Convoy S2/S2+ with very low modes feasible?

I’ve been happy using the mtnelectronics “moonlight driver” in a couple of Convoy hosts.

Or any of the FET + 1 7135 drivers. Learn to mod and flash basic code and you can go very low. I am a fan of the lowest lows and still having the highest highs.

Matt

Since the original poster only wants 100 lumens at high, the easiest solution is to remove all but one of the 7135 chips. No need to learn to reprogram or spend money on a new driver.

A FET+1 driver would work, but the moonlight would be the same as simply removing all but one of the 7135 chips on the existing driver. Also the FET driver would then have to be reflashed with custom firmware to only give 100 lumens on high.

Removing 2 of the 7135 chips costs nothing and is very simple. Put the driver in a vise, hold the tip of a soldering iron to the central ground tab of the 7135 and lift off with tweezers.

Oops… missed the 100 lumen max. Not something normally asked for here.

Strongest2004:

I have an S2+ running at 8x7135 (2800mA). The lowest mode puts out around 20-30 lumens. I wanted something lower, so I just purchased today another S2+, this one running at 3x7135 (1050mA).

Can you tell me about how many lumens your flashlight puts out to give me an idea of what to expect? EDIT: I mean output of the lowest setting.

(I may end up what you’re doing here and modding the flashlight even lower.)

Your probably looking around the 400 lumen mark give or take

And welcome to Bipolar Light Forum (grin)

Sorry, I didn’t make myself clear. :Sp

About how many lumens is the lowest output setting on the S2 running 3x7135?
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@pyro1son, power911, hank, Firelight2 and mattlward
Thanks guys for all your replies. I have several options to look at.

@1dash1
I don’t have any equipment to measure actual lumens. Offhand I’d say about 15-20 lumens. But I can do a comparison with known settings of my other flashlights. Will get back to you on that.

Thank you for checking. :beer:

Having own the Convoy S2+ and also Zebralight SC600 and Olight S1, where the 2 lights have moonlight modes in sub-lumen (0.1 and 0.5 lumens respectively, from manufacturers’ specs), I do find thr S2+ lowest mode is still high, especially if you don’t want to disturb your night vision in the bedroom

Try diffusing the output with some DC-fix . While it won't lower the lumens significantly , the softer beam might suit your needs better .

Buy some from Boaz .

Firelight2:

I understand that cutting the power by 2/3 will result in a high of 100 to 150 lumens. However, I don’t understand how doing so will achieve a low in the moonlight range.

Assuming, the low mode with 3x7135 drives the light to 15-20 lumens, then wouldn’t 1x7135 drive the low mode to 5-7 lumens? (The luminous flux vs. current chart appears to be almost linear at these levels.) To me, “moonlight” would be somewhere closer to 1 lumen.


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And if, indeed, we need to do something with the UI or firmware to achieve a true moonlight mode, then wouldn’t it be easier for the OP to switch out his (unpleasant) cool white LED on his Klarus ST11 that already has the desired modes?

That’s a good idea! A 2-sided application should cut the output by 6% and the highly diffused beam should be much mellower. :slight_smile:

@jacktheclipper
Will do that using something similar to a DC-Fix. Thanks.

@1dash1
Unfortunately, I don’t have the tools and the means (more on the means :zipper_mouth_face: ) to change LEDs/modify my fls. And from where I am based (Philippines) I don’t know anyone who can do it for me. So my only recourse is to buy what is available…

BTW, I also asked the same Q in the Blue Convoy S2+ thread ang got some good inputs also.

Got a reply from Simon.
He can do a 1x7135, 4C, 5–30–100! On top of that, I get 15 discount.

Will be placing my order in a while. Thanks everyone for your inputs.

@Simon
Thanks for the excellent service!

Hey! That’s great!

Wish I had known that information before I placed my order.

Still… I’m hoping for good results using the DC-Fix. I’m not aiming for moonlight low, just a very mellow low. H)

1dash1 Thanks. I hope that 1x7135 5% low will give about 5-7 lumens. BTW I compared the output of my S2 with my Quark QPA and the low of my S2 is roughly 50% brighter “visually” than the low (@25lumens) of my Quark.

Just thinking if 1 pc is enough for me (as an EDC) or should I get 1 more for home or GHB use.

EDIT.
I just tested the S2 with my SWM D40A and both lights roughly have the same brightness on low. Per specs, the 40A gives out 30 lumens on low mode.

What is you budget? RMM / mtnelectronics.com does custom builds as well, besides selling drivers. You could have him build you a light with exactly the modes you’d like.
Moonlight: <= 1 lumen
Low: 5 lumens
Medium: 20-25 lumens
High: 100 lumens

Just checked, he has S2, S2, S2 blue, S2+ red hosts. Select the build service. Add a driver (Nanjg AK-47A 7135*3) specify remove 2 7135 chips. I’d recommend an “off-time” firmware. Then add an led to your chart as well, maybe an XP-G2 on aluminum mcpcb. Or you could go for a nice nichia and ask him to stick it on aluminum to save a couple dollars (with only 1x7135 you don’t really need copper). RMM has a sales thread here on BLF if you have any questions for him.

Going full out (S2+ blue, nichia 90+cri, customized Nanjg AK-47A driver) it’s about $27 for the light. Less if you go for a plain S2/S2+ and XP-G2. Looks like shipping to Philippines is $15.

Everything you gain by reducing the driver to 1x7135, you loose by choosing a driver with a minimum mode as high as 5. The guppydrv from RMM has two modes lower than 5 — 2% and ML.

I just took 3 flashlights for a short walk. A Zebralight SC600 spec’d at 3.8 lumens and two Convoy S2+ lights with 8x7135 and the guppydrv. One Convoy has a triple XP-G2 and the other has an XP-L. The XP-L with the small S2+ reflector has a much larger hotspot than the SC600 and the triple XP-G2 is extremely floody.

On the guppydrv ML mode the single emitter Convoy is less intense than the 3.8 lumen SC600, and the triple emitter Convoy is much less intense than the 3.8 lumen SC600 — even with 8x7135.

RMM is very accessible and could make further recommendations.