HIVE McG converter used in the Aqua line of lights.

[rush]

Glad you figured out the programming Archimedes!
I haven't gotten back with the video yet that i talked about, as it is not only rather difficult to follow but it also is showing an early prototype driver that was using a different short / long toggle sequence to enter programming mode. This obviously could be confusing.

It is indeed intentional that in volatile mode you cannot cycle past the highest brightness level and have to wait for longer than a "toggle short" period to go back to lowest. I'm not sure if the majority would rather expect to be able to cycle modes indefinitely with "toggle shorts"?


Matrix 100,
The drivers are only available as complete flashlight from Don! Check the thread here on the forum about his current offerings.

 

[archimedes]

Glad you figured out the programming Archimedes!
....

It is indeed intentional that in volatile mode you cannot cycle past the highest brightness level and have to wait for longer than a "toggle short" period to go back to lowest. I'm not sure if the majority would rather expect to be able to cycle modes indefinitely with "toggle shorts"?
....

"Loop" cycling (from, say, L/M/H back around to L) is how the vast majority of multi-mode drivers seem to work.

Yes, there are occasional exceptions, like skipping moonlight after the first pass, or adding strobes / beacons after several loops through the complete cycle.

I just don't think I've ever used a driver before that (intentionally) "sticks" at the top level after a single cycle.

It's not really that inconvenient, once aware that this is expected, but I'm curious to know if there is a particular reason or justification for this feature ?

By the way, I am impressed with the flexibility and options available for programming this driver.

I am now trying to decide exactly how I plan to set up the presets for my AquaRam ...

Also, I had no difficulties programming using the twisty (instead of clicky) switch interface.

 

[Matrix 100]

Rush

what is the more popular choice AquaMule / AquaRam - or is everybody ordering both

and also what about the LED - XM-L2

Matrix 100

 

[rush]

Archimedes,
This particular behavior was born out of my kind of usage and the first light that a first prototype of the HiveLD was running in: The LS20.
I found it rather easy to do more toggles than intended when keeping the piston depressed and if that happened i wanted it to stay on the highest level rather than maybe jumping to a low level.

I kept this kind of behavior when we released the HiveLD-P for the Aqua lights. But for a twisty or a McGizmo clicky that operates quite predictably, we could go for the freely cycling interface for both the persistent and volatile mode. Don once mentioned the same as you did by the way.
Anybody else wanting to chime in?

Matrix 100,
you should probably ask about this in the Aqua lights thread. It depends on your intended usage if the AquaMule or AquaRam are the better choice.

 

[archimedes]

Archimedes,
This particular behavior was born out of my kind of usage and the first light that a first prototype of the HiveLD was running in: The LS20.
I found it rather easy to do more toggles than intended when keeping the piston depressed and if that happened i wanted it to stay on the highest level rather than maybe jumping to a low level.

I kept this kind of behavior when we released the HiveLD-P for the Aqua lights. But for a twisty or a McGizmo clicky that operates quite predictably, we could go for the freely cycling interface for both the persistent and volatile mode. Don once mentioned the same as you did by the way.
Anybody else wanting to chime in?
....

Thanks very much for the explanation, which makes sense, although I agree that the freely cycling mode loop might well be preferred for a twisty switch.

But, wait, did I hear you say ... "LS20 with prototype HiveLD driver"

[emoji14]

 

[rush]

Well no, i am afraid as far as i can tell the LS20 is not going to come back into production. I just used mine as a host for testing for quite a while and still do except for the last months, since...
However the HiveLD is going to appear in more of Don's lights...

The question is whether the freely cycling loop also makes more sense in the clicky lights...

 

[archimedes]

....
However the HiveLD is going to appear in more of Don's lights... ....

That is big news

.... The question is whether the freely cycling loop also makes more sense in the clicky lights...

My personal preference would be a freely cycling loop, for both twisty and clicky switches.

I can see how a piston-type switch could benefit from briefly staying "locked" at the top of the loop, though.

 

[9881255]

Well no, i am afraid as far as i can tell the LS20 is not going to come back into production. I just used mine as a host for testing for quite a while and still do except for the last months, since...
However the HiveLD is going to appear in more of Don's lights...

The question is whether the freely cycling loop also makes more sense in the clicky lights...

Any idea when this might occur?

 

[eala]

However the HiveLD is going to appear in more of Don's lights...

 

[kaichu dento]

However the HiveLD is going to appear in more of Don's lights...

It seems that this will generate a lot of interest.

 

[rush]

Archimedes,

Thank you for your input and i think you are right. I will change the behavior to a freely cycling loop for both memory types for the upcoming HiveLD drivers.
And also thank you very much for the appreciation of the programmability, its always great to see that

As for a new HiveLD driver coming up...it is vapor at the moment as Don would maybe put it, but a pretty dense one for sure

 

[kaichu dento]

As for a new HiveLD driver coming up...it is vapor at the moment as Don would maybe put it, but a pretty dense one for sure

Hopefully it will re-materialize as a Haiku driver!

 

[KDM]

Hopefully it will re-materialize as a Haiku driver!

+1 would love to see it happen!

 

[Str8stroke]

Thanks again PSM! I just hooked mine up. I figured I would save folks some search and reading time and repost your awesome post from a few years back.

Ok, so the wife and kids went to grandma's house. Time to program my AquaMule!!!

If I can do this, anyone can, I AM NO MODDER!!! Pics taken with my iPhone through my SAK magnifying glass lol.

Here's the jumper, the black channel going diagonal though that rectangle below the + battery contact separates the jumper, we need to bridge it with solder to access programming.



Snip off a tiny piece of solder, and with tweezers (I used the ones off of the aforementioned SAK) place the small pre-cut piece of solder right in the black channel of the jumper.



This time I used my solder knife, get it up to full heat, then very carefully with both hands just touch the piece of solder and it will melt into the channel. Or in my case just cover the whole thing.



There ya go! Now you can access programming!

I now have my AquaMule at 2200mA max. :rock:

And low at level one, a real nice moon mode! I cant wait to use high mode tonight, high on 2200mA seems bright!

 

[archimedes]

Thanks again PSM! I just hooked mine up. I figured I would save folks some search and reading time and repost your awesome post from a few years back.

And a timely post it is, too, with the recent news of an upcoming release of the Haiku version !

 

[kaichu dento]

And a timely post it is, too, with the recent news of an upcoming release of the Haiku version !

Yeah! Been waiting to hear that news for a long, long, long, long time!!!

I now have my AquaMule at 2200mA max. :rock:...high on 2200mA seems bright!

LOL

 

[Str8stroke]

Yes, I haven't asked Don, but if I understand correctly, there is going to possible new version of HIVE driver in Haiku? I could be totally wrong??

That would be really nice. Maybe we can "upgrade" our older Haiku with the newer driver? Very exciting McGizmo time for sure. The Haiku is such a classic I would really enjoy having programming flexibility in the stock format.

 

[eala]

Yes, I haven't asked Don, but if I understand correctly, there is going to possible new version of HIVE driver in Haiku? I could be totally wrong??

You are not wrong. Coming soon according to Don.

I just want to know if it will work with CR123 cells as well as the RCRs.

eala

 

[eala]

Think I just answered my own question looking at Martin's web page. If the new driver is like the old one then CR cells won't work:

Will primary lithium cells work as a backup?
A single primary cell (CR123) has an open cell voltage of 3.2 V when full. While this is enough to run the driver, the low voltage output reduction will limit the output to the lowest level rather soon. Do NOT use 2 primary cells in series since the open cell voltage will likely damage the driver!

 

[kaichu dento]

Yes, I haven't asked Don, but if I understand correctly, there is going to possible new version of HIVE driver in Haiku? I could be totally wrong??

That would be really nice. Maybe we can "upgrade" our older Haiku with the newer driver? Very exciting McGizmo time for sure. The Haiku is such a classic I would really enjoy having programming flexibility in the stock format.

I never carry my Haiku anymore due to total lack of a low setting and the HIVE would definitely see it back into service in a big way!

You are not wrong. Coming soon according to Don.

Great news and although I'm doubtful, it sure would be nice if we could have an upgrade option for our older Haiku as Str8 mentioned.

Now to go back and read through what the range of options are with the HIVE UI...