New Convoy C8 – Clearly better

TK said that a programming error by the factory caused the drivers to run at twice the speed they are supposed to, effectively overclocking them. This can lead to odd issues if it is widespread. I never saw a conclusion to that issue although it should be a simple fix ones figured out and not effect the vast majority of users.

I flashed this new biscotti to 3 lights. one of them is normal speed and two is twice as normal.

Are you thinking the new firmware was responsible for making the MCU run at double speed?

The technical side of creating firmware is beyond my understanding, but I suppose it’s possible.

I’m sure ToyKeeper is on the case. I think we are all just waiting for an official reply from her or Simon (through J-Dub74).

She said in a prior post that it was the new firmware that was the problem. It worked fine with the 5 old drivers that I flashed (105C and 105D).

Oh, was it in this thread she said that, because I don’t see it here.

Well, I guess that answers that. Lol

I thought I remembered it being fuse* settings that caused the speed issues. Not certain though, might be more info in the firmware thread. Might help to take some of these questions there.

*Fuses are settings that you specify when flashing firmware to a chip. So not really the firmware nor the hardware.

Could someone send me the chip on the drivers programmed with biscotti firmware?

Correct, most do not understand that though so I just used the word firmware.

Thank you :+1:

It seems like it might be an exceptional case, I think I will contact Simon and see what advice he gives and whether he wants me to send the light back so he can see what’s up. I’ll keep an eye on this thread though for any updates.

I got in my C8 also such a plastic spacer

It got multiple cracks as it seems not tough enough to withstand the force from the switch board

The retaining ring has been overtightened. They’re not used to anything but an aluminum ring in there.

I “spoke” with Simon, factory does not have any more aluminium spacers, I requested some spares so I would have when factory messes up. Plastic spacers are only option :frowning:
Today I received one more C8 ordered from Sinom, ordered on September 30 (yes, it took almost 40 days to arrive) this time black one and again, cracked plastic “spacer”.
This looks like someone just cut end cap of the bottle and unsuccessfully tried to fabricate a spacer but I accept that I might be wrong, after all I’m not engineer.

and this is what I imagined when someone mentioned “plastic washer/spacer”:

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Simon, he surely left big mark in budget & quality products category but I think this is step in wrong direction. Maybe he just accustomed me to high quality products and that’s why this “feels” like a let down. At this point rational solution would be not to order directly from Simon’s aliexpress store because he always has “fresh” products from factory, It would be better to order from one of retailer that usually makes larger stocks and sale them over longer time periods, so you would increase chances of geting higher quality components in your light.

I also ordered one Convoy C8 light from Fasttech on October 22, (wanted to test how DHL global mail works since it was under 3:money_mouth_face:, It should be here in couple of days, may be friday, I will report back when I see what’s in the tailcap.

Wow. There definitely needs to be an improvement to the plastic material choice.

Yeah that should not have happened. I’m not sure exactly what happened yet and I haven’t opened mine yet to see if it is the same but I’ve sent all this info to Simon. I will post here when I have an official response from him.

Just a quick question (which may have already been discussed but I can’t find it).
How does the low voltage protection work in Biscotti?
What is the cut-off voltage?
Thanks.

It’s the same dual resistor LVP, so it should cut off at around 2.8V, perhaps 3V, depending on the actual cues in the firmware.

Just so it’s CLEAR… the C8 can do over 1900 lumens with the new Cree XP-L W2 2B emitter from an FET driver. Just saying….

Edit: The stock Bistro-mini (Biscotti) firmware should do the same with some stacked 7135 chips, as far as that goes. Might fall a little short, but it’ll be one very bright smallish light all the same.

(Yes, I’m change resistant. TK called it Bistro-mini to begin with, I have files under that name, then all the voting carp started and somehow it got named after a snack or something… have no idea whatsoever what an almond biscuit has to do with flashlight firmware.)

So it can blow away an L2, for a short while at least? Lol

I don’t know that I’d say it like that, two very different lights. The L2 will have much more throw, all other things remaining constant, due to the much larger reflector.

Think of the C8, with a W2 XP-L, as the L2’s supercharged baby brother that can easily slip into a jacket pocket. :wink:

I swapped the clear anodized C8’s bezel and AR coated lens onto my old pill version C8 that has the W2 emitter in it, with a fresh charged metallic purple 3000mAh Efest 18650 it shows me 2028.6 lumens. Insane!