked.
Their light clicks first, then turn on.

For over a year I have been wondering why. Finally, I grasped the concept.

A forward clickie switch had to win the resistance of the spring before it clicks. It means that the spring has to have enough dynamics to push the contacts together after it has clicked in place, as well as to accomodate the "overshoot" that occur before the contacts clicks in place.

A spring not properly dimensioned, or with the wrong mechanical properties, makes a very bad forward clickie switch. The same spring would make an acceptable reverse clickie.

That is. The reverse clickie is the result of a cheap way of thinking.

I have been getting mad, lately, with the switch of the Q3. Historically, it was a reverse clickie. Now Nuwai has replaced the switch with a TACTICAL switch, which I understood to be a standard forward clickie switch.

So I bought two more Q3s, with the idea to use them as they are, stock.

In the reality, Nuwai has "modified" the reverse clickie. It is still a reverse clickie as it is mechanically built, but has an ADDITIONAL leaf contact inside, that closes when you start pushing in the switch. So you have:
PUSH - ON - CLICK - OFF - ON AGAIN. The same happens when you do the opposite cycle, with the result that if you turn the Q3 on and off rapidly, it looks like a strobe light. I felt fooled.

So I ripped off two switches I had from some old SL TTs, and I now have two two-stage Q3s. They are "normal" reverse switches, that I can live with. I can't, with TACTICAL STROBE switches from SING-FAI (It is the factory of the new switches).

Regards

Anthony

Errrr ...... who/what/when/why is momentary on, any more useful than just on ???

I couldn't care less about the clickie - just as long as it makes the thing shine bright

I love clickies and I actually PREFER reverse clickies. As some alluded to, I like the fact they won't accidentally activate near as easily as regular clickies will. I've had some "hot pockets" in the past with regular clickies! If I need momentary on, it's no big deal for me to just click the light on.

I guess my biggest issue is that if you want quick, momentary light, you need to entirely activate the light, than turn it off.

Exactly what TIN said. Momentary-on switches (clicky or twisty) are superior in that with just a bit of pressure (half press, if you will) you can turn on the light, see what you need and release. With a reverse clicky you're looking at two full clickes to cycle the switch through on and back to off. Inefficient, especially for tactical concerns. Does it matter for an emergency or camping light? No. Does it matter to a true flashaholic? It better!

Jon

I read very few posts in this thread so my input may be echoing that of another.

While cheaper and much smaller the reverse clickies due to their design are also more reliable. They provide a more solid path for the current to travel and seem to have very little resistance.

I've used many, many different lights that had reverse clickies and "normal" clickies and in most of the "normal" clickies I have noticed that the brightness of the light fluctuates if you slowly press the switch in, this to me says that there isnt a solid contact being made and could lead to reliability problems down the road. I have not had any reliability problems with reverse clickies and have come to prefer them for pocket carry due to the greatly reduced chance of accidental activation.

There have been dozens of threads about this very subject in the last few years and the consensus is about 50/50 on regular versus reverse clickies. I prefer reverse clickies for the very reason Jon prefers regular clickies. That light touch or half pressure on a regular clickie for momentary activation has burned me more than once with dead cells. I almost consider a reverse clickie having a "lock-out" feature. As far as two full cycles with a reverse clickie, heck even this ol' man can accomplish that in an eye blink even in a stress or tactical situation. If a reverse clickie is inefficient for tactical or stressful situations, man, that makes a twist switch down right totally lacking! I agree with chevro in that I've also noticed more positive contact with reverse clickies. Bottom line is, to each their own and I'm sure this debate will hang around forever. MY bottom line is I LOVE a good clickie, regular or reverse!