Biscotti firmware for The Convoy S2+ flashlight - an introduction

First of all, there are a variety of Convoy flashlights. The one in question here is a Convoy S2+. This is a flashlight that uses an 18650 Li-ion battery and has an LED emitter and will typically yield 1000 lumens at maximum brightness. They are made in China and sold on AliExpress and these days also on Amazon for around $20

• Amazon: Convoy S2+ $16

The typical Convoy light comes with firmware that I don't like all that much. Better firmware, called the "Biscotti" firmware is available. If you take care, you can order your flashlight with the Biscotti firmware already in it, which I highly recommend. For whatever reason, you won't see it called "Biscotti" these days. Look for the designation "12 groups" and that is what you want. This is more commonly available these days and is even offered on some of the lights being sold on Amazon (such as the one linked above).

I have several Convoy lights with the standard "Convoy" firmware that I am eager to convert to using the Biscotti -- hence these pages.

The regular "convoy" firmware is often labeled "3/5". This boils down to 3 brightness settings. It would also be accurate to call this firmware "2 groups" as you have the choice of a group that has the 3 brightness settings and 2 flashing settings (a total of 5), or a group that has just the 3 brightness settings. I always select just the 3 brightness settings, as I hate the flashing modes.

What is wrong with that you might say. I have two complaints.

One is that the lowest setting is about 5 percent (the 3 settings are 5, 40, 100). I find a much lower low setting very useful (like 1 percent or even 0.1 percent).
The other complaint is the "dreaded blink". At the low setting, about 5 seconds after you turn the flashlight on, it blinks to let you know you can now change the group. At first this doesn't seem like a big deal, but you grow to hate it. It seems to happen just as you get started using the flashlight and concentrating on something.
A third complaint is that it is fairly easy to accidentally change the group setting and be back to having the annoying flashing modes.

• Diagram of the Biscotti firmware

The Biscotti firmware on the other hand offers 12 groups. Once you select the group you want, it is all but impossible to accidentally change it. There is no stupid annoying blink. I always select group 2, which has no flashing modes and offers 5 brightness levels, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 35, 100. The lowest level is called "moonlight" and is ideal for use outdoors at night without blinding yourself (or annoying others). Even 1 percent is quite useful when your eyes get dark adapted and offers extended battery life.