41

What driver did you use?

42

I used this one. https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001751/1127403-8-amc7135-4-group-2-5-modes-led-flashlight-driver

Only because a friend gave me a handful of them. Easy swap, 5 minute job. I put a A6 driver in one. Only got to use it for a few minutes then my oldest son stole it from me. :slight_smile: He hasn’t called and told me it quit working yet so I assume it’s still going strong.

43

That is not the easiest driver to use because the 7135 chips on the battery side prevent using the driver retaining ring. Did you solder the driver in place?

44

Yes, sorry, forgot to mention that. Yes I did solder in the driver. I don’t think I will ever have to swap it out again unless some sort of failure happens I reckon. Should be reasonably painless in removing them again if need be. These aren’t lights I am using as EDC or anything like that. These are just toolbox, tackle box, glove box, type lights that I am not worried about getting beat up or anything. They will serve their purpose for less than $10 and a $3 cell.

45

Yes, it’s a 3 minutes baking with butane torch for all 3 parts of flashlight.
Bake until a golden color appears. It’s +/- 1 minute for 1 part.
It is my first baking and it’s easy and fast to do.

1. Disassembly and removal of internal flashlight elements - 5 minutes
2. Each part was baked separately.
3. It is necessary to clean the grease.
4. Do not forget to remove the rubber rings.
5. Cooling down - 5 minutes.
6. Assembly - 5 minutes.
7. Do not forget to re-lubricate the flashlight.

Butane torch like this:


Sorry for OffTop.

46

Low-Middle-High-Strobe-SOS. The amp readings I got with my cheap DMM were about low 0.39A, mid 0.78A, high 2.1A with a MJ1 battery so it’s more like 18–36–100% than the expected 5–33–100%.

47

Just got mine, I love it! Mode memory and no blinky on low like convoy. Very nicely built, I don’t think you can beat this for $7

48

Offline is your version ramp UI?

49

no I just got the regular UI

50

I put mine next to a Convoy S2+ and it's approximately 2mm shorter. The switch retaining ring loosens clockwise... bent my tweezers on that one and the switch is an Omten.

I was able to get .45A, .9A & 2.45A with a 30Q.

I want to put an A6 driver in it

Otherwise, this is a pretty satisfying tube light.

51

I had to do a double take when you said you paid $9 for a Convoy S2. Then, I realized that’s 9 AUSTRALIAN dollars, which are 1:1.4 exchanged with US. ($12.60 USD).

52

Driver photo (different than post #33)

53

54

I have three samples and if it can help someone here are very precise measurements :

HI - 711 lm
MID - 294 lm
LOW - 147 lm
2.
HI - 730 lm
MID - 300 lm
LOW - 148 lm
3.
HI - 682 lm
MID - 282 lm
LOW - 139 lm

All after 30 sec.

55

Seems to be unregulated driver.

56

Here is better photo. Got this driver inside Utorch CREE XPL V6 two times in few months, and last was yesterday. Crappy strobe and SOS make it unusable. IC just look like ATtiny13, but it’s not, marking missing, and two “D00HE” transistors, and two schottky in parallel.

P.S. Not sure subject wins over $9.99 S2+ where you get good stock driver. I’ll continue to buy Convoy ))

57

The stock S2+ isn’t better and it’s more expensive. The 3/5 mode driver is just as bad with the flash on low and the XML2 U2 emitter is horrid looking. A $3 driver fixes the Utorch right up and it really doesn’t need a new emitter.

58

At least Convoy 3/5 modes are easy to reprogram ! Please send me your 3/5 if you don't want them :-)

59

I would but I got rid of them. I am not on the Convoy wagon anymore. Use to have a bunch of them. They were okay but really just mediocre at best. Guess they are okay for host to make into something more substantial but as is, not very impressive. I am speaking of only the S2+’s. I have a bunch of the new Utorch’s. Most have new drivers but the stock emitter. It’s a nice beam and tint for what I use them for. I have a few with A6 drivers in them, a few with Qlite drivers and Guppydrv firmware, and I think I have one with a Bistro driver that I found in a box of parts. Have a few stock ones laying around that I haven’t done anything with yet. $7 a piece for them make them a very good choice to make them the way you want them. All just personal preference of course. Everyone should buy, mod, and use whatever makes them smile. My favorite light of all is a $5 green laser that I use to mess with the flocks of birds that fly and land all over out here. That and any light with a beacon mode on it. I hide it under furniture or the bed or something. Drives the wife crazy trying to figure out where that blinking is coming from.

60

I have some of these Utorch too and love that they are so cheap so i don't think twice before trying something on them :-)

Here is one that i paper-sanded to remove most of the anodization. I like the "old worn tool" look and the stock driver was changed for a convoy 3/5 reprogrammed with Biscotti :

I have an other one (no picture now as it's in my car) that was baked on the kitchen gas stove to a pretty gold-tan color (but have to find some driver as it still has the stock one)