Roche F6 hacking

The bezel is standard right hand thread, so counter-clockwise when looking at it from the front.

The brass driver retainer plate, though, is left hand thread - so turn that one clockwise to loosen. (they do that so that removing the battery tube won't loosen the driver retainer, it instead tightens it)

The indicator hole on the lights that have it is 4mm, though if you're going to plug it with epoxy it can be any size you wish. You could even make it square if you wanted to be all fancy.

A few days ago I have received one from BG, has not that indicator. Its head is like the left.

The better driver is the one Helios- already did for us. https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/OQDe10xU

I'm awaiting a reply from Simon, about if his stock has the indicator lens or not. I don't care about which driver it comes with, if I can't reflash it with a usable UI it'll just go in the leftover parts bin with the rest of them.

edit: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Free-shipping-Roche-F6-EDC-HAIII-CREE-XM-L2-U2-1A-LED-Flashlight/330416_1854425141.html

The one I got from Simon does not has the indicator lens.

Well, got in touch with one of the overseas resellers and was informed that the original version - nice tint LED, copper MCPCB, good driver, lens for battery warning - is no longer being produced. The only ones being made currently are the cheaped-out no frills version, with the ugly green LED, AL MCPCB, crappy driver with the stupid UI, no lens in the side.

But of course, they're still the same price. It's no longer a $23 light, it's now a $12 light that's sold for $23. Awesome! :angry:

But… some at reasonable prices… http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_35804.html and GB660

That’s a good price for $20 shipped. I don’t mind the modes on this driver. Low, medium and High is all I would really need. I don’t need the strobe. My biggest gripe is output so we will see what happens when I bridge all the resistors. The emitter can easily be swapped also.

For the low battery warning on the original, can you even see the light when it is lit on the opposite side through the window?

Awesome deal. I couldn’t see how much the coupon made it because I didn’t join as a member. Can’t complain about $15.55

where is that?

Post # 106

Do they really have the good version of F6?
They say it is without memory and in the pictures the “low power warning” lens can be seen.

Where can I buy this strap separately?

I only care about the voltage indicator window thing because the fancy replacement driver has the provision for two onboard LEDs, and with a easily reflashed controller and two LEDs you could make it do some very interesting things. Well, someone who understands how to code for these things could, though I am not that someone. I only do the nuts & bolts stuff.

All those sites are still using old stock photos from the very first 'good' version of the F6, the pictures are in no way related to the current-production light you will be sent. It's impossible to know what you will get from any of those guys. The pictures never change, the listed specs never change, if it looks kinda similar on the outside that's good enough for them to pretend it's still the same light.

Have you installed that custom driver yet? How much ma output are you expecting? I’m going to remove all the resistors on the one version driver tonight and replace with solder and see what happens.

I haven't measured this one directly but it's the same parts and firmware as the other BLF-DD drivers, and those do 6.5-7A to a single XML2, and over 10A into a triple XPG2 (using good cells, 25R or VTC5). No reason for this one to be doing anything different. I have 3 F6s completed using the new driver, 1x dedomed XML2/8* TIR, 1x XPG2/stock reflector, and one triple 219B.

Oh wow, have you fired up any of these new creations of the F6? 6-7 amps is plenty of fun.

Of course.

The triple gets hot at about the same rate as if the LEDs were replaced with a solid piece of copper creating a direct short... I suppose I could make an extension handle that screws into the tripod mount on the back, that might help prevent blisters. :p

Any idea how well the F6 fares underwater? I’m still looking for a reasonably compact 1x18650 light with e-switch and a flashable driver for use in a wet environment… er, actually, part of a water fountain.

I tried to get a ZY-T29, but it’s apparently discontinued. Still looking for other hosts to try. The F6 always looked nice aside from being a bit cramped for modding, but if there is a replacement driver available it might be a good option.

I bet they get hot fast now. Is it just me or is there a strange green glow from the middle F6?