TheStar - BLF driver firmware for a GB light - What options do you want to be selectable by stars?

If you get a good price I am in for this

same here :slight_smile:

I might be in, depending mostly on price.

I like having a strobe, but not part of the selections. I’d make it where it comes on whenever you hold the button down for more than 5sec or something regardless of what mode you’re in. Then just turn off and back on to reset.

Disable mode memory, change mode order either ascending or descending. If capable of getting a host that can have a momentary button I would like that so that I can use the double tap for strobe.

Honestly i would love to see dip switches used instead of soldering stars although im not sure there a sets of 3 available or how that would work, but i can dream.

Double tap for strobe would also be good. I think for most people, strobe is either a novelty or to be used in an emergency type situation. To be able to get into strobe quickly without cycling through modes and to be able to bypass strobe when you just want to cycle through modes is ideal.

This is way out there, but it would be cool if you could have a flashlight that could be set up for the first mode to be red light, rather than moonlight mode. More light without causing your eyes to adjust.

A feature i would greatly enjoy is an indicator that the light is running out of regulation, when the battery voltage under load falls to about 3.6V the current to the LED starts falling (105C 2.8 or 3.04A) because the battery voltage is below what the LED needs, so the brightness starts falling (the current starts falling till battery is depleted), a flash once a minute or some key press that turns on and off the one flash a minute when out of regulation would be a great feature.

Thanks for your input so far! Highly appreciated! Please keep on commenting.. :)

Couple of further questions:

1. Turbo timer

I have been thinking of the turbo timer thing.. Some testers have been indicating that the subtle ramp down from turbo is hardly noticeable. Maybe it would be ok to leave it as is and have an extra hidden mode: "Turbo (no timer)", so it could be selected if really needed.

That would leave one star for possibly more important things like "Single mode Turbo (with hidden goodies)" or "Tactical config" (= Strobe, Turbo - no memory + hidden goodies like lowlow).

Would that be ok for most of you?


2. Number of modes

I use the lowlow so much that I really like the current four mode config. Some people use it only seldom (or never) and would like to disable it..

Choices here are:
- 4 modes: LL->L->M->T (+ hidden modes) -- easy to select LL, bothers some people
- 3 modes: L->M->T (+ hidden modes, including LL) -- LL doesn't bother, harder to select if needed


3. Type of the hidden strobe

What is the strobe preference of BLF?

Should it be a:
- tactical disorienting strobe (10-20Hz)
- slower signalling strobe (2-5Hz)?
- or something else?

Of course "Make both" would be ideal, but I'm not sure if I can fit those in the ATtiny13 memory. :(


4. SOS & Beacons

I have received requests to put in a hidden SOS mode too -> that can fit in the memory, but replaces one of the beacons.

Options:
- Keep the 1s beacon
- Keep the 10s beacon
- or maybe a 2.5s beacon would do?


Thanks in advance for your opinions!

Too many choices, overload!

No, I'm simple, this will be good whatever the outcome. That said: I use LL often so if memory can be switched off and I can choose to start with LL I'm happy!

(there was a thread about random strobe, can't find it just now, someone wrote some lines for it, that would be neat )

Turbo timer: I think no timer is more risk, so should not be default, but selectable.

Number of modes: for me, I like moonlight mode also. Everyday tasks like helping to put my key in the lock, this is much better.

Type of strobe: I think that if it is bright enough, even a slower rate can be disorienting. (still strobe rate, not beacon)

SOS / beacon: I would be happy if I never saw the SOS feature again. I think the odds of ever needing this is extremely small. If this was for a dedicated survival type light then this might be more important but there would be a lot of other features that would be equally important. Also, if I’m ever in a survival scenario, I wouldn’t want to sacrifice my battery for a beacon. I would much rather have a very small waterproof dedicated beacon.

Maybe a better solution is to come up with more than one solution? It’s kind of like we are trying to build a tank that can transport people to work every day while still being very agile and has a high fuel economy.

I agree with O-L - same as him with priorities. I've rarely heard of any use for SOS - think just for biking, but I thought they used SOS just because there isn't any nice beacon frequency available?? Beacons do make some sense.

Questions:

  • mode switching is based on ON time, not OFF time? Why not if so?
  • with mode memory enabled, does mode changing continue to the next mode, or resets back to mode #1, like luxdrv?

I think SOS should be the one to go, if you don’t have any memory. I like the low low, and prefer one in all my lights.

Yes, it has ON time memory. Mainly because there are no pre-made Nanjg 105C drivers with capacitor installed for off time memory and we don't want to do any hardware changes (= add any manual work for the manufacturer).

Next mode. Didn't really even consider using short cycle memory as most people are not familiar with it. Maybe I should reconsider? Would be nice to have a separate star for that, too.. ;)

Ahh - ok, for the OFF time memory issue. Think what you have is fine, no short cycle - I just wasn't sure. The short cycle memory is nice when you have strobe and beacons in the regular mode traversal list - you don't have to navigate through them to get back to the 1st mode.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I like my beacons rather dim… like, on-time of 1ms and then off-time of 1999ms. Just so I can find the thing in the dark, mostly.

As for strobes, I’ve never used or needed a SOS. However, a high-visibility flasher can be useful for biking or signalling for assistance. The best ones I’ve seen stay on at a low mode and flash quickly a few times every second or so. Like, maybe run at ‘low’ or ‘low low’ and then quickly flash three times at ‘high’ or ‘turbo’, with a timing such as: 10ms high, 35ms low, 10ms high, 35ms low, 10ms high, 900ms low, repeat.

I might make a red one like that for the back side of my bike. I think 700mA through a red XP-E should work, alternating between ~3 and ~30 lumens. That would give me like 15 hours of run time from a 16340 battery, but it might be a little too bright so I’ll have to try it and find out.

got linkies for the conductive paint sir…that does sound very ingenious for sure!

This ^

May I ask why are you so eager to disable the turbo timeout? IMHO the timeout is really good to have because of the following reasons:

1. Not easily noticeable: In a XM-L2 based light, step down from 3A to 2A can't be easily noticed by eye (without comparing to 3A light side by side)

2. Protect the light from over heating (especially if modded to 4A, but useful also at 3A)

3. Saves batteries: Step down to 2A gives you 50% more runtime (compared to 3A)

Other than that, the current test version of TheStar FW supports your needs:

- Change mode order (L->H is on by default, H->L by shorting the star #3)

- Disable moonlight (yes, removed from main modes cycle by default - for this GB light - still accessible as the first hidden mode)

All in all, the current version supports quite many different needs:

1. Normal modes: L->M->T or T->M->L, with or without memory []

2. LL available if/when needed, but not in the main mode cycle (first hidden mode) []

3. Turbo without timer available if/when needed (as last hidden mode) []

4. Hidden blinky modes: Strobe, SOS, 1s Beacon (or Strobe, 1s Beacon, 10s Alpine Distress Beacon) []

5. Also hidden modes memorised (if memory enabled) []

+ Extra: Single mode config: Turbo (with hidden goodies) []

(can be replaced with Tacticool config: Strobe->Turbo->Low, without memory, only 0.5s time to change modes - but only if majority wants so!)


Are there still some useful configurations, which can't be catered with this FW?

Edit: Does anyone want to try out this FW (= help me in testing it)?