How To Build a Flashlight With Perfect Modes (picture heavy)

I am thinking to write the BLF-VLD-0.4 to another driver with an Attiny13A. The program seems to suit changing modes by the power on/off switch. Can I use an additional momentary contact switch to change modes without modifying the code ?

Thanks in advance,

AFAIK, no, this program doesn't support external switch to change modes

Hi Folks,

I tried to build a version 4 BLF-VLD with 3 modes + battery monitor from the Driver.c file by AVR Studio. The Studio failed to build the files because the contents of the object file exceeded the maximum program monery of the device. So I deleted the lines from 88 to 140 to save space.

The Hex file and the eep file can be built and run. However, the LED will be slow flashing after the light is switched on for a while. When the light is switched on at high or at Med, it will rampdown to low. Also, no response to the change of the voltage of the voltage divider. I would like to ask somebody to help me fixing the issue. Thank you.

I see that people are having trouble connecting to the chip. Which clip is the most effective one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140572159337&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400171159037&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120703298973&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I had that one in the middle. That's crap. I've heard the 3M should be better, but cannot confirm by my own account. My advice? Go direct drive.

I vote for HID45-style too. It's not so hard and if you are flashing well-known 8x7135 driver, it has only 2 pins of MC need to be soldered directly on it, other pins have connections on PCB. So even wife is not necessary :)

Guys I really want to use a clip I don't want to risk damaging the drivers by extra soldering. I found these but they only show two attachments top and bottom will they still work the price is good.

http://www.hmcelectronics.com/product/3M-Interconnect-Solutions/923650-08?refer=peoplebought

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/389607-8-pin-test-clip-gold-soic-15-923655-08.html

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/389604-8-pin-test-clip-alloy-soic-15-923650-08.html

The 3M clip is the one I have, and it's way better than the Ebay blue one. I purchased it from Digikey as well. It has 8 pins if you look at the picture. However, I did need to use the ribbon cable off of the blue one as the 3M came with only the clip. I also had to modify the clip a bit (shave off the bottom) to get better contact, and now it's finicky. Try to get it to work as-is first.

Good deal I will order the one from Digikey, thanks man. I am super excited about doing this. I took C programming in college so it's time to dust off the books and once the clip arrives I will be ready to rock.

Yeah, it was a lot of fun doing this. I haven't built any flashlights in a while, and since I upgraded to Windows 7 I can't get the Atmel software working. I might get back into it again if a friend asks for a different light.

What programmer are you going with?

I ordered this one I hope it works.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200460739146&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The nice thing about this one, http://www.adafruit.com/products/46, is that she has a detailed out guide on how to use avrdude to program with (which yours might be able to work with too, not sure), and it ships from the US.

I wish I had seen that before I ordered the other one. Digikey is on point I placed my order about an hour ago and it already shipped unbelievable.

OK it looks like its working but I have a problem maybe someone can help.


Man I got everything working except i cant figure out how to load the program. I would like to load Tidos program just to go from there if someone could steer me in the right direction that would be great.

You have to be in the directory that holds the blf-vld files when flashing. Now you seem to be in c:\documents and settings\E. That's why it does not find the files.

After unzipping the blf-vld the default path is something like blf-vld0.4\blf-vld and after that you must go to either simple, fixed modes, programmable or default directory to flash, depending on your preference. If you have compiled your own code or have different path for blf-vld, you need to just be in the directory holding the .hex and .eep files and flash from there.

Staring at this computer for 8 hours is making me stupid thanks for the help. I will give it another try.

In case anybody is wondering this 3M clip from Digikey works perfect no problem at all with connecting to the chip.

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/389607-8-pin-test-clip-gold-soic-15-923655-08.html

Thanks for Tido sharing his wonderful program with us. I have built this buck driver for BLF-VLD_4 in 6 modes + last mode memory. It works prefectly well except I still have problem in applying the PINSWITCH and MONITOR_BAT. It is fun to study and to look into the program.

Hi Sixty545,

I have noticed that this wiring #264 was a little different from your post #177. I would like to confirm that because the capacitor and the diode, resistor are wired in series. Both methods of wiring are workable.

Microa