【convoy】

Barkuti · 2019-12-09T20:27:08.000Z

ggf31416:

The diagram is wrong, it’s off-time memory.

As far as I now and/or think, off-time memory means whatever mode is memorized once the flashlight has been off for a given amount of time, maybe 2 - 3 seconds. But what whatever mode? I think you're trying to tell it's the last used mode, isn't it?

ggf31416 · 2019-12-09T21:26:44.000Z

Barkuti:

As far as I now and/or think, off-time memory means whatever mode is memorized once the flashlight has been off for a given amount of time, maybe 2 - 3 seconds. But what whatever mode? I think you’re trying to tell it’s the last used mode, isn’t it?

When the next mode is the one memorized we just call it next mode memory.

Pseudocode:

Next mode memory:
On start
current_mode = stored_mode
stored_mode = current_mode + 1

On time memory:
On start
current_mode = stored_mode
stored_mode = current_mode + 1
After x seconds:
stored_mode = current_mode

Off time memory:
On start
if too_much_time_elapsed
current_mode = stored_mode
else
current_mode = stored_mode + 1
stored_mode = current_mode

No memory:
On start
if too_much_time_elapsed
current_mode = first_mode
else
current_mode = stored_mode + 1
stored_mode = current_mode

too_much_time_elapsed is when enough time had elapsed to discharge a capacitor or erase/corrupt a known pattern in unpowered ram, depending on the driver having a capacitor or not.

Cheap flashlights have next mode memory because they don’t want to spend a few extra cents in a capacitor+resistor and the memory trick is unknown to them or the time is too short (i.e. unlike the attiny13 they only have DRAM, not SRAM) in their drivers to be useful.

Simon_Mao · 2019-12-10T07:06:31.000Z

ggf31416:

Simon Mao:

SST40 driver with biscotti is in design ,friend

Will the Biscotti SST40 driver step down on overheat?

yes, it keeps the tempareture control function

djozz · 2019-12-10T08:35:35.000Z

Simon Mao:

ggf31416:

Simon Mao:

SST40 driver with biscotti is in design ,friend

Will the Biscotti SST40 driver step down on overheat?

yes, it keeps the tempareture control function

Very nice. I would have been happy if the current 6A SST-40 driver was simply made without memory (I have never understood memory, mode memory makes a flashlight unreliable ) but a biscotti interface is a nice extra

Barkuti · 2019-12-10T11:51:29.000Z

Someone told me somewhere around here that temperature control was too aggressively implemented in SST40 drivers, causing step down very quickly. I myself grabbed a couple drivers to repair a couple builds for family and a friend but haven't done tests. What do you believe?

Yokiamy · 2019-12-10T13:07:17.000Z

Barkuti:

Someone told me somewhere around here that temperature control was too aggressively implemented in SST40 drivers, causing step down very quickly. I myself grabbed a couple drivers to repair a couple builds for family and a friend but haven’t done tests. What do you believe?

It totally depends on the host.
For instance, in a S2+ /S21 it might be useful, but on a L21A however, it doesn’t make any sense

I got rid of it by removing the NTC, instructions can be found here.

echikongen · 2019-12-15T21:21:21.000Z

I have a question regarding LVP on the latest Convoy flashlights (S11, S12, M3, S21A, M21A, L21A, M21B, M21C, M26C). Is there a real LVP or only warning?

Barkuti · 2019-12-16T00:43:32.000Z

echikongen, concerning flashlights with unregulated MOSFET or linear drivers there is no need to worry. A standard blue crystal pump white led imposes a hard limit concerning the absolute minimum voltage which makes it work, this is ≈2.5 V (red emitters are another story). This means it is nearly impossible to over-discharge a li-ion cell with a standard white led as load. This has been tested by myself, feeding a white led with a li-ion cell directly with bare wires. With a driver in between, the over-discharge possibility is even lower.

If you want to really know, test it by yourself by leaving whatever flashlight with MOSFET or linear driver turned on for a few days. After the elapsed time, unload the battery, let it rest a few minutes and measure its no-load voltage with a multimeter. It will hardly be any lower than 2.5 V, if even close.

Concerning flashlights with boost or buck drivers powered with more cells than emitter stages (i.e. a buck driver fed with 2 cells powering a 1S emitter like an XP-L, buck driver fed with 3 cells powering a 2S emitter like an XHP50B, etc.), some sort of low voltage protection or shutdown is a must. In all these cases it usually is implemented unless it is a shoddy driver which Convoy wouldn't use.

Jerommel · 2019-12-16T01:58:29.000Z

Simon Mao:

Sao_Lune:

Simon, please, add additional version of this driver: 2.06€ 69% OFF|20mm Fahrer für SST40 ,4 modi 0.1% 3% 30% 100%, max strom ausgang 6000mA, Temperatur schutz management innen|Taschenlampen| - AliExpress WITHOUT memory-modes.
If you think that memory-modes in your drivers is necessary, then let it be, but ===>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please give us a choice!

All I need is S21A without ANY memory-mode. I want to start with LOW-mode. Always.

SST40 driver with biscotti is in design ,friend

So this is the new complaint after “I want a useless moon mode!” ?
I think memory is quite handy, and i bet many more people do too.
My complaint though, is the mode spacing of your drivers, Simon.
I ordered some anyway, but there are low and medium modes missing, big jumps from low to medium, probably because loud voices beg for moon mode…
As if they don’t own any smaller output flashlights already…

Maybe don’t forget most of your buyers (probably) want 4 well spaced usable modes, like 3 - 10 - 30 - 100%
3 modes is enough for up to 1000 Lumen lights.

extremesquared · 2019-12-16T03:13:29.000Z

Jerommel:

As if they don’t own any smaller output flashlights already…

Maybe don’t forget most of your buyers (probably) want 4 well spaced usable modes, like 3 - 10 - 30 - 100%
3 modes is enough for up to 1000 Lumen lights.

3% is much too high of a low for camping/backpacking use, which is one demographic target of generic flashlights. It sounds like you need a specialized driver for urban use, but that’s not necessarily the best default driver to sell in their online store.

Jerommel · 2019-12-16T03:32:27.000Z

extremesquared:

Jerommel:

As if they don’t own any smaller output flashlights already…

Maybe don’t forget most of your buyers (probably) want 4 well spaced usable modes, like 3 - 10 - 30 - 100%
3 modes is enough for up to 1000 Lumen lights.

3% is much too high of a low for camping/backpacking use, which is one demographic target of generic flashlights. It sounds like you need a specialized driver for urban use, but that’s not necessarily the best default driver to sell in their online store.

3% of 10 Watts is 0.3 Watt.
How can that be “much too high”, even in a tent at night?
BTW, i use my lights the most when i’m in rural France, so i know what darkness is.
Besides, when you only have 3 or 4 modes, you basically sacrifice a usable mode when you add a moon mode to it.

But either way, inside a tent, it is preferable to have a wide flood light (like a light bulb) hanging from the ceiling, but that is not always possible.
In a tent a normal reflector light is far from ideal.

extremesquared · 2019-12-16T03:51:23.000Z

I was actually wondering if we were used to different levels of darkness. It is something a lot of people who have access to low population density areas take for granted. Seeing the Milky Way plastered across the sky on a dark night is amazing. But it sounds like we just are accustomed to different methods.

To be fair, we always got by before any flashlights had moonlight mode by blocking the lens with a thumb at night. It was not that big of a deal, but now with the luxury of <2 lumen modes we don’t have to. Now the brightest things I see in camp are overpowered 5mm red LEDs on cheap plastic headlamps. I am only one data point, but I wouldn’t buy a 1000 lumen light that didn’t have the 0.1% mode any more due to the way we use flashlights in the wilderness.

I don’t care about mode memory myself — there are pros and cons — but predictability of modes is important to some people. It would be nice if it was possible to cut a trace on the circuit board to disable the memory.

Jerommel · 2019-12-16T05:07:26.000Z

extremesquared:

I was actually wondering if we were used to different levels of darkness. It is something a lot of people who have access to low population density areas take for granted. Seeing the Milky Way plastered across the sky on a dark night is amazing. But it sounds like we just are accustomed to different methods.

To be fair, we always got by before any flashlights had moonlight mode by blocking the lens with a thumb at night. It was not that big of a deal, but now with the luxury of <2 lumen modes we don’t have to. Now the brightest things I see in camp are overpowered 5mm red LEDs on cheap plastic headlamps. I am only one data point, but I wouldn’t buy a 1000 lumen light that didn’t have the 0.1% mode any more due to the way we use flashlights in the wilderness.

I don’t care about mode memory myself — there are pros and cons — but predictability of modes is important to some people. It would be nice if it was possible to cut a trace on the circuit board to disable the memory.

Okay, i see your point about camping etcetera.
But i have other lights low level usage.
In a tent it’s always a little difficult though.
You need one hand to lean on, and the other hand to move stuff around.
No flat surfaces to tailstand a flashlight on…
Yes, a headlamp would be okay, or a single AAA light you can hold in your mouth, but some wide flood light hanging from the ceiling would be better.

As for memory, well, opinions vary.
I hardly ever switch off in the highest mode anyway.
But when i switch it on, i don’t want a moon mode to skip through.

Aaaaanyway… This is the Convoy thread…
I decided to comment because i decided to buy some drivers from Simon, but most of them are missing a low or mid mode, jumping to or from 10 times the brightness to the next mode…
That just sucks i.m.h.o.
But apparently the solution will be complicated firmware that takes ours to configure…
I don’t know, maybe it’s me…

extremesquared · 2019-12-16T05:32:25.000Z

I bet people would be happy with another mode and finer spacing. I only object to the removal of the lowest mode because that would be removing a feature.

Also when backpacking/bikepacking in groups of 3 or more not many of us bring an extra light. Redundancy comes from the group size.

Lightbringer · 2019-12-16T05:37:07.000Z

I got a Cometa that runs bistro/biscotti/baguette/whatever, and all this crap is selectable. Moonlight on/off, hml/lmh, mem/nomem, buncha modegroups, etc.

Can’t just dump that UI on the driver’s µC?

particleez · 2019-12-28T09:32:47.000Z

adam7027:

Will be throwier TIRs considered for newer Convoy flashlights?

There are a few very nice LEDIL TIR optics with bigger head diameter.

+1.

18650 convoy C2+ with same body slightly bigger head diameter, with TIR.

Jerommel · 2019-12-28T13:37:12.000Z

extremesquared:

I bet people would be happy with another mode and finer spacing. I only object to the removal of the lowest mode because that would be removing a feature.

Also when backpacking/bikepacking in groups of 3 or more not many of us bring an extra light. Redundancy comes from the group size.

I think you should bring an extra AA or AAA light.
I definitely would.
Just in case the larger one fails and for low level lighting (like in a tent)
It’s not as if an AA or AAA light congests your backpack or adds significant weight.

Jerommel · 2019-12-28T13:39:25.000Z

Lightbringer:

I got a Cometa that runs bistro/biscotti/baguette/whatever, and all this crap is selectable. Moonlight on/off, hml/lmh, mem/nomem, buncha modegroups, etc.

Can’t just dump that UI on the driver’s µC?

Yeah, i’ve been thinking about that, and thus getting some reflashing gear.
It seems it’s the only way to get a normal UI…

cornz · 2019-12-28T16:51:44.000Z

IMHO a flashlight / torch should have 2 modes.
0% (off) and 100%.
Anything else is a solution looking for a problem.

Barkuti · 2019-12-28T22:00:38.000Z

cornz:

IMHO a flashlight / torch should have 2 modes.

0% (off) and 100%.

Anything else is a solution looking for a problem.

Quite funny! :-D

First of all we call that single mode. We do not count “power off” as a mode, that is absurd. Absurd as some chinese cheap flashlight ads where they count “zoom in” and “zoom out” as modes.

Once you get used to having a handful of output intensity levels, it's all good.