New Convoy C8 – Clearly better

That’s unfortunate. A simple accident no doubt but still a bummer. I passed the info and pictures along to Simon. If you contact him through the Ali message system he will certainly make it right. These type of things will come up from time to time but Simon always takes care of any mistakes like this.

Hello all,

This is an excellent thread and I thought it best to post here where the expertise is rather than clog up the forum with yet another thread. I’ve read though this thread and my problem doesn’t seem to have cropped up before.

Yesterday I received an updated C8, the XPL HI model this thread is about. I put a fully charged NCR18650B in it and switched it on, cycled though the modes and was generally very impressed. So far, so good.

The issue was when I attempted to put it in config mode to change the settings. I clicked it on, and then proceeded to tap it quickly but steadily expecting it to stop turning on and then buzz. Problem is, it didn’t seem to go into the config mode. Confused, I clicked it off and clicked back on again, it came on low (0.1? 1?) and then no matter how many times I tapped the switch, clicked the switch or anything else it refused to do anything other than this low output.

In summary, after attempting to go into config mode and failing I have been left with a light that switches on with a very low output but then refuses to do anything else no matter what.

Has anyone else had this problem or even have any idea what might be wrong? Is there a way of doing a ‘hard reset’ back to the default settings?

I thought I’d post on here before taking it up with Simon at Ali, from what I hear in this thread he seems to be a busy man and I’d rather not bother him if I can sort it out myself.

Many many thanks.

Hi Alex, welcome to BLF! :slight_smile:

These drivers with new firmware, that are used for the first time in the clear C8, do have a programming error that as far as reported yet have no serious effect on the actual functioning of the flashlight. But you may have encountered a problem after all.
Personally I have tried this same driver (I ordered them as bare driver from Simon) in a triple XP-G3 flashlight (S2+ shorty with 18500 cell) and it acted weird too (but different: overly enthousiastic stepdowns, seemed to switch on in a random setting). Perhaps my use was a kind of out-of-spec use, so I will not blame the firmware for that.
Maybe others have encountered problems too and care to report here?

TK said that a programming error by the factory caused the drivers to run at twice the speed they are supposed to, effectively overclocking them. This can lead to odd issues if it is widespread. I never saw a conclusion to that issue although it should be a simple fix ones figured out and not effect the vast majority of users.

I flashed this new biscotti to 3 lights. one of them is normal speed and two is twice as normal.

Are you thinking the new firmware was responsible for making the MCU run at double speed?

The technical side of creating firmware is beyond my understanding, but I suppose it’s possible.

I’m sure ToyKeeper is on the case. I think we are all just waiting for an official reply from her or Simon (through J-Dub74).

She said in a prior post that it was the new firmware that was the problem. It worked fine with the 5 old drivers that I flashed (105C and 105D).

Oh, was it in this thread she said that, because I don’t see it here.

Well, I guess that answers that. Lol

I thought I remembered it being fuse* settings that caused the speed issues. Not certain though, might be more info in the firmware thread. Might help to take some of these questions there.

*Fuses are settings that you specify when flashing firmware to a chip. So not really the firmware nor the hardware.

Could someone send me the chip on the drivers programmed with biscotti firmware?

Correct, most do not understand that though so I just used the word firmware.

Thank you :+1:

It seems like it might be an exceptional case, I think I will contact Simon and see what advice he gives and whether he wants me to send the light back so he can see what’s up. I’ll keep an eye on this thread though for any updates.

I got in my C8 also such a plastic spacer

It got multiple cracks as it seems not tough enough to withstand the force from the switch board

The retaining ring has been overtightened. They’re not used to anything but an aluminum ring in there.

I “spoke” with Simon, factory does not have any more aluminium spacers, I requested some spares so I would have when factory messes up. Plastic spacers are only option :frowning:
Today I received one more C8 ordered from Sinom, ordered on September 30 (yes, it took almost 40 days to arrive) this time black one and again, cracked plastic “spacer”.
This looks like someone just cut end cap of the bottle and unsuccessfully tried to fabricate a spacer but I accept that I might be wrong, after all I’m not engineer.

and this is what I imagined when someone mentioned “plastic washer/spacer”:

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Simon, he surely left big mark in budget & quality products category but I think this is step in wrong direction. Maybe he just accustomed me to high quality products and that’s why this “feels” like a let down. At this point rational solution would be not to order directly from Simon’s aliexpress store because he always has “fresh” products from factory, It would be better to order from one of retailer that usually makes larger stocks and sale them over longer time periods, so you would increase chances of geting higher quality components in your light.

I also ordered one Convoy C8 light from Fasttech on October 22, (wanted to test how DHL global mail works since it was under 3:money_mouth_face:, It should be here in couple of days, may be friday, I will report back when I see what’s in the tailcap.

Wow. There definitely needs to be an improvement to the plastic material choice.

Yeah that should not have happened. I’m not sure exactly what happened yet and I haven’t opened mine yet to see if it is the same but I’ve sent all this info to Simon. I will post here when I have an official response from him.

Just a quick question (which may have already been discussed but I can’t find it).
How does the low voltage protection work in Biscotti?
What is the cut-off voltage?
Thanks.

It’s the same dual resistor LVP, so it should cut off at around 2.8V, perhaps 3V, depending on the actual cues in the firmware.

Just so it’s CLEAR… the C8 can do over 1900 lumens with the new Cree XP-L W2 2B emitter from an FET driver. Just saying….

Edit: The stock Bistro-mini (Biscotti) firmware should do the same with some stacked 7135 chips, as far as that goes. Might fall a little short, but it’ll be one very bright smallish light all the same.

(Yes, I’m change resistant. TK called it Bistro-mini to begin with, I have files under that name, then all the voting carp started and somehow it got named after a snack or something… have no idea whatsoever what an almond biscuit has to do with flashlight firmware.)