D.I.Y. Illuminated tailcap

[DanielM]

@pilotdog68

@cajampa

Do you think it is possible to connect it to the switch? so that when the switch is off the tailcap light is on but off when the switch is on.
But maybe only complicates things more than necessary for something that pulls so little current.

But then when the switch is ‘on’ so is your main light. I’m sure something could be done though.

Currently I use it on lights that have tail-cap lockout, which shuts off the tail LED’s when I don’t need them.

I also ordered some tiny switches to see if I could fit in a way to disable the tail light for storage, but it would be mounted on the inside next to the battery spring. I’m still working on that.

A switch for the led in the switch? I love it. Dip switch maybe?

[pilotdog68]

Maybe.

i was hoping to find smaller, but I ordered some of these. Now I’m just waiting on delivery to see if it’s feasible.

[scottyhazzard]

Interesting. How do you intend to place them or se those switches?

[pilotdog68]

@scottyhazzard

Interesting. How do you intend to place them or se those switches?

It would be something to disable the tail when the light isn’t in use. If I can get it to fit, it would be on the inside of the light, next to (or even inside) the batt- spring. You would have to take off the tailcap and use your finger or pencil or something to flip the switch. It would only affect the tail led’s, the regular light would function normally.

I’m not completely sure it will work at all, and wouldn’t really serve any purpose if the flashlight has tailcap lockout anyways.

[Mr_Nobody]

looking pretty cool any updates on the build?

[pilotdog68]

@Mr. Nobody

looking pretty cool any updates on the build?

Umm not really.

I have it installed in the 2 lights I use most, the red and blue ones from the OP. Works Great.

Once oshpark delivers my new PCB’s I’ll play around with adding diodes for a pseudo-LVP.

I’m kinda surprised nobody else has done it yet. I know a few other people are waiting on Oshpark as well.

[pilotdog68]

If someone in the US wants some of the clear switch boots, I have a couple extra I can send, either 14mm or 16mm.

[cajampa]

I haven’t read all the posts in both threads so this could has been suggested before.

But a way to detect battery level would be very cool to get in the tailcap but maybe it is not possible without a connection to the positive terminal.

[scottyhazzard]

@pilotdog68

@scottyhazzard

Interesting. How do you intend to place them or se those switches?

It would be something to disable the tail when the light isn’t in use. If I can get it to fit, it would be on the inside of the light, next to (or even inside) the batt- spring. You would have to take off the tailcap and use your finger or pencil or something to flip the switch. It would only affect the tail led’s, the regular light would function normally.

I’m not completely sure it will work at all, and wouldn’t really serve any purpose if the flashlight has tailcap lockout anyways.

I think that’s a great idea.

[Mr_Nobody]

Awesome, I need to build one or two of these.

[Kloepper_Knife_Works]

Thanks for putting together a great idea. I just ordered some boards and components, enough make a couple dozen. Now for the long wait for everything to show up.

Big thumbs up.

[pilotdog68]

Oshpark just delivered the boards of my own design, so I went right to work, and decided to post a little more detailed pics of the process.

………………………………………

Here is the board with the led’s, extra diode, and resistor

Now with the switch added….

Tested that it works….

Nylon retaining ring….

Clear switch cap…

Beautiful!

Here you can see how I have the resistor soldered at the driver. It’s prettier on my other flashlight (because I used a smaller resistor), but this shows how simple it is.

[Hoop]

Really dig these illuminated tail switches and I bet they will see widespread use. Is anyone planning on integrating the driver leak resistor into new driver designs? The original thread is good for a laugh since so many people said it was not possible.

Dunno if it’s any help, but I recently spent quite a while searching digikey to find the smallest dip switches. The smallest I could find were about .250” x .140” and .120” tall and are: 1 position, 25mA, 24VDC, SPST, with recessed slider and gullwing contacts.

This one was among the smallest: KAE01SGGT

[pyro1son]

Would it be easier to put the dip switch in series with the leak resistor on the driver? That would still turn off the tail cap right?

[Icarus]

Beautiful indeed! I'm sure you could sell a lot of these boards. Great job!

[Antenne]

“dip switch in series with the leak resistor” - that would make it more driver dependable - there are drivers with some leakage current on their own - you would only shut up the resistor part. The switch should be better placed at (in) the tailcap (and is better accessible there).

[Lothar]

Really awesome project pilotdog68!

Now we just need small LED's that can change from green to orange to red based on the voltage across them, and we have the perfect battery indicator!

[pyro1son]

Could we have all the dimensions for the nylon washers?

[pilotdog68]

@pyro1son

Could we have all the dimensions for the nylon washers?

I can measure when I get home, but here in the US they are sold in little bags marked 5/16”

[Keisari]

@pilotdog68

You would have to take off the tailcap and use your finger or pencil or something to flip the switch. It would only affect the tail led’s, the regular light would function normally. I’m not completely sure it will work at all, and wouldn’t really serve any purpose if the flashlight has tailcap lockout anyways.

If I understood the idea correctly, this would also make sense in some lights with lockout possibility. This would just disable the standby signal light and still have the light ready to use and not potentially about to spontaneously fall apart. Using tailcap lockout is sort of the same as removing batteries and storing them in a separate case, excuse my exaggeration here.

@Antenne

“dip switch in series with the leak resistor” - that would make it more driver dependable - there are drivers with some leakage current on their own - you would only shut up the resistor part. The switch should be better placed at (in) the tailcap (and is better accessible there).

Agreed. As this sort of locator light circuit goes through both the driver and tailcap boards, and some drivers may be ready to use in stock config, it makes sense to put any hypothetical switch in the tailcap. Also the accessibility issue would be kinda critical on some hosts. The tailcap is most of the time easily accessible vs. the driver board or other front contact board that often is not.