New Convoy C8 – Clearly better

Thank you ToyKeeper for chiming in with all this. This is unfortunate but not as terrible as I first thought.

Let me add my findings…

I have two Convoy C8’s now running Biscotti. One C8 has an older driver with several extra 7135 chips (Thanks Dale :wink: ) and my just received clear C8 with the Biscotti dunked in Espresso :person_facepalming:

Here are my findings on the clear C8 running them in mode group 1 side by side:

  • Moon is about twice as bright. It’s still pretty low but not as low as on the proper driver.
  • Strobe is silly fast though I must say personally I dig it. :laughing:
  • The bike flasher is probably near twice as fast as intended though again this doesn’t bother me as I would not personally use it for biking. I counted it at 113-115 BPM

Otherwise, it’s functionally very close to what it was intended and I’m happy with it though I will of course be communicating all of this back to Simon and he to his driver people. With help from TK we should have it fixed before the next batch of drivers. Who knows…maybe even with a lower moon since these are better 7135 chips than were on the old driver. Possible silver lining there.

Bear with me friends. We’ll get this right.

@ muakka, Big thanks to you too for all the helpful data, graphs and charts. Very nice work! :+1:

J-Dub, thanks for running point on this stuff!

I imagine hardware changes are less likely than software changes, but TK’s observation about not being able to hook up a SOIC clip is sad news. If he’s able to tweak the layout to improve clip-ability, it would be appreciated.

gchart… she, ToyKeeper is a Goddess. :wink:

Uh, yeah, ok, I see that maybe you’re saying if Simon is able to tweak the layout, in which case, I hope He’s not a goddess. Carry on…. :person_facepalming:

Hahaha, oh Dale you crack me up sometimes (and yeah, I was referring to Simon tweaking the layout)

<—- didn’t make coffee this morning. probably should have. chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies for breakfast just don’t seem to really wake a guy up.

You’re welcome. :slight_smile: It’s what I do. :+1:

I’m not always on point, in fact sometimes I ramble on so much I forget what the point was. I can also get lost so far in the details that continuing becomes pointless. I do try not to point fingers though and make good points when I can. I could go on like this for hours but what’s the… :stuck_out_tongue:

Yes, software changes are easier but Simon is very accommodating to the modding community. Look at how many custom flashlight sellers on BLF alone use Convoy as their main host source. There’s a reason for that. Well…several actually but one of them is that he’s very good at making our flashaholic wishes come true. The best solution here is a combination tweak of both hardware and software. I’m a fan of the best solution. I can’t make promises but I’ll do what I can.

I could use a bit of help from the BLF crew here. I don’t (yet) have the hardware needed for flashing firmware otherwise I’d do it myself. If someone out there has one of the new Convoy red drivers and the flashing equipment, a few pictures would be very helpful. I’d like to see the clip and the driver (specifically the MCU) together in a picture or two along with a description of how much clearance is needed and exactly where it is needed. This information has to cross language barriers so pictures will be helpful to communicate how and how much the board layout would need to be tweaked.

Wow

Ya, should probably take that down, you think Dale?
Just a bit much,

Wow?
Wow how?
Wow then or wow now?
Or is it simply how now brown cow?
Such an undefined statement I simply cannot allow…

Just a brown cow J-Dub, sorry about that, posted all my thoughts in one paragraph and it took a WOW to cause me to realize what I did so sent it to the trash, my apologies

Perspectives and translations. I was saying wow as much for the kid having no grit as anything else. Good help, a legend that most people nowaday’s don’t believe EVER existed. :wink:

I might have to do that.

Still impatiently awaiting the new modes for the S2+ :wink:
I already have three diffusers and clips ordered.

Why don’t you just message Simon and ask if he can upgrade to the new driver if you order your S2+ now? He’s done it for a member or two already and only charged them a dollar or two to swap drivers. Simon is the most accomodating seller I know. :beer:

My new Convoy C8 will arrive in a week time.
If I just change driver with this one

will it work, or need some other modifications?

It will work

Thanks for the suggestion. I might do that, but don’t want to make Simon go out of his way if the release of the upgraded S2+ is imminent.

You guys can get the new driver/firmware now if you want. You simply message Simon you want it and he
will modify your order.

Simon added it to my Gray S2+ order for an additional $1 when I placed my order a week ago.

Thanks for the info.

I’m certainly seriously considering this option, as for my lighting purposes (light painting), I’d prefer black or even colours, to clear or DT (though as the clear looks absolutely stunning in the C8 and L6, I’m certainly not adverse to it). Do you think that Simon would also install the AR glass on request as well (as it is a bit of a pain to swap later on)? I’m guessing AR glass will also be included in the clear/DT S2+ ?

However, I don’t want to trouble Simon (who I understand is a very busy man) if the clear S2+ is going to be released imminently.

I don’t know about the new clear C8 but i just received a clear L6 and i have to admit i’m somewhat disappointed.

It does not look like bare aluminum or titanium or stainless steel… it looks like cheap silver spray paint. It is mate and grainy. From some distance it’s ok but up close… it could be ‘silver’ plastic. :person_facepalming:

I guess it’s a matter of taste.

Edit: OK after handling it a bit more, the ‘clear’ coating is growing on me and it is not as bad as i make it sound. Still… it looks like ‘painted’. I think i’d rather have it bare aluminum with or without a varnish or coating.

Did you buy it directly from Simon on Ali ?