P60 Drop-in with Flat Regulation

[dhouseng]

Is there any R5 drop in that has perfect flat regulation (with one 18650) ? With at least 1.0A drive current. I've been searching for a long time and found out it doesn't exist.

drop-ins with 7135 regulators doesn't count, I want full power all the way to the end.

The dereelight comes close but it is still not perfect flat, its higher initially for about 5 minutes and stabilize at 1.2A. And efficiency is not very good (80 minutes).

Any?

 

[Noctis]

What exactly do you mean by perfect flat regulation?

I was under the impression that all regulated lights will run until the battery is almost dead, dim down a bit, then cut off.

You could try a Malkoff M61. I read 0.9A at the tail. With 2 hours of runtime and a very pretty looking beam, it outdoes the dereelight and thrunite drop-ins.

 

[dhouseng]

Perfect flat regulation means strictly constant output without even the slightest dimming until the last few minutes. For example the TK12 R5 runtime.

The Malkoff is too expensive for me at that price I can get myself a new TK12.

 

[kyhunter1]

Awesome American made quality is not too expensive IMO. You can go ahead and spare yourself the pain now and buy the malkoff, because sooner or later, you will get one after the F**** fails.

The Malkoff is too expensive for me at that price I can get myself a new TK12.

 

[mrcandyman]

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you need to increase current in order to maintain the same brightness, as heat would build up and decrease the brightness of the LED. So you increase the current, further compounding the problem as it creates more heat, which dims it more, ect.

I could be off the ball here, but I'm relatively sure that's why you will not find a perfectly flat regulation

 

[dhouseng]

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you need to increase current in order to maintain the same brightness, as heat would build up and decrease the brightness of the LED. So you increase the current, further compounding the problem as it creates more heat, which dims it more, ect.

I could be off the ball here, but I'm relatively sure that's why you will not find a perfectly flat regulation

Example of what i call flat regulation:

Awesome American made quality is not too expensive IMO. You can go ahead and spare yourself the pain now and buy the malkoff, because sooner or later, you will get one after the F**** fails.

The malkoff is only semi regulated, direct drive when voltage is below 3.4v . looks like a 3x7135 driver is used? Which is not what I am looking for.

 

[Stereodude]

I believe the Dereelight P60 drop-ins have the flattest regulation curve you'll find. They have shorter battery life because they use a buck-boost circuit which is inherently less efficient.

 

[kyhunter1]

Are you sure about this?? The Malkoff M61 will flatline regulate at full brightness for over two hours before any noticeable dimming. After this point, you have about three hours of direct drive dimming light telling you it is time to change your batteries without leaving you in the DARK! Not many lights can withstand this amount of runtime on 2 cr123 cells with 250+ OTF lumens in a small package. It will do almost as good with 18650 cells as 123 primaries. No light will regulate as you approach zero voltage. I dont know for sure what driver is used in the M61, but I do not see any problems with it's regulation with Li or primary cells. After owning mine for a few months now, I have yet to figure out what is not to like about this drop in. I probably never will. :grin2:

The malkoff is only semi regulated, direct drive when voltage is below 3.4v . looks like a 3x7135 driver is used? Which is not what I am looking for.

 

[dhouseng]

Are you sure about this?? The Malkoff M61 will flatline regulate at full brightness for over two hours before any noticeable dimming. After this point, you have about three hours of direct drive dimming light telling you it is time to change your batteries without leaving you in the DARK! Not many lights can withstand this amount of runtime on 2 cr123 cells with 250+ OTF lumens in a small package. It will do almost as good with 18650 cells as 123 primaries. No light will regulate as you approach zero voltage. I dont know for sure what driver is used in the M61, but I do not see any problems with it's regulation with Li or primary cells. After owning mine for a few months now, I have yet to figure out what is not to like about this drop in. I probably never will. :grin2:

I am quite sure because i read it on malkoff website. Direct drive when voltage is below 3.4v which means only semi regulated on ONE cell. Its easy to get flatline regulation with 2 cr123 cells, but I am actually looking for a drop-in with very steady boost with just one 18650. Seems like dereelight is the only brand in this planet that has this type of regulation. Direct drive is a turnoff for me as it reminds me of my old $5 21led shower-head flashlight.

 

[Sgt. LED]

Really? Hmmm I thought at the Malkoff website there is also the m30.
Anyway go buy the Deerelight and be happy knowing your regulation is just the way you want it. Now are you after a smooth reflector or OP? ..........

 

[Noctis]

I am quite sure because i read it on malkoff website. Direct drive when voltage is below 3.4v which means only semi regulated on ONE cell. Its easy to get flatline regulation with 2 cr123 cells, but I am actually looking for a drop-in with very steady boost with just one 18650. Seems like dereelight is the only brand in this planet that has this type of regulation. Direct drive is a turnoff for me as it reminds me of my old $5 21led shower-head flashlight.

Hmm? :thinking:

Can somebody explain the voltage to me? I was under the impression that the voltage in a 18650 cell would never drop that low unless it's near empty.

At least, my Nailbender SST-50 module says the minimum input voltage is 3.6V, and so I assume that the light would shut off once it falls below that voltage.

Just how empty would the cell need to be in order to reach that voltage?

 

[dhouseng]

Really? Hmmm I thought at the Malkoff website there is also the m30.
Anyway go buy the Deerelight and be happy knowing your regulation is just the way you want it. Now are you after a smooth reflector or OP? ..........

I dont know if i am going to buy the dereelight, my 1.0A buck boost driver from dx is arriving soon so i will check them out first. I think i wont be using the original dereelight reflector, will swap with a solarforce r5 smooth. I get 90000+ lux @1m with them.

Hmm? :thinking:

Can somebody explain the voltage to me? I was under the impression that the voltage in a 18650 cell would never drop that low unless it's near empty.

At least, my Nailbender SST-50 module says the minimum input voltage is 3.6V, and so I assume that the light would shut off once it falls below that voltage.

Just how empty would the cell need to be in order to reach that voltage?

If I am correct, protected 18650 cuts off somewhere around 2.8 volts? Some say a li-ion cell is almost depleted at 3.6v. But i still get 20% more capacity down to 2.8v. I wonder how much capacity is there from 2.8v to 3.6v?

 

[DimeRazorback]

I wouldn't drain my cells to 2.8v :duck:

 

[kito109654]

I dont know if i am going to buy the dereelight, my 1.0A buck boost driver from dx is arriving soon so i will check them out first. I think i wont be using the original dereelight reflector, will swap with a solarforce r5 smooth. I get 90000+ lux @1m with them.



If I am correct, protected 18650 cuts off somewhere around 2.8 volts? Some say a li-ion cell is almost depleted at 3.6v. But i still get 20% more capacity down to 2.8v. I wonder how much capacity is there from 2.8v to 3.6v?

It's done at 3.6, protection will cut you off. Unprotected will KABOOM. That light will not go DD at all on 1 18650.

Now me, I like DD about the same as I like regulated, they each have their merits. That said, I just ordered a warm white 600 lumen DD 3 mode drop in from Nailbender.

 

[Noctis]

It's done at 3.6, protection will cut you off. Unprotected will KABOOM. That light will not go DD at all on 1 18650.

Now me, I like DD about the same as I like regulated, they each have their merits. That said, I just ordered a warm white 600 lumen DD 3 mode drop in from Nailbender.

You see the merits better in a 1x26650 host with 4000mAh of power to play with. I feel pretty confident that the current draw will stay above 2.8A for 90% of the total runtime of the battery.

 

[csshih]

I don't understand the merits of completely flat regulation for the following reasons:

1. you do not know when your light is going to go out (as it doesn't dim)
2. you are left suddenly in the dark
3. your eyes cannot really tell even a 30% drop

thus... why?

 

[Noctis]

I don't understand the merits of completely flat regulation for the following reasons:

1. you do not know when your light is going to go out (as it doesn't dim)
2. you are left suddenly in the dark
3. your eyes cannot really tell even a 30% drop

thus... why?

Longer runtimes?:whistle:

You also don't run the risk of overdriving the emitters.

 

[dhouseng]

I don't understand the merits of completely flat regulation for the following reasons:

1. you do not know when your light is going to go out (as it doesn't dim)
2. you are left suddenly in the dark
3. your eyes cannot really tell even a 30% drop

thus... why?

Well, I've never been in a situation where I run the light that long till i am left in the dark suddenly. Ok maybe there is something better than PERFECT flat which cuts off suddenly from full brightness to total darkness.. My ideal regulation is full power for 90% of the runtime, then another 10% slow dimming or auto switching to low mode. Take a look at the L-mini II runtimes, isn't that perfect.

I dislike slow dimming lights, its like having R5 brightness with fully charged batteries, then after an hour you get only Q5 brightness. Its just me, I just don't feel good. I guess that is why some people are always upgrading to the latest emitters even though there is only 30% increase in brightness.