There are some manufacturers (like Surefire) that have specially designed lockout tailcaps and they encourage it for storage. I don't think it would hurt! But for some flashlights it won't do anything. The Surefire tailcaps are designed to break connection on they are loosened, so it's good for storage.I was thinking if it is good for my flashlights and headlamps to leave the tail cap not all the way tighten when not in use.
Unscrewed a bit just enough to cover the "O" rings.
There are some manufacturers (like Surefire) that have specially designed lockout tailcaps and they encourage it for storage. I don't think it would hurt! But for some flashlights it won't do anything. The Surefire tailcaps are designed to break connection on they are loosened, so it's good for storage.
It's not just surefire or anything brand specific.
If the threads are anodized (black) while the end of the tube going into the tailcap is not (being bare metal), then a quarter twist will break the connection and provide a mechanical lockout.
It never hurts to do this.
If the light has a side electronic switch, the light constantly uses a little electicity in order to make the electronic switch work. So breaking the connection mechanically at the tailcap is a wise idea.
Lights that have mechanical rear switches break the connection as they are, so it's less mandatory. But for redundancy not a bad idea.
Or in Nitecore lights, uses a TON of electricity, sucking your battery dry in just weeks.If the light has a side electronic switch, the light constantly uses a little electicity in order to make the electronic switch work.
Yes, in lights with mechanical lockout, I always leave them partially unscrewed.
In lights that I don't use often, I remove the battery entirely (even if I can lock them out) so that it doesn't wear the springs over time. I don't know how quickly springs really wear with pressure over time but I do it anyway.
Spring wear... GREAT POINT!!!
Can't you just stretch the springs back out again if needed?
Yes but that is annoying to me. Plus, it's theoretically degrading the integrity of the spring over time. I don't know how much this all matters in reality, though or if the effects would even be measurable.
Spring wear in magazines is a legitimate issue. From the US Army's point of view, they had to rotate out a bunch of old magazines for that issue.
Is it as critical a concern for flashlights? Probably not - I don't think the batteries are compressed that much under normal use. Repeated abuse from something like recoil, that might be a different conversation.
Or in Nitecore lights, uses a TON of electricity, sucking your battery dry in just weeks.
Turn the light on, back the tail cap off until the light turns off, then back it off another 1/8th rotation or so -O rings will still be doing their job, and the light is locked out.
You might lose some programmed settings over a long enough time period, or maybe not. I don't know if any lights use non volatile memory or not.