New Convoy C8 – Clearly better

I like the UI very much. My only problem with it that I need to have lot unnecessary flashy modes to have battery check function.

Wherever there are 100 ways to provide a solution there will be that 101st person to have a new problem. :wink:

Not picking, but it’s always the case. The ATTiny13A only has so much space, it’s just about impossible to provide solutions that are perfect for absolutely everyone. Our own MattAus found that out with his Hyperion firmware, quite some time ago… and the saga continues…

This is all pretty spot with the exception of “backstock”. That’s probably true of some of the components but these are newly manufactured drivers made specifically for Convoy. The primary goal in this driver choice was to give the very budget minded an excellent C8 option better that what’s currently available. Going to a FET driver would have put this light in the $30 range when we want be closer to the $25 range. That doesn’t mean FET drivers can’t be an option down the line but my goal with this driver redo was to bring a higher level of awesomeness to the lowest priced lights in the Convoy line in true BLF spirit.

This driver will also be used in the S series lights including the next S2+ colors (or lack of) that will be produced. Finally, as Dale pointed out and has tested himself, any modder that can stack more 7135 chips to bump the power higher. :+1:

Well, it’s ATtiny13, so you can ‘flashy’ whatever modes you want! :wink:

Not a real problem. I have BLF drivers but not much times I used the batt check. The stepdown and LVP kick in and then replace batteries if I discharge them so far but mostly I don’t. :+1:

Jared, you done good!! I’m pretty sure there isn’t another budget light with multiple UI choices and a Custom finish for this kind of $$$$$ or is there?? :+1:

David excellent point! :+1: DIY!

Awesome!
Sounds like a very nice driver for quite a few of my lights.
Thanks once more!

It is good that it has DTP, because the smaller package of the XP-L won’t cool as well as an XM-L2 on a non-direct star. The listed thermal resistance is better, so they must have improved or reduced the internal insulating layer, but the smaller footprint would give the heat less area through with to penetrate an insulator on the star.

Very nice.

Bob

BLF noob here, so I don’t quite know all the players involved…

Is this an actual “type 3” model C8 direct from Convoy, or modded/variant of the type 2? (type 1 = pill, type 2 = integrated head)

Maybe I didn’t read closely enough, but I’m not quite sure who’s going to be selling them. :slight_smile:

I always loved the “gunmetal gray” that M*g had. Not that polished-Al (“chrome”) look, nor matte-gray, but a darker shiny gray that I’ve seen at least in the 3xAA and 2xD lights that I’ve got. That would look awesome in a C8…

Question about moonlight/firefly mode, though… Does it ever “stick” off when hot? I’ve heard that when you’ve got the light on high and things heat up, that sometimes if you switch to firefly mode, it just won’t light at all until it cools down (fine in higher modes, though). Which is why… I think it’s in the QLite driver source… there’s a certain minimum (6/256) that you have to set firefly mode to reliably turn on.

Might have to do with the capacitance of 8 parallelled 7135s, too. Little skinny pulses might not be enough to bump them on.

And I’m wondering about PWM flickering when it’s set that low.

Dunno if I’d want to pocket a C8 unless I were wearing cargo pants. :smiley:

This will be the top #1 recommendation for a newbie thrower for the next years, I'm really happy with 8×7135 2.8A and the new modes, especially the proper 1% "low".

Yeah, I’ve got to agree with Tech; the DTP board is a significant improvement, and the new driver sounds great (sort of A17-ish), but for me, the chrome finish ruins it.

Matte black looks elegant, doesn’t show dirt as much, and is great for radiative dissipation of heat.

I don’t want my lights looking like a chrome bumper. :confounded:

I’ll stick to the current model, as I never keep anything stock anyway.

Very impressive!! :+1:

It’s obviously not “chrome” but has the same surface of the matte black, without the dye. I’d kind like a high polish SS variant myself. :slight_smile:

These are made by and sold by Convoy-Flashlights on AliExpress. They’ll be found at GearBest and Banggood soon enough I’m sure. Simon is Convoy, JDub is working with Simon to help bring the needs of the people to light. (see what I did there? :wink: )

Great looking C8, and nice improvements. Will there be a 10 or 12 chip stock version?

If this is the same mode grouping that will be used in the newer S2+, I would have preferred a mode group with 50% and 100% in the same group. This would have allowed for the light to be run as bright as possible with no heat issues at 50, or on “turbo” for when shorter bursts of 100 brightness is required.

Any idea if it gets hotter compared to the FET? I thought I read that the FET ran cooler than a high current regulated driver.

What was going on before Jared showed up? Now what has happened since Jared has been here……………. EXACTLY! What Dale said…… :smiley: :+1:

This. This is very convenient and easy mod for 105c. Two extra wires and new firmware. Too bad it didn’t get done here.
Though I guess even slightly altering a PCB layout is a too massive undertaking for a budget-friendly flashlight.

When I went to sleep, this thread didn’t exist. Now it’s already at 90+ posts. That’s a lot of activity in just a few hours!

I tried to fit as much as I could into a standard nanjg 105d driver, and make it useful for a wide audience. This new C8 is the first item to have the new firmware. I assume it should also work in anything with a compatible driver, like the S series and maybe M1/M2 or BD series.

So far it’s called bistro-mini, because it’s based on bistro but half the size. People have told me this is a bad name though, so I’m considering some others…

  • biscuit or biscotti, to keep the tie to bistro but indicate something smaller
  • converge, convertible, conveyance, convect, convene, convey, convalesce, … to tie into the Convoy brand
  • “Jared Stinks”, as suggested by Jared (J-Dub74)

Any preferences?

(edit: my preference is to not put my name in the title)