CF8 Main LED Flickering Effect Problem

[ColdVizjerei]

Just wired my first BBW tri-cree with the blues in series and when I turn the saber on, I get a static blade.

Checked the config file and I have flks set to 3. Changed the flks value to 20 to see if it would change and even then I get a static blade.
I then undid the wiring and tried wiring up just one blue die to the main LED and I get the flicker effect that I want.

Not sure why this is happening; is it something to do with wiring the blue dies in series?
Hopefully someone out there can help me figure this out!

Here's a picture of my BBW tri-cree wired in series just in case:
2017-09-22 20.52.34.jpg

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

1. What battery solution are you using?

2. That wiring looks wrong, I would need to see a wider shot the board connections as well to be sure. You should also use different colored wires for (+), (-).

[ColdVizjerei]

1. 7.4v Li-ion 3400mAh 18650 Battery Pack

2. Whoops, my understanding was positive of one die1 goes to the board. negative of die1 goes to positive of die2. negative of die2 goes to the board. I'll get pics of the board up in a moment.

EDIT: are there any particular areas of the board that a closer shot of would be helpful? Otherwise I'll take a general bird's eye pic

Board wiring:
https://imgur.com/8GAkECz

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

What you described is correct. A picture that includes the LED and the board will be fine.

I don’tsee the connections to the main LED pads on the CF.

[ColdVizjerei]

Awesome, glad to know that the way I wired the LED in series seems to be ok. Just gotta have better color schemes for the wiring in the future.

I've actually been using alligator clips for the main LED + and - as well as for the main board + in order to do a quick bench test.
Don't know if that affects anything, but I can solder the actual wires to the board to see if that changes anything when I get the chance to tomorrow.

Asides from that, I'm out of ideas as to why this is happening

[Tom Tilmon]

I don't know anything about a crystal focus. I'm going to read the wiring diagrams now, because you've got me curious about why you have your LED wired like that, but if that is what the directions say to do then ok.

Looking at your board, the RGB accent LED: leaving those legs open like that, in proximity to all those other pads, resistors, wires, board components is an invitation to future disaster. Perhaps some shrink as a bit of insulation? I get that you are doing a rough wiring here to test. I'd fix that. Using leads to test is inconsistent at best. I'm going to read the CF8 manual, I'm pretty good with understanding wiring diagrams. My guess is that when you run one diode at a time and get the effect you want, that the answer lies therein.

Hmm, I have heard all the great things about CF8, and I'm sure its a great board, but those wiring diagrams don't look very simple. I assume you're trying to wire your single color (blue) saber, and avoiding the additional CEX to save some cash, and thus wiring your LED in series to the onboard main LED driver. But when you do so, you're not getting the behavior you desire with flicker. I leave you to the experts on CF8, and I'm watching this thread with curiosity. Reading that manual has cured me of needing a CF8 anytime soon. I know I eventually want one, but needing the CEX on a 7.4 v solution makes that thing very expensive! Good luck solving the issue, I'm curious to see how it all works out.



Tom