Yeah its not working as it was designed, but it does still work. The world is full of products that don’t quite meet the specs as designed, but are still a good product. And yes, I’ve got one of the lights. I’m really not sure I would’ve even known there was an issue if this thread hadn’t been here. Its a good light, as-is.
emakd - that is true, and it’s also what makes this website great. With all the cheap Chinese junk that is being produced and sold, it’s great that there is a forum like this one to help sort out the true bargains from the garbage.
It’s also great that there are some manufacturers that have risen to the top of the budget flashlight world that can be trusted based on reputation alone.
Maybe I am judging Convoy a little too harshly about this small matter, or maybe I expect excellence too often. Either way, I’m only one person and I’ll surely get over it. Lots of choices out there.
Well, one solution is to swap your driver. MTN offers a few with different UI like Bistro and Guppydrv. It would only cost $5 or so.
Or for $5 get yourself a USB flashing kit and reflash the driver with the correct fuses and enjoy it and any other lights you may want later.
That’s all it costs? Tell me more.
Yeah, depends on where you shop but right around $5 is what I paid.
This thread outlines the process and items you need.
I got the USBASP off ebay for $2.xx, the soic8 clip for another 2.xx off ebay. Then the ribbon cable I won for like $.50 cents at auction on ebay.
Then all you need in a computer with a USB port (heck might even be able to do it on an andorid phone now days, although I have no idea if that is actually possible).
To flash a pre-built hex file such as the bistro files for the Texas Avengers drivers or TK’s biscoti hex you simply run AVRdude and don’t even have to install anything.
Now if you want to edit the firmware that gets a bit more complex but still not super hard. Although it will take more then novice level computer skills.
Naw, I paid a bit more for mine (socket and the usb part), but that was supposed to be for DIYing. Like I said, and people’ll probably think I’m just bitching over nothing, but I just wanted one off-the-rack light to work the way I want, without having to strip down and rebuild.
I got a bunch of 105Ds (with the annoying blink-on-low to switch 3/5 mode-groups) that I was going to reflash to 100% only, but with LVP and maybe stepdown. I don’t intend to ever let the battery get that low, but then again, just yesterday my S2+ did just that, and I don’t recall using it all that much, let alone on high.
But then I’m back to DIYing…
I really want a clear C8… but I want one that operates as designed. I know I can replace the driver, but when will I be able to purchase a properly working clear C8?
order on simons shop ask for 15% BLF discount before payment and ask ifits the driver with right firmware
Please define what you mean by not working properly with the drivers as they are.
Like was said, the only thing “not working” is the programming is a bit quicker then planned but besides the programming menu the light works exactly as expected.
I am just not sure I understand what people are calling defective, sure programming may be a bit harder then expected but you only do that once for the most part.
The whole light is ruined because of a minor issue that only effects things 1 time in the life of the flashlight?
If TK had not posted about the issue none of us would even know it WAS as issue.
Your request for clarification:
Answered in your very next sentence:
Thanks!
I disagree. If you were simply told that it was working as intended then it would just be a hard to program driver and ya’ll would ask for a firmware update to make it easier to program.
This is exactly what was said before TK said it was not how she intended. Then it suddenly went from a great driver that is kind of hard to program to a defective driver that doesn’t work?
Obviously it is a difference of opinion but if someone has to tell me that something is not working as it should for me to know it, then it is not defective IMO.
The light turns on, the modes switch, the mode groups function.
What exactly doesn’t work that you would know without someone telling you otherwise? I know of nothing that doesn’t work with these drivers. Only things that are faster then planned, those are very different things.
TA, you are right. You have convinced me. I’ll order one as is and not wait for a driver that isn’t more difficult to program than necessary.
Or if the programming bothers me too much, I’ll use it as an opportunity to learn how to flash firmware as was discussed above. I’ve been wanting to figure out how to do that anyway.
maybe you should judge the new convoy clear retaining washer for the switch/rubber boot vs the old aluminum washer as it seems to crack too fast. (appears in c8 and even my newly received S2+)
I believe this has been informed to simon convoy but lets see how
I got my clear C8 today and out of the box everything worked fine. But now it shows a very strange behaviour.
I initially reprogrammed the driver to mode #6 (100-20-1 %) without mode memory. Then I disassembled the switch to see what kind of washer I have (the cheap plastic one…). Put it together again and the situation is as follows:
- first press switches on the light in the last mode, so obviously mode memory was activated somehow
- pressing for mode switch has no effect, the light switches off and turns on in the last mode again
- trying to enter the programming menu with fast tabs leads to mode changes. I cannot see any order in that, sometimes it evens begins to strobe
- I cannot enter to the config mode anymore, no matter how often and how fast I try to press the switch
Has anyone experienced this before? Is there a possibility to reset the driver?
Thanks for your help!
Looking for C8 in Aliexpress Simon shop. There is at least 3 C8:
1 “New Convoy C8 Cree XML2 U2-1A LED” (which is now “old”, i suppose, because of XPL HI version avaliable)
2 “Convoy C8 with XPL HI LED” (description says ar-coated glass costs +1:money_mouth_face:
3 “Clear Convoy C8 with XPL HI LED,copper DTP board and ar-coated inside,new firmware” (subject of this topic)
Does 2 and 3 difference only firmware? Or drivers also different? I want classic black-coated XPL HI C8 with new FW - moonligh and battery check. I can flash firmware myself, got all the tools, boards and SW for atmel.
Then go for option 2.
Yes , they have different firmware , no.3 has new firmware (biscotti) described in the OP (or second post) of this thread .
I have flashed a lot of 7135x8 or 7135x3 drivers with the biscotti firmware without issues .
Actually, I would have known there’s an issue even if TK didn’t tell us. The strobe, biker’s flash and battery check all flash a lot faster than TK’s other firmware. So the difference is quite obvious.
While I’m okay with the faster strobe, the biker’s flash is so fast it almost doesn’t seem the flashing is there, negating its usefulness a bit. And the fast battery check makes it hard to read how many times it has flashed, causing me to watch it a few times more to confirm the actual number of flashes.
And seeing other’s posts on issues entering config mode, it makes me nervous trying to change mode group, for fear that I’m stuck with a mode group that I won’t like.
While the clear C8 is beautiful to look at, and functions well in muggle modes, claiming that there’s no problems at all is inaccurate as well.
The move to a new firmware has given it “teething” problems. Once sorted out it’ll all be exquisite. 