Q8, PMS SEND TO THOSE WITH ISSUES BLF soda can light

[JasonWW]

@RapidLux

@d_t_a

I’d like to ask, how difficult is it to update/flash the firmware of the BLF Q8?

• does it require soldering?
• any special tools needed to remove the head to access the driver chip for flashing?

I think you will need these two,

1. ATmega/ATtiny 51 AVR ISP USBASP USB Programmer Downloader (HQ)
2. 40-pin Splittable Ribbon Cable (20cm)

Nice links, does Fasttech carry a clip as well?

[goshdogit]

@JasonWW

According to ToyKeeper, the first batch lights had led wires long enough that you just undid the 2 screws holding the driver down and you could tilt the driver enough to get the clip on.

The later batches switched to slightly shorter led wires and those require unsolder in them from the mcpcb in order to rotate the driver enough to get the clip on.

FWIW, I can access my first-batch and second-batch Q8s’ drivers for reflashing without desoldering anything.

[JasonWW]

@goshdogit

@JasonWW

According to ToyKeeper, the first batch lights had led wires long enough that you just undid the 2 screws holding the driver down and you could tilt the driver enough to get the clip on.

The later batches switched to slightly shorter led wires and those require unsolder in them from the mcpcb in order to rotate the driver enough to get the clip on.

FWIW, I can access my first-batch and second-batch Q8s’ drivers for reflashing without desoldering anything.

That’s what ToyKeeper said.

But hey, it’s good news if it’s that easy. :+1:

[ToyKeeper]

@JasonWW

That’s what ToyKeeper said.

Not quite.

@JasonWW

According to ToyKeeper, the first batch lights had led wires long enough that you just undid the 2 screws holding the driver down and you could tilt the driver enough to get the clip on.

The later batches switched to slightly shorter led wires and those require unsolder in them from the mcpcb in order to rotate the driver enough to get the clip on.

Don’t listen to me, I have a sample size of one. Listen to Tom.

The second batch is shorter, but should still be long enough to reflash without soldering. Tom measured several and found the wire lengths were very consistent and just long enough.

As for flashing info, click the Link in my signature or use the “README” in the code repository.

[JasonWW]

@ToyKeeper

@JasonWW

That’s what ToyKeeper said.

Not quite.

Oops, sorry about that. I edited my earlier post.

Sometimes my memory is really sharp, but most of the time it can be pretty bad. Lol

[d_t_a]

@JasonWW

According to ToyKeeper, the first batch lights had led wires long enough that you just undid the 2 screws holding the driver down and you could tilt the driver enough to get the clip on.

The later batches switched to slightly shorter led wires and those require unsolder in them from the mcpcb in order to rotate the driver enough to get the clip on.

Don’t listen to me, I have a sample size of one. Listen to Tom.

The second batch is shorter, but should still be long enough to reflash without soldering. Tom measured several and found the wire lengths were very consistent and just long enough.

As for flashing info, click the Link in my signature or use the “README” in the code repository.

Thanks for those info, ToyKeeper. That’s great to know. And of course, allow me to thank you and Tom E for programming all these nice firmware (although I’m still trying to learn about them…)

@RapidLux

@d_t_a

I’d like to ask, how difficult is it to update/flash the firmware of the BLF Q8?

• does it require soldering?
• any special tools needed to remove the head to access the driver chip for flashing?

I think you will need these two,

1. ATmega/ATtiny 51 AVR ISP USBASP USB Programmer Downloader (HQ)
2. 40-pin Splittable Ribbon Cable (20cm)

I’ve ordered these 3 items a couple of weeks ago, waiting for them to arrive, maybe in a week or two…

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-New-USBASP-USBISP-AVR-Programmer-USB-ISP-USB-ASP-ATMEGA8-ATMEGA128-Support-Win7-64K/32809542958.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Programmer-Testing-Clip-SOP8-SOP-SOIC-8-SOIC8-DIP8-DIP-8-Pin-IC-Test/32402561848.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/40pcs-lot-10cm-2-54mm-1pin-feMale-to-feMale-jumper-wire-Dupont-cable/1999771500.html

Any idea if the item you linked — “ATMEGA/ATTiny51 AVR ISP USBASP Programmer” is better (can flash more chip types?) or just the same with the one I ordered ” ATMEGA8 ATMEGA128 AVR ISP USBASP Programmer” — what are the differences between various programmer devices?

[CRANK]

Just received my Q8 that I ordered through Amazon with coupon code. How can I tell if this an updated version and if it has coated lens?

[JasonWW]

@CRANK

Just received my Q8 that I ordered through Amazon with coupon code. How can I tell if this an updated version and if it has coated lens?

Coated lens is easy, just see if the reflection in it is blueish.

V2 lights have different screws. They are more domed shaped and are usually not mangled. There were some pictures here, but I can’t find them.

[joechina]

Which firmware version is the Amazon Q8?

in RAMPING: Triple-click, double-click, double-click

There shouldn’t be any batch 1 lamps left. And the coated lens shouldn’t be any longer on new lamps. It made a visual tint shift vs. an only measureable brighter light (you couldn’t see it)

[CRANK]

@JasonWW

@CRANK

Just received my Q8 that I ordered through Amazon with coupon code. How can I tell if this an updated version and if it has coated lens?

Coated lens is easy, just see if the reflection in it is blueish.

V2 lights have different screws. They are more domed shaped and are usually not mangled. There were some pictures here, but I can’t find them.

Yep it has domed screws. Now to figure out how to mount it to a bicycle securely

[JasonWW]

@joechina

Which firmware version is the Amazon Q8?

in RAMPING: Triple-click, double-click, double-click

There shouldn’t be any batch 1 lamps left. And the coated lens shouldn’t be any longer on new lamps. It made a visual tint shift vs. an only measureable brighter light (you couldn’t see it)

I dont think the Q8 has recieved the newer firmware yet, has it? Tom just finalized it a couple weeks ago. Has it officially been updated? There’s not much talk about it here.

[teacher]

If in doubt… just do the Firmware check. It is next in line after Battery check.

[blinker]

@teacher

If in doubt… just do the Firmware check. It is next in line after Battery check.

What do you mean, “next in line after Battery check.”?

[DavidEF]

@CRANK

@JasonWW

@CRANK

Just received my Q8 that I ordered through Amazon with coupon code. How can I tell if this an updated version and if it has coated lens?

Coated lens is easy, just see if the reflection in it is blueish.

V2 lights have different screws. They are more domed shaped and are usually not mangled. There were some pictures here, but I can’t find them.

Yep it has domed screws. Now to figure out how to mount it to a bicycle securely

Well, it has the tripod mount screw hole. As long as you had some way to keep it from spinning around, the mounting to a bicycle is pretty easy. Get a pipe clamp the right size. Clamp it onto a tubular part of your bike. Put a bolt through it and screw the bolt into the tripod hole. I’m not sure, but I think an electrical conduit ‘stand-off strap’ would be the cheapest and most widely available. One way you might be able to keep it from spinning at the tripod hole is to use a back-up nut to make it extra tight.

[djozz]

Depends on how bumpy your route is but I’m not sure if I would trust the tripod mount hole for fixing the (heavy) Q8 to a bike, in combination with some form of strap it should be ok.

[JasonWW]

@blinker

@teacher

If in doubt… just do the Firmware check. It is next in line after Battery check.

What do you mean, “next in line after Battery check.”?

I have not tried this, but when you are in battery check mode, if you dbl click it takes you to a temperature readout (blinks out temperature) then another dbl click will blink out the firmware number (either a 1 or 1.2). This is listed in the cheat sheet for the Q8.

[goshdogit]

@CRANK

Now to figure out how to mount it to a bicycle securely

Long before the Q8 appeared, I modified a 2” (50mm) theater lighting ‘truss clamp’ to securely hold my Noctigon Meteor, which doesn’t have a tripod mount.

The Q8’s tripod mount is very useful, but this method is much sturdier for mounting lights to a car, bicycle, ATV, or other moving/vibrating object.

The 2” (50mm) clamp fits the Q8 perfectly.

I posted about my truss clamp modifications here with more photos.

Truss clamps are available in several sizes and styles. I like the ‘quick release’ style like the one pictured above. Search eBay and Amazon for options.

There are also clamps that fit 1-1/4” to 1-3/8” (32mm to 35mm) tubing.

Depending on your bike’s dimensions and mounting location, perhaps you could combine two clamps to create an adjustable mount?

[DavidEF]

@djozz

Depends on how bumpy your route is but I’m not sure if I would trust the tripod mount hole for fixing the (heavy) Q8 to a bike, in combination with some form of strap it should be ok.

Yeah, you’re probably right.

[blinker]

I’ll check it out, thanks.
Version 1.0 in both my 2nd batch lights.

[joechina]

@teacher

If in doubt… just do the Firmware check. It is next in line after Battery check.

Sorry no, it’s third

Battery check, temperature, firmware