AW's Going Regulated ! W00T !

[sandbasser]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

Auto step down! Woot! Neat stuff! :thumbsup:

In the short time I've been a member of this forum I've become familiar with many of the acronyms; but, now I'm really puzzled about "WOOT". I googled it and there's an online store with that name but no acronym.

Can anybody help???

 

[jefft]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

In the short time I've been a member of this forum I've become familiar with many of the acronyms; but, now I'm really puzzled about "WOOT". I googled it and there's an online store with that name but no acronym.

Can anybody help???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woot

 

[RickB]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woot

At the risk of drifting too far offtopic, I'm pretty sure the use of "woot" in this thread has more to do with this sense of the word:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=woot

And yes, I emitted a few WOOTs after I heard about AW's plans. Personally, I'd love it if the bulb voltage were user-adjustable, so I could move it between lights or use it with different bulbs, but this is pretty darn good.

-Rick

 

[DM51]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

LOL. For me, "WOOT" is the noise an emergency navy siren makes, like when they see an enemy submarine, or when James Cagney found out someone had thrown his palm tree overboard in that great classic film Mr Roberts (Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon).

I can just imagine LuxLuthor making that noise when he found out AW was doing these regulated drivers, lol.

 

[sandbasser]

:thanks: to jefft, RickB and DM51 for the enlightenment (that's what this forum's for, right!!!)

And sorry for highjacking this thread...

Now back to the topic...

 

[Bob_G]

Here's all I know - i.e. not much - about the 5761.

Been running two lights for some time now, both with the same 4800AH pack (2S3P 17670 protected.)

Both hotdrivered at 7.2V as set by AWR.

Checked one with partially used pack one and it was 7.15V.

As noted by NL I think, if you use C li-ion, you're probably not going to get much better than 6.8V anyway, so a healthy power supply is essential if you want to set a regulated 5761 at 7+V.

I use several hotwires, but default to the 5761 - it's also the only light I have to blow a bulb in use so far. But that was after a maybe 6 months at least.

For a time I had one light at 7.0V and didn't notice a difference in casual use - with the same driver in a WA1111 it was subtly but irritatingly lower than another 1111 at 7.2V. So sweetspot wise, 7.05 or so may be the thing, but you still need a battery pack that can run not much more than 1C to make it work. On 2xC li-ion I'd probably go with 6.5 or so, which doesn't even make it worthwhile to me.

My favorite setup for 2xC would be the 1160 at 6.9V. This would be a much more sensible setup to me, and it makes a truly great beam, the best of the WA bulbs. I run two 3.3AH and 4AH packs) at this V with no problems.

NL - where did you buy those new bulbs? This is disappointing to say the least. They're branded Phillips? I get my bulbs from replacementlightbulbs.com - he'll usually answer the phone, so maybe I'll give him a call and see if he knows anything.

 

[cnjl3]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

My vote is also for a user-adjustable driver so so we dont wind up with a driver dedicated for only "one" voltage.
But in AW's defense i would point out that on AWR's HD the weakest point are his "adjustable' trim pots.

Personally, I'd love it if the bulb voltage were user-adjustable, so I could move it between lights or use it with different bulbs.

 

[Northern Lights]

NL - where did you buy those new bulbs? This is disappointing to say the least. They're branded Phillips? I get my bulbs from replacementlightbulbs.com - he'll usually answer the phone, so maybe I'll give him a call and see if he knows anything.

I got them from bulbconnection.com. Like always, same Phillips box, codes and all. They are made in Germany. The first thing I noticed was the envelope was ever so slightly bulged at the crimp. I found that when I broke the pins off the first one I put into a light that had a reflector that closely fit the former 5761s. I am afraid I did not keep track of the actual Vbulb on two lights but those lights immediately blew the new batch. Well, that was good because from it I found the proper NTC to run and have had no problems since on Lion and NiMh right off the charger.
I suspect the bulbs are within the manufacturer's tolerances for the prescribed 6Vs.

 

[litho123]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

My vote is also for a user-adjustable driver so so we dont wind up with a driver dedicated for only "one" voltage.
But in AW's defense i would point out that on AWR's HD the weakest point are his "adjustable' trim pots.

It's an interesting point to ponder. But I would tend to disagree.

Having helped AWR introduce the HotDriver, I saw basically two kinds of "problems" develop with the HD.

I thought that some folks were (ab)using the HD's beyond their designed capabilities. Too much of a mis-match between v-bulb and v-batt would cook the HD.

I didn't think the adjustable trim pots were a problem as much as they were confusing to operate for some folks. I rec'd frequent Q's off-line asking about perceived problems - usually caused by changing the voltage. AWR's design had a coarse and a fine adjustment. Sometimes folks would get them mixed up ... then the pots were turned the wrong way ... then they forgot to put in the proper battery pack to set the new voltage ... etc.

For someone not familiar with them, the HD's were best left alone after the voltage was pre-set.



Now, AW's new regulated design sounds great and I can't wait to try it out when it hits the CPF market.
I think the "you specify, I'll set it" fixed voltage is a smart first step on AW's part. It will avoid a lot of "problems" in the long run.

If a user adjustable pot is incorporated, I would suggest only a fine type adjustment. Say + / - say 5% of pre-set voltage to give it a little more flexibility.

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: AW's Going Regulated ! WOOT !

...
If a user adjustable pot is incorporated, I would suggest only a fine type adjustment. Say + / - say 5% of pre-set voltage to give it a little more flexibility.

I am familiar with all those other problems with the adjustments. This last statement makes a great deal of sense and I am for it.
Recently I have run into a problem where a standard design seems to rock beteween 6.9Vbulb and 7.1Vbulb. I would dislike having ordered a driver only to find I needed a slight tweak after working out the bugs. A 20-25% leeway on low voltages is good. Higher Vbulb should be less in %. It is usually only a Volt or two on any design that maximizes it.

 

[petrev]

Hi All

My Vote
- High quality multi-turn pot with single level output -

- The unregulated version will handle different bulbs like the C version with Vin = Vout.

- Regulated version will be preset with Vout of your choice which is encoded in the controller IC and is not adjustable ( soft start + three brightness level + low batt. warning ).

- If there is enough interest, I may offer another regulated version with a trim pot. This trim pot version features soft start, regulated single brightness level output and low batt. warning.

Hi AW

Looking forward to these new versions very,very much.

My vote goes for a single level with trim pot. But please, please, please fit a high quality multi-turn pot, as the ones that AWR fitted just don't work well. Mine broke first adjustment (OK so I didn't know that you should use a specialy adapted feather to adjust them !) Hope it gets repaired and sent back soon . . .

According the memory AWR said the better pots cost only a bit more and I would happily pay say a $5 premium for ultimate reliability (or whatever the extra $ is)

Question ?
How will you get the regulator to determine low batt warning level when starting Vbatt can vary so much ? eg 7.0V bulb driven by 3xLi or 4xLi or . . . get my drift ?

Can't wait . . .
Cheers Pete

for reasons noted in post to the Original/V2 sales thread . . . most faults with AWR-HDs seem to have been dodgy pots or overcooking the FET through misuse (LDO regulators not happy with flashing or over large pack-bulb V difference - not applicable to PWM regulators).

As said when overdriving lamps different batches may vary a bit while still being within tolerence for original designed use !

Have just looked up the AWR Hotrater XLS and it gives lots of great info on regulated drive levels for many of the common bulbs. Hopefully this may be useful in determining settings for fixed-V D-Regulators.

Some real world measurements of Vbulb for MagMods and Regulated HotWires would be nice too . . . I'll have to check my little brood.

Osram 64275 not listed so if anyone knows the correct values ? that would be great ( 6.8~7.0 Vbulb ? )

Cheers Pete

 

[Flash Harry]

AW has asked that we express interest here.

Originally Posted by AW
-
- If there is enough interest, I may offer another regulated version with a trim pot. This trim pot version features soft start, regulated single brightness level output and low batt. warning.

That'll be the one for me. I'm officially expressing interest. I think these would be the big sellers for those playing with hotwires.

 

[AW]

Pete,

The low battery warning will be set at a few percentage point below when the driver runs out of regulation. The user has to decide their pack's voltage and cell combination/ chemistry so that when the driver falls out of regulation, the pack won't be over discharged ( 3.0V for LiIon and 0.9V for NiMH ). For example, if you set the regulated Vout @12V, you should use no more than four LiIon cells / 14 NiMH cells in your pack. There is no point where you can over discharge your pack when the light is still running in regulation.

AW

 

[petrev]

Hi AW,

Thanks that clears it up - presumably using protected cells would then allow one to use more cells and rely on the cell protection to cut in.

On another note, if you are not too busy ! any chance of say 7500-D cells fitted with your cell protection circuit ?
5000mAh D-unprotected seem to have gone on general release but genuine super AW cells would be rather nice.

Thanks again
Pete

 

[AW]

Pete,

Using protected cells may do if you want to use more cells with more regulated runtime.

I don't have any 32mm protection pcb yet. I 'll need to know detail spec. of the cells ( such as max. ptc threshold ) before I can make the pcbs to maximize the performance of the D cells.

Regards,
AW

 

[strideredc]

AW,

i am deff. in for a unregulated d cell mag and one with a trimpot type device for adjustment of bulb voltage.

make one of each type:laughing: i think they will sell...

 

[tomL]

I'm definitely interested in a regulated model.

I like "the works": selectable brightness levels, soft-start, and some means of setting the output voltage. I could see doing it digitally instead of with an old-fashioned analog trimpot (as long as it has memory, and if it forgets, defaults to a safe low volatge).

I'd be happy with either a C or D model.

 

[Valolammas]

Now this sounds interesting!

I know it's a bit early, but how much do you think these are going to cost? Less than, more than, or about $100?

(Edit: hey, looks like I finally made it to flashaholic status with this post. Woot!)

 

[dolbyyy]

Now this sounds interesting!

I know it's a bit early, but how much do you think these are going to cost? Less than, more than, or about $100?

(Edit: hey, looks like I finally made it to flashaholic status with this post. Woot!)

..and when do you think these will start to be available to buy?

 

[Nitro]

Pete,

Using protected cells may do if you want to use more cells with more regulated runtime.

I don't have any 32mm protection pcb yet. I 'll need to know detail spec. of the cells ( such as max. ptc threshold ) before I can make the pcbs to maximize the performance of the D cells.

Regards,
AW

WOW! Regulated D Switches. Protected D Cell's. Am I sensing a M@G 3D 100W light, with a 30min runtime?