Driver board list / regulator board list.

[VegasF6]

the p7 i'm using is a j bin - DSXOJ

The J bin P7's have a higher forward voltage of course. You can still use the amc7135 drivers, but your time in regulation will be shorter than it would with an "I." The amc7135 is a "low voltage dropout" regulator, but as near as I can tell, it still drops something like .2 volts from the regulator. If you choose to keep the reverse polarity diodes inline, you would lose even more voltage, so you would probably choose to lose them. So, you start with something like 4.2 volts from your cells, drop .2 at least from that, giving you 4.0. J bin P7 can be as high as 3.75VF at that current rate, so you will quickly be below that voltage, even with your massive battery bank. Something like 85-90% of your battery life will be below VF. Now, that isn't a bad thing per say, but it does mean you won't be seeing full brightness. You may want to look in the Der Wichtel buck driver, I think it is rated up to 25V, and running your battery pack serial.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=201981
I haven't really read much up on it, but to the best of my knowledge it is a voltage regulator, not current. I think you hook up your load and adjust the voltage via onboard pot until you see the current you want. I don't know what, if anything has been done to protect against thermal runaway, but I haven't seen any complaints.

Oh yah, another option is the "shark buck" that you can get at the sandwich shoppe.
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.co...oducts_id=1205
As far as I know (I say that a lot ) it is a current controlled solution.

[waTom]

Thanks for the info, Vegas!

[ironmang]

thanks Vegas. A bit of a noob here... generally, how can I tell if a regulator regulates current vs voltage or both, and what limits are for current ? most info or specs i've been reading about regulators generally only says what max input voltage they can take, they generally only mention what the output current will be.

[kramer5150]

Noob... needing help from the pros.

I want to try using DX:7882 set at ~1.3A out with 3xC cells (or 3xD if I can get them to fit in my host). Has anyone tried this?...I understand the 7882 runs DD when Vin>3.6V. My concern is with the higher capacity cells, it would run direct drive for a longer time than with lower capacity cells. Do you think I will cook a cree R2?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7882

Would I be better off with this driver?
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.co...oducts_id=1107

thanks

[gillestugan]

Please update info on the "kennan" driver. It is now sold in a completely new version based on the AX2002 chip. Design changed early January this year. Please see the "kennan thread" for info.

[filibuster]

Torchboy, I like all the extra driver info and better presentation you have on your site: http://www.videofoundry.co.nz/ianman...s_stepup.shtml

I really appreciate the work in keeping up with these drivers!

[Aircraft800]

guys I have just completed some measurements of the KD flavor.

First of all it is a 3 groups-many modes board as following:
1. Low-Med-High
2. Low-Med-High-Strobe-SOS
3. Low-Med-High-Strobe-Warning Strobe (3 rapid blinks)-2Hz beacon-1Hz Beqacon-7 sec beacon-SOS

And here is what I measured:



So....this mode is going in a D26 module with 2AAs in a 3 cell Surefire, IF I find a way to lengthen the +contact spring!

I see you guys testing the SKU: S005872 from Kai:
Boost and Buck Circuit For CREE XR-E Q5 LED


which looks exactly like the sku.15880 from DX:
17mm 1000mAh 5-Mode with Mode-Memory LEDDriver Circuit Board for Cree XR-E Emitters (0.9~4.5V Input)

How did you heatsink it, and what components? I haven't seen to much more on this board, or if it is actually broken into A/B/C groups, and how to switch between them.

Thanks!

[kosPap]

No I did not heatsink it....saw no reason to since It took a sec to measure....(do not know if it makes a difference if it warms up)

Indeed it is the same though the programming (if it is accurately posted) is different...and I did not test my DX sample yet....

[metlarules]

Noob... needing help from the pros.

I want to try using DX:7882 set at ~1.3A out with 3xC cells (or 3xD if I can get them to fit in my host). Has anyone tried this?...I understand the 7882 runs DD when Vin>3.6V. My concern is with the higher capacity cells, it would run direct drive for a longer time than with lower capacity cells. Do you think I will cook a cree R2?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7882

Would I be better off with this driver?
http://theledguy.chainreactionweb.co...oducts_id=1107

thanks

I'm interested to know the same thing.
It seems to be the same board as here http://e-lectronics.net/boost-driver...g18-p-422.html

[filibuster]

Though this board doesn't lend itself to small flashlights it is a very good and efficient step down DC to DC converter.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Step-Down-DC-DC-Converter-Charger-Regulator-Controller_W0QQitemZ230338695225QQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a1419039&_trksid=p4 634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A 30

I don't know of another source besides eBay but they have been very good to work with.

The specs listed in the description are accurate at least from the testing I've done using it with a 12v system down to USB 5v type outputs.

[Alan B]

Nice list. It helps to sort out some of the differences.

I would separate boost from buck/boost types, and linear from buck. I suppose there are five types:

boost
buck/boost
buck
linear
direct drive (pwm control)

I don't see the HipCC here, the HipFlex or the D2Flex.

[Black Rose]

Another circuit board missing is the constant current regulated board used in the L-Mini II, which is available separately from Shiningbeam.

A 3-mode driver with reverse polarity protection, voltage cut-off, and memory.

[TorchBoy]

This list is now maintained at http://www.videofoundry.co.nz/ianman...driverlist.php. Enjoy.

[Alan B]

This list is now maintained at http://www.videofoundry.co.nz/ianman...driverlist.php. Enjoy.

Error, web server not found.

[Mr Happy]

I'm going to take a wild guess that this is the correct link:

http://www.videofoundry.co.nz/ianman...driverlist.php

[TorchBoy]

D'oh! Thanks.

[Alan B]

Very Nice web page!!!

[gunga]

Just a quick note, I finally tried the 3 mode board from Kai Domain

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDeta...ProductId=1694

3 modes, low-med-high. $5

3 seconds on to activate memory (must be on 2-3 seconds each time), based on 3 AMC7135 so around 1.1 A max. Uses PWM for low modes, but not too bad.

A pretty good board. May try to add another AMC7135 in the future...

[Black Rose]

I assume that it uses PWM for the low and medium modes?

What is the mode order - H/M/L or L/M/H?

[gunga]

I assume that it uses PWM for the low and medium modes?

What is the mode order - H/M/L or L/M/H?

Yep, PWM, not too bad tho.

Sequence is L-M-H!

[Black Rose]

Now I see you had already mentioned PWM in your original post

Just wanted to check on the mode sequence because it's shown as H/M/L on the KD site.

[MorePower]

Yep, PWM, not too bad tho.

Sequence is L-M-H!

Any estimates on current draw for low and medium? Also, what's the highest voltage you've run it on? KD says it's good for up to 6V, but... well, you know how their specs are sometimes.

[gunga]

I've only used it with 18650. It's an AMC7135 based board, so 6 V would be maximum, but not super recommended. These are linear regulators.

I have not checked current yet, will try to do so at some point.

[MorePower]

I've only used it with 18650. It's an AMC7135 based board, so 6 V would be maximum, but not super recommended. These are linear regulators.

I have not checked current yet, will try to do so at some point.

Thanks. I know the 7135s can handle 6V (and since I'd run 4C cells, it wouldn't be 6V for very long); I was more concerned about the IC that controls the PWM. Ah well, I suppose $5 isn't too much in case I burn one up.

Looking forward to any current measurements you take.

[gunga]

Any estimates on current draw for low and medium? Also, what's the highest voltage you've run it on? KD says it's good for up to 6V, but... well, you know how their specs are sometimes.

I did some tests, and had a few issues getting consistent results of low current.

So, current at the tailcap (pretty close to emitter current since this is a linear regulator).

low: 60 mA
med: 350 mA
high: 1.1 Amps

Hope that helps!

[MorePower]

I did some tests, and had a few issues getting consistent results of low current.

So, current at the tailcap (pretty close to emitter current since this is a linear regulator).

low: 60 mA
med: 350 mA
high: 1.1 Amps

Hope that helps!

Thanks a lot. Time to order a few! (and wait, and wait, and wait...)

[Black Rose]

Just a quick note, I finally tried the 3 mode board from Kai Domain

http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDeta...ProductId=1694

3 modes, low-med-high. $5

Forgot to ask earlier.

Does this 3-mode board come with wires, and if so, are they already soldered on?

[gunga]

It does come with (short) wires, and no they are not soldered on. I just ended up using some teflon wire I got on cpf.

I have to admit, the only thing that really bugs me is the 2-3 second memory mode. THe PWM is not too bad, and the 3 modes (low to high) are really cool.

[kosPap]

Guys did you check Dx latelyZ? There are new boards....Among them a driver taht seems like a new Keenan-type, a new 3xAMC3175 board, and a 4xAMC3175 board with NO modes...
and one of them is 16mm so were are set for D26 module sandwiches easy!

[Essexman]

Guys did you check Dx latelyZ? There are new boards....Among them a driver taht seems like a new Keenan-type, a new 3xAMC3175 board, and a 4xAMC3175 board with NO modes...
and one of them is 16mm so were are set for D26 module sandwiches easy!

Yep saw those yesterday, and the 3 LED and 5 LED driver boards!