Does anyone else have issues with accidentally turning on a side clicky torch while carrying it in their pocket?
As a rule I carry my EDC in my right jeans pocket. And if present make use of the clip.
But my Olight S15 will too easily switch itself on in my pocket, as does my Imalent DDR2. My Solarstorm SC2 allows the clip to be reversed which seems to help this somewhat, but it can still activate.
I’ve not really found a way around this problem. The electronic lockout on the Olight doesn’t really help, because if the switch gets pressed and held in my pocket it simply unlocks it.
I’m also not keen on the physical lockout (a great feature for storage or transport in a bag). But if I unscrew the cap for EDC use, then every time I want to use the light I have to screw the cap on tight. In which case I might as well be carrying a twisty not a clicky.
I don’t seem to have this problem with any of my tail clicky lights, from an L2M to a Balder HD-1.
Does anyone else have the same issue with side clickies?
And this is exactly why I let go of my original SRK to a member here. Those side-switches can be just too easy to activate. The only rear clickies I had this trouble with were ones with exposed buttons. I will no longer own those side-switch lights for EDC purposes.
If they would take a hint from vapers, they would put a collar for a physical lockout of the button
Simple spin around the button and it locks it for safe transport in your pocket…when needed simply spin the collar, it screws in freeing up the firing button
A deeply recessed side switch works very well. Examples includes the Zebralight SC80 and SC52, and the Spark SF3. In addition to helping protect against accidental pocket activation, it acts like a funnel for your thumb making it very fast to find the button with the light still in your pocket.
On my modded sideswitch lights I adjust how much pressure and travel is needed to depress the button by:
varying the distance between the top of the switch mechanism and the bottom of the switchboot.
sometimes using superglue to glue a small disk on top of the switch mechanism
replace the switchboot with a thicker one. In my Aleto N8 mod, I originally used a switchboot from a cheap Duracell plastic light. I later replaced that thin switchboot with a much thicker one cut down from a standard 16mm spare switchboot.
add foam or other material inside the switchboot to provide more support and make the button stiffer.
My current EDC is my modded Aleto N8 zoomie which I added a sideswitch. The button on the switch isn’t recessed… it actually protrudes slightly outside the width of the light. Fortunately, it has never accidentally turned on. I intentionally used a relatively thick rubber switchboot. This provides sufficient support that pocket turn-on hasn’t been a problem.
If it becomes a problem in the future, I can make it so even more pressure is needed to depress the button fairly easily.
If it’s anything like an SRK, it’s an easy fix. Just get a matching sized washer and place it between the outer cover and the inner switch. The washer provides a very good upwards pressure and prevents accidental switching.
When I carry an S-20, I loosen the tail cap about an eighth of a turn to lock it out. Would that work with the S-15?
I have two S-20s, the earlier one with a soft white switch and a later one with a hard black switch. I like the hard switch a lot better, but it sure does turn itself on easier.
I cargo-pocketed it for nearly a month and it turned on by itself EVERY single day multiple times…until I put it back in the office and only brought it out just to blind people and create scenes…you know…the usual routine.
On the SRK switch, the button is plenty thick enough that you can machine/file/grind off enough of the top that it ends up recessed below the top of the retainer.
the only side switch light i EDC sometimes is my Ultrafire UF-T20 or Olight S10, but i lock those out by loosening the tail caps a 1/4 turn. most of my other EDCs are twisties or tail switched.
My Zebralight SC31w is a love/hate affair because of the accidental activations.
It was also my first warm tint, and not a fan
The size and output though, are its saving graces.
