1 x AA XP-G with boost driver

[Hill]

Found another cheap single AA light @ Ocean State Job Lot. Ouput was pathetic of course, but it provided a nice host for an AA powered XPG using a Shiningbeam 1A boost driver.

Original AA light
340 mA off 1 AA
Output ~ 10 lux by ceiling bounce
Tint = bluish :sick2:

Exploded view

Emitter and boost driver

Current draw from AA

Now, let's give this thing some muscle....

Deanodized body
New grippy
XPG neutral white emitter
Shiningbeam 1A 3-speed driver
Custom copper heatsink
Tailcap "button" (not clicky)

Stock reflector was ground slighty to focus the XPG.

Exploded view

Driver pill

Stock driver (left). Shiningbeam driver (right)

Current draw on low, medium and high running off 1AA Duraloop. On/off is by twisting head. Mode changed by slightly depressing tailcap button. Very smooth and easy mode changing which works flawlessly. I measured 350 lux on high by ceiling bounce. The body does get warm pretty fast on high which is a good indication of heat transfer. Definitely not something that could be run for extended periods on high, but then again, no light this size can provide sufficient heatsinking at that output. On low, it can be run for quite a while without heat issues.

Side-by-side. Stock AA (green). XPG modded (raw)

Beam shot ~1 foot from wall

And across the room ~15 ft. I don't think my doggie was very happy to be blinded

Of course this is not Fenix quality, but for an initial $3.88 investment for the host and ~$12 in parts, plus what I had lying around, I think it turned out pretty nice. Sure looks a lot better than the original, not to mention the increased output and multi-mode options.

 

[nanotech17]

very² nice mod, that driver is good for an eneloop and nimh and lithium as well (but not li-ion)

 

[Hill]

Thanks for the kudos. A pretty easy one, but a great little EDC. The boost driver can really squeeze a lot from a single AA. I was asking myself why I bother going through this trouble when I could simply buy something from DX....

Then I remembered....it's way more fun to build than to buy :thumbsup:

 

[Changchung]

Old thread but I think is one of the best... Can you point were to buy this driver of something similar??? Thanks... Good job...

 

[Hill]

The driver is from shiningbeam here
It is also available from DX if you want to wait 4 weeks. Not much savings there. Better off getting from Bryan @ shiningbeam.

 

[Essexman]

The driver is from shiningbeam here
It is also available from DX if you want to wait 4 weeks. Not much savings there. Better off getting from Bryan @ shiningbeam.

Are they the same driver then? I thought someone reported that the shiningbeam driver was a smaller Dia?

 

[DollarstoreLurker]

These lights can be found in the bins at Home Depot for about $1. The switches are pretty terrible, and lead to some flickering. The $0.50 ones nearby were more reliable switch-wise.

 

[Hill]

Are they the same driver then? I thought someone reported that the shiningbeam driver was a smaller Dia?

The pictures look very similar, but I don't have both to compare side by side.

 

[Changchung]

The driver is from shiningbeam here
It is also available from DX if you want to wait 4 weeks. Not much savings there. Better off getting from Bryan @ shiningbeam.

I found this in DX;

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3w-5w-20-mode-regulated-circuit-board-for-flashlights-7880

It is?

 

[Hill]

I found this in DX;

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3w-5w-20-mode-regulated-circuit-board-for-flashlights-7880

It is?

Looks like the same. But SB just updated the driver, so they are not the same anymore. Don't have any experience with the new one, but I'm sure it is at least as good as the older version.

 

[yazovyet]

the funny thing is i plan to do the exact same thing, same driver, cheap light, same batteries even. ok, i guess i am useing an xm-l instead of xp-g.

the beam shot of your poor dog makes me think that it will infact be worth it and put out a suitagle amount of light