Don’t get me wrong, I understand their benefits. But I have serious beef with some of the implementations.
I’ve bought a few lights recently (FT03, MF01 Mini, KR1) they all have electronic switch.
So what’s the problem I hear you ask……
1. Well they go flat if you leave them. Yes I know this can take time. But like many on here, I happen to have at least a couple of lights which means sometimes some of them will sit on the shelf for a period of time and not be used. Or I might put one in a car for a bit.
But anything with an electronic switch will frickin drain itself. Over the past year I’ve managed to ruin a handful of Li-ion batteries this way. Where I’ve used a light and put it back on the shelf and forgot to either take the battery out or unsrew the cap (not all of them support a mechanical lockout).
2. And I think this is an even bigger issue. Electronic switches seem much more prone to being activated accidentally. I know this ultimately comes down to the individual implementation and design. For instance my Zebralight SC600w IV might still run the battery down if I forget to unscrew the cap. But at least it doesn’t activate in my pocket.
But two really awesome lights I’d like to use more are horrendous at this:
- Astrolux MF01 Mini
- Nocitgon KR1
These two lights are amazing lights. I’d love to use both of them more. The KR1 is ideal EDC size for me and could quite easily have become my favourite light of all time. BUT…………………………
Both of them will turn on in your pocket!!! FFS arrchhrhGGGG ggg!!! :cry: :person_facepalming:
Which sadly renders them both completely useless as lights to carry and use.
I know there is an electronic lock out —- but it’s 4 clicks, then another 4 clicks to unlock it. Plus the light will flash when you do this. Basically I’m not going to piss about clicking it this number of times for a light I want to carry and use daily. It is too much of a chore. I’d rather just take a different light that simply works for the intended purpose.
The physical lockout, while effective suffers the same issue as the electronic lockup. Unnecessary faffing when trying to do something simple.
Surely I’m not the only one with such feelings about this?
Out of around 100 lights that I own. I have only 3 that have good implementations of electronic switches:
- Klarus NT20
- Crelant V9CS
- Olight M3XS-UT Javelot
In each case above all of the lights have an electronic switch for changing modes. But they all have a forward mechanical clicky for turning the light on. This seems to be the ultimate solution IMO. No battery drain when off, none of them accidentally activate (in fact all can tail stand too). You get momentary without needing to pre-select a special mode. But you get all the advantages of an electronic switch. Hell, the V9CS even has a ramping mode not hugely different to the Anduril UI, despite being a torch I bought back in 2012!
Here is a review of the KR1, I think you can tell how much I truly love this little light. And yet how disappointed I am that it turns on in my pocket: