Actually I like rotatry control, but if we are making a ‘grandma’ light, I think it should only have on, or off, not too bright (maybe 200 lumen) and a single big easy to use switch. Maybe even a sliding switch instead of a button, because grandma may have shaky hands. It is also a good ‘kid’ light, because they may do silly things like put the flashlight to the face. It may be good to have automatic slowly ramping for this reason maybe over 1 second. But no other features. It should be durable and have no standby drain so it can last a long time in the drawer.
Obviously not what you guys are looking for (and you’ll probably laugh) , but I followed the link from ‘TheIntruder’ which took me to Walmart, there I found probably the best grandma light (just not this model as it’s a bit cheaply made).
Plugs into the mains to charge (so no charging leads to lose or fiddle round with) so will be easy to find if using the same outlet each time, has 2 brightness levels, a nice and chunky grip for older hands and a nice big regular slide switch. The shape also makes sure it’s held the right way up and is easy to locate the button, no fiddling round trying to find the switch. The drawback is this particular one is very cheaply made.
Looking on the Amazon reviews I found this lol!
Perfect for my grandma
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
Perfect for my grandma, easy to use and charge, now she has a light ready to go at all times.
fwiw, there is already a big thread about the feature list for a Grandma Light
here is the info from the first post of that thread, for people who have not seen it:
so when the present thread started with
the question was just which end of the light the control ring should be on…
I would choose the design with the control ring on the head, and No Tailswitch.
fwiw, Jetbeam has previously built lights with rotary rings on the head, both with or without tailswitch:
Jetbeam RRT-01 with No tailswitch:
.
Jetbeam RRT-01 2020 model with tailswitch:
.
another example of a light with a control ring on the head, plus a tailswitch, is the venerable Sunwayman V11r:
.
those happen to be stepless infinitely variable magnetic rotaries, but since djozz does not want that, it could simply be built to have the discrete modes he listed above
the second option Wurkkos Terry posted, with the control ring and switch on the back, is also a feature of the HDS 24 step Rotary, designed for Ice Pick grip:
In the HDS the control ring is not magnetic, it has 24 discrete steps… I think the 4 mode dial that djozz suggested, would be sufficient, regardless which end it is on.
here is a past example of a light with a 4 mode dial, Sunwayman M11r
.
it has no tailswitch, just the front control ring w 4 modes, like djozz suggested.
I’m reminded that my mom (who is now a grandma) has kept a light hanging from a hook for emergencies as long as I can remember…
I’d also add that I’ve come to prefer 21700 lights with a thick wall battery tube for thermals and for the size of the light in your hand.
It tick most
of the boxes, doesn’t it?
I’m just a bit concerned about the battery when the thing is plugged into the mains all the time.
This will kill Li-ion batteries (like it does in laptops).
Lead acid batteries can withstand being topped up all the time, most NiMH cells are okay with it too, i think, as long as they’re not overcharged (like in cordless land line phones).
I offered my mom (72) some of my flashlights, she decided to take the FC11
because it has a side switch and it’s easy to grab.
She also preferred the ramping mode over the steps.
So I think ramping isn’t a no go if it’s implemented well.
First low shouldn’t be firefly low, this won’t be used and
high shouldn’t be ultra turbo high, because she or someone else
could be blinded and getting shocked, which may lead to an accident.
Off should be a click with some haptic feedback at best using the same ring,
like the old potentiometers with integrated switch, I think.
Like others said, strobe, blinkies or “double click” turbo are no goes.
My parents and lots of friends accidentally activate turbo on Anduril,
because the double click time is so freaking long…
A lot of those direct-plug-in lights have a big-ass 2V Pb-acid cell that’s kept constantly “charged” via a single series capacitor.
Zero voltage regulation, just a constant trickle current and you hope you don’t slowly fry the cell, but of course, that almost always happens.
Same system as those ’kitchen vacs” and “dustbuster” type things. 1yr, 2 tops, and the cell’s got like zero capacity.
A modern version of the classic Sanyo Cadnica pilot’s light would be pretty cool.
https://jp.mercari.com/item/m82314794296
A cross between a RovyVon and the Wuben X1. Two position slide switch for white and red modes, and doesn’t need a cheat sheet to use.
I have a non-functional one with dead cells, so that is the main downside.
I prefer the first design option. If anything, I just assume majority of grandmas would feel less comfortable with tactical grip.