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

[mcnair55]

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. It's basically saying, "What you want doesn't exist, so here's the next best thing."

But the op made it clear he does not want the next best thing,just his holy grail and he was quite specific on that.He will need to wait but after reading every post and also putting my 10 pence worth some good has come out of it for me anyway.I now want that luvly looking 2 mode Jetbeam Flashlights: Element E3S.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Mikeg23 and red02 you guys are hitting on what I am struggling with now. The switching remains the biggest hang up. How to retain a momentary capable forward clicky and still change modes? Fitting an AA in the tube can be handled a few ways and I am not too worried about that right now. I was not aware the resistor mods disabled the normal clickie function.

Last night what I planned on doing was using one of "nailbender's" 3 mode AA E series drops ins and just accept that I would have a medium. Since using the E-series body/tailcap was important to me that seemed an acceptable compromise. But then I realized that if I used momentary I would be switching levels if I didn't wait 3 seconds between bursts. So that made that option less desirable. I may still use one of his single mode AA drops ins and just live with high only and use the LRI photon when I need low...but that is not ideal. I still would like one light with all the requirements.

I am open to other solutions that retain the E-series body and all my other requirements. PhotonFanatics replied and said he does not mod. So either he stopped or people have him confused with someone else.

I have to say to all the dead horse beaters you can keep telling me why a certain light is what YOU think I should buy but it isn't changing anything. I don't owe you or anyone an explanation and some of you seem to be demanding one and when I DO give a reason you want to tell me why it isn't good enough. I get that you think I am somehow "wrong" for not accepting your solution but too bad.

 

[defloyd77]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I have to say to all the dead horse beaters you can keep telling me why a certain light is what YOU think I should buy but it isn't changing anything. I don't owe you or anyone an explanation and some of you seem to be demanding one. I get that you think I am somehow "wrong" for not accepting your solution but too bad.

If you want us to help you, you need to help us help you. If there are certain aspects of a light that you do not like, we need to know these things to help you. But hell, if you can't give us such a simple thing, I say to hell with it.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

If you want us to help you, you need to help us help you. If there are certain aspects of a light that you do not like, we need to know these things to help you. But hell, if you can't give us such a simple thing, I say to hell with it.

Look...trying to force the same lights down my throat over and over because YOU think they are good enough is on you not me. Do you think you are hurting me or teaching me a lesson by saying "I say to hell with it then"? I have been clear about my "wants" and I really don't care if you cannot accept that or find those wants reasonable. This is my quest for a light not the "make defloyd77 happy" show. I would have loved to have the thread be civil without any disagreeing but a few people had to start stuff.

Yes I need help and am getting it from several people...much thanks to them. Yet there are a minority that are being jerks about it and insulting me or being passive aggressive about it. It is an internet forum so it is to be expected.

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

........E-series light forever and cannot even find someone to make one custom. I have had Fenix and the like and they all fail or add unwanted complications. A tough forward clicky with momentary and constant, two settings high and low, single AA simple form factor light seems like a logical standard thing...but it isn't out there.

It took Surefire forever to make that ugly long 2AA light even thought worldwide the AA is prolific. Had they made it single AA it would have fit perfectly to my needs. If Fenix can put out a 100 lumen + light then anyone can yet Surefire comes out with a 2AA light with output below the cheap Chinese stuff. Even the recent Malkoff M31 thread has several people disappointed to find out one AA won't work with the new drop in.

I don't want fancy designs, multi level programming, exotic materials .........

Maybe just me that seems pretty clear cut.

Sorry the tailcap mod didn't work out, I don't think you should give up. All you have to do is get a custom tail cap that pushes the ring down to meet the body. That would give momentary action and those two levels should still work. It shouldn't be hard to do, theoretically.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

All you have to do is get a custom tail cap that pushes the ring down to meet the body. That would give momentary action and those two levels should still work. It shouldn't be hard to do, theoretically.

This is what I am not understanding. With the 3 level drop in that is on the table here the modes are changed by cycling the power within 3 seconds of the last press. So if you were using a momentary burst....then say another in two seconds you would end up changing levels. This kind of thing is why I didn't want modes at all really but just a locked in higg and low.

I don't get how the switch you suggest solves that...can you dumb it down for me? (if that's possible as it already sounds simple I am just not following)

Or are you talking about the resistor style mod where a single mode LED is reduced with the resistor?

At this point it is all about the drop in/switching combination...I need to find the best and simplest method. I had imagined selecting high vs low by twisting the head like in a fenix (all the way in is high...loose a bit is low)...but you said that set up wouldn't work in an E-Series head right?

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

This is what I am not understanding. With the 3 level drop in that is on the table here the modes are changed by cycling the power within 3 seconds of the last press. So if you were using a momentary burst....then say another in two seconds you would end up changing levels. This kind of thing is why I didn't want modes at all really but just a locked in higg and low.

I don't get how the switch you suggest solves that...can you dumb it down for me? (if that's possible as it already sounds simple I am just not following)

Or are you talking about the resistor style mod where a single mode LED is reduced with the resistor?

At this point it is all about the drop in/switching combination...I need to find the best and simplest method. I had imagined selecting high vs low by twisting the head like in a fenix (all the way in is high...loose a bit is low)...but you said that set up wouldn't work in an E-Series head right?

If your going to mod, then your probably starting from scratch. There are probably some single mode drivers which is what I had in mind. Could be completely wrong of course.

 

[defloyd77]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Look...trying to force the same lights down my throat over and over because YOU think they are good enough is on you not me. Do you think you are hurting me or teaching me a lesson by saying "I say to hell with it then"? I have been clear about my "wants" and I really don't care if you cannot accept that or find those wants reasonable. This is my quest for a light not the "make defloyd77 happy" show. I would have loved to have the thread be civil without any disagreeing but a few people had to start stuff.

Yes I need help and am getting it from several people...much thanks to them. Yet there are a minority that are being jerks about it and insulting me or being passive aggressive about it. It is an internet forum so it is to be expected.

You are rather delusional if you think that I and the others are trying to shove the Quark down your throat. Is it that hard to tell us why you don't like this light? You said that you may look at the Fenix L1T as a backup, the Quark is very similar, I'd argue that it's superior, I have an L2T, it's a decent light, but the knurling of the Quark, clip, beam and programmability make it in my opinion, a better light.

You severely fail to see where I'm coming from, I've had the EXACT same wants in a single AA light, even the not so fondness of programming the light, but the Quark is so simple to program. Is it the programming of the light you dislike?

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

You are rather delusional if you think that I and the others are trying to shove the Quark down your throat. Is it that hard to tell us why you don't like this light? You said that you may look at the Fenix L1T as a backup, the Quark is very similar, I'd argue that it's superior, I have an L2T, it's a decent light, but the knurling of the Quark, clip, beam and programmability make it in my opinion, a better light.

You severely fail to see where I'm coming from, I've had the EXACT same wants in a single AA light, even the not so fondness of programming the light, but the Quark is so simple to program. Is it the programming of the light you dislike?

I am not going to keep explaining things only to have more people tell me why those explanations are invalid. Have a good evening.

 

[mcnair55]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

You are rather delusional if you think that I and the others are trying to shove the Quark down your throat. Is it that hard to tell us why you don't like this light? You said that you may look at the Fenix L1T as a backup, the Quark is very similar, I'd argue that it's superior, I have an L2T, it's a decent light, but the knurling of the Quark, clip, beam and programmability make it in my opinion, a better light.

You severely fail to see where I'm coming from, I've had the EXACT same wants in a single AA light, even the not so fondness of programming the light, but the Quark is so simple to program. Is it the programming of the light you dislike?

Can the op not have his wish and stick to his wanted item? If it does not exist it just not but others still want to push something on him he does not want then question him or suggest he looks deeper into the light he does not want.It is his money and if he does not want a Quacker then he does not,you are just frustrated that he will not compromise.

This post has had hundreds of views and not far off 100 replies,and the op is sticking to his wish so let him go the mod route or let him wait till his desired light may appear.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I am happy because I am closer than I have ever been and while there are still some hang ups I feel it might happen pretty close to what I want. Filtering through the argumentative threads is worth it for me because I got some great help.

 

[defloyd77]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I am not going to keep explaining things only to have more people tell me why those explanations are invalid. Have a good evening.

You only gave 3 reasons as to why not the Quark and I tried to explain to you that 2 of the 3 of your concerns did not apply to the Quark (tint and warranty) and the third one, programming, is really rather simple and does not interfere with operation of the light. So which of these things do you not agree with?

 

[jhc37013]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

You only gave 3 reasons as to why not the Quark and I tried to explain to you that 2 of the 3 of your concerns did not apply to the Quark (tint and warranty) and the third one, programming, is really rather simple and does not interfere with operation of the light. So which of these things do you not agree with?

He is a flashlight collector and wants something very specific and does not want a Quark, why is this so hard to except? Why do you keep it up about the Quark? He does not want it is programmable and again he does not want it.

 

[Mikeg23]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Maybe just me that seems pretty clear cut.

Sorry the tailcap mod didn't work out, I don't think you should give up. All you have to do is get a custom tail cap that pushes the ring down to meet the body. That would give momentary action and those two levels should still work. It shouldn't be hard to do, theoretically.

Ok how 'bout this... Mind you I haven't done the resistor mod myself as I like keeping a forward clicky with momentary.

However, for this mod one would solder a resistor in from the ground contact of the switch to the off side of the switch. What if instead the one leg of the resistor was soldered to the ground contact of the switch and the other leg was soldered to the tail cap body. The inside of the tailcap would also have to be deanodised. Operation would be tail cap tight press or click for max mode tail cap loose press of click for low mode. In the low mode the threads would be the ground path and you would lose your lock out function

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Ok how 'bout this... Mind you I haven't done the resistor mod myself as I like keeping a forward clicky with momentary.

However, for this mod one would solder a resistor in from the ground contact of the switch to the off side of the switch. What if instead the one leg of the resistor was soldered to the ground contact of the switch and the other leg was soldered to the tail cap body. The inside of the tailcap would also have to be deanodised. Operation would be tail cap tight press or click for max mode tail cap loose press of click for low mode. In the low mode the threads would be the ground path and you would lose your lock out function

Without the lockout function there would be no way to turn the light off, short of twisting the head or the tailcap completely off.

But then again you could probably twist the head for off and it may work. I'll try it on my quark switch since I have one without ano with something less permanent than solder.

 

[Mikeg23]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Without the lockout function there would be no way to turn the light off, short of twisting the head or the tailcap completely off.

But then again you could probably twist the head for off and it may work. I'll try it on my quark switch since I have one without ano with something less permanent than solder.

You would turn the light on and off with the switch. Tight or loose would change your modes.

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

You would turn the light on and off with the switch. Tight or loose would change your modes.

Thats how I envisioned it but the drop ins I am aware of won't do that with an E series head.

 

[Mikeg23]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

Thats how I envisioned it but the drop ins I am aware of won't do that with an E series head.

I'm talking about loosening and tightening the tail not the head. This would only work with a single mode light such as the L4. You would still need a different solution for your battery choice

 

[red02]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I'm talking about loosening and tightening the tail not the head. This would only work with a single mode light such as the L4. You would still need a different solution for your battery choice

This should work with both PWM and current controlled dimming. Just add more levels.

Did you mean soldering one leg to the contact ring and the other to the threads of the tailcap?

 

[ztm]

Re: The single AA dual mode light is ignored

I'm talking about loosening and tightening the tail not the head. This would only work with a single mode light such as the L4. You would still need a different solution for your battery choice

Why would this not work with an AA?

It sounds like a great solution...in fact I prefer it to head twisting.