Review: Convoy S2 2800mA U2 1B from Fasttech

Likewise sir, also got one around two weeks ago, stacked two more 7135 regulators onto a 3 *7135 three modes Nanjg driver from my previous host, powered by an unprotected Sanyo 2600mAh, one of my EDC till now, love the beam :beer:

Thanks for the review!

Nice job on the review! Thanks for sharing!

Nice review, thanks.

Thanks for the review Bort. On the small lights l build I prefer the XPG led for the reasons you have expressed above. The XML is a very floody light whereas the XPG seems a lot brighter because off the smaller hot spot. These Convoy light are getting a bit off a reputation for being a very good budget light.

At 3V under load the light will dim to around the lowest mode and flash every couple of seconds.

I’d be interested to know if it is easy enough to remove the 5-mode group by soldering to one of the stars on the back?

I didn’t think it was and the only way I’d heard of was connecting two legs on an atmel chip inside. I actually tried that before though and couldn’t get it to work, but maybe I was connecting the wrong two legs…

My C20 from FastTech (https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/16942) does the same thing. After I did the tailcap mod, it improved, but when the light is jarred against a hard surface, it goes to the blink-every-few-seconds mode. I didn't know that was the low battery warning either, thanks for the info! I know I'm going to have to take mine apart and replace the spring on the driver to improve contact as it's very annoying as it is. I may also take the opportunity to install one of the new 20ma-low Nanjg drivers from IO (https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/17222) on this light...

nice review bort, I’m interested to see your m1 comparison. :slight_smile:

> The tailcap end has the double brass treatment, the headcap does not

How did you take it out ? :quest:

This 2 group Nangj 105c variant cannot be modded by soldering stars as you switch mod with the flicker on low mode. soldering the stars is a way to trigger something in the firmware, when the drivers do not have something related to the stars in the firmware it do simply nothing.

I don’t solder stars, I flash the firmware (luxdrv 0.30b).

Great review

I got the one from banggood in T6-4C (FT didn't have that in the S2, they did in the S5(which I did get), came with a 3chip Nangj AK-47A, tried stacking to get 6 killed the driver (at least I think I killed it, haven't had a chance to test it yet), dropped in a 6*7135 105C, doing VERY good, gets warm pretty fast at 2100mA, I can imagine how hot it gets at 2800mA, was recommended to go with that because I usually run in high mode...

I am glad I got the Convoy...definitely the best of the "budget" flashlights!

To me the beamshot above the S2 looks more like a 1A tint, the M2 looks more like a 4C tint (but as they say it's subjective)

Payday I might be getting me a few of these, threaded reflectors

http://dx.com/p/18-5mm-smooth-aluminum-reflector-5960 <- SMO

and

http://dx.com/p/18-5mm-textured-aluminum-reflector-5951 <- OP



see how it changes up the beam pattern, more throwy and less floody? However some have said the threaded insert makes it much better in seating (might even help pull the heat away from pill better too)

I got my S2+ today. (from Simon)
Two things are annoying me:
1- There is a distinctive buzzing noise on 40% and 5% modes. I wasn’t successful at stopping it. Is there a way?
2- The mode memory isn’t very intuitive. You have to leave the light in a mode for long enough for it to remember it (instead of having to leave it off for long enough). And when you want to change mode the first time you half press it stays in the same mode (you have to half press twice to go from 5% to 40% for example). It looks like the driver was designed for a forward clicky switch or something like that. Is that the reason?

Appart from that I’m happy. I will use it as a bike light with this holder so I will probably place a small piece of paper behind the front glass to stop blinding other cars.

I just got the CustomLites stainless steel light and it is almost identical in size to Bort’s Covroy S2 except about 3mm longer. The driver board in the head appears identical but mine has 4 modes including a Moonlight mode. None of the stars are soldered that I can see. GITD tail switch rubber. In fact it looks to me like probably built with Convoy internals. The body is heavy and thick walled so the light with battery is 206 Grams weight. Very simple looking light with no body texturing, just six turned grooves.

http://www.customlites.com/Solid-Stainless-XML-1X18650-FL-STXML2.htm

I am also expecting the Mountain Electronics 3 LED 5.8 Amp battery draw “S3” due tomorrow per the USPS. Same size basically as Bort’s and the CustomLites lights and using Convoy base unit but I expect it to have a truly spectacular turbo mode output for the size and get hot FAST.

I found that a driver swap will fix the noise. You can get a Qlite driver with the NLITE firmware, and that will fix the noise and give a better mode memory setup. If you are able to flash your own firmware, you may be able to flash your current driver with the NLITE firmware.

I like the look of that bike light mount. Do you already have the mount? If so, does it hold the light steady when riding over bumps? I currently use TwoFish lock blocks too mount my lights. The TwoFish mount does okay, but the light does shake a little bit when riding on a rough road.

Thanks for the tips.
I will order that bike mount soon. I need it for a city bike so it looks good. Plus it is cheap which is a big plus as people in my city like to steal anything that is on your bike… even a light mount.
I’ll try to remember to post my feedback of that mount when I get it.

EDIT: Is it possible to take the firmware out of the µcontroller (read the code), then modify it and put it back in? Or is there some sort of protection that prevents you from extracting the code?
EDIT2: I now have the mount. It’s really good and feels solid. The only con is the rotating system’s notches. Each notch rotates of about 15° which is too much for me as I wanted to be able to point the light straight forward. But it’s ok.

did you ever try these reflectors in the s2? i have the convoy s8 and i would like to try these reflectors if they will work.

Just flash another firmware, maybe JohnnyC’s Star, then it will do high pwm, no more buzzing. you can then also flash an off-time firmware version of that, but you have to add a capacitor for that too).
Exctracion of the current fw is not possible, thats why DrJones made Nlite.

I run the Star Fw (on time) on my S2, with 2800ma Nanjg 105c, turbo timer 90 seconds to half power due to getting it to hot to hold.
at 50% after the turbo timeout i can hold it pretty comfortable for long times(although its still warm) .
My modes are Moon, ~10% and 100% (fallback to ~50%)

Had one of these for about a year and find it very useful for walks in the dark. The only downside is the heat that results whilst on high. This renders High of limited value. I’ve been tempted to get a 2.1A Roche F12 as an alternative. A 2.1A S2 would also be a wise choice and better value.

This happens to be my very first decent flashlight. Thanks for sharing Bort :)

I wonder if there is a black model somewhere? They should have launched it in black, together with gun metal gray model just like S2+. I prefer S2 over S2+.

intl outdoor has them ” as host only “:http://intl-outdoor.com/t14-18650-flashlight-host-p-805.html
price is steep, gray you buy at ”fasttech”:http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002463/1277401-convoy-s2-diy-edc-led-flashlight-host for USD 8.78, almost half te price