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

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

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

Mike C wrote:

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.

Are you referring to something like this?

https://www.tindie.com/products/DrAzzy/attiny1634-dev-board-woptiboot-as...

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 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.

ChibiM wrote:

Just reading the instructions was still way too complicated :—)

manithree wrote:

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.

* raises hand *

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

X3 wrote:

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

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 (7135×6 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.

d_t_a wrote:

I first tried the Convoy C8, but had no success

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?

I mostly build and flash my drivers.

Me, I solely use lights with my own firmware (and mostly also my self designed drivers). I want the perfect UI (still a project in work, but close meanwhile) and I don’t want to memorize different UIs.

DavidEF wrote:

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.

Yeah, but it’s a lot easier with the arduinos I’ve used. Just plug in the USB port, and let the IDE do everything else.

I think it’s the same C-subset language, IIRC, but flashing a dev board makes things significantly simpler than attinys on flashlight drivers.

I have some remains of knowledge and equipment from school times, so it is not a big challenge for me. Only need a little more time and willingness…

Me scrolling down and saw this:

ToyKeeper wrote:

* raises hand *

I had quite a laugh

WTF wrote:

Mike C wrote:

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.

Are you referring to something like this?

https://www.tindie.com/products/DrAzzy/attiny1634-dev-board-woptiboot-as...

Tried a few times but never got atmel studio or usbasp working properly

I was just checking to see if you were still on that MCU or had moved onto something else. Plus it was an easy way to let others know there is a development board available for the 1634.

Is that little QFN package any worse than an 85 when it comes to the internal clock changing speed with voltage and temperature?

I flash mine because I like very specific things in firmware and they’re not always available as options.

X3 wrote:

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

:blink: How?

Is your set to 5v or 3.3v?

I had problems trying to flash with it set to 3.3v.