Convoy s2+ only drawing 1 amp

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

So i bought this convoy s2 plus at banggood. I used green 18650b from the 10000mah xiaomi powerbank that i disassembled. Fired up the light, does not feel like

1000 lumens. I measured current using a cheap multimeter but only got about 1.1 amps.

Could the battery cause the low output? ( xiaomi rates the batteries at 3350 mah so should handle the 2.8a current)

Could i have the 4x7135 version? though i should have at least 1400 mah for that version. ( i chose the 8x7135 before check out )

Could my meter post wrong readings?

(for reference, my 220 lumen m3r has a reading of 700ma)

Thanks for the advanced hekp guys

2

I can’t see any pics (probably being blocked by my workplace) but if it’s the 8x 7135 driver, you would see 4 of the chips on the spring-side of the driver. Do you see these? If not, then there’s a chance that you did get the 4x option. But 4x chips should get you 1.4A. Three chips would get you just over 1 Amp…

3

a very common S2+ version has 3x350mA = 1050mA at the tail

(I got this S2+ from banggood)

4

did you try with stock multimeter leads or thick gauge leads?

5

is it less bright with the multimeter?

look at the brightness at high and “shorten” cell- to tube with one wire of the DMM
(DMM meassures - shorten - DMM meassures - shorten)

you should see if the wires are lowering the Amps

6

Look at the inside of the head from the battery tube. Do you see any 7135 chips? If not, then you didn’t get the 8x7135 version.

7

I can see 4x7135 inside, have yet to confirm the other 4 by opening the pill

8

Don't see any difference in brightness. As a reference, i measured 700ma for my 220 lumen led lenser m3r which sounds close enough. I have another convoy s2+, will check that out later if it gives the same reading.

9

This is the most important question.

10

This is correct. Simon chose to set the standard “default” version to 7135*3 for the green S2+. The previous versions were 7135*4 by default and the option to change the number of 7135 chips is cheap but you have to send Simon (Convoy) a message and have him adjust the price if you want to change the emitter tint or number of 7135s to your liking. He charges very little to do this. He’ll also tune the modes if you want for free. I haven’t seen the Banggood listing but Simon states this all clearly on his Convoy Aliexpress store.

11

Instead of focusing on the amps, why not do a ceiling bounce test comparison against one of your other flashlights (like your other S2+)?

12

I wish I had this light in my hand to look at. Very odd indeed. Could even be something like the emitter not being reflowed properly.

13

That should be enough information right there — the first 4 go on the LED side, and the next 1,2,3 or 4 are put on the spring side.

So since you see four of them on the spring side, you don’t necessarily need to pry the pill open.

If you do, be prepared to look hard and if possible take pictures of it, maybe you just have a bad solder join somewhere.

14

Can you tell us what color S2+ you bought? Sounds silly I know but the new green S2+ is the only one I know of that ships standard with 7135*3. The others all come standard with at least 4 unless you specifically order a lower powered light.

15

It is the blue s2+ version

16

Sorry if i can't give you complete details now. (still at work). Will upload later pics of the light, beamshot comparison to my other lights, and readings using thick wire gauges. I believe this convoy is real due to good springs and led and also never heard of a fake convoy from banggood.

17

Google wants to help, and finds Convoy Flashlights

but that was six months ago. More info in that thread. Not saying that you got a fake, seems more likely it’s a bad solder join inside there, is my guess.

18

A fake convoy is of no concern here. A flashlight is just an aluminum tube. This problem is electrical. Something is limiting the current. Driver- wires - Led.
Improperly soldered LED or AMC chips? That would mean four or five chips aren’t soldered correctly, so I’d start by putting my odds on a poorly soldered LED, which is not uncommon. Is it on an aluminum star? Is there any thermal grease?
Let’s not forget the switch. It could be faulty.

19

So i tried my second convoy, bummer, won't turn on. Tried the other tailcap and it now turns on. So the second convoy has a broken tailcap. Tried opening it but my tweezers broke :(

Was able to open the pill but the board was soldered so cannot see the other side if the board.

For the tailcap measurement i get more or less 1.1 amp on both lights so both of them should

Be similar, tried another panasonic(from xiaomi powerbank) and still got similar reading. I tried using a thicker wire (don't know the gauge but about .3mm thick, reading imrpoved to 1.3 amp . Dont have a thicker wire now but will try it on weekend. I will also need a soldering iron to confirm the board really has 8x7135

Will post beamshot comparing it to my led lenser m3r

20

Do keep in mind that the retainer ring in the tailcap of a Convoy S2+ has a reverse thread. So if you try to loosen it by turning it in the anti-clockwise direction, you are actually tighten it even more.