In search of a Surefire single-AA 2-stage clicky...

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I have contacted several modders again. I tried the same last year with no response. "nailbender" may very well have the key part of the solution in his very fine looking custom drop ins...we are discussing that now. He has one on the boards tuned just for a single AA. If it will work, just as you have illustrated I will just need to sort fitting the battery in the E2E tube and figure out switching. I hope it turns out that simple and if so I will likely buy more than one.

The OP has specified a very precise requirement, and it is a very interesting one IMO. Members have made some interesting and helpful suggestions, but the OP is perfectly entitled to decline them if they do not meet his requirement. This thread is almost a challenge to this board to see if we can arrive at a solution, and (to me, anyway) that is part of what makes CPF the great forum it is.

The solution will most likely be in 2 parts. KeyGrip seems to have got closest to it.

The first part involves modification of the head (and possibly the tailcap too). This job has Milkyspit written all over it - he does Custom jobs like this the whole time. PM him with the details, and ask him what he needs. He'll probably tell you to send him an E2e or E2L so he can mod it for you.

When he has done it, you'll have a light that does what you want but has a body tube that is ~17mm too long for an AA cell. You can use a 17mm spacer, and wrap the AA cell in paper to stop it rattling, or you can go to step #2 - to make the tube the right size.

For that you'll need an after-market replacement tube (some suggestions have been made) or alternatively you could send the tube off to be shortened from 67mm to 50mm and re-threaded. There are plenty of people who could do this work for you - many of them hang out here in MMM. Send a PM to a few of them and see who responds.

 

[Rat6P]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

.... I was trying to think of that model number as I remembered Fenix had a dual mode light at one time...alas it is a reverse clicky with no momentary amongst a couple other things....

This L1T definately had a forward clicky( definatley could do momentary) no buts about it!!
I remember because (I was so disappointed) when a while later I got a L1D for my self and discovered it was a reverse. I guess they stopped putting them in.....

Anyway if the L1T is close to your perfect light then just get a new clicky for it. It would be such an easy thing to do yourself.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

This L1T definately had a forward clicky( definatley could do momentary) no buts about it!!
I remember because (I was so disappointed) when a while later I got a L1D for my self and discovered it was a reverse. I guess they stopped putting them in.....

Anyway if the L1T is close to your perfect light then just get a new clicky for it. It would be such an easy thing to do yourself.

I must have mistaken it for something else sorry. I will give it another look as a back up but think I may have a Surefire body solution possible. Thanks again for setting me straight on the Fenix.

 

[kaichu dento]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I have contacted several modders again. I tried the same last year with no response. "nailbender" may very well have the key part of the solution in his very fine looking custom drop ins...we are discussing that now. He has one on the boards tuned just for a single AA. If it will work, just as you have illustrated I will just need to sort fitting the battery in the E2E tube and figure out switching. I hope it turns out that simple and if so I will likely buy more than one.

But did you contact Scott (Milkyspit)? As DM51 said this project immediately made me think of him. I've tried contacting him on two different occasions and got no answer the first time, apparently because he was swamped. The second time I contacted him I got very quick responses all the way until our conversation was finished.
You'll want to contact him by e-mail but I think you'll find satisfaction there.

I share your frustration about suggestions which ignore key requirements laid out in the opening post of a thread and I try to stay out of threads that I can't offer anything to. Good luck and whatever you have in the works, make your options wide and contact Scott too.

 

[vickers214]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Rat6p you beat me to it!

ZTM here is a link to the LT1, its what I was thinking of but ended up with the Quark Tactical.
I was going to suggest it straight away, but your earlier posts said you had tried the Fenix's etc (and this is clearly the Fenix that meets your requirements) so i thought this one would have been dismissed.It is for sure a forward clicky, as are the LT2 and E20, if they would only plonk a Q5 + in they would be ideal.

Also i thought the low would not be low enough for you, but it is a nice sounding light.

http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page14.htm

 

[BigBluefish]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Too many modes...too risky on getting a green tint...super slow warranty service...it's just not the light.

I have to call you on this one. "Too many modes?" Nonsense. I am "UI impaired" absolutely hate clicking or twisting through modes I don't want, especially of they are "blinky modes." But there are seveal AA lights that work as two-mode only lights.

I've got a Quark Tactical 123, and for all intents and purposes, this IS a two mode light. The beauty of it is, you get to select the two modes. I did and haven't changed them in six months. There is no way you can accidently slip into program mode on this light, so you will NEVER accidently change your modes.

Worried about a green-tinted R5? Fine. So am I. That's why I haven't bought a Quark with the R5. You may still be able to get an AA tactical with the R2. If not, I'd suggest getting a 123 Tactical and an AA tube, or a 2 x AA Tactical and an AA tube. Either way, you may find you like the extra output and runtime. The R2 doesn't give up much to the R5 in brighness. The beam will be a bit less smooth, but in exchange, you will get more throw.

You can also avoid the tint lottery by getting a 2 x AA Quark Tactical with the Neutral or Warm white XP-G and a spare 1 x AA body tube. No squid-urine green there.

I'd also say take another look at the NiteCore Defender Infinity. It really only has two modes: high, and the one you set. It will remember the one you set, so you don't have to keep finding the mode you like. Yes, there is a strobe, but you never have to access it, and it's hidden away far enough you won't go there by mistake. I believe, but I am not sure about this, that the curent R2 version has a less defined hotspot, and smoother beam, than the earlier models. And it runs on regular NIMH, primary lithium, and 14500 rechargeables. Really, a versatile AA light. It's not as expensive as you think. Look around, there a few sites that sell it for less than the $80 or something MSRP, AND have an additional CPF discount. In other words, you should be able to find if for less than $60 shipped.

If you want to spend a little less money, get the Fenix L1T v2. It is a simple Hi-Low with a forward clicky. It has a Cree Q2, so isn't quite as bright as the Quarks (about 80 OTF lumens, I'd guess), but the Q2s in these lights tend to have nice tints, meaning no blues or greens. I'm going to be selling a whole bunch of my lights soon, but I'm keeping my L1T v2. If you could get someone to mod this with an R2 XR-E, I think you might break 100 lumens on high.

If you look around, you might be able to find an old LumaPower LM31. This is a two mode reverse clicky light with an SSC P4 emiter. Not as brigh on high as the current lights. but it has a really nice beam. Runtimes are decent, if not great. If you could get someone to mod this with a K2 TFFC emitter, it would probably break 100 lumens on high, and give you a good beam profile. There WAS a forward clicky switch made for this light, but I think you lost the ability to use the low mode.

If you can stand 3 levels of light, then check out the current LumaPower Connexion. A nice light as well. Decently bright, small, light, and has full 14500 support, if you want to use lithium ions.

EDIT: OK, now I've read through the whole post, and I've probably repeated what others have said and come close to, but have not met your particular requirements. I've been in the same place, so many lights that were almost what I wanted, but not quite right. I also wanted a 2 mode AA. I think a modded L1T v2 wouild be closest to your ideal. Good luck!

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I think anybody who is dead set on finding the "perfect" flashlight (or the "perfect" anything for that matter) is setting himself up for a lifetime of disappointment.

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

You are wrong about your "feeling". I was very clear about my requirements and all suggestions do not meet them. It is not a personal insult to the member suggesting but you are acting like it is. I dismissed them because they did not meet the requirements I CLEARLY listed. If someone suggests a twisty for example when I clearly specified a forward clicky it is not wrong of me to say "thanks but no thanks".

Perhaps you should not assume things?

I completely agree with ztm. Time and time again, I see an original poster state his needs or wants, only to have responder after responder offer suggestions that fail to meet at least one of them. Often, responders will suggest that the OP use a different battery size ("Why AA? Why not AAA?") or chemistry ("I know you insist on AA cells, not lithium-ion, but why not lithium-ion AAs?") or configuration ("Why not 2AA instead of 1AA"?)

Like ztm, I recently spent many hours in search of a 1xAA light with a combination of features that's exceedingly hard to find:

• a neutral-white tint
• a forward clickie
• a keychain ring
• only one mode

I had a feeling that if I asked for suggestions, person after person would suggest lights that failed to meet all these requirements, then blame me for saying, "No, that's not what I asked for." Judging from this thread, I was right.

I did find what I was looking for: A Romisen RC-G-something II from ShiningBeam, for a mere $22 shipped.

Hours later, NailBender offered to disable 4 modes of his 5-mode low-voltage driver by removing the IC controller. So I also bought a low-power NailBender XR-E in Neutral White, with 8 and 40-degree optics, for $45 shipped. The NailBender would be used in my 1AA FiveMega body...a reverse-clickie.

Judging from comments here, I would be delighted with the Quark Tactical 1AA in Neutral White, once I've programmed it to single mode. I just didn't want to spend that kind of money. For me, part of the joy of carrying a 1AA light is that if I meet a stranger who needs a decent light desperately, I can give them my keyring light and buy another. For that purpose, $20 is about my limit.

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I'm going to bring this one back up, it's really extremely easy to program this light and once you have it set, that's it, no more worrying about too many modes. Next on the green tint, you can get it in a neutral or warm white tint. Have you personally dealt with 4Sevens' warranty service?

Also here's a great thread you should check out on the Quark's toughness http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=219258

I myself have always wished for a AA light like the Surefire E1L and I have found happiness with my Quark AA tactical with a neutral white LED.

I think it was Einstein that said "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is true insanity".

ztm, I didn't receive the PM, resend.

 

[sORe-EyEz]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

maybe most gadget manufacturers only know how to pile on more complex UIs, more modes to "wow" the crowd with each new product? :shakehead

most manufacturers are missing out on a market that caters to people who yearn for simpler products that are well made & built to last. which is a sad thing. :sigh:

 

[Mikeg23]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I have a question... How do you prefer switching between high and low. With the E series lights there's not a lot of options that allow a forward clicky the L4 with resistor eliminates the clicky, the new E1b style is not really ideal, the A2 isn't a clicky...

Alot of the Chinese lights with clickys have you turn the bezel or in a few cases the tail to select your mode but this wouldn't be possible with an e series.

Just curios?

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I have a question... How do you prefer switching between high and low. With the E series lights there's not a lot of options that allow a forward clicky the L4 with resistor eliminates the clicky, the new E1b style is not really ideal, the A2 isn't a clicky...

Alot of the Chinese lights with clickys have you turn the bezel or in a few cases the tail to select your mode but this wouldn't be possible with an e series.

Just curios?

Done correctly, high-low is substituted for on-off. The clicky still works just in a different function. You can still get the McClicky and do the mod on that while leaving your new E1* switch assembly alone.

 

[Mikeg23]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Done correctly, high-low is substituted for on-off. The clicky still works just in a different function. You can still get the McClicky and do the mod on that while leaving your new E1* switch assembly alone.

Perhaps I didn't word that proerly as the clicky still works as a mode selection... However your ability to use it for on/off and momentary disappear

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Perhaps I didn't word that proerly as the clicky still works as a mode selection... However your ability to use it for on/off and momentary disappear

Unfortunately the manufacturers do not listen enough and we gotta make compromises.

 

[defloyd77]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I think it was Einstein that said "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is true insanity".

Hey, he only gave 3 reasons as to why he didn't like the Quark and I fail to see exactly why he doesn't like it since those 3 reasons really don't apply to the Quark tactical.

He says too many modes, I said it's simple to just set it and forget it. He worries about green tint, neutral and warm tints are available. He says 4sevens' warranty services are super slow, I and many, many others here will disagree with this as well, besides that, you aren't going to get super zippy warranty service with a custom made light any way.

I've read over the OP's first post again and again, and except for the programming part, it fits everything. I would just like to understand what other reasons ztm doesn't feel this is the right light. I would just really hate for him to not get a light for the wrong reasons.

 

[Jash]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

The OP has specified a very precise requirement,

Apart from the programming, which becomes null and void once done, the Quark AA Tactical fits all the requirements requested.

ztm, have you actually handled a AA Tactical? I've only got the 2AA version (brighter with longer runtime) and I use it all the time. It's my favourite AA light and I can assure you, if you bought one you wouldn't be disappointed.

Even if it doesn't suit your exact requirements, get one until you get your dream light made just to play with and use.

They're great little lights that won't bust the bank and once you have your dream light made, throw an L91 inside and leave it in the car or wherever for emergencies.

 

[kaichu dento]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

ztm, have you actually handled a AA Tactical? I've only got the 2AA version (brighter with longer runtime) and I use it all the time. It's my favourite AA light and I can assure you, if you bought one you wouldn't be disappointed.

Even if it doesn't suit your exact requirements, get one until you get your dream light made just to play with and use.

They're great little lights that won't bust the bank and once you have your dream light made, throw an L91 inside and leave it in the car or wherever for emergencies.

I agree with the OP about the frustration of having suggestions thrown that ignore the original guidelines, but I also completely agree that you might as well get as close as possible until you can see your wishes fulfilled.

Being very particular to a fault I've found life much easier and less expensive since adopting this search mode for myself.

 

[carrot]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Been thinking.

For me, an E2e sized light is Ideal. Ideal with a capital I.

The E2e is just about one of Surefire's most elegant lights, sized perfectly and proportionally to look good, feel good, and carry well. I wanted an LED solution solution so badly I picked up a Quark 123^2-T. Very nearly ideal, but for some reason I couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't nearly as good-looking as the E2e. I also disliked that it was thicker than the E2e, which I like for its slimness and ease of carry. I finally found my answer in the Kuku427 E-tower module, which converted my E2e to the ideally sized LED light.

On the other hand, while I love to EDC my E2e, when I go backpacking and want to bring the bare minimum the Quark comes out to play. It is simply more versatile. Do I want more light? I can program that. Do I want more runtime? I can program that. With its two-mode memory I can program it to suit me for any task whenever I please, and with those same two modes I can select the right light for any activity. When I'm hiking I'll usually set the modes lower, because I need less light, and when I go cycling or mountain biking I put it on the two highest modes so I can select quickly the amount of light I need based on the environment.

So I carry the E2e for its aesthetics and ergonomics, but I USE the Quark for its versatility and flexibility.

Just a thought. Sometimes we can't have EVERYTHING we want in a single light. But we can get darn well close, and when we can't we can always get a second light.

Another thought: custom makers in the flashlight world are loathe to do one-offs of anything. It just doesn't make sense. The time it takes to setup and to plan out a brand new light usually costs more than a customer is willing to pay. The cost is amortized over several lights when a run is made. The hardest part is that electronics are expensive to have made, and cannot simply be specified and created. They must be designed. (Custom knives on the other hand are easy -- since each one is already made and fitted by hand, another design can be adapted or a brand new one can be made with relative ease.)

To ztm: If you are serious about getting the exact light you want you must be willing to pay what it takes. To me, that means looking to for a 1.5v driver and paying someone else to stuff it in the host of your choice. Very few people have a proper 1.5v driver. They are not exactly common for reasons I have yet to hear. I would look to Arcmania for his driver, as he has an AA-powered light. You could also gut a Quark head, or source a driver from DX/KD for your needs. If you have a few grand, you can pay for a driver to be designed, which you could have made in large quantities and sell to make some money back.

Now for the body: TranquilityBase is a great guy and he certainly has the skills to make something that you ask for. PhotonFanatic also seems to be quite good at making one-offs is another possibility. You can also pay Rothrandir to make the body and someone else to do the electronics but since he runs a machine shop his work will not come cheap (but it will be good!).

 

[the.Mtn.Man]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I completely agree with ztm. Time and time again, I see an original poster state his needs or wants, only to have responder after responder offer suggestions that fail to meet at least one of them.

Because quite often, a flashlight meeting someone's exacting specifications simply doesn't exist, so it's understood - and not unreasonably - that some compromise will be necessary. It's basically saying, "What you want doesn't exist, so here's the next best thing."

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Because quite often, a flashlight meeting someone's exacting specifications simply doesn't exist, so it's understood - and not unreasonably - that some compromise will be necessary.

Compromise is fine but to be fair, usually users recommend lights they've recently purchased or are eying saying things like "if you can spend 20 more and/or ignore ______________, the ____________ will be prefect".

I relate to looking for advice fruitlessly only to have things suggested that I've already eliminated or do not meet the criteria.