Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

Would future firmware updates be a possibility? Not on the production light, of course, since I guess we are too far into the process to make such a huge change, but as a DIY updgrade?

What is an LDO?

3 channels already existed on the H17F driver, but I don’t think DrJones released the code, did he?

All of this talk proves to me that trying to get into programming a few years ago wasn’t for me. I haven’t got the attitude for it.

It also proves that all of you guys are damn great at programming. I read the documentation for a few of Toykeeper’s firmwares back when I was learning to configure biscotti and bistro, and it’s incredible the amount of features she can fit on the same hardware that is normally limited to “low, mid, high, strobe, sos, off-time memory”.

EDIT: Low dropout regulator. It lowers the voltage from the cells to the attiny, to increase efficiency. Is that right?

Would future firmware updates be a possibility? Not on the production light, of course, since I guess we are too far into the process to make such a huge change, but as a DIY updgrade?

Yes - 2 screws to pop out the driver, need a download cable, 8 pin clip, and USBAVR adapter. Download the HEX file

What is an LDO?

Low Dropout Regulator: we use it to drop incoming ~8V from two cells in series to under 5V to power the MCU. Could be used for 4S input as well (~16V).

3 channels already existed on the H17F driver, but I don't think DrJones released the code, did he?

No - Dr Jones doesn't provide source code to his main line firmware versions he sells, but he was instrumental in providing one of the original sample source code drivers

The Round 3 Prototype arrived today, wiating for me at home. I believe these are true V6 3D's based on the beam tint and output.

Here’s some measurements:

On SONY VTC6 soldered tops at 4.21V, lumens: 6,375 @start, 5,850 @30 secs, throw: 59 kcd (486 meters)

On Samsun 30Q soldered tops at 4.19V, lumens: 6,260 @start, 5,800 @30 secs, throw: 59 kcd (486 meters)

On Samsung 30Q button tops @4.19V, lumens: 6,090 @start, 5,620 @30 secs, throw: 58 kcd (482 meters)

The new designed plastic ring

LED's, not perfectly centered but not bad. Centering pieces fit tight:

Center screw removed, 18 AWG LED wires, 2 mm thick MCPCB (round #2 was ~1.2 mm thick):

Driver views:

Round #3 still has great square threads:

Engravings improved:

Round #2:

Round #3:

Round #2:

Round #3:

4X SRK clone (Securitylng) on left with XM-L2 U3 3D's, BLF Q8 on right. Beamshots appear more bluish than they really are

4X SRK clone (Securitylng):

BLF Q8:

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer.

I have some experience with the H17F, and I must say, it is the most configurable driver/firmware I have tried so far. Really impressive.

Is there a readme or guide for more current/advanced versions of narsil? I kinda want to see what features to expect on the GT, although the stage of development is a lot earlier in there, so I guess nothing is set on stone.

The driver should be easily reflashable if you have the tools to do so, and the tools cost perhaps half as much as the light. So, yes, you should be able to modify it.

As for drivers with 3 or more channels… Wight released a 4-channel one in mid-2014. As far as I’m aware, no one ever built one and there was never any firmware for it. His FET+1 layout was much more popular. I think Mike C then made one, but only for his personal use. Fast forward a while; DrJones and pilotdog68 both released one within a couple weeks of each other at the end of 2015. A version of blf-a6 could run on it, but the FET was turbo-only with no PWM for dimming. Then the Q8 started in 2016-04. In 2016-05 I got one of the 3-channel drivers and promptly made bistro-tripledown, which IIRC was the first open project with 3-channel PWM. I released it in a dev branch but didn’t merge it into stable until 2016-09. Mike C continued his designs well ahead of most of what BLF was doing, and even released some including code, but they haven’t been part of a big project so they’re not widely used. More recently, several 3-channel designs are available and multiple firmwares support it, and there’s even a new project which should make it possible to buy a light with one.

So… progress is happening, just slowly and it has been a little disorganized.

The LDO is just a way to power the attiny on higher-voltage lights without exceeding its voltage spec, like a zener but with lower parasitic drain.

Right at the beginning of post #2 is a link to the google drive share that has the manual in docx and PDF format - it's 4 pages.

Smooth ramping, quick access to lowest level ,highest level and last level used. 12 sets of modes are featured, plus has timed stepdown or temperature stepdown, all configurable. Lots of options can be configured.

It is gorgeous and looks strong like a tank :heart_eyes:

The FW3A, right? Already on the list for that one too.

That 3rd round prototype looks nothing short of perfect. In fact, there are some improvements that I thought had been given up, like the 18 AWG wire, instead of 20 AWG.

Ship it! :smiley:








(yeah, I know, it’s probably not that simple)

Looks great!

Congratulations Tom, best to your Daughter and her family as they adjust to sleepless nights…

And Congratulations to the team with the arrival of the new Proto #3 and it’s apparent success.

Awaiting further instruction.

:smiley:

Just to clear up any confusion, does the Q8 actually have a larger hotspot than the Securitlng or is it set at a brighter level and the camera is blowing it up to look bigger?

No tri blade endcap? No biggie. This one looks fine. :+1:

waits for the order code :smiley:

It’s looking good!

Thank guys for update. please add more 2-3 for me ( my original post was #405) any tentative period for order ?

Wow to a lot here!

Thanks for the triple channel firmware info.
Yeah DrJones is highly respected but doesn’t do open source a key factor for the projects I do.
He did, with TK helped with the first parts list for the driver though, pretty awesome in my book when little me asked these two heavy hitters and they answered and gave input.

Tom wowsers, gonna edit topic title later
Looks good.
Gonna check with Barry where the samples for the team are, for it seems a good check by us all is all that it needed to give the go!
Thorfire did good, also our German friends will love the Chinese Export marking as I do :smiley:
I missed that hot logo before.
Dang it looks professional, sweet!

Can’t resist after seeing the latest prototype, please add me for one.

The labelling isn’t as clear on the new version, cheapens the look. Having said that, its not a deal breaker.

EDIT Shouldn’t have viewed on a 4 inch screen. On a 26” now and I agree version 3 is better.

What do you mean?

It’s clearly sharper and better looking.

Now, working on it, this post thus also doubles as MARK :wink:
Done list should be up to date.

Well it seems all we need is the samples for the team if Tom does not discover things needed changing.
I hope/think they are already on their way!