17mm 12x7135 drivers with custom firmware (Group Buy Interest thread)

If everyone decides on another mode spacing we can do that. I’m not firm on it, I just don’t want a bunch of people dropping out or not getting in because they can’t get the one they want. You know how these things go.

Also I don’t think overseas shipping will be bad at all. Especially if you buy enough of them. It would drop the per driver cost down for you pretty good. It wouldn’t be worth it for one or two but for 20 I’m sure the price would still be pretty good.

Yes I do. :)

And it's not only the mode spacing.. In fact the mode spacing is about the easiest thing to agree on.

Some people want L->H, others insists having H->L. Some like to have their lights with memory, others without. And then there's the eternal discussion about Moon/LowLow mode: "Moon mode is a must" <-> "But I want L->H and don't want it to start with Moon".

That's why it would be good to have a pre-flashed firmware that offers some flexibility.

..and if someone needs even more flexibility -> go ahead and flash it yourself.


[quote=18sixfifty] Also I don't think overseas shipping will be bad at all. Especially if you buy enough of them. It would drop the per driver cost down for you pretty good. It wouldn't be worth it for one or two but for 20 I'm sure the price would still be pretty good. [/quote]

Ok, that sounds good! I'll be in for at least 20 pcs, maybe 50.

On the subject of settings, I would rather 1% 15% 30% 60% 100%.
1 = moon
15 = low
30 = mid (double low (not 40))
60 = high (double mid)
100 = turbo
Just my thoughts :wink:

Cheers David

My personal opinion on the number of modes: Five modes is simply too much to step through.

Four is much better, and can cover the 0-100% quite well.

Three is good for usability, but can't cover well enough.

=> based on these findings I started to design the TheStar FW, which has the usability of 3-mode FW, but it offers 5 modes (+ hidden blinkies, but those are not the point here).

Here's how it's done:
- LowLow mode is hidden (can be easily found when needed, but it's not bothering in the main mode cycle)
- Low & Medium are the first two modes
- High is not accessible as a standard mode, just as Turbo rampdown level (-> not in the main mode cycle, but still usable)
- Turbo is the third normal mode

For LowLow, cycle through the modes twice, and you'll find the LowLow after Turbo, like this: L -> M -> T -> L -> M -> T -> LL
For High, set the light on Turbo and simply wait 90s (or whatever the turbo timeout is programmed to be)
For returning to Turbo after timeout, simply half-click and you are there.

The more I use it in this 3-mode configuration, the more I like it. :)


Edit: And if you like H->L mode order better, just short the star #3 => T -> M -> L -> T -> M -> L -> LL

That’s sounds great. I am just going to go with that. I’ll be chatting with them tomorrow to confirm that I can get this firmware on them, but I don’t see any reason why they won’t. They will probably steal it though.

That's very much possible, but would that be a bad thing? Better flashlights for everyone!


I was anyways planning to release TheStar as "free for all BLF users for non-commercial use", which pretty much means that it will be freely available => will be stolen and used in commercial things too.

If it's NANJG105C compatible (same circuitry except 12x7135) AND that stacking is reliable (a photo would be nice) AND shipping isn't a killer, I'm in for 50. Firmware is irrelevant as I'll reprogram them anyway.

Right on! It would be cool if they did steal it and actually used it too!!

Sounds good, I’ll ask them for a picture and see if it’s nanjg105c compatible. I told them I would have a bunch of questions for them tomorrow. Well you know how it is. Tomorrow for them is early AM for me. So very late night today actually.

Depending on shipping I am in for a few…

OK, I sent them a quick E-mail asking about Flashing THE’s firmware and making sure they are NANJG105C compatible.

The 5A version even better.

40% and 60% are too close. I would toss one of those modes and go no more than 40 on the remaining mode.

As long as they don't lock out the MCU for future flashing, I would be interested in 10.

17mm, STAR firmware, 12chips, I'm in for 10 :-)

We were planning to use TheStar (by _the_), not STAR (by JonnyC).

Probably it would be possible to use STAR too if that is a more desired option. In that case we need to ask JonnyC to get his permission.

If you really want to sell a boat load of these, have them add a 1uF capacitor and load off-time memory FW. That will allow folks that can't flash and or solder SMD's to truly upgrade their lights with both more power and much improved UI.

+1

Funny, I actually meant TheStar, did not realise that JohnnyC's firmware had that similar name (but that's a nice UI too btw). I wouldn't mind the extra cap/off-time memory either :-)

Why not just have them build 1000 drivers using the BLF-17DD design files? Once you get up to that many 7135s the runtime before it falls out of regulation is so short there's not much benefit there to offset the higher parts count needed and the resulting bulky double-sided driver.

The current (probably final) revision of the 17DD works with only 6 components, 7 if you add an off-time capacitor. Gate & pulldown resistors have been eliminated since we changed the MCU's power supply circuit (it uses the same parts, just with the capacitor moved from after the D1 diode to before the diode).

Because it’s not regulated. Contrary to popular believe, not being regulated is actually a disadvantage. Once you install a BLF17DD you can’t just hand someone a light and assume they won’t acquire an IMR cell or 4.35v cell/charger down the road. You can blame whatever happens after that on them (whether it’s minor heat issues or poofing the LED), but it’s really on you (me/18sixfifty/whoever). If I build a light with 7135’s I can be pretty confident about what’s going to happen with all the batteries we know about right now. (Grrr)