As the resident Solarforce whore, I feel it is my duty to compare the more popular tail cap switches from my favorite flashlight company . . . and burden everyone with my opinions. I've also included a few pics of these guys on a flashlight so you can see for yourself if there's an improvement or if you just screwed $15 of ugly onto the end of your prized Solarforce.
Let's start with the first four that I'll call the self-defense group or, how to turn an innocent flashlight into a clothes shredder. From left to right:
S8 $8.99
- forward clicky
- black "HAIII"
- 6061 aluminum
- rated to 3 amps (by Solarforce)
- 14mm boot
- 4 lanyard holes
- will tail stand
This switch is high on the Foy-o-meter because it makes Foy's Masterpiece Pro I look butch. Being larger than the flashlight tube, it gives the fat head Masterpiece needed balance, especially on the longish 2 x 18650 configuration.
S9 $14.99
- forward clicky
- black "HAIII" with stainless steel bezel
- 6061 aluminum
- rated to 3 amps (by Solarforce)
- 14mm boot
- 3 lanyard holes
- will tail stand
Also a Foy favorite simply because it turns any L2 (2011 version) or L2P into a chick magnet. That's right; walk the dog at dusk sporting a new L2, accessorized with the latest tail bling, will increase your odds for some tail. This switch is also larger than the flashlight tube but less so than the S8. It does tail stand and what stability it might lose having three whateveryoucallthem forming the base instead of the usual four, it makes up for with its wider stance.
S11 $11.99
- forward clicky
- black "HAIII" with stainless steel bezel
- 6061 aluminum
- rated to 3 amps (by Solarforce)
- 14mm boot
- 4 lanyard holes
- will tail stand
A favorite for all the above reasons, this switch on an L2P with a Foyed stainless steel bezel is about the best looking flashlight you've ever seen.
S6 $7.99
- black (HAIII)
- 6061 aluminum
- rated to 3 amps (by Solarforce)
- 14mm boot
- 4 lanyard holes
- will tail stand
In appearance, the all black twin to the S11. Not as sexy.
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This group of five are the basic workhorses of the Solarforce P60 family. All but one (the L2T) are reverse clickies and they come standard with their respective hosts. From left to right again:
New L2P $5.50
- reverse clicky
- black "HAIII"
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- not drilled for lanyard
- will tail stand
I always thought the standard L2P switch quite handsome but I like this new one too. Compared to the old style; the web site address is less conspicuous, the boot is smaller and the smoothed knurling is ever so slightly more aggressive.
L2P (previous style) not listed
- reverse clicky
- black "HAIII"
- 6061 aluminum
- 16mm boot
- not drilled for lanyard
- will tail stand
See above comments.
New L2 not listed
- reverse clicky
- black
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- no provision for lanyard
- will not tail stand
At first glance, this looks like the old L2 switch with improved knurling and a better finish but as you can see, it is somewhat shorter. The old and new L2 tail caps work with either light; Solarforce increased the outside diameter of the flashlight tube to match the cap. An exposed boot like this is sometimes called a "tactical" switch. Whatever you call it, this basic switch gets the job done.
L2 (previous style) $4.50
- reverese clicky
- black (glossy)
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- no provision for lanyard
- will not tail stand
Old version - see above.
S10 $7.50 (comes with the L2T)
- forward clicky
- buff black
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- no provision for lanyard
- will not tail stand
Similar to the L2 cap, this switch has wider knurling with six vertical lines cut around the side, in keeping with the bezel design of the L2T.
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These four come with their light and are not available separately that I'm aware of. From left to right:
Skyline I
Solarforce calls this their "infinite output system" switch. It's a three mode:
on/off
on-and-hold, until it dims to your liking
double-click, for fast strobe
- 16mm boot
- 2 extended cutouts for lanyard
It will tail stand but the resulting top-heavy Skyline is less stable with the "tactical" cut-outs on two sides of the base. Also, at its lowest setting it has extreme PWM.
L2 (grey, old version)
- reverse clicky
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- no provision for lanyard
- same as the black L2
L2i (one silver, one Foyed)
- reverse clicky
- 6061 aluminum
- 14mm boot
- 4 lanyard holes
The L2i caps are male threaded, the same size as the wider L2i body and use the same 14mm boot found on the L2, etc.
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There you have it; all you never wanted to know about Solarforce tail caps. Below, you will find different caps shown on an L2P for comparison.
bubyeFoy
ha ha.
