I've come up with a useful yet instantly detachable mod for my favorite key chain flashlight, the LRI Photon Freedom (covert), I call a "silencer", both because of what it does and what it looks like. It solves several issues and gains some new functionality for the light.
Although they make a red version as well (and several other colors too), I've often thought it would be nice to carry only one "universal" Photon which could instantly switch temporarily to red on the fly, instead of white, to be used:
Another issue with the Photon Freedom is that even though it has a "protected" mode, mine still seems to find a way of accidentally getting turned on and draining the battery while getting bashed around with my keys in my pocket. [I also don't seem to have the hidden, programmable "auto-off" feature, perhaps because mine is a very early production model.] A safety guard to prevent battery drain is also part of what this mod does. Here is my Photon Freedom (covert/white) using my mod in the safety (locked) position:
Here is the silencer flipped around in the operational (red light) position:
For normal white light, you simply pull off the attachment entirely.
Inside the silencer's short barrel is a disc of dark red PVC plastic cut from a $2 sheet I bought at an art store, Blick, made by MidwestProducts.com (model 704-03). To preserve the stealth aspect of the covert Photon the red filter disc is recessed from the front, on purpose, (otherwise it glows and stands out like a sore thumb) to maintain a tactical advantage by blocking side light leakage much like the covert Photons do already with their LED encasement. [People who don't care about this aspect could make the silencer barrel half as long if desired.] The colored disc is held in with a removable retaining ring and can be replaced with another color if need be, but unless there is a UV filter available (that I don't know about and actually works as UV, not just "purple") red is the only color I personally care about. [UPDATE: See pic in post #4, below. I now have GREEN, too!]
I would assume it is obvious, however if the source material for the silencer's construction isn't apparent to all, here is a little visual hint
:
Although they make a red version as well (and several other colors too), I've often thought it would be nice to carry only one "universal" Photon which could instantly switch temporarily to red on the fly, instead of white, to be used:
- in conjunction with its low mode for night vision preservation while maintaining side light leakage protection for covert, stealth use
- as an emergency use, rear bike flasher, and
- for SOS/beacon modes to better attract attention
Another issue with the Photon Freedom is that even though it has a "protected" mode, mine still seems to find a way of accidentally getting turned on and draining the battery while getting bashed around with my keys in my pocket. [I also don't seem to have the hidden, programmable "auto-off" feature, perhaps because mine is a very early production model.] A safety guard to prevent battery drain is also part of what this mod does. Here is my Photon Freedom (covert/white) using my mod in the safety (locked) position:
- won't turn on accidentally in my pocket due to the button guard
- acts as a dust cover and moisture barrier to the LED opening (silicon might even make it waterproof but thats for a future version)
- acts as a pocket clip and looks very much like a pen from the outside of the shirt
Here is the silencer flipped around in the operational (red light) position:
For normal white light, you simply pull off the attachment entirely.
Inside the silencer's short barrel is a disc of dark red PVC plastic cut from a $2 sheet I bought at an art store, Blick, made by MidwestProducts.com (model 704-03). To preserve the stealth aspect of the covert Photon the red filter disc is recessed from the front, on purpose, (otherwise it glows and stands out like a sore thumb) to maintain a tactical advantage by blocking side light leakage much like the covert Photons do already with their LED encasement. [People who don't care about this aspect could make the silencer barrel half as long if desired.] The colored disc is held in with a removable retaining ring and can be replaced with another color if need be, but unless there is a UV filter available (that I don't know about and actually works as UV, not just "purple") red is the only color I personally care about. [UPDATE: See pic in post #4, below. I now have GREEN, too!]
I would assume it is obvious, however if the source material for the silencer's construction isn't apparent to all, here is a little visual hint
:
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