The liquid is not very useful. Might as well use isopropyl alcohol to clean your work.
The paste leaves a sticky mess but it is very helpful in specific cases. You can dip a wire tip in it, put it on the edge of a spring or on just one part of a component to quickly melt solder. You have to go back with a brush and alcohol and clean up but it generally gets the job done if I even bother using flux at all.
For cleaning since you already have rosin core solder just use that to prep your iron tip. Itās cheap and does a good job after you apply and wipe it off a few times with brass sponge. Leave your iron tip with a bit of solder on it when you are done so it wont oxidize the good part. Itās like those cast iron grills or pans. If you clean them too much they rust. If you leave crap on them and clean only before you use it they stay pretty nice.
Since I still haven't figured out how to maintain a good connection using the wooden dowel yet, I will find some brass washers and try this. Thanks.
FWIW, my leads are approx 16 Ga multi-strand copper wire about nine inches long. The 21700 battery started at 3.99 volts measured by my voltmeter. Once charging commenced, the voltage on the Liii-500 display went quickly to 4.2 volts and charging ended. But the battery voltage was only increased to 4.02 volts. I believe the problem has been with the connection at the Lii-500 using the wooden dowel.
What kind of organic flux do you use? Does it have a shelf life? Thanks.
Thanks for the tip about the MG Chemicals 8341 No Clean Flux Paste that comes in the syringe. I may order it after I find some suitable brass washers. (But I am a little concerned about the 2 year shelf life.)
I havenāt got the foggiest idea. Where I worked waaaaaaay waaaaaaaay back, I used that flux and was amazed how well it worked, so asked if I could bring in a small bottle and take some home. They said sure, and I did. This was back when pint bottles of sody-pop were still glass, not plastic, to give you an idea how long ago. Came in gallon jugs, nothing fancy, so probably not horribly toxic or anything.
Used maybe a third to half of it (~16oz Tropicana OJ bottle, with the chunky metal top), as a little goes a looooooong way.
Looks like itās just a Convoy S2 clone. The picture of the driver shows a nanjg ak-47, which I think is a 7135x3 driver. Nothing super bright or special. Cool white tint, probably crappy modes, I wouldnāt do it unless I wanted it for swapping parts out or something.
Use code NVEQNSNH and it knocks another $7.50 off, making it $5.46 to the door.
A S2 clone for $5.46, get it while you can, this one isnāt going to last long.
I got one too, Iāll reflash the driver with biscotti or babka and swap the LED to make it useful, I got the one with the magnet since I donāt already have an S2 with the magnet ring.
Sure am glad you guys are here. First I felt relieved to be talked out of buying this light. Then I felt the need to rush the order through with 13 minutes left in the deal. The coupon code made it kind of a no-brainer. Thanks once again.
Yea, for $13 you can get the real Convoy version of this with a better driver and LED albeit with much slower shipping, but for like $5 thatās different.
So I just got it, the included driver is NOT the one you can see in the head in the photo on amazon, the amazon photo shows an a nangj Ak-47 driver. The included driver isnāt a 7135 based driver at all, so no reprogramming it. Itās pretty much an S2+ though, the parts are a little different than Simonās but pretty close.
I thought the head was glued on, but it was just put on by a gorilla apparently. After much effort to get the head off, thereās no trace of glue on the threads.
I paid like $5.46 for this thing, that seems to be about what itās worth. The LED is on one of those paper thin aluminum MCPCBs. It did include a pink wrapped 2600mah 18650 and a cheap usb charger. I doubt itās a real samsung cell, but itās sure trying to look like one.
Edit: Although the driver that came in the light isnāt what I expected, it does measure over 2 amps on the highest mode. So itās got some potential at least. If SOS wasnāt in the normal rotation Itād be much better.
Looks like SOS in mode group and strobe on dbl click. Had to get head off with a towel and 2 pliers. No glue just gorilla assembly or maybe Jason and I are wimps.
It sort of fits with E2L and convoy but the last thread if the head isnāt quite right. One way fits better than the other so YMMV.
Need to take it apart more but looks like decent retaining rings and stuff. If switch and pill is good then it will be worth.
Will test battery too. IR seems high but not terrible.
I used cut up pieces of a bicycle inner tube. One wrapped around the head with a hose clamp tightened over it, the other around the body with large pliers to turn it. The hose clamp gives something big to grab onto to turn it. Iāve opened several lights this way that the manufacturer didnāt seem to want opened. All the layers of rubber wrapped around it protect the light from the pliers and stuff.
The magnet is very strong. I stuck it to my fridge, I might just leave it there instead of adding it to the other bunches of lights sitting on my desk.
Heās from Kansas Cityā¦ kinda explains it lol