High/Low switch for Minimag?

[Mattman]

I know that there are switches for the Firefly and the switch gadget_lover is making for the Arc LS, but I haven't seen anything like this for Minimags, specifically those modified with high-powered sandwiches. Does anyone know if one exists? These would be great for those of us who would like the occasional brightness of a BB750, but would mostly use the cooler running, more battery friendly low mode.

 

[gadget_lover]

The hi/lo kroll spring does work in a mini-mag. You need to screw the Kroll switch itself in and out to change brightness levels. I adjust mine so the last 1/2 turn puts it in bright mode.

Two caveats;
1) you have to adjust it to your particular light, as the length of sandwiches can vary... alot.
2) When you unscrew it 1/2 turn for low mode, there's the possibility that you may loose whatever water proof ability it may have had.


There are those that would say that the minimag is not really water resistant in the first place, but I won't go there.

Daniel

 

[ZuluWhiskeyFox]

Minimag not water resistant? I've taken one down to various depths as far as 120 feet. Not had one leak yet.

zwf

 

[Mattman]

Daniel, I'm going to have to try your hi/lo switch and see how it works in my minimag. I had a little trouble getting mine seated into the kroll and I still haven't finished that project so I haven't experimented with it in applications beyond my Arc yet. If it works well, I'll just have to get back in touch with you so I can get another one for my Arc. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gadget_lover]

ZWF; I've not used them in wet environs. All I can do is go by the statements of others.

If a Kroll is used for a tailcap and is screwed in all the way, it should remain as water proof as a stock unit. Even if it's unscrewed 1/2 turn it should still be water resistant.

Daniel.

 

[gadget_lover]

Mattman; If it does not seat in the Kroll, you can widen the hole in the kroll with a sharp knife such as an exacto blade. You can also simply sand or file very little from the base of the spring assembly.

If all else fails you, send it back to me and I'll send you another.


Daniel.

 

[coyote]

daniel,
i too have been using this technique and it works fine.
-coyote

gadget_lover's hi/low rules!!!!!

 

[TheFire]

The other option you might have (I haven't tried this myself), but if you put a bit of a spring (perhaps just a tab) between the top of the sandwich and the maglite in order to maintain contact, and fiddle the spring on the high/low just right, you might be able to obtain the same functionality by twisting the TOP of the maglight! (now I really need to go try this... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

 

[Mattman]

I threw my hi/lo switch into the stock tail cap of a minimag and gave it a whirl. It works, but isn't screwed in enough to keep the tail from unscrewing easily - once I do some light sanding to get it to fit, I'll see if it works better in a kroll.

P.S. If you thought minimags were dim at full power, wait until you kick them into low mode! It's so low power that you can look closely at the glowing filament. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[geek]

NiteIze has a pretty neat switch for the MiniMag that's supposed to be out soon. In addition to levels, it has a find-me beacon and LED indication of battery level. I saw it in a Shot Show thread just the other night.

 

[gadget_lover]

I saw that too and was looking forward to seeing it. It wasn't on their site last time I looked.


Daniel

 

[utomatoe]

Yup, sounds like another cheap and easy mod for MiniMags /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Combined with a terralux ministar2 and a UCL, that would make for a nice minimag mod.

 

[Mattman]

Doh! I forgot that I had seen that Niteize switch a few weeks ago. The only problem I can see with that thing is that it makes your Minimag just a little to big to be called "mini". Also, I don't really want my light turning off after 15 minutes - hopefully you can disable that feature. I wonder what the price will be on that thing?

 

[utomatoe]

I think it was priced around 10-15?

 

[Mattman]

I had an email exchange with a guy at zbattery.com about the Nite-Ize IQ Switch. He asked Nite-Ize about them and they told him that they wouldn't be out until at least July. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif