Convoy H1 short review

Plotthound · 2019-04-25T11:54:41.000Z

I’m a huge Convoy fan and I use headlights more than flashlights. I’ve been hoping for a Convoy headlight.
Simon has a lot going on, S11, H1, 21700 S2 and C8, latest and greatest LED’s and upgraded drivers. I’d say he rushed this out. It’s a great looking light and I’ll buy one, but I’m disappointed. It doesn’t do anything that my other right angle lights don’t do, and I much prefer the Sofirn/Boruit D10 style headlamp for many reasons.
Simon had those headbands in stock. They look like they were designed for a 18350 light. He must have a new one in the works. This is a heavy light. Probably needs a headband with a strap that goes over the top of the head. It would be nice if it had “Convoy” on it.

WestBam · 2019-04-25T15:19:09.000Z

Keep in mind that you will also receive Convoy quality. I think this is an important point!

Mkduffer · 2019-04-25T17:51:31.000Z

Oh GAWD! The last thing I need is another headlamp.
Is there an ordering link?
I’ll probably use my Skilhunt headstrap with it, the one with the over-the-top strap.

lumenzilla · 2019-05-26T17:27:01.000Z

Nice review!
I’m wondering if you can replace the body with S2+ (short) body?

gchart · 2019-05-26T17:37:31.000Z

Just tried it… nope. The H1 head is wide enough that the threads don’t even grab each other.

lumenzilla · 2019-05-26T18:08:49.000Z

gchart:

Just tried it… nope. The H1 head is wide enough that the threads don’t even grab each other.

thanks for your quick attempt & reply (y)

SwitchItOn · 2019-06-22T16:20:54.000Z

I am torn between H1 and Sofin SP40.

Has anyone tried mounting a S2+ 18350 tube onto H1? If it’s Lego-able, then I’m sold.

TIA.

gchart · 2019-06-22T16:41:24.000Z

I’ve tried. Not lego-able. The H1 tube is slightly larger diameter.

In stock form, I like the SP40 better: better UI, thermal regulation, lighter, and USB charging. But the low isn’t very low (~12 lumens) and the switch is in an awkward spot. The H1 is heavier and can get burning hot… but with a MCU/firmware change, I prefer it over the SP40.

SwitchItOn · 2019-06-22T16:54:20.000Z

Thx, gchart. I just pulled the trigger on SP40.

Rxich · 2019-07-16T02:03:43.000Z

The convoy H1 is flat out dangerous. I used it on high for 12 minutes, with an Imren 25A 18650. The light got so hot it burned my fingers, and I was worried about battery failure. What a horrible design and waste of money. My nitecore, skilhunt & sofrin headlights never ever get this hot, even after 25 minutes.
You have been warned. Also it has poor optics and a bad donut hole effect.

gchart · 2019-07-16T02:09:14.000Z

Rxich:

The convoy H1 is flat out dangerous. I used it on high for 12 minutes, with an Imren 25A 18650. The light got so hot it burned my fingers, and I was worried about battery failure. What a horrible design and waste of money. My nitecore, skilhunt & sofrin headlights never ever get this hot, even after 25 minutes.
You have been warned. Also it has poor optics and a bad donut hole effect.

I am very much in agreement. In stock form, it gets dangerously hot. I can’t believe Simon shipped these out without a step down or thermal control.

If you can solder, I can hook you up with an MCU to swap in that includes thermal management. Or if you want to offload it, I’d be glad to help you with that too.

I can’t say I’ve noticed a donut hole though. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that next time I use mine.

lumenzilla · 2019-07-16T08:55:56.000Z

gchart:

I am very much in agreement. In stock form, it gets dangerously hot. I can’t believe Simon shipped these out without a step down or thermal control.

That’s something I don’t wanna put on my forehead.

INeedMoreLumens · 2019-09-28T13:48:56.000Z

Simon said he will replace the old style headband with the new style one, for the same price.
We just need to put it in the “Note to seller” that we would like the new style headband when ordering from his AliExpress Store:
Convoy flashlight Store
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/2rH8P1HO

New Style Headband:
Flashlight headband for convoy H1
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/22ArhE64

H1:
Convoy H1 CREE XML2 Multifunctional Flashlight Head Light
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/nwQhwhfw

bcm00re · 2019-11-22T03:52:22.000Z

gchart:

Rxich:

The convoy H1 is flat out dangerous. I used it on high for 12 minutes, with an Imren 25A 18650. The light got so hot it burned my fingers, and I was worried about battery failure. What a horrible design and waste of money. My nitecore, skilhunt & sofrin headlights never ever get this hot, even after 25 minutes.
You have been warned. Also it has poor optics and a bad donut hole effect.

I am very much in agreement. In stock form, it gets dangerously hot. I can’t believe Simon shipped these out without a step down or thermal control.

If you can solder, I can hook you up with an MCU to swap in that includes thermal management. Or if you want to offload it, I’d be glad to help you with that too.

I can’t say I’ve noticed a donut hole though. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that next time I use mine.

It has been a few months, anyone know if the thermal or reflector issues have been addressed by Simon yet?

gchart · 2019-11-22T09:48:03.000Z

I just ordered another from Banggood a couple days ago. I can report back when it comes in.

Jack_Kellar · 2019-11-22T13:18:30.000Z

gchart:

I just ordered another from Banggood a couple days ago. I can report back when it comes in.

Looking forward to it.

Wieselflinkpro · 2019-11-26T10:10:04.000Z

@gchart is it the same mcu as on the D25 headlamp I already received from you? Attiny412 as I remember correctly?

Or is it a normal attiny?

bcm00re · 2019-11-27T01:17:52.000Z

FYI, I chatted with Simon a few days ago (on AliExpress) and brought up this unit’s driver/thermal shortcomings.
Regrettably his reply seems to suggest there haven’t been any changes made to address the issue.

gchart · 2019-11-27T05:54:09.000Z

Wieselflinkpro:

@gchart is it the same mcu as on the D25 headlamp I already received from you? Attiny412 as I remember correctly?

Or is it a normal attiny?

Yes, I’ve been using the Attiny412 in many lights including the D25 and Convoy H1. Both of these seem to use a PIC-style mcu from the factory. Thankfully the new ’412 uses a very similar pin layout unlike our traditional 13a/25/85.

gchart · 2019-11-27T14:26:28.000Z

bcm00re:

It has been a few months, anyone know if the thermal or reflector issues have been addressed by Simon yet?

TL;DR: no

I just received some new Convoy H1’s from Banggood yesterday. The reflector appears to be exactly the same, though I’ll say that none of mine have shown what I would call a donut hole (new or old versions). I do see some minor tint shift, but nothing nearly as badly as what you’d get with a flip chip LED like an XP-L2 or XP-G3. I’m wondering if that tint shift was perceived as a donut hole?

I can’t believe there still isn’t thermal management, even if it’s a dumb timed step down. I turned the light on Turbo and walked away, then came back in 18 minutes. The H1’s output had only dropped 5% and the head was at least 63°C. I picked it up and the whole thing felt incredibly hot. I imagine it was even hotter earlier in the run.

The UI itself is a bit better. Single click for on / off. Hold for stepping up, four levels. There’s mode memory, but also direct access to the lowest level (hold from off) and turbo (double click from off). I just can’t believe they went to the trouble of updating the UI without doing something about the thermal management. Oh well… it looks like this new shipment of H1’s is getting MCU swaps with the D4 V2 UI.