To the innovative folks at Acebeam,
Now that the Thrunite Scorpion/Lynx is gone, you're currently the ONLY manufacturer that I'm aware of, aside from HDS and Night Reaper, who produces a flashlight with a rear mounted rotary knob to select the different modes.
I have some recommendations that can help you produce an extremely versatile flashlight, with the flexibility to make it THE choice for the Ultimate Tactical flashlight because there's nothing available out there like this proposed design.
As-is, the T10 uses a magnetic tailswitch to operate the light, which results in it operating as a reverse clicky. Because of this, most of the modes do not have a momentary option (in most of the knob positions, you can't half press the button for momentary).
If you can redesign the light to use a standard forward clicky button and still retain the rotary selector knob, with a few tweaks to the programming chip, you can have a light with incredible versatility.
In addition to changing the rear button from the magnetic switch to a forward clicky, all you need is to have 3 positions for the selector knob. Make all 3 positions user programmable.
The chip will need modifications to the implementation for programming the modes, but it should be possible. I have several lights that require a series of many button presses to enter the programming modes, eg. a series of 6 rapid, consecutive double-clicks (12 total presses) etc.
You want to make it difficult/impossible to EVER accidentally enter the programming mode. It should be difficult enough that it can only be entered intentionally. Something along the lines of 10 rapid double-clicks (a total of 20 total presses) within a short time limit would be ideal, as this would allow any potential users who wish to use morse code/signaling flashes to do so without accidentally entering programming mode.
The fact that it's a little more difficult to enter the programming modes is not a problem because the overwhelming majority of users aren't interested in constantly reprogramming the light on the fly. Most users will program the light for their preferences when they first get it, and leave it at that. If their preferences change, they can reprogram the light, but it's absolutely crucial that you cannot accidentally enter programming mode while trying to just use the flashlight. The method to enter programming mode MUST be difficult enough that it would only be done deliberately with the intention of entering programming mode.
With 3 user programmable modes AND the ability to have momentary or constant-on for each mode, you have the ultimate tactical light.
In addition to these changes, there are of course, the usual requirements of good drop/impact resistance and waterproofing.
The flashlight beam also needs a good balance of throw vs spill. The current T10 reflector is too spot/throw oriented, with a very intense but narrow hotspot and a narrow spillbeam. This is dangerous for doing things like clearing a room or building, or doing a quick sweep of a dark alley.
Unless I'm mistaken, the Thrunite Scorpion and Lynx were manufactured in your facility. The Scorpion's Turbo head/reflector has a very good throw and spillbeam profile. Excellent intensity of the hotspot for longer distances and/or disrupting someone's dark adapted vision, while having a wide spillbeam (55 degrees or wider?) to light up a wide area without having to shine the light all around the room to see everything.
Although there are many LED emitters available with advantages in specific areas, at this time, the XM-L2 still has some of the best overall abilities when coupled with a good reflector. 1000 Maximum lumens, about 20,000 candela and a spillbeam in the 55 degree range or higher.
With a user interface as I've detailed above, the user can choose which position on the rotary selector they want each particular mode.
For typical U.S. LEO use, the most important/desired ability is easy access to a momentary and constant-on Maximum. With a forward clicky switch instead of the reverse clicky magnetic switch, the user can program the Maximum brightness mode in any of the 3 knob positions.
Some people think Maximum should be at the most clockwise position, others prefer it in the most counterclockwise position.
With the interface I described above, the user can choose where to program that mode, and with a forward clicky, you have both momentary and constant-on Maximum on the same position instead of having to turn the knob to switch from momentary to constant-on and vice versa.
In addition, some folks want a tactical strobe, some don't. Some want firefly, others don't AND everyone has their preferences for where each mode should be.
Some want just Low-Med-High with no strobing modes. Someone else prefers High-Med-Low. Yet another person wants Firefly-Strobe-High. With all 3 positions being programmable, they can program what they want, where they want it.
For most US LEOs, the number one need is to easily get momentary or constant-on Maximum at any time. Forward clicky lights are ideal for this. The 2nd most common desire is for a low or medium mode for checking drivers licenses etc. or writing tickets without blinding themselves from the reflected glare of 1000 lumens.
For LEO who also like the usefulness of a tactical strobe, my personal preference would be to program the light for Maximum brightness at the counterclockwise position, Strobe at the clockwise position, and low in the middle.
With the right flashlight holster, this allows me to pre-select the desired mode easily even under stress/adrenaline: Crank fully counterclockwise for Maximum brightness and I can partial press for momentary or full click for constant-on. Or crank fully clockwise for Tactical Strobe and also half-press for momentary or full click for constant-on Strobe.
The low setting in the middle is easily selected when desired.
I really hope you guys can make this a reality. All the various pieces of the puzzle are pieces that have been individually implemented in various lights. If you could just put all the pieces together in one light, it would be the ultimate light. If you make this, there's nothing else with an interface this versatile.
Max
Now that the Thrunite Scorpion/Lynx is gone, you're currently the ONLY manufacturer that I'm aware of, aside from HDS and Night Reaper, who produces a flashlight with a rear mounted rotary knob to select the different modes.
I have some recommendations that can help you produce an extremely versatile flashlight, with the flexibility to make it THE choice for the Ultimate Tactical flashlight because there's nothing available out there like this proposed design.
As-is, the T10 uses a magnetic tailswitch to operate the light, which results in it operating as a reverse clicky. Because of this, most of the modes do not have a momentary option (in most of the knob positions, you can't half press the button for momentary).
If you can redesign the light to use a standard forward clicky button and still retain the rotary selector knob, with a few tweaks to the programming chip, you can have a light with incredible versatility.
In addition to changing the rear button from the magnetic switch to a forward clicky, all you need is to have 3 positions for the selector knob. Make all 3 positions user programmable.
The chip will need modifications to the implementation for programming the modes, but it should be possible. I have several lights that require a series of many button presses to enter the programming modes, eg. a series of 6 rapid, consecutive double-clicks (12 total presses) etc.
You want to make it difficult/impossible to EVER accidentally enter the programming mode. It should be difficult enough that it can only be entered intentionally. Something along the lines of 10 rapid double-clicks (a total of 20 total presses) within a short time limit would be ideal, as this would allow any potential users who wish to use morse code/signaling flashes to do so without accidentally entering programming mode.
The fact that it's a little more difficult to enter the programming modes is not a problem because the overwhelming majority of users aren't interested in constantly reprogramming the light on the fly. Most users will program the light for their preferences when they first get it, and leave it at that. If their preferences change, they can reprogram the light, but it's absolutely crucial that you cannot accidentally enter programming mode while trying to just use the flashlight. The method to enter programming mode MUST be difficult enough that it would only be done deliberately with the intention of entering programming mode.
With 3 user programmable modes AND the ability to have momentary or constant-on for each mode, you have the ultimate tactical light.
In addition to these changes, there are of course, the usual requirements of good drop/impact resistance and waterproofing.
The flashlight beam also needs a good balance of throw vs spill. The current T10 reflector is too spot/throw oriented, with a very intense but narrow hotspot and a narrow spillbeam. This is dangerous for doing things like clearing a room or building, or doing a quick sweep of a dark alley.
Unless I'm mistaken, the Thrunite Scorpion and Lynx were manufactured in your facility. The Scorpion's Turbo head/reflector has a very good throw and spillbeam profile. Excellent intensity of the hotspot for longer distances and/or disrupting someone's dark adapted vision, while having a wide spillbeam (55 degrees or wider?) to light up a wide area without having to shine the light all around the room to see everything.
Although there are many LED emitters available with advantages in specific areas, at this time, the XM-L2 still has some of the best overall abilities when coupled with a good reflector. 1000 Maximum lumens, about 20,000 candela and a spillbeam in the 55 degree range or higher.
With a user interface as I've detailed above, the user can choose which position on the rotary selector they want each particular mode.
For typical U.S. LEO use, the most important/desired ability is easy access to a momentary and constant-on Maximum. With a forward clicky switch instead of the reverse clicky magnetic switch, the user can program the Maximum brightness mode in any of the 3 knob positions.
Some people think Maximum should be at the most clockwise position, others prefer it in the most counterclockwise position.
With the interface I described above, the user can choose where to program that mode, and with a forward clicky, you have both momentary and constant-on Maximum on the same position instead of having to turn the knob to switch from momentary to constant-on and vice versa.
In addition, some folks want a tactical strobe, some don't. Some want firefly, others don't AND everyone has their preferences for where each mode should be.
Some want just Low-Med-High with no strobing modes. Someone else prefers High-Med-Low. Yet another person wants Firefly-Strobe-High. With all 3 positions being programmable, they can program what they want, where they want it.
For most US LEOs, the number one need is to easily get momentary or constant-on Maximum at any time. Forward clicky lights are ideal for this. The 2nd most common desire is for a low or medium mode for checking drivers licenses etc. or writing tickets without blinding themselves from the reflected glare of 1000 lumens.
For LEO who also like the usefulness of a tactical strobe, my personal preference would be to program the light for Maximum brightness at the counterclockwise position, Strobe at the clockwise position, and low in the middle.
With the right flashlight holster, this allows me to pre-select the desired mode easily even under stress/adrenaline: Crank fully counterclockwise for Maximum brightness and I can partial press for momentary or full click for constant-on. Or crank fully clockwise for Tactical Strobe and also half-press for momentary or full click for constant-on Strobe.
The low setting in the middle is easily selected when desired.
I really hope you guys can make this a reality. All the various pieces of the puzzle are pieces that have been individually implemented in various lights. If you could just put all the pieces together in one light, it would be the ultimate light. If you make this, there's nothing else with an interface this versatile.
Max
Last edited: