For my first 18650 light, I might well choose either the Convoy S2+, or the Astrolux S1 = BLF A6, both highly praised by many BLF members as far as I can read.
But I am puzzled by the many offers available on the Chinese sellers websites, with different LED tints (that's OK, I know I prefer neutral or warm, preferably high CRI), different drivers*, different UIs. Not sure they have the Anduril or Narsil UI, this is not always clear from the descriptions.
*BTW, I understand 7135*n means more or less current (the higher n, the higher the current). But how does this translate into lumens? Also, will the n value affect all modes, i.e. is the moonlight mode twice as dim on a 7135*4 WRT a 7135*8?
Another newbie question, sorry: what is FET and what does it mean in terms of flashlight behavior?
The different numbers of 7135 chips will affect the brightness in each mode. The S2+ gets very hot within a few minutes on 100% with 7135x8, but will generally just get warm at 35-50. If you want to run the light continuously on 100 maybe go for the 7135*4 version. The lumens per current will depend on the LED you are using (and battery V), as some emitters are more/less efficient than others, though visually you probably won’t notice. The Biscotti UI is easy to use and configure, and more preferable over the older 3/5 mode UI which had annoying mode memory timer. You can’t go wrong with the S2+ as your first 18650 light.
Thanks Stephenk for the clarification about the 7135*n, and your feedback on the S2+.
Re. the UI, after taking a deeper look at the first post of this thread, I realize that the UI which would best answer my requirements, is the Anduril Aux (i.e. latest version?), thanks to the manual memory: a fantastic addition as it allows instant access from OFF to #1 Floor, #2 your favorite brightness of choice, #3 Ceiling and #4 Strobe.
I've read advice on BLF to buy the Convoy S2+ directly from (its creator?) Simon @Aliex, who can customize the lights upon request when ordering. Do you think he could and might agree to change the UI from Biscotti to Anduril Aux?
"Anduril UI Aux" probably means Anduril with AUX LED support. AUX LED's are simple surface mount LED's of various colors. Anduril has special support for like 4 different channels of output for AUX LED's, so you can do fancy things with them, using 4 different colors for example, and having then ON or blinking, simple control over 2 output levels, etc.
Flashlight firmware is mostly designed for one or the other: for a power switch or electronic switch (e-switch).
Power switch versions are called "clicky firmware", as noted in the OP.
FET: abbreviation for MOSFET, and in our terms, a FET is generally used for maximum amps/output - no limit, just what the battery(s) can provide and the LED(s) can draw. The 7135 devices limit amps to 0.35 amps each, so 8 x 7135's would produce 2.8 amps at most.
The more sophisticated UI’s like Narsil and Anduril require an e-switch (electronic contact switch). Meaning that the driver always has power and the switch is simply sending a signal to the driver and it can read how long you’re holding the button down.
Mechanical switch lights in the tail actually control battery power. When you activate the switch you are cutting off all power to the driver. Thanks to capacitors, it can tell the difference between a short cut in power and a longer cut in power. This requires a very different designed UI.
The software has to be designed to work with a specific driver. You can’t just mix and match different software to different Hardware.
If you want a compact 18650 light with Anduril then your best best is the Noctigon K4. However a Convoy S2+ is about a quarter of the price if you are happy with the last mode memory of Biscotti.
Thanks, I think I'll choose this one, for want of any guarantee to have the "manual memory" feature if I order a FW3A, and despite the higher price tag and weight.
I have a Thorfire Q8 narsil.
I accidentally changed the setting and now the flash is blocked. I’ve been trying for several days (01/01/2021) to program the flashlight but I still haven’t been able to.
I looked at many manuals and diagrams but I can’t understand.
It needs to be step by step like this:
1) with flashlight off
2) 3 clicks to put in battery mode
3) hold button for 8 seconds (until flashing) for configuration mode
4) ???
5) ???
First, let me see if I understand you correctly (by the way, I suggest to create a new message thread for further questions) — by ‘flash is blocked’, my understanding is that it does not do Strobe modes after Turbo mode.
I’m assuming that your BLF Q8 is running NarsilM (v1.0 or v1.2), and not Anduril (because there are some variants of the Thorfire BLF Q8 that do).
To go to Strobe mode: go to Turbo mode first (eg. via double-click), then do another quick double-click. If Strobe does not happen, it means Strobe setting is disabled.
To enable Strobe mode:
From Off, hold the button down for about 8 seconds (in some later NarsilM version, this has increased to 16 seconds). Continue holding down the button, until you see a double-flash, followed by a single blink. You can release the button if you see this happen.
I suggest to observe first:
From OFF: hold button down until main LED does a double-flash, followed by a single-blink, then a short pause.
Then another double-flash, followed by 2 blinks.
then another double-flash, followed by 3 blinks.
then another double-flash, followed by 4 blinks.
Check if the above pattern happens, it should exit (no change in configuration) if no presses were done.
To enable Strobes mode, do the above again:
From Off, hold button down around 8 or 16 seconds until the double-flash + 1 blink. Wait until it does double-flash + 4 blinks, and quickly do a triple-click right after the 4-blinks. This will enable Strobe mode.
Test if it has been enabled: go to Turbo mode, then do a double-click (should become Strobe mode).
The method to go to the next Strobe mode varies slightly depending on the which NarsilM version.
On NarsilM v1.2 and v1.3: while the light is in Strobe mode, hold down the button (I think 1-2 seconds), will cycle to the next Strobe mode.
On NarsilM v1.0: (kindly refer to the manual or Youtube videos, it’s a bit more difficult to cycle Strobe with NarsilM v1.0), which is actually one of the main changes between v1.0 and v1.2
(I believe the change of v1.2 and v1.3 is that v1.3 made configuration mode a bit harder to access accidentally (hold button for 16 seconds instead of 8 seconds)
Very helpful information. I was able to figure out the UI (a beautiful customize copper light from pinkpanda Copper Build ) by using this cheatsheet.
Thank you!
Could we get Anduril 2 added to the original post? Diagrams have been out for a while and a quick google search yields good results, but it’d still be nice to have all of this in one place.
