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DriverVN3 and DriverVNX3 Development

Skylumen

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Sep 14, 2010
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DriverVN3 and DriverVNX3 Development

This new driver will be release sometimes during 1st quarter of 2016.
DriverVN2 is now all upgrade with more expensive and improved parts.
This will carry on with perhaps additional improvements for our V3 version.
There are mode groups I would like change.
Here is what I have. Please post your idea :)



DriverVN2 - Mechanical Clicky Switch


1 Mode
1. 100

2 Modes

2. 5 - 100 | Memory
3. 5 - 100 | No Memory

4. 100 - 5 | No Memory
5. 30 - 100 | Memory
6. 30 - 100 | No Memory

7. 100 - 30 | No Memory
8. 70 - 100 | Memory
9. 70 - 100 | No Memory

10. 100 - 70 | No Memory

3 Modes
11. 1 - 30 - 100 | Memory
12. 1 - 30 - 100 | No Memory
13. 100 - 30 - 1 | No Memory

14. 30 - 100 - 1 | No Memory

6 Modes
12. 1 - 5 - 15 - 50 - 70 - 100 | No Memory
13. 100 - 70 - 50 - 15 - 5 - 1 | No Memory

Specific Functions
14. Strobe
15. 100 - Strobe | No Memory
16. Strobe – 100 | No Memory

18. 1 - 5 - 30 - 70 - 100 - Strobe – Blink1Hz | No Memory
19. 100- 70 - 30 - 5 - 1- Strobe – Blink1Hz | No Memory
20. 5 - 30 - 100 - Blink1Hz – Blink3Hz - Strobe – Beacon | No Memory





DriverVNX3 - Electronic Side Switch

1: 100 ** 100%

2: 5 -100 ** 100
3: 30 - 100 ** 100
4: 70 - 100 ** 100
5: 50 - 10 ** 100
6: 75 - 20 ** 100

7: 1- 30 - 100 ** 100
8: 100 -30 - 1 ** STROBE

9: 1 - 20 - 70 - 100 ** 100
10: 100 - 70 - 20 -1 ** STROBE

11: 1 - 5 - 15 - 50 - 70 - 100 ** 100
12: 100 - 70 - 50 - 15 - 5 - 1 ** STROBE

13: 100 ** STROBE
14: STROBE ** 100
15: 100 ** BLINK1
16: 5 - 33 - 100 - BLINK1Hz - BLINK3Hz - STROBE - BEACON ** 100
 

chops728

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 24, 2014
Messages
1,011
Location
Swampland,La
That 1-20-70-100 in a mechanical would be nice--The problem with most lights is 100% gets hot therefore 70% gives great output and long runtime-- are you going to have the driver with short press forward long press backward--hidden strobe and battery check
 
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Alex1234

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Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
4,003
Location
Bear Delaware
Is there any way to make a mode group of just lower output levels. Like 1%, 5%, 20% and 40% as a high. That way you could then give it to someone not as responsible or as aware of these modded lights like we are. That would be cool.
 

Bigwilly

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 14, 2014
Messages
1,111
For VNX3 I like how the 4 mode driver of my TX25C2vn. Tap to cycle low to high. Hold to reverse cylce. Add double tap for strobe and it's perfect. You have instant access to low, high, and strobe. Mode 11 change 50 to 40 as its a big jump from 15 to 50.
 
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MikeB.

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Aug 12, 2015
Messages
1,028
Location
Iowa
Depending on what the light is used for, but for usability on the VN3 with 6 level modes instead of

1-5-15-50-70-100

I'd like to see for more general use,

1-5-15-30-50-100

I use the 1-30-100 mode usually, but would like more of the lower modes with the 30%
 

Skylumen

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Sep 14, 2010
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I am noting everything so keep it coming and will form a list at the end.
 

lightlover

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Joined
Feb 28, 2001
Messages
1,901
Location
London, UK (Parallel Universe)
Is there any way to make a mode group of just lower output levels. Like 1%, 5%, 20% and 40% as a high. That way you could then give it to someone not as responsible or as aware of these modded lights like we are. That would be cool.

Alex1234,

If that could be implemented, with an easy change-over, that would be super!
 

eraursls1984

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
1,434
Location
Tallahassee, FL.
Is there any way to make a mode group of just lower output levels. Like 1%, 5%, 20% and 40% as a high. That way you could then give it to someone not as responsible or as aware of these modded lights like we are. That would be cool.
This would be a great addition to the current modes. I think ML-2-5-15-50 would be perfect.
 

Skylumen

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Sep 14, 2010
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I like that better !!!

There are 2 problems:
1) It's against my purchase agreement for anyone uninformed to operate my light. Regardless of what modes or settings.
2) Someone uninformed are usually newbie to high power lights. They will not likely need a complicated 5 level of outputs.

I will add a Max brightness restriction group mode as suggested but I repeat this is for your own use. Not for the uninformed.
 

Alex1234

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
4,003
Location
Bear Delaware
There are 2 problems:
1) It's against my purchase agreement for anyone uninformed to operate my light. Regardless of what modes or settings.
2) Someone uninformed are usually newbie to high power lights. They will not likely need a complicated 5 level of outputs.

I will add a Max brightness restriction group mode as suggested but I repeat this is for your own use. Not for the uninformed.

I forgot about that. If i were to even have someone borrow a light i would inform them about everything first.
 

LAtraffic

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Oct 6, 2014
Messages
178
Location
Los Angeles, San Francisco
I def prefer 4 or 5 modes with either memory or no memory from low to high. I actually prefer having both options. Also, for me, I only use strobe if there is memory. The majority of strobe use I get is carrying the light as a means to disorientate a would be attacker. I fly every week and this is the best thing I can take with me everywhere. Again for the general use settings, 6 gets redundant, but I always find myself wanting an extra spacing with 3 mode lights. Just my two cents.
 

Alex1234

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 23, 2010
Messages
4,003
Location
Bear Delaware
Do you think it will be possible in the future or even now to have a driver that has say a usb and the average user could create his own mode groups. You could plug it into your phone or your computer or better yet a bluetooth driver :D Kinda like how some of tbose nexttorch lights are

I thought foursevens was going to release a bluetooth light awhile back.
 
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lumentia

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May 13, 2014
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USA
This would be a great addition to the current modes. I think ML-2-5-15-50 would be perfect.
For the sake of discussion let's assume a 1000 lumen light; 2% would be 20 lumens, 5% is 50, etc. In my opinion 20 lumens is too bright for a low, and 50 lumens is too close to 20. You won't see much of a difference and it's a pain to cycle through multiple similar mode levels.

I've found that 10 lumens is a real nice low for a 1000 - 1400 lumen edc light like the sl2. 100 lumens is a good general purpose lower mode. 500 lumens is visually not that far behind 1000 , and can probably run indefinitely.

Therefore I feel a light without moonlight should have 4 modes, but no more. So a good group IMO would be: 1%, 10%, 50%, 100%.

just my $.02 :)
 

psychbeat

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Messages
2,797
Location
SF norcal
Thing is ... the 1% is duty cycle not of OTF lumens.
That's why I'd like a lower low if possible:)
 

eraursls1984

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
1,434
Location
Tallahassee, FL.
For the sake of discussion let's assume a 1000 lumen light; 2% would be 20 lumens, 5% is 50, etc. In my opinion 20 lumens is too bright for a low, and 50 lumens is too close to 20. You won't see much of a difference and it's a pain to cycle through multiple similar mode levels.

I've found that 10 lumens is a real nice low for a 1000 - 1400 lumen edc light like the sl2. 100 lumens is a good general purpose lower mode. 500 lumens is visually not that far behind 1000 , and can probably run indefinitely.

Therefore I feel a light without moonlight should have 4 modes, but no more. So a good group IMO would be: 1%, 10%, 50%, 100%.

just my $.02 :)
I don't disagree, but 10 lumens is far to high for the first mode. 1 lumen max for the first mode.

At lower modes double or triple the lumens of the previous mode is very noticeable. For higher modes there needs to be triple, or better yet, quadruple the lumens of the last mode to notice much difference. 1 to 5 percent is a huge jump compared to 5-15 or 15-50. At least that's what I notice with my eyes.
 

lumentia

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I don't disagree, but 10 lumens is far to high for the first mode. 1 lumen max for the first mode.

At lower modes double or triple the lumens of the previous mode is very noticeable. For higher modes there needs to be triple, or better yet, quadruple the lumens of the last mode to notice much difference. 1 to 5 percent is a huge jump compared to 5-15 or 15-50. At least that's what I notice with my eyes.
Now that i think about it, you make a good point about 10 still being too high. My stock copper lumintop tool is 5 L on low and it's pretty nice for a level that won't blind you digging for something in your car or walking around camp but moonlight just isn't bright enough.

1L is just too low I think if your next mode is 100 L. In other words, you have pretty dim, or way too bright for close up work.

20 lumens is for sure way too high for a low unless it's a tactical light. But there's already options for that.

From what I understand, trying to get reliable single digit levels with the FET drivers Vinh is using is not a sure thing. You need to have the lowest modes bypass the fet and run through a single 7135 chip in order to be stable. I'm not sure if that's the direction he is going with this new driver.
 
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