All this talk about potted flashlight like Fenix E01 made me wonder so I took a picture of one of my other AAA flashlights (Inova XS).
I hope the picture is clear enough to see, that black substance is that epoxy?
your first post, welcome to the fray
it does look like some form of “potting” (conformal coating and encapsulation are both “potting”)
there are a number of different materials used, but yes, you could generically call them “epoxy potted”, although technically there are differences
a difference between fully potted (encapsulated), and conformal coating, is that fully potted is not repairable, conformal coating is easier to remove if a repair is needed, but both serve to bond and protect.
HDS and Zebra seem to me to use conformal coatings, though they call their lights potted, and they do withstand gun recoil
Malkoff actually does full epoxy encapsulation, it also withstands gun recoil
I think the Fenix E01 is epoxy encapsulated, which is why they cannot be LED modified… IF I understand correctly
now, tell us a bit what your question means to your situation? Are you happy with your Inova, are you trying to chage the LED? Have you dropped the light and did it keep working? (some unpotted lights also work after dropping) 
If it’s super soft then maybe silicone. If its like a really hard rubber then polyurethane. Finally if it rock hard maybe a resin.
There are others but those 3 are the most common that I can think of.
Oh wow, didn’t know there are several kind form of potting.
Lately I became interested in flashlights again but this time more severely then a few years ago. I found this forum among others and start reading about all bunch of stuff I’ve never heard before like how everybody is saying Fenix E01 is bombproof because it’s potted.
Well I happen to have E01 on my keychain and because what I’ve read about it, I start to compare it with my Inova XS that I always keep in my leatherman sheath along with my Charge. I can’t find much about the XS on the net like if it’s potted or not, so I was wondering if that black substance what I’m seeing is also some kind of epoxy potting. So thanks for your replies.
On a side note, because of all the reading about what flashlights nowadays can do, I’ve bought a few the last couple of months and a few more are coming shortly. I really should stop reading all the reviews and such or this will get out of hand (if it’s not already).
yes, spending time on any forum, results in spending money
to control my impulsive buying, I have added several requirements that help limit my purchases
the most important one for me, is the light must have a High CRI LED
I do have a Fenix E01, but I only use it to compare its angry blue cool white, low CRI to other LEDs whose Tint, Color Temperature and CRI I like better
Yeah that’s true. Now I’m finding out about what kind of tints are out there, I’m starting to like NW tint more and more especially after I bought the Sofirn SP10b (in black). What I’m interested in right now are brass flashlights shaped like Maratac AA/AAA with Nichia led and no PWM and fortunately they don’t exist yet as far as I know
hang on to your wallet
theres an AAA brass tool w Nichia
and a brass Maratac AAA also exists but is not in stock, and did not have a Nichia
there is a brass right angle version
https://countycomm.com/products/brass-tactical-personal-flood-tpf-aaa-light-by-maratac
but also no Nichia
imho, the Copper versions are better than Brass, for me, because copper conducts heat better, is more germicidal, and does not contain Lead in the alloy the way Brass does. Also brass is just as heavy as copper, but is only 1/3 as conductive.
fwiw, the head of a Tool is a direct swap with the head of a Maratac
here is a copper Tool w mechanical clickie, available w Nichia
and here is the copper Maratac AAA w Nichia
that is my personal favorite off the shelf
fwiw, the AA Maratacs have PWM, so I avoid them
I have a “thing” for small copper lights
This is cleaner :sunglasses:
Jon, now I see your picture I think it’s one of your pictures that got me looking into brass flashlights! Especially the maratac one, that’s one hell of sexy looking flashlight I’ve ever seen!
I saw indeed that one in Massdrop before, but I couldn’t find more info about having PWM or not and besides that, I read it’s a PITA to have it shipped to Europe (I live in the Netherlands). Maratac itself won’t ship to Europe so sometimes this is a blessing (save some money) but in this case it’s a curse!
Well, copper it’s fine for me too actually it’s just it’s so shiny and bling bling in the beginning 
Usually potting will cover all the components to waterproof it and assist heat transfer.
This just seems like some epoxy around the center contact to maybe hold it in place or prevent the battery from touching nearby components/solder points.
I saw indeed fully potted drives pictures on the net, and the XS looks like someone spilled some stuff on it by accident. I wonder if it’s indeed epoxy potting why they just didn’t do it all the way since more then half it’s already done anyway.
Because it’s likely just glue epoxy, not potting material, and it’s there for reasons other than heat transfer or waterproofing.
If it’s just to prevent a battery from touching electrical parts around the contact then it doesn’t need to be potting material.
They wouldn’t waste more than necessary to save cost, since it’s a cheaper flashlight.
Make sense alright. That would be probably it.
no PWM, since Oct 2015 models, on AAA Tool and AAA Maratac
maybe someone should ask the manufacturer
not all “potting” is the same, here is Zebralight “potting”
more info on various types of “potting, encapsulating, and coating” types (epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone). Some are thermally conductive, some are for high temperature, most are waterproof, some are more resistant to other chemicals and solvents… etc:
https://www.epoxysetinc.com/product-reviews/potting-encapsulating-compounds/
.
.
“Thermal cycling can take a toll on your electronics so can unprotected assemblies. Our potting & encapsulation can make a difference in your electronic components.”
Yes, in that Zebralight flashlight it is for heat dissipation and possibly shock/vibration resistance.
But when it is not covering all the components, like in the OP’s picture, then it is obviously neither for waterproofing nor heat dissipation. It’s just glue.
thanks for explaining
happy shopping
when in doubt, get both lol
pic from here
https://www.edcforums.com/threads/maratac-aaa-copper-rev-3.124567/page-4
I do post a lot of pics of copper maratacs, its my edc, and I have an assortment of LEDs in them
the greenish one in the middle is the new 219c Copper eSwitch Tool, the others are not stock
the AAA Maratacs are not potted afaik, but have been reliable, even when dropped (seldom). They also still work after going through the clothes washer… (cant say if thats true for the Tool, have not tried)
Great way to wake up, to see those Maratacs smiling at me Thanks!
Anyone here has experience with do-it-yourself potting — in the sense of fully encapsulating — of flashlight electronics for improved reliability?
PFlexPro mentions that he uses Stycast 2850FT (https://www.pflexpro.com/Potted-Flashlight-and-P60-Drop-In-s/1841.htm). This stuff seems a bit expensive though, and not available in small quantities.
I also found a previous thread where 18sixfifty mentioned he uses a 50/50 mix of silicon carbide and JB Weld. However eas mentioned JB Weld contains 5-10% powdered iron which might lead to slow shorting of circuits.
I played with some “potting” on some of my lights recently.
EX yachttie (Timber and steel) and have several part used packs of marine epoxy sitting in shed.
Overcooked with extra hardener (sets quick) and one I added Carbon to darken it.
5 min epoxy should work too.
The remnants of a 2 pack Ceramic epoxy I had to repair something (old Laptop cover casing).
did same job. and is coloured white not clear.
Some Commercial Marine electronics are potted too in the major parts. Old Navy HF and VHF Radio’s are.
As long as you NOT intending to play with it. Potting should make them more substantial/reliable?.
Anybody else tried?.
I use MG Chemicals thermal potting Thermal Epoxy Used Stycast too, when the company buys it…