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Weird eBay light (Patreon)

Published:
2023-02-25 06:59:31
Imported:
2023-03

Content

What do we do with all these spare microcontroller pins?  We'll just add loads of extra LEDs with a single resistor for them all as a feature.

Not a bad little light.  Strange police-mode that might cause issues if used in a public area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJWl1E1VoGw

Files

Weird little light from eBay (with schematic)

An interesting little rechargeable keychain light that is often described as an olight, but probably isn't? It's most notable for its simplicity, and the fact that it throws a load of extra LEDs into the mix with little extra cost other than the LEDs and a single resistor. In many ways the design is refreshingly simple, but then again, it is just a flashlight. So the magic will be in the firmware. First test on the cell hints at a capacity of about 100mAh, which is typical for these small lights. The charge current is probably a bit aggressive for that size, but may be aimed at instant recharge gratification. The use of an NPN bipolar transistor instead of a MOSFET for the main LED is odd. It reduces efficiency and also means that the lithium cell can be discharged lower than desired by continuing to draw current until the processor cuts off on low voltage. I wonder if the pin it's connected to has a dedicated LED driver mode (some processors do) or if it's just not capable of supplying as much current in a high state as it is in a low state. If you search on eBay for keywords like rechargeable keychain flashlight you will find many vendors of these with a wide range of prices. Aim for around 6 of your local (£$€) currency units. It's a useful little light, but I kinda prefer the flatter ones for use on a keyring that gets stuffed into a pocket. Then again, everyone has a different preference for their lights based on how they use them. The light thankfully doesn't have the dire SOS mode - choosing to emulate the emergency services instead! It also doesn't have an LED saver that dims it back from the full intensity setting after it's been running for a while. But then again, it doesn't really hammer the LED too hard. Reassembly of the light is easier than disassembly, and it does appear to support the PCB at the USB socket end and with the round LED PCB at the front. If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty. #ElectronicsCreators

Comments

Ian Cooper

Looks like a RovyVon knock-off. Some of those have the police mode as well.

Anonymous

Kinda reminds me of the Nightcore Tiki, which does have two "auxilliary" LEDs in the back, a "High CRI" white and a near-UV.

Lucas Illingworth

If you were a cop, this might be a handy light to wear at a booze bus or doing any night work. You see blue and red flashing lights on cops in China a lot.

John Ridley

Clone of the Nitecore that I have, right down to the police light mode. The mode switching is very different than the Nitecore though. The Nitecore will switch into turbo mode if you just hold the button down and switch straight off when you let go. The back lights are accessed by double clicking.

bigclive
>>102715640

It does have hints of the Nitecore Tiki. Including a mildly glow in the dark case.

Curtis Hoffmann

Conveniently bodily orifice-sized light. When you want to be found in a dark room at night.

Anonymous

Could some discharge protection be obtained by putting a couple diodes in series with the chip power so it cuts out sooner?

Ymir the Frost Giant

For a moment I thought you said "strange po lice-mode that might cause issues if used in a pubic area". Not much difference.

Nani Isobel

It looks like the makers have finally figured out nobody wants to have to click through all the modes to get the right one or to turn it off. Yay!

bigclive
>>102721281

That might make processor operation less stable. It may have a programmable cut out threshold inside that they just set quite low.

Circuitmike
>>102706704

A cop I knew at my last job had something very similar. They were mounted on the shoulders of her uniform. They could blink red and blue or they could just be bright flashlights.

Anonymous

Hah. It's a knock-off of the Nitecore Tiki. The actual Tiki is a real good little light.

Anonymous

The version I got from ebay, the M300, has four main light levels, and even though all the LEDS are on the board, none of them are used. Somebody must just crank these out and leave it to the final seller as to which code to load into the MCU.

bigclive
>>103498163

I wonder if there's a button sequence that activates them, or if they've missed the resistor or even mounted the LEDs around the wrong way.

Anonymous
>>103498163

I'd have expected to click through the setting and seen some not work, if it was a wiring problem though. It just cycles through the four main light levels.

bigclive
>>103498163

I have a version here that has a separate button for the small LEDs. Notably that if you hold the main light button down it comes on at a very high intensity, but can't be locked on at that intensity.

wateyesaw

I had gotten one from ebay and it came fairly quick. Was happily surprised when it had a UV light too. It was enough to use as a regular UV light and it made the case glow. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394359845193?var=662888334090

Dave Frederick
>>103498163

I just got the M300 version as well in the mail from Ali Express and have the same issue. The circuit is much different and the light is slightly longer and skinnier than Big Clive's There's a 14 pin microcontroller and 5 transistors. A couple minor differences in function. 2 clicks starts out the main light in Low initially or actually remembers the last brightness setting you were last on. There are 4 steps to full brightness before going back to low. Then, holding the button turns it off. Just pressing and holding the button for a couple of seconds turns on full brightness until released. Kind of handy for just a quick look at something. I'm measuring 200 mA charging from the USB. At a couple meters away, the light spreads to a couple feet. THE SIDE LIGHTS. Clicking the button 6 times activates the side lights to cycle through white, white blinking, purple, red, red blinking, police lights and then back to white. Holding the button again for 2 seconds turns it back off.