Two stage switches? Why not more?

I just discovered the 2-stage switch on the SF LX2 and ordered one. I've been looking around for other flashlights with this same interface and, except for threads I found on a few mods, I can find any non-SF lights with this interface. Is SF that only production light with this feature? If so, why??? And why not 3 or more stages?

I've been thinking about this feature a lot and I think my 'dream' edc light would be very similar to the LX2 but more floody like the SF A2L and with 3 modes of operation. A ~1lumen moonlight mode, a 10-20 lumen normal use, and a 200-300+ high power mode. It seems like a lot of folks that spend time hiking/camping/outdoors would appreciate a 3 level progression like this. All of the lights that force you to cycle between modes (like my Olights) drive me crazy as I never know for sure what mode the light will come on in. Ever worse, many lights have near useless strobe modes stuck in the progress. So why not a 3 stage tail cap?

The switch design is patented by surefire and even without the patents, these switches are rather expensive to build. There was a McGizmo two stage switch for the Surefire E and C Threads, but I recall that the production had to be stopped because of pressure from Surefire. More than two stages would increase the size of the switch a lot.

Post deleted. Let's not get to far into the patent issue, and keep to OP's question. Post 2 is appropriate.

Bill

The Arc 6 was a 3 stage light very close to what you want, but it is discontinued. With an updated led it is still a magnificent light and I carry mine almost every day (neutral xp-g led inside now)

Imho the LX2, L1, A2 style of 2 stage is the best way of implementing 2 light levels in a flashlight. Too bad there aren't more around

The Ra Twisty has three stages with a unique head design. You just keep twisting for higher levels or you can program each progressive level to what you want.

NoFair said:

Imho the LX2, L1, A2 style of 2 stage is the best way of implementing 2 light levels in a flashlight. Too bad there aren't more around

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Just think how different things would be had the L1 & L2 tail threading been compatible with the E-series (or even the rest of the L-series). Being able to use that wonderful two-stage (& relatively available) tailcap on a far greater selection of bodies ... :sigh:

Don't forget the 3 speed Surefire Stratum, excellent light :wave:

I would also like to see more lights with this feature. The LX2 implementation is good but just gives you two fixed levels. What would be really useful would an adjustable lower level (ramping, selector ring, you name it) with a momentary blast of full power available at all times simply by holding the button down.

The Surefire patent presumably covers their mechanical switch design. There are plenty of lights with other switch designs (electronic click, PD) and yet only HDS appears to have implemented a hold-the-button-down-for-full-blast mode.

I recently mentioned this on the Marketplace with regard to the Thrunite Scorpion but got zero replies, so presumably not everyone thinks this feature would be as useful as we do !

Moonshadow said:

The LX2 implementation is good but just gives you two fixed levels. What would be really useful would an adjustable lower level (ramping, selector ring, you name it) with a momentary blast of full power available at all times simply by holding the button down.

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This is exactly Invictus interface. Switch as LX2 and ring to select "low" level.

Kestrel said:

Just think how different things would be had the L1 & L2 tail threading been compatible with the E-series (or even the rest of the L-series). Being able to use that wonderful two-stage (& relatively available) tailcap on a far greater selection of bodies ... :sigh:

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Still kicking myself for not getting a McE2s, got a McC2s for my C2, but miss one very much for my upgraded E2L

This is exactly Invictus interface. Switch as LX2 and ring to select "low" level.

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Cool - that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after . . . only LX2-sized !

Don't think that anybody mentioned this yet... but Selfbuilt recently reviewed a light (Lumintop P16x) that has the Surefire type 2 stage switch.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?320612-Lumintop-P16X-(XM-L-1x18650-2xCR123A-RCR)-Review-RUNTIMES-BEAMSHOTS-and-more

Nice light, but I guess that I didn't like it quite enough to buy it just for the two stage switch. I wish that some company would start making a surefire C/P series 2 stage tailcap and sell it for a reasonable price. Solarforce could probably do it. Ah well, until then we will be stuck scrounging for Kroma tailcaps, etc...

Viper715 said:

The Ra Twisty has three stages with a unique head design. You just keep twisting for higher levels or you can program each progressive level to what you want.

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I'm asking specifically about multi-stage switches. The problem with "twisty"s is you never know for sure what mode the light is in when you pull it out of your pocket/pouch.

LumensMaximus said:

Don't forget the 3 speed Surefire Stratum, excellent light :wave:

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That's a single stage switch that you repeatedly press to cycle through the different modes... isn't it?

Viper715 said:

The Ra Twisty has three stages with a unique head design. You just keep twisting for higher levels or you can program each progressive level to what you want.

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I was gonna mention the same thing after reading the OP. The Ra Twisty is among the most functionally useful lights ever made, I think, and pretty darn cool looking too. A perfectly spaced three position progressive twisty in a bombproof shell: brilliant.

Moonshadow said:

Cool - that's exactly the sort of thing I'm after . . . only LX2-sized !

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Ditto that. That sounds near perfect. Only being constantly variable would make it better...

dogma said:

The problem with "twisty"s is you never know for sure what mode the light is in when you pull it out of your pocket/pouch.

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Except with the progressive switched lights like the Aeon/Ion, Nitecore EZ-series being two-stage and the Twisty having three stages. First level is always low, but a quick twist from off gets you all the way to high immediately. The only thing you lose is momentary.

nbp said:

I was gonna mention the same thing after reading the OP. The Ra Twisty is among the most functionally useful lights ever made, I think, and pretty darn cool looking too. A perfectly spaced three position progressive twisty in a bombproof shell: brilliant.

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Couldn't have said it better...

kaichu dento said:

Except with the progressive switched lights like the Aeon/Ion, Nitecore EZ-series being two-stage and the Twisty having three stages. First level is always low, but a quick twist from off gets you all the way to high immediately. The only thing you lose is momentary.
Couldn't have said it better...

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We we discussing tailcap activated lights with a twisty output selector. Those lights are all twisty activated only, aren't they? They're really not in the same league since they require two hands to operate at all.

I thought this thread was discussing two-stage push button pressure switches?
(Which in SureFire's invention on the A2/LX2 etc, is integrated into a TailCap which can be rotated for either constant-on or disable (LockOut) 'modes').
Of course SureFire also invented the concept of a tail-switch that pushes the whole battery through the body (8X), with both battery contacts being at the forward end of the battery. This invention was taken further with the 10X (and other never-released prototypes such as the M1000) with two-stage pressure switching.

And who can forget SureFire's prototype three-stage push button pressure switch with the MiniBeast?