Poll: How important is momentary function?

[Darell]

Man, I just lost my HUGE post. Grr. So the good news is that this will be much shorter.

I'd like to know how important the momentary on feature of a flashlight is to you. Interested in non-tactical use. Think personal EDC. Though I am interested in hearing from any and all flashlight users, I am primarily interested in electronic switching. If you have used an Arc4, then you have realized the limits of having a momentary function with a single uController button. The two problems I encounter are:

1. The light cannot be flashed since a quick press/release causes the light to latch on.
2. The light cannot go from momentary to latched on without first letting it go dark, and then doing the press/release.

I find that I use momentary mostly to save battery in my only-on-at-full-brightness lights. In a light like the Arc4, this is not an issue since I have it set up to run at a reasonable brightness. Due to the power saving and the problems mentioned above, I never seem to use momentary on that light, and prefer to latch it on even for quick looks.

So the big questions are: How important is the momentary function? Do you like the momentary function as implemented in the Arc4? If that press-and-hold-from-off action could instead allow instant access to other more useful features (like instant access to a given brightness), would you be willing to trade in the momentary feature? I'm interested in anything you have to offer in regard to momentary function. Extra credit if it relates to uController lights. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

So just for grins I'll put up a poll too, but it is the comments that most interest me. Thanks guys (and gals... we have gals now, right?)

 

[Darell]

... and of course I forgot to subscribe...

 

[Unicorn]

I wish more of my lights had a momentary function. Often, especially with brighter lights I only need them on for a moment, and even iwth dimmer lights, having them on continously doesn't help me at all. I wouldn't get a light that only had momentary though, there are plenty of times that I need to turn on a light and have it stay on.

 

[paulr]

My main peeves with the Arc4+ are with its ergonomics. I'd really prefer a McLux/Longbow-like flared tail (easier grip) and also a softer pushbutton surrounded by a guard (LOTC would be nice too). All the stuff about the controller programming is less important by comparison. The momentary feature is nice but not that important, as the popularity of twist bezel lights continues to show.

 

[gregw]

IMHO, I'd prefer a light that came on low as default so I don't blind myself when I turn it on.. If the light is low, then I won't need the momentary switching capability.. That said, I'd want a way to go from low to high as quick as possible so I can get as much light as needed in an instant.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Two stage twisty or the separate Low/Mid/High switch on the VIP, or the Press/Hold on the Arc4+ will work just as well..

 

[Darell]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Greg - you are almost reading my mind here. Scary. I too, think that instant access to low, and then high are more important than momentary. And for me personally, I'd be willing to trade in the momentary feature for that.

 

[Stainless]

I don't have an ARC 4, but I think that the "good old fashioned" momentary feature as per Kroll or M@G switches is the best. AS per request - ie NON tactical - John Q. Flashaholic - I will not knowingly buy lights which require two hands to turn on, and I am waiting for the day when more compact LS lights become available with momentary on - vs momentary off. That is my biggest complaint about the typical Nuwai lights.

FWIW: I have left many lights "on the rack" because I did not like the switch.

 

[idleprocess]

Despite not owning an ARC4, I don't think I'd like it after playing with the simulators out there - a single-button UI for a menu system that complex just isn't going to cut it for me.

Momentary on, as implemented with the twist-on "tactical" tailcap (such as inova, or a kroll clickie) is a great feature both for preserving battery life and maintaining night vision. In most situations I have adequate night vision to navigate - I just need the light to see something distant and, make out detail, or illuminate something in total darkness.

The backwards switch sequence on ny Nuwai 1812C is irritating. I really like the light otherwise - best-performing 1-watt light I've seen yet. Er, I also wish they'd accomplished multiple brightness levels by adjusting current to the LS, but at least I get excellent flood from the 6x 5mm LEDs in it.

 

[MR Bulk]

Actually a switch with BUILT-IN momentary (engages the full circuit path) upon partial depression, after which a further press "latches" it on (exactly like the Kroll, big Mag, et al, switches) would be ideal. Then a press and hold would move it through whatever features it has. But it would have to be a very special switch, for if you press it too far -- it turns the light back off the moment you release it!

And hey guess what, I typed this first, then before hitting "Continue" to effect the post I scrolled up and voted in the poll and upon seeing the results found I was with the most popular group (I chose Medium), then realized I never enterd my post (talk about "momentary" panic!) so I quickly hit the "back" button to find my original words still here (whew!), and so I added this last paragraph and hit Continue...and it woiked!

 

[paulr]

The one button interface on the Photon Freedom looks really nice to me from the web description, though I haven't tried it yet. If you press and let go quickly, it comes on full strength as you let go. If you press and hold, it comes on ultra-dim and gradually brightens til you let go. There's more complicated stuff you do to get to the blink modes (which I'd have fewer of but no big deal). The main thing it's missing is an auto-off timer to keep it from draining if it turns on in your pocket.

 

[Darell]

Thanks Charlie -

Yeah, I've saved my butt several times in much the same way you describe. But when building a post with a poll in it, all kinds of things work differently I just found. And one of them is that when you try the back button, all text is ZIP! gone. Damn.

Anyway, I agree with you on the two-position switch. I would like to have momentary IF IT WORKED AS OUR CREATOR INTENDED. Which means light push for momentary, hard push for latch. It could happen... one day. But for now I'm concentrating on a single-action-button situation for some crazy reason...

 

[McGizmo]

I agree that I want access to low first. Having it available as momentary is preferable but not mandatory. However, I *DO* want momentary access to high! It's the high beam where I think the ability to "flash" is most important.

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
McGizmo said:
However, I *DO* want momentary access to high! It's the high beam where I think the ability to "flash" is most important.

[/ QUOTE ]
Dang. Now you're REALLY going where no man has gone before. Latch low, and THEN momentary high. Want it to do the dishes too? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

No really. All kidding aside... great comments!

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
paulr said:
If you press and let go quickly, it comes on full strength as you let go. If you press and hold, it comes on ultra-dim and gradually brightens til you let go.

[/ QUOTE ]Interesting concept. No momentary action though?

 

[pjandyho]

I got no Arc 4 but all my lights must have a momentary on feature. I use it occasionally to signal somebody or for fast check of a dark spot.

 

[paulr]

I think the Photon Freedom has a momentary mode that you can enter through some button sequence but I'm mostly interested in the standard mode. I don't really feel like I need momentary if I can just squeeze the light twice to turn it on and off. It's like double clicking. The Freedom looks like a really nice little light. I just haven't bought one because they cost $20 and Countycomm has spoiled me.

 

[BigHonu]

If the light is a low output one (Arc AAA, photon, etc.) then momentary function is the least important function for me. Why? Because I am usually holding the light in my mouth and taking care of something in my immediate vicinity.

In the case of a dual output light with a single button for the interface, then the ideal, non-tactical setup would be like the one Don mentioned...latch on in low, then have momentary access to high/latch on high. The ARC4+ with force primary (primary on low) would mimic this functionality somewhat, but falls short when going from momentary high to latched-on high without interruption. Maybe the ideal switch combines the clickie function with a uc...

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Darell,

I am involved with NDT inspection work and constantly use the momentary on function. I used to use Mini Mag's and would have to twist on/twist off, and have found the momentary on to be a lot more handy. I am usually needing the most light the flashlight can provide, so am not interested in dimming functions.

Camping is a different story. The EternaLight and PALight are both dimable and do not have a momentary on function. The PALight goes from dim to bright. I find myself ramping it up a few notches when I turn it on. The EternaLight is the opposite and I find myself ramping it down a few notches. I have real good low light vision and seldom use a light in those conditions.

I miss the momentary on feature while using my HID lights, although they do go from "dim" to bright... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
pjandyho said:
I got no Arc 4 but all my lights must have a momentary on feature. I use it occasionally to signal somebody or for fast check of a dark spot.

[/ QUOTE ]
It is that "fast check" part that doesn't work all that well with a single uController button. You have to hold the button long enough for the uController to recognize that you aren't just "clicking" it on, but are actually holding it. If you attempt to flash it, like you would for signaling, it would latch on. Frustrating.

 

[Darell]

[ QUOTE ]
BigHonu said:
In the case of a dual output light with a single button for the interface, then the ideal, non-tactical setup would be like the one Don mentioned...latch on in low, then have momentary access to high/latch on high. The ARC4+ with force primary (primary on low) would mimic this functionality somewhat, but falls short when going from momentary high to latched-on high without interruption.

[/ QUOTE ]
OK, pretending here for a moment that all we have to work with is a single-action uController switch...

Don's comment caused me to stay up late with a uController, scratching my head. I'm seeing the merits of this idea, but no matter how you dice it, there seems to be no perfect implementation when the single switch is used.

It would be simple to have to light come on at whatever pre-set level you want by clicking to latch on. Then pressing and holding the switch can give you full bright momentarily - but we run into the same problem of ALL momentary configurations with a single uController switch - if you just want to "flash" the high beam, you'll end up turning the light off. If you press and hold for longer than say 0.5 seconds, then we're golden for momentary. You would have to wait for that half second before high was attained, however, otherwise the light would flash full bright before it shut off every time. Would that be good enough? The last thing I want to happen is be out in the dark on low beam, and want to signal/flash/whatever on high beam, and end up with the light off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif And the final problem I encountered is that high would ONLY be momentary. No way to latch directly. The light would need to be extinguished and another level (high) chosen for it to stay latched on high. Not difficult to perform the action, but not being able to latch from momentary does bother me.

It is complicated, intertwined stuff - but this is the kind of stuff I enjoy losing sleep over. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif