A new twist on the twisty

[js]

I have been experimenting with putting a foam washer in the P-123 twisty pack itself rather than in the head of the LS, and I really like the results. The twisting action is very smooth, perhaps due to the fact that the battery is not moving relative to the walls of the pack that is holding it. Compare this to the Arc AAA, where the battery rotates relative to the AAA body, and thus can be quite noisy and have no small amount of friction when it is new. If the only point of rotation is the head contact, there is less friction. I also wrap paper tape around the battery to get a snug fit and I haven't tried omitting this yet with the tail end foam ring, but I will soon.

The only issue I have run into is that different 123 batteries have a different rear rim to contact plane spacing. When I put a SF123 in, I found my foam ring was too thick, even though it was perfect for the DP123 batteries. I find that using a softer polyurethane foam mitigates this to a large extent, but I still need to find the perfect thickness and density. I have access to a set of arch punches and a lot of spare foam on hand, so I was thinking of offering foam rings for free w/ SASE once I perfect the two different types (tail position vs. head position.) The other thing I like about the tail position foam ring is that there is no need to glue it in. There are no threads or retaining rings to bother it, and no silicone lubricant to goop it up, so you can just slightly oversize it and push it down and it stays there happily. Its just as easy to replace it, with no need to scrape off stuck on foam/glue remnants.

I will keep everyone posted, but for now does anyone have any thoughts or comments, and would anyone be interested in free foam rings, or has everyone pretty much jurry riged their own?

Thanks everyone, in advance.

 

[Beretta1526]

I think the foam ring is used in the head to reduce wear on the + contact on the board. Turning the battery with the tail could quite possibly wear the contact point prematurely.

Peter?

 

[Gransee]

The foam retainer used in the older LS designs was there to reduce rattling of the battery. I mentioned awhile back that it can be used in either the front or rear. The rear has the advantage that if you switch between the P-123 and TSP-123, the head is consistant for both packs.

Peter

 

[js]

Thanks Peter,

I missed your mention of dual use, front or rear. Sorry. Didn't mean to suggest that no one else had ever thought of it, just that I am only just now trying it.

As for premature wear on the contact point, I don't think that's an issue. You'd have to do a whole lot of twisting to wear away any significant amount of the contact point.

Peter, BTW, exactly what type of foam do you use in your flashlights?

 

[ac68886]

[ QUOTE ]
js said:
The only issue I have run into is that different 123 batteries have a different rear rim to contact plane spacing. When I put a SF123 in, I found my foam ring was too thick, even though it was perfect for the DP123 batteries. I find that using a softer polyurethane foam mitigates this to a large extent, but I still need to find the perfect thickness and density.

[/ QUOTE ]

I too have the foam in the tail pack, but to counter the changing interior of the twisty, i found that a flat coiled paper clip worked wonders in making the thickness of foam and diameter of the inner hole irrelevant. YMMV.

 

[js]

Well, I definitely prefer the foam ring in the twisty and not in the head. I have found
a medium to light-ish density foam that works with both of the battery types I have
and which makes the action smooth and easy while still preventing rattling. I also
found that tape around the battery is not needed. I like the rotation to occur at the
cobalt gold contact point, which is smooth, rather than at the nub in the twisty, which
is not nearly as smooth, and which leaves strong marks on the battery. The + contact
rotation at the head, leaves very little marking on the battery.