Who is still flashing his/her own drivers?

I just started flashing drivers, did my first a week ago. A little bit confusion came up about all the FW variants, clicky/e-switch, fuses etc - but it all worked out after all! this place is amazing.

I design my own drivers using a MCU that (to my knowledge) no one else here uses, so I gotta flash’em to use’em.

I tried some months ago…
Fried 3 convoy drivers, succeed with one.
I don’t know why, wiring is done like it should, I use the right USB thing, the right drivers and yet it’s a random result…
I gave up but it sadden me :weary:

I never did it :expressionless: No tech, no knowledge, no “Cisco”, no Flash! :person_facepalming:

I still flash drivers on old lights (to new FW, mostly biscotti on the BLF-17dd FET drivers wall used in the past) and lower cost lights that I build just to build something but on my better stuff like actual EDC and more used lights I buy RMMs (mtn electronics) drivers and pay the few cents extra for him to do it. I like supporting the writer of the FW threw him (and also of course supporting him) and I definitely feel his driver is worth the extra ~$1.50 over a comparable China driver…

I wish to flash drivers one day. But I don’t have the equipment to do it, so I haven’t learned how either. Because of this, I try to get lights that already have a decent UI.

Maybe someone can put together a kit w/ the hardware and the software on a usb drive, and sell it to BLF members. Maybe a business idea for one of the sellers on BLF. I for one, would buy it for sure.

I’m really keen to start flashing drivers but I’ve had a bit of trouble gettinting everything working with macOS. I think the problem is the USBasp so I bought a different programmer but I haven’t had time to try it yet.

I really enjoy writing my own firmware and flashing it. Though I find myself coding things I’ll never use, just because I can :person_facepalming:

Are you referring to something like this?

I have some good lights that have Pic’s with crappy firmware that need upgrading. Got one of these on order and have a lot of learning to do.

I havent flashed a driver for probably 1-2 years. I got someone to help me through PM, which made all the sense. Just reading the instructions was still way too complicated :--)

I just got the USB gear, but my soldering skills and tools are lacking, so I haven’t even tried yet. I think I’m going to start upgrading all my old Convoys to biscotti.

I’m a programmer by trade, and I’ve done arduino stuff with my kids for science fair projects. Customizing drivers looks like fun.

I have this problem as well and not just with flashing drivers. Some seem to understand what is being written but I have no idea. If it was not for the patience of a few members here in particular TomE I would still be at a loss. :beer:

+1

If you’ve done Arduino stuff, does that mean you’ve flashed those chips before? If so, this stuff will be VERY familiar to you. I think there’s at least one guy around here who actually developed his flashlight driver UI using Arduino tools. :partying_face:

* raises hand *

will the real ToyKeeper please stand up, please stand up, please stand up

I purchased a USBASP programmer device several weeks ago, so I could try flashing Biscotti to a Convoy C8 (it uses old firmware) and also to reflash the BLF Q8 (either the NarsilM v1.2 or Anduril).

I first tried the Convoy C8, but had no success (the avrdude “test” command does not recognize the driver; the Convoy C8 driver indicates “ATTiny13”). Since I had not success, I didn’t continue to try flashing the BLF Q8.

But after reading other people with success on how-to flash the Q8, I decided to try it on the Q8, and was happy to finally flash it successfully!

However, the Convoy C8 still won’t flash. I even bought a Convoy Biscotti firmware driver (7135x6 Biscotti) and also attempted to re-flash it (just for testing purposes), but for some reason, the USBASP programmer device does not recognize it either.

I’m no good at soldering/de-soldering, so I can try flashing only on flashlights that have easily accessible driver chips… and so far only the BLF Q8 seems to have that feature (just unscrew 2 screws, turn over the board and connect the USBASP programmer device).

I used a Raspberry Pi to flash my driver, it was relatively easy. My technical background has nothing to do with software/firmware development.

The Convoy drivers have pin 5 of the MCU grounded unnecessarily, which prevents flashing. By carefully cutting that trace, you should be off to the races in no time. Have a read through pretty much this whole page. There are some good pictures and explanations. If you run into more trouble (or to tell of your success story), hit us up over on that thread perhaps?