Mateminco X6S, Factory Triple

DB_Custom · 2018-11-12T15:05:49.000Z

There is no thermal regulation. Older version of Bistro. You can choose 7 or 4 levels, last mode memory on or off. That’s it.

Edit: This may seem to be taxing my memory, but I built so many Bistro drivers from the beginning that this is deeply ingrained… on the original group buy, when ToyKeeper first wrote Bistro, she upgraded from the UI of the A6. The primary difference between the A6 firmware and Bistro at that time was that Bistro had a Tactical strobe and the Batt Check mode in Bistro blinks out actual voltage in tenths where the A6 firmware only has 4 blinks… 4 for 100, 3 for 75, 2 for 50% and 1 for below 25%. Then she wrote the new Bistro with the table and before it could be acknowledged they started production early. So the early Bistro drivers had this A6 adapted form of Bistro. And this is what they seem to be using in the X6S. They’ve resurrected the old original driver from the X6. And added a pair of stacked capacitors between the ground ring and the power (red wire) lead to the emitters to stabilize the driver’s functions. And in some way, this has enabled the hidden modes to be locked in last mode memory… if you turn the light on then reverse to … say… Batt Check, watch it blink out the voltage then turn it off…. when you turn it back on it will still be in Batt Check. This is not supposed to happen. The hidden mode group is not supposed to be visible to last mode memory. But it is. And in this way this driver is different from the original X6 driver.

I can ask ToyKeeper to step in and verify this, and I believe I will, but I’ve built the Bistro driver so many times I feel I could do it in my sleep while dreaming of umbrella drinks in the tropical sunshine.

SKV89 · 2018-11-12T17:27:00.000Z

Newlumen:

I got 2700 lumen @ turn on, using sony vtc5a… if you are getting 3150 lumen @ turn on then your light must be very special made… lol…

Either way, lets enjoy.

Sometimes two units of the same flashlight can perform very different. Your R90C measures 4,000 lumens higher than mine and both of our TA spheres are calibrated with Maukka lights. I even cleaned all contacts multiple times with alcohol on my R90C to make sure it wasn’t grease getting in the way. I’ve measured duplicate lights at different output too. It’s luck of the draw sometimes.

Therefore I don’t trust measurements from any lumen spheres calibrated using flashlights with manufacturer’s specs.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-12T18:21:21.000Z

Ah, but that’s where the law of averages comes in! My light box was calibrated with no less than 25 lights, not just one low powered unit.

I would love the chance to take my light box, a few dozen lights, and a big box of cells and chargers and sit down next to a big high dollar sphere for some comparison testing. Maybe a few hours of side by side would have some illuminating consequences…

SKV89 · 2018-11-12T22:44:06.000Z

DB Custom:

Ah, but that’s where the law of averages comes in! My light box was calibrated with no less than 25 lights, not just one low powered unit.

I would love the chance to take my light box, a few dozen lights, and a big box of cells and chargers and sit down next to a big high dollar sphere for some comparison testing. Maybe a few hours of side by side would have some illuminating consequences…

Well you can always just get a set of Maukka calibration lights, which is measured using a high dollar sphere

DB_Custom · 2018-11-12T23:02:40.000Z

And what does Fenix use? And Nightcore? And Lumintop? How many times have we seen that big green ball pictured in the corner of the lab? They all use expensive equipment, much more so than our PVC P Traps. How is Maukka’s better than theirs?

I’ve been doing this here for a long time, don’t need any calibration lights, already been done. And if I only had a dollar for every time this has been discussed…

ToyKeeper · 2018-11-13T10:14:25.000Z

If it has the following traits…

4/7 mode only, no other mode groups
Only two config options
2-speed strobe
Volts+tenths style battery check

… they must have made their own version. I never made one like that.

The early version which got used on the BLF X5 / X6v2 had 8 mode groups, even though I also sent a 9-group version.

Anyone know how to contact Mateminco? They’re legally required to publish the source code for what they’re shipping in the light, so I probably need to have a talk with them about how the license works.

ToyKeeper · 2018-11-13T10:16:22.000Z

DB, did you manage to get a picture of the driver? It’d be interesting to see exactly which chips they used.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:29:36.000Z

I cut this one out of the stock X6S just now, images straight out of the Canon 1Ds MkII with 100mm Macro Hybrid IS lens.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:37:33.000Z

Oops! Sorry! My Bad! The first blink in configuration mode doesn’t do like I expected so I ASSUMED the second blink was for last mode memory. It in fact is not… it goes through 8 blinks for the table like the original Bistro. Sorry about that.

The first blink, if selected, changes 7 modes into 3 with no moon. I was confused there and made the assumption. Since I never engage last mode memory, I didn’t go further.

I have used the 9 level table from the beginning, since you (TK) sent it to me before the initial release.

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:40:44.000Z

The original released 8 level table called for the first blink to put it in muggle mode, an on/off mode. This one has 3 levels. (EDIT: Dang my memory! I never used the 1st blink for Muggle mode either, so I really didn’t know if it was 3 standard modes or not. More ASSuming on my part. UGH!)

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:46:47.000Z

Very sorry about the confusion. Everything seems to be in standard order for the Original Bistro Driver.

d_t_a · 2018-11-13T14:50:38.000Z

DB Custom:

d_t_a, both samples I got say 3A on the box. Pretty believable when judging the tint.

Hmm, that’s strange, the boxes I got only indicate 1A, 3B and Nichia 219C… Didn’t realize there would be a 3A and a 3B model. Will have to ask Neal if there indeed is a separate X6S “3A” and X6S “3B” model…

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:55:47.000Z

Banggood lists this driver for $8.99 as of a few seconds ago, but they list the mode groups like this…

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T14:59:19.000Z

d_t_a, mine has the sticker on the top right hand bottom corner of the box, not the end, and only has listed XP-L HI or Nichia 219C. Beside the XP-L HI is hand written 3A. Mine is probably from a prototype batch.

MascaratumB · 2018-11-13T15:00:16.000Z

Same driver is on sale on AliExpress, a little bit cheaper too! https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20181113070018&SearchText=astrolux+x5+driver

And the BLF A6 is also on sale there: https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20181113065951&SearchText=blf+a6+driver

Yokiamy · 2018-11-13T20:39:10.000Z

Looks like the standard astrolux driver for x5/x6 with the capacitor mod. as demonstrated by our fellow BLF member Djozz over here.

M4dm4x has a code for it which gives 2$ discount

DB_Custom · 2018-11-13T21:03:06.000Z

Nope, not that mod… just a second cap on top of the C1 (10 Ohm).

Tally-ho · 2018-11-14T04:42:57.000Z

ToyKeeper:

Anyone know how to contact Mateminco?

On alibaba, Mateminco is : Dongguan Tongming Lighting Technology Co., Limited
>> Contact information <<

Bistro UI is mentionned in the X6S “detailed images”. There is also the bistro cheat sheet.

DavidEF · 2018-11-14T00:19:52.000Z

DB Custom:

And what does Fenix use? And Nightcore? And Lumintop? How many times have we seen that big green ball pictured in the corner of the lab? They all use expensive equipment, much more so than our PVC P Traps. How is Maukka’s better than theirs?

I’ve been doing this here for a long time, don’t need any calibration lights, already been done. And if I only had a dollar for every time this has been discussed…

Maukka says in his WTS thread:

maukka:

The calibration lights have been measured in a 50 cm Lisun Group integrating sphere using an X-rite i1Pro spectrophotometer.

So, his sphere is possibly a good bit smaller than that of the “Big Name” manufacturers. But, I’d trust his calibration lights to at least be the most accurate method of calibrating that we at BLF could get for less than $100. But, I’m sure your way is great too. Just a lot more expensive, a lot more time consuming, and a tiny bit more accurate. :partying_face:

hank · 2018-11-14T00:31:28.000Z

Amazon claims to offer a way to contact Mateminco:

https://www.amazon.com/sp?seller=A3NDCGQ04O865F