Texas Avenger "TA" Driver series - Triple channel + Bistro or Narsil + Clicky or E-switch - The Ultimate open source driver!

Nice work, I also noticed that bistro tripledown works well in both single and multiemitter lights as a whole with only minor changes needed to the FET portion of the ramping table from what I have seen. Although frankly I am not picky enough to care and just use it as is, it is hardly noticeable anyways and since it doesn’t use ramping actively like narsil it is not an issue.

Having the ramping and modes combined would be sweet. I want to try the ramping, it sounds very interesting but I know that I will most likely just revert to 3-5 set modes as I find this the most useful overall.

If you can get the LVP with the internal reference worked out, it is possible that TK could copy this and add it to the Tripledown firmware. If so I could redesign the drivers without the R1/R2 and instead have pads for future options. Such as the indicator LED, or use the space for an LDO.

Yea, that's what I was thinking. She can borrow code from me for a change - I'm always borrowing her code, so I owe her . I could also make the mods to bistro-tripledown, doesn't matter much. I use her same header structure as well, but I keep them local with the source code/project instead of in one common shared place.

May need some time though - gonna lose evening/morn access soon to be office/shop with my mother-n-law and aunt coming this weekend for a couple weeks.

No problem, take your time. You have been going at this for quite some time now, last thing you need is to get burnt out entirely! lol

This is some really cool stuff going on in here guys! Keep up the good work and thanks sharing.

I'm wondering if there's any way that the programming could be altered to where the first mode could be full 7135 power with access to turbo/full FET by a quick double tap?

In bistro I like reverse mode order hi-low, 4 normal modes, moonlight enabled with no memory. Tactically it's great but for normal work I'd rather it come on in a regulated 3amp mode. With quick access to turbo. I'm mainly talking about use in triples and quads.

Narsil already does that, or equivalent in both operating modes.

If you are in ramping, double tap goes to max/full FET -- that's how it works now on FET+1 drivers.

In mode set mode, it's easy - just configure for 2 modes: max 7135, and max FET. I can't recall exactly how I configured 2 modes - whether for mode #1 I used the single 7135 or bank of 7135's, but easy to change however you like, or add a new mode set -- simply really. Could make mode #1 both 7135 channels at max: single and the bank.

Awesome! I don't have any experience with Narsil but from what I've read it's great. I'm actually doing a yezl y3 mod right now and wish I had Narsil to try out with it.

So with a clicky, if you could make it come on at 100% 7135's no PWM , then ramp down to moon with half press, double tap anywhere in between to full turbo? If that's how it'll work that's awesome!

I'm sure I'm not right about that but am I close?

clicky? You mean a power switch? Narsil is e-switch based, but does have support for a power switch, but just for doing basic clicks to change modes, w/mode memory.

Yea I must have gotten my wires crossed back there somewhere.

I guess you would need a pretty big capacitor to keep the mcu powered when using a power switch?

I had envisioned the light would ramp a little at a time depending on how long you half pressed the power switch. Obviously you wouldn't be able to see it ramping but with practice it could become second nature.

Is that even possible with a power switch?

In theory you could. Not sure if anyone implemented it, but if you have a std rev. clicky switch, 1/2 press, then ramp up from lowest, then a 1/2 click could set the output level to what ramping is at. Think that would work - not as much flexibility as an e-switch.

I tried another ramping table - think it's better, might still be a delay there. I do like one aspect of it - there's much less levels on the FET, which I think is better. Very hard to see any difference between 70% and 100% anyways, but of course depends how much amps you get from the FET.

I added an 8th mode set of 2 modes, where mode 1 is max 1x7135 and the max 7135 bank, and mode 2 is max FET. Interesting because measured amps on mode 1 was exactly 3.15A with all 7135's being 350 mA. One bank (8 7135's) measure 2.78A. So pretty much proved 7135 channels are additive.

This version is now posted up on my google drive share:

https://drive.google.com 254585 Support

Direct link to the source ZIP file: https://drive.google.com NarsilTriple v1-2

Direct link to the AVRDude dnld command for it: https://drive.google.com 85Narsil3.bat

Hey Texas_Ace, I downloaded Diptrace, since you seem to really enjoy using it. I figured since I’m a newbie anyway, I might as well try out a couple options before settling in with one tool forever. Well, I found out that Diptrace is so unlike Eagle that I can hardly get around in it. I only know Eagle because of Mattaus’ video tutorial series. But, there was plenty in that tutorial to get me going. Did you ever think of doing some kind of simple tutorial for Diptrace? I know it’s not your program, but you use it and seem to understand well enough. The Diptrace help menu claims to have a link to a tutorial, but I couldn’t get anywhere by clicking that. One thing that would be helpful is where did you get your parts libraries? You may have said before. Forgive me if I missed it. The Diptrace download has a lot of parts included, but doesn’t include AMC7135 chips or Cree emitters as far as I can see. What do you say? Would you help a man out?

I don’t have a lot of time right now but I recommend that you watch these videos, they were enough to get me setup with enough understanding to figure out the rest:

There is also a full user manual and lots of tutorials on youtube if you search.

Far as the 7135’s you just need to find a component with the same foot print and use that. For the LED’s I created my own template. It is not hard to do at all but I can also upload my templates if people want them.

Thanks, I’ll check out those videos! Do any of them tell how to create library parts? If not, I may yet need you to upload yours. :blush:

With the TA 22mm board running NarsilTriple, I configured moon mode to a value of "1" for PWM just to see if it worked. It used the single 350 mA 7135, and it actually works! I have a XPL in there, and there is a slight noticeable glow coming off the phosphor, can hardly be seen but it's there. a "2" PWM level is pretty obvious, but very low still.

Never saw this before. Wonder if it's magic from this driver design and/or DEL's magic of his new parts design.

It sure is impressive though...

Very interesting indeed. I know TK mentioned that when using 3 PWM channels she could not get them to run below like 31khz or something like that? Did you run into the same issue or is the PWM the same as normal? It is a possible explanation anyways.

I am glad these appear to be working out, I built another one, so far no issues, although my AC went out and have not felt like doing much of anything with ~90 degree temps with 80-90% humidity INSIDE the house lol.

Yes, there should be a video on how to design the pattern, the design itself was really simple to learn, took a bit longer to figure out how the “libraries” are setup, doesn’t really “flow” with what I would have expected but not a big deal once you figure it out. I recommend creating a user components library to keep all the custom parts from the start.

If the video is not there, then search youtube, I learned how to do it from a video somewhere.

The 380 mA 7135's have more issues - can't get as low PWM's as you can with 350's. No, I'm using full max PWM's of 15.6K on 350's. Don't think there's PWM issues...

I always use 350mA versions myself, the little bit of extra you get out of the 380 is not worth the price increase to me. Plus I always use FET + 7135 drivers so I never have an issue with needing more power.

Ok, just got the voltage calibration for a 22k R1 resistor completed on a Texas Avenger driver. Initial calibration was set with my DPS3012 power supply and I tested it with various batteries at several voltages and everything lined up in the working driver great. So here is the updated 22k R1 calibration file if anyone is interested:

tk-calibration-22k-R1.h

Also here is my latest working revision of Bistro Tripledown, not 100% I am done tweaking it yet but it is pretty close to the end goal I am personally looking for. So far I have found no bugs or issues with it.

I changed the mode groups around some to better fit with the triple channel setup, I also added a 10th mode and removed the fancy flasher in order to allow for a single 7135 and all 7135’s only mode, which I find useful in some lights where the FET is simply not needed. Not sure what other changes there are other then that, kinda forgot at this point lol.

Texas-Avenger-Bistro-Tripledown

Actually I need to edit the C file to add a line for the new 22k calibration file so people can simply comment out one to select what they are using.

Anyone know if you can use ramping as a mode in bistro? I tried it and it will ramp, but I can’t get it to select my desired brightness. I’m thinking it must just be to visually test the ramp table as stated in the .c file. Is it difficult to get it to respond to a press while ramping so the user can select the desired brightness?

Correct, the ramping in Bistro is only for testing, there is no way to make it stop at a set point. Although with a Tiny85 this should be entirely possible.

In fact with the current features that narsil offers it could almost be made into a clicky firmware without much work.

Imagine TK and TomE teaming up on a single project, there is only one word for that, Epic.

The issue would be having enough space even on a tiny 85.