Both tail switch and side switch to turn on the light

Cemoi

Enlightened
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
529
Location
France
Hi all,

The Olight M2R and M2T have a side switch and a tail switch, which can both be used to turn on/off the light: the tail switch for a tactical use of the light (instant access to Turbo and Strobe) and the side switch to access lower modes.

Do you know any other lights which can be turned on using either switch?
Many lights (e.g. Fenix, Nitecore) have a side switch which can be used - to change modes - only once the light has been turned on using the tail switch.

Wishlist: 18650 size, neutral white LED preferred, and instant access to turbo and strobe using the tactical tail switch.

Another option would be only a tail switch, that allow to access either the tactical Turbo and Strobe modes, and any other less bright mode. Are there any lights with such an UI, or a double switch in the tail?
 
Klarus XT lights also have this feature. The models that have 3 switches function similarly but the side switch has to be held for a second to switch it off. Or you could simply tap the main tail switch to shut it off. You will get a quick flash of turbo but it will shut off once released. The newer Klarus XT series lights can also be set to come on in low with the press of the secondary tail switch instead of the strobe. This is how I have my XT11GT set to function. You can also disable the side switch to prevent accidental activation of the light especially with the lock-out ability of the tail cap.

As much as I would prefer my Olight M2T's side switch function of click-on, click-off with the hold to change levels...I like the Klarus's ability to access either low(swapped with strobe) or turbo from the tail switches, thus allowing either mode without changing my grip on the light.

Their 360 series also have side switches and essentially function the same way as the XT series. The difference being that the secondary tail switch is a ring around the entirety of the tailcap rather than a paddle. I'm not sure if it is a better design as I bought the 360 tailcap separately for my Klarus and have had mixed results. I have had mine get bumped on and stay on with this tailcap as well as had it flash into turbo when I gave it a single tap for a quick look at something. I think it is simply the 360 switch being extremely sensitive to activation on the outter ring and the standard paddle switch gives me no such trouble.
 
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Acebeam L16. Tactical "turbo only" rear forward clicky and side switch to access all modes. Both switches will turn light on-off.
 
Thanks folks for your replies and suggestions.
Since I'm not familiar with both the Klarus and Acebeam lights, I have browsed their respective product ranges on the manufacturers websites.
The Acebeam L16 can indeed be turned on with either the side or tail switch, nevertheless the latter only allows access to Turbo : to get Strobe you need to triple click the side switch. Moreover, the product description says "Please note if click the tactical tail switch at first, any side switch operation is useless" therefore the tail switch is only for Turbo, period.
The Klarus UI is far more versatile, with possible access to any mode using only the dual tail switch. Unfortunately there seems to be no other LED color than CW in their range, whereas Acebeam offers up to three different LED choices (among which high CRI ones) on some of their lights.
Besides, I'd prefer a more compact light (about 1" diameter for the entire light) and weighing less than 100g w/o battery, e.g. the dimensions of the Klarus XT2CR.
 
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Yes, you're spot on with the L16 UI, it is meant to be used as either a "tactical" light (hold it up by your ear, thumb on the tail switch; or, like a cigar)--the tail switch gets you to turbo, and only turbo, every time, no matter what, even with gloves and high adrenaline; or, as a lower-power general purpose light (hold it down by your side and cycle through modes with the side switch). I love that UI because of the certainty with the tailswitch--you always know what you get, and you can always find the tail switch. I love my neutral LED that I had Vinh put in there for me.

But, if someone didn't have a "tactical" use for a light, and just wanted customization and versatility, I'd recommend something with the Andruil UI and an e-switch that would be much smaller than the L16. Something like the FW3 or FW1 has a very versatile tail switch operation, and meets the "another option" of the OP at a much smaller size and price than the larger tactical tools above.
 
Thanks Keitho.
OK for your comment on the L16, but I don't find a more compact light in the Acebeam range with a similar dual use UI (tactical / general purpose).

Andruil UI (...) FW3 or FW1
Can you please explain further what these are?
 
The Streamlight Strion DS HL fits your needs almost exactly; 18650 (SL battery only) powered, and both switches operate the light. Turn on with the tail switch and turn off with the side switch, or vice versa. Switch modes with both switches and access strobe with both switches with a double click. It is not a neutral emitter however.
 
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Thanks Keitho.
OK for your comment on the L16, but I don't find a more compact light in the Acebeam range with a similar dual use UI (tactical / general purpose).


Can you please explain further what these are?

Correct, dual switches and a thrower beam take up space, so I don't see any two-switch thrower that is appreciably smaller than the L16, Acebeam or otherwise. The Lumintop FW3A and FW1A are BLF designed, and run a user interface developed by toykeeper called "Anduril." They're available in multiple colors and LED, and are designed to be easily modded. It is probably my favorite UI for a lot of reasons; it can be programmed to be a single-mode light, ramping mode, stepped mode with a programmable # of steps, and a whole lot more. The 3 has qty=3 LED; the 1 has qty=1 LED. The 1-LED light usually has a tighter hotspot and longer runtimes, the 3-LED light will usually have a broader beam and more output. See more info
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?459615-2800-Lumen-EDC-Lumintop-FW3A
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?462219-FW1A-amp-FW1T-from-Lumintop

Sorry I don't have my FW3A with me, but here is a size comparison of the L16 and a ZL SC64 (similar size to the FW1/3A, within millimeters). They both have their (pretty different) uses, and to me represent very good examples of designs for each set of uses (18650 2-switch tactical thrower vs 18650 general-purpose-as-small-as-possible). I've got this photo this morning because both tools are part of my EDC today (and very often).

 
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The Acebeam L16 can indeed be turned on with either the side or tail switch, nevertheless the latter only allows access to Turbo : to get Strobe you need to triple click the side switch. Moreover, the product description says "Please note if click the tactical tail switch at first, any side switch operation is useless" therefore the tail switch is only for Turbo, period

But your original question was: "Do you know any other lights which can be turned on using either switch?"
That's the versatility of the L16; it's both a tactical one-mode only light, and a multi-mode light.
 
Did you check out Klarus's latest offerings? I'm not very enthusiastic about their E1 as it uses a custom 18650 with both electrodes on one end. The advantage is that it's quite a bit smaller than even the Olight M2T. It also still uses two tail switches although they do function differently than the XT series. I believe it has mode memory on the main switch and the secondary is still mode change but also functions as low on when the light is off. Not absolutely sure about that though.

There is also the XT1C 2018 version but it doesn't have the third button on the side.

Also their G10 is rather small and has both side and tail switch.

Side note: The user interface on the FW3A is called Anduril...not andruil. It is named for the Elvish Sword aka "Flame of the West" that is reforged from Narsil, the sword that cut the Ring from Sauron's hand in the Lord of The Rings story. Aragorn wields it about half-way through the movie series.
 
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Hi all,

@SCEMan: correct, the L16 answers my original question. But in the meantime I realized that a tactical light should allow access to both Turbo and Strobe from the tail switch, which the L16 doesn't.

@Keitho: this interesting review allowed me to learn a lot about the Lumintop FW3A and its UI. As far as I understood, though allowing many different configurations, the Anduril UI doesn't allow to activate Strobe when the light is on in a constant mode, only from OFF.

@lightfooted: yes I have browed the Klarus website. I'm not fond either of the custom 18650 battery of the E1, moreover it can't use CR123A. And too bad the sloped tail prevents tailstanding...
I like the XT1C and its longer versions XT2C(R). And I've noted your point in a former reply:
lightfooted said:
I like the Klarus's ability to access either low(swapped with strobe) or turbo from the tail switches, thus allowing either mode without changing my grip on the light.
But I regret you don't have instant access to Turbo, Strobe and Low: the tactical mode gives access to Turbo and Strobe (not Low), the outdoor mode gives access to Turbo, Low and SOS (which I don't need, too bad this cannot be swapped with Strobe).

For now my first choice is still the Olight M2R, which gives instant access to Turbo and Strobe if held the tactical way, and all other modes if held the "normal" way.
 
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