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

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

Microa,

Welcome to BLF! Great looking driver board, did you make it? I appreciate seeing the work of people that decide to "roll their own". I know there are many out there that don't have the resources to do this kind of work. Just as I am frustrated with no access to a lathe or milling machine. We all do what we can with what we have.

I have a comment on your schematic - the battery sense resistors R2 and R3. These allow about 100uA drain on the battery at 6V, not terribly excessive but this is the same problem I've been dealing with in my designs. If you make them larger then you start running into problems with the impedance of the ADC. Perhaps adding a capacitor across R2 would help lower its impedance while allowing a larger resistance value? Of course, using protected cells would eliminate the need for any changes in the circuit.

Keep us posted on how this is working, I'm sure others, besides myself, are eager to learn what you find out.

Crux,

There are a couple of methods you could use to allow higher impedance input to the ADC pin. One, as you say, is to put a 1uF or so cap from the test point to ground. I have had this method allow me around 5Megohms of impedance on a ADC pin and still give accurate results as long as you dont poll it too often. One thing to note, it may be obvious to you but if you try to use a DMM to check the voltage, it may give duff results due to how it constantly samples the voltage.

Another interesting method I have used in the past, though is perhaps a little overkill here is to have the voltage divider switch on only when needed. Either by disconnecting the ADC pin first(!) then the low side of the voltage divider, or have the high side disconnect. Both methods will probably need a couple of transistors.

Good observation, Microa!

#177: From the MCU pin 2 first a diode and a resistor(10MOhm) in parallel, after them a condenser (100nF) to ground (-).

#264: From the MCU pin 2 first the condenser and then the diode and the resistor in parallel, both to ground.

The two circuits are equivalent but #264 is more rugged having two components soldered to the board (ground). I experienced that the condenser could easily break in #177 if I pressed on the diode/resistor pair.

(by the way in #177 I switched the big diode with the small diode (S6) on the component side to get a small component, but when I found out that it was a shottky diode with a purpose, I switched back again).

I think I have mounted this circuit on 7-8 drivers now. Memorizes the mode 1/2 sec after switch-off.

Crux,

Thanks for your comment. I shall add a 1uF capacitor to the sensing point which is simple and effective. The famous LFlex driver is also using this method. My driver is powered by 2 pieces of Sanyo 18500. The current of the LED is set at 2A. The IC of the protection circuit is Ricoh R5460N212AF.

Sixty545,

Thanks for your quick reply. I shall try the PINSWITCH with 3 SMD for my driver.