I’m trying to see if I can’t find something compatible to add a tail switch to the D3AA. One of the lights I EDC is a Sofirn SC31T Pro legoed together from a SC31 Pro and an SC31T using anduril with the tail switch build flag.
I started using a YAKORSEI GD12 and realized, not only do I like the switch between tactical and EDC mode sets (may play around with do a PR to add a feature like that for tailswitch anduril lights), but I really like that the GD12 has a buck driver. It can throw just as hard, while outputting more light than my SC31T pro on turbo while producing a fraction of the heat!!
So that got me thinking, what other anduril lights do I have that have a buck/boost driver that I can mod into having a dual switch?
D4 line - I don’t own one with a buck/boost driver but the new Lume X1 drivers for the would be great! I just need a tailswitch
FW3X - control switch is already on the rear. No place to add a forward clicky
D3AA - small! boost driver! I just need to figure out how to add a forward clicky!
SP10 Pro - I don’t like the shallow reflector of this thing but I like that it has a boost driver
For the D3AA, a convoy T3 switch has different threads and might be too wide? I have an Antman switch as well that doesnt fit
For the SP10 Pro, the T3 switch fits over the existing threads but is too big. Switch turns light on and off though, it just needs to fit bettter.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I can build a dual switch anduril light with a buck/boost driver?
Forgive me if the question is daft, but do you have to modify Anduril to enable a tailswitch?
A tail switch is simply power on/off, same as locking/unlocking the tailcap, all my lights (with exception of Convoy M21H, which is ramping but not Anduril) will blink to show power connected and wait for input from the e-switch.
Not a daft question! Yes, you have to roll your own custom version of anduril.
You will have to recompile the firmware with #define START_AT_MEMORIZED_LEVEL in your anduril.h file and the tail button will turn the light on at the memorized level.
I’d like to add a different type of tactical mode to anduril where I can swap between a START_AT_CEILING_LEVEL and START_AT_MEMORIZED_LEVEL, but that will take a bit more time.
Perhaps not quite what you’re looking for, but people have done Lego builds of the D3AA with the body of the Acebeam Tac 2AA, though you’d also need to leverage the larger 14100 battery.
Are you willing to do some modding? I have a T3 and SP10 Pro. It looks to me you could sand off the anno from the outside of the SP10 near the clip, sand off the anno from the T3 tailcap, and they would fit nicely. Super glue can hold them together while still being removable, or epoxy would be stronger but permanent.
The T3 and the SP10 kinda work if you smash the tailcap on, but it doesn’t thread together at all, the T3 tailcap is too wide.
It’d be worth looking into if I didn’t hate the SP10 beam profile. I stuck a W1 in it, but it didn’t extend the throw as much as I wanted (as compared to say, an SC21).
Yes, what I was saying is you could mod it so it would just slip over and be held with glue or epoxy (threads are not involved). The tailcap would then not come off and you’d do battery changes at the head. Regardless, hopefully the TAC 2AA works out for you.
not sure I see the benefit… Anduril only turns on the main LEDs, and changes output, via an eSwitch.
If the tailswitch is mechanical, that will only connect (or disconnect) the battery. This would only power the Aux (on or off), leaving the main LEDs off.
The result would be the same as physical lockout (unscrew to break contact, retighten to make contact).
I dont think a forward clicky can talk to the eSwitch in Anduril. This is also why the D3AA does not allow changing outputs when using the head as a twisty. Closing and opening the threads, only turns Aux on and off, not the main LEDs.
There would be no mode changes via the tailswitch.
Any mode changes after powering on the tailswitch, would require using the eSwitch on the head. And any last mode memory will be erased when the tailswitch breaks contact w the battery.
When a D3AA gets disconnected from the Battery, the next time the battery is reconncted, followed by turning the main LEDs on via the eSwitch, they start at 20 lumens by default.
Anduril includes some code to support mechanical tail switches, you just need to enable it when compiling a new version. With #define START_AT_MEMORIZED_LEVEL “making contact” as you put it, will turn on the light at the memorized level.
Unfortunately mode changes only work with the side button. It might be possible to rewrite andruil to take into account 6C tactical mode when pushing the tailcap but it would require hardware modification of the driver to incorporate an offtime capacitor (labeled OTC in toykeeper tail clicky code). Definitely a more involved mod than just building a custom version of anduril.
What can be done with just a new firmware flash is adding some sort of tailswitch mode select. I.e. selectable between turbo/ceiling or memory mode. The code for this doesn’t exist yet, but it’s something I plan to look into.
It sounds like Custom firmware that enables “turn on the main LEDs at last mode” (automatic memory) when connecting the battery, (instead of turning on the Aux), would also work without a tailswitch. By using the D3AA as a twisty to make and break contact (physical lockout) w the battery.
I need the tail switch for my use. Twisting the body requires two hands and may compromise water tightness as compared to a button and doesn’t lend itself to momentary use. Also, I hate twisty lights
