Looking for dead simple (on/off) thrower "bump in the night" light

Convoy C8 (or C8+) with the illuminated tailcap, set to the “100% only” mode? Hopefully they’re familiar with charging because with the tailcap they’ll need to remember to do that from time to time.

MTN electronics sells drivers that you can order with only a single mode.

Your best best is something from home depot. Anything on this forum will be overkill.

This here is about all I can think of that meets all of the requirements. C8+ with the 21700 battery would mean longer standby times with the illuminated tail cap. I guess you can get an extra couple of batteries and swap them out every so often so the parents don’t have to charge them.

we agree with zoulas.

we had a similar situation with parents.
we glued the battery compartments closed on their two on-off-only flashlights
since they would drop them which dislocated the covers and disbursed the batteries.
we thought that screw-on heads would work, but they did not. we glued the threads on them.

again, zoulas is right.
buy cheap and replace often.
“throw” is useless unless it works.

> double click from off with anduril depending on version

Look, I love Andruil UI. I use it a lot. I want to help you in how you think about this.

Double click from off?

I’m talking about someone with somewhat limited dexterity who is frightened and just woke up. Think they’ll time the clicks just right? Think they won’t hit three clicks and simply get a voltage reading? Think they won’t try out lockout mode and just get nothing? Or maybe they will press it four times and lock themselves out.

Not for my parents. Not for this situation.

> size limitation

Good question. As long as it’s easily held by a small hand, no, not really. Big might be better—easier to find and easier to hold. As long as it’s not so big it would make my mom’s arm tired (not some lead acid flood lamp).

> do you mean to light up the entire half acre ?

No, throw across it and let someone looking into the beam that business is serious. This is most definitely not someone’s cell phone light. If I could make them think, “This is security. We picked the wrong house,” that’s exactly what I’d pick.

> 21700 battery

I’m not married to the 21700 here. Just a starting point that seemed reasonable to me.

Awesome suggestions. Thanks a ton all of you!

Maybe a good old 2 or 3 cell LED Maglite? It’s a fine weapon and it also lights up.

That was my first thought too! And for an even simpler light with no risk of activating programming mode, you can buy a single-mode driver from Simon to use instead.
(Might even be able to specially request that if you order it from Simon’s store, if you’re not set up to mod a light.)

I gave my Mother a Mag ML50L 3 C cell. Simple one button, more than enough throw, 611 lumens and common batteries. The bonus is that it has a medium and a low setting for long runtimes. However, it always starts on high. One button press and bang. Please don’t tell my wife that I liked Mom’s ML50L so much that I bought one for myself. It sits next to my Malkoffs and Surefires and the rest.

Cometa, if you can find one, or the Jaxman Z1, its somewhat nicer twin.

I call mine the Big Blue Lighthouse because of the bright blue lit tailswitch. :laughing: Easy to find in the dark if the power goes out, etc.

Switch it to 1-mode 100% (bistro), or you could set it to 2 modes, default to the lower one which’d still be hella bright.

Wide open for a nice even blanket of light, or zoom it to The Bat Signal for lots of reach.

Takes a 26650, so it’ll last a while.

Also take a look at the Sofirn SP70. Tail switch to tun off and on. Side switch to set brightness.
An if you can still find one. The Streamlight Protac 5-X. Side switch. The UI can be set to full only if desired.
I did a review here.

All the Best,
Jeff

Hmm maybe something from Streamlight?

Streamlight Stinger 2020 has an interesting UI. Click the button for on or off, double click for strobe. That’s it, modes are controlled by a slider.

I gave my parents a regular Streamlight Stinger LED, it has the same UI as above except it’s hold from off for H-M-L. As far as I know they’ve never had a problem with strobe or lower levels. They leave it on the charger unless they need it and so far it’s always worked for them over the decade or so they’ve had it. Charger does have a steady red LED so it would be visible in the dark. Also there is a GID sleeve option.

There do seem to be few truly single mode lights - the single mode G2X and 6PX would be good choices but they are CR123A only.

A 6P 18650 clone with Malkoff conversion or singlemode light engine would be a decent choice as well.

“Bump in the night, light”… has me thinking that a light mounted to whichever firearm they are the most practiced with, would give them the most options and “something with authority.”

> a light mounted to whichever firearm

They are currently in an… oppressive jurisdiction shall we say. I’m hoping to get them out.

I still have my old 6P LED - 80 lumens!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I’m learning lots.

As a note: my parents are fine with “special batteries.” They can use chargers, CR123s, lithium ion USB charged batteries, etc. They just can’t do fancy stuff suddenly at 3AM.

Sofirn SC31B is a really nice light for this usecase. Simple one switch UI, inbuilt charging and bright enough for regular use.

EDIT: Nevermind, I dont know how I missed the thrower part. :slight_smile:

Mmm, lotta good suggestions, but I still say the Z1 pretty much ticks all the boxes.

There’s the new version, too, if you want a little more oomf.

Acebeam T36 - tailswitch is turbo only - other modes activated with side switch
2000 Lumens - 4000K
USB C rechargeable

> Acebeam T36

Great option. Thanks.
USB-C

How about an Astrolux FT03 set to momentary mode? It has a glowing button and you can’t get out of momentary unless you loosen and retighten the tailcap. It comes on in full brightness, but you have to keep the button depressed.

Another vote for a single mode C8 with lighted tailcap.