New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights.

[Obijuan Kenobe]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

There is no issue here in my very humble opinion. These are custom flashlights and this is a huge upgrade to your line-up.

I want one of these engines with all the programmability available to me as the user. I love the idea, and have been hoping for this since the arrival of those big twisty lights last wave.

Users should post issues here in the forum where forum members can also help sort out programming issues. It would be crazy in my mind not to offer the option for full control over this amazing firmware.

obi

 

[lightlover]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

..... I love the fact he designed, made the light, packed it up and shipped it... Also, I always liked Don's business model ... our beloved maker of our favorite flashlights ...

And, if you have not bought a light from the man himself, if you don't own a McGizmo, he should be addressed as Mr. McLeish.

... There are other wonderful custom flashlight makers out there but, not any others that operate quite like Don McGizmo does. He is one of a kind no doubt. He has made, and is a huge part of modern LED flashlight history.
..............
Don, just kidding about the Mr. Thing....although you do deserve it.

RedLed,

I like to think of him as: "Don Don McGizmo" - the first "Don" as the honorific, the second Don as his name, then McGizmo! as his "Maker Of Lights" identity ...

(Otherwise, Sir Don seems quite appropriate ...)

 

[RedLED]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

RedLed,

I like to think of him as: "Don Don McGizmo" - the first "Don" as the honorific, the second Don as his name, then McGizmo! as his "Maker Of Lights" identity ...

(Otherwise, Sir Don seems quite appropriate ...)

Agreed, can you arrange a KBE, to make the Sir Don official? That would really be something!

Don, if you read this we are trying to have you made a Knight of the British Empire. With the Queen and the sword, and all that. Plus a beautiful certificate. The HIVE can wait!

Actually, I and family were friends with the late Excellency the Hon. Walter Annenberg, US Ambassador to The Court of St. James, (That is the United Kingdom), in the Nixon admisrtation years.

The Ambassador was a KBE and I unframed his certificate to scan it as the room it was in was getting too much light, and he wanted a copy. But, just to hold That document was amazing, and my dad was from London so I am a first generation American. He would loved knowing I took apart a KBE to work on it!

Sorry this drifted OT, but, we think you are cool, Man! and you surf too!

 

[rush]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

Thank you all for the encouragement, especially F89 and Obijuan Kenobe.
After some extended optimization and checking, drivers with changed firmware will be headed to Don very soon. So those of you that had to wait to get a Hive driver will hopefully be served soon.

As it has been said in earlier posts, the trouble with some of the drivers not coming on on the lowest output level had to do with the amount of output boost that the driver applies. The new parameters have been adequate in all my tests. On the other hand this means that on the lowest brightness level that you can select via the drivers' setup mode (brightness level 1 of 21), there will be a bit of a preflash. Its still not pronounced but can be detected if you pay attention. On the brightness level 3 (a.k.a. LL in the stock configuration) there is no detectable preflash in my opinion.

Its great to hear that some of you would rather have the programmability enabled by default. But i think Don's approach is the best possible compromise to accommodate both you and the users that are happy with the stock configuration. With the new contact board it has become easier to close the Setup jumper with solder, alternatively a pencil also works well.
As Obijuan has said the forum is the place to get help with programming and all other questions, either you or I myself will get all questions or problems covered!

 

[archimedes]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

Thanks for the update, @rush .... Looking forward to adding programmability to my extensive Aleph/McGizmo modular system 😀

 

[tobrien]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

don or rush: is it possible to adapt the Hive driver to 6v lights with, say, a Zener diode mod? I think Zener diode is the part at least

 

[RedLED]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

don or rush: is it possible to adapt the Hive driver to 6v lights with, say, a Zener diode mod? I think Zener diode is the part at least

That's right...no hurry, when it is ready it is ready, and I will buy mine then. Good call Tobrien.

 

[rush]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

Tobrien,

I can't say for sure how well this would work or if it would at all. You are right about a Zener diode at the input being able to limit the voltage to a safe level. The excess voltage would be dissipated as heat, thus it is a rather inefficient solution at best. So I cannot recommend doing this unless you are adventurous enough.

BTW: Don should receive the drivers with the updated firmware soon.

 

[McGizmo]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

Tobrien,

.......

BTW: Don should receive the drivers with the updated firmware soon.

And as fortune would have it, they arrived today. So we are back in business with the HIVE option. 🙂

 

[RedLED]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE- TEMPORARY HOLD **

Great news!

 

[precisionworks]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

Very nice addition Don. Thanks for the time, effort & expense you invested in the HV converter.

 

[rush]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

Great news indeed that the drivers have arrived and more lights with them will be going out.
I'm looking forward to hear some more stories and of course questions are always welcome 🙂

 

[KDM]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

Great news!

 

[archimedes]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

Great news indeed that the drivers have arrived and more lights with them will be going out.
I'm looking forward to hear some more stories and of course questions are always welcome 🙂

Thanks @rush , I have the XP-G2 version in an Aleph1 now, and it has updated this classic flashlight very nicely ... :goodjob:

Just finished tweaking all of the settings, too 😀

 

[Tejasandre]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

is there a "hive programming for dummies"? i cant make heads or tails of the instructions... maybe the fourth time reading through it will do it...

trying to bump the max from 1000 to the 1200.

 

[archimedes]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. The HIVE

is there a "hive programming for dummies"? i cant make heads or tails of the instructions... maybe the fourth time reading through it will do it...

trying to bump the max from 1000 to the 1200.

.... it seems really difficult ... until it doesn't 🙂

For me, the "picture" was much easier to understand than the words.

I'm happy to try to talk you through it, but for me, the words were confusing but the picture was the key.

Try having the flowchart and the picture of the output "segments" right in front of you, while programming.

Try to imagine what the output will be doing through each program step or cycle.

How far can you get, and where are you getting stumped ?

One thing that is very helpful is that, although the programming process can be a bit long or tedious, there is absolutely no rush. If you're not sure where you are or what to do, just let it finish that cycle without doing anything. When you next click it back through, it will repeat that same cycle, flashing out the step number and value, before the window to make a change.

 

[Tejasandre]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. T

I'm happy to try to talk you through it, but for me, the words were confusing but the picture was the key.

Try having the flowchart and the picture of the output "segments" right in front of you, while programming.

Try to imagine what the output will be doing through each program step or cycle.

How far can you get, and where are you getting stumped ?

One thing that is very helpful is that, although the programming process can be a bit long or tedious, there is absolutely no rush. If you're not sure where you are or what to do, just let it finish that cycle without doing anything. When you next click it back through, it will repeat that same cycle, flashing out the step number and value, before the window to make a change.

Haven't quite figured out where to start. Read one guy just changed the max setting & that changed it across the board. Something about mode 16 or something. Shrug.

I'll look at it again this weekend. I think I figured out a vnx2 today. Lol

 

[rush]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. T

Tejasandre,
Grasping the setup mode completely usually takes a while as Archimedes has said. The visual representation of the signal pattern that can be found in the manual probably helps most to learn how the blinks are structured and what to look for.

For changing the max output to 1200 mA, you will have to alter setting #16. To do so you have to skip settings #1 to #4 and then modify the setting #5 to enter the so called "level 2" settings. Then you can skip to setting #16 and make the changes.

The maximum output current applies to all output levels, i. e. the lower output levels will be a little higher too.

 

[Tejasandre]

Re: New driver from RUSH for the 1x123 "E-Series" lights. T

Tejasandre,
Grasping the setup mode completely usually takes a while as Archimedes has said. The visual representation of the signal pattern that can be found in the manual probably helps most to learn how the blinks are structured and what to look for.

For changing the max output to 1200 mA, you will have to alter setting #16. To do so you have to skip settings #1 to #4 and then modify the setting #5 to enter the so called "level 2" settings. Then you can skip to setting #16 and make the changes.

The maximum output current applies to all output levels, i. e. the lower output levels will be a little higher too.

Thanks for replying. I think I grasped the concept on my 6th read on Sunday. I tried pencil led to close the gap, need to add more , or breakdown & put a drop of soldering. I'll follow up post after my next attempt.

 

[archimedes]

I have a question for @rush about this new driver ....

When should ( and when must ) the calibration be run ?

( 1 ) changing individual level outputs away from default ?

( 2 ) changing max output away from default ?

and/or

( 3 ) swapping out or modding the LED emitter ?

What is the risk of damage to the driver and/or emitter, if calibration is not done, or not done properly ?

Thanks in advance for explaining this in more detail.