Dive light driver

[SUBjohan]

Hi,

I am in the proces of modding a back-up light (for diving).
There was a led insight and some sort of driver and was not that bright. (light is 3 years old)

The light is a 2x AA light, which I am gone power with eneloops.
The led is gone be a Cree Q5.

And now the question which single mode driver can I use to drive it at 1 to 1,5 amp. :candle:

Thanx in advance
Johan

 

[Gunner12]

1.5 amp would be hard, but this driver and this one can push 1 amp from 2 AA

 

[mikeh]

The light is a 2x AA light, which I am gone power with eneloops.

Would you consider using same size Li-Ions? (14500)
That would give plenty of power, and a choice of drivers.

 

[SUBjohan]

Would you consider using same size Li-Ions? (14500)
That would give plenty of power, and a choice of drivers.

Hmmz I might but how does a Li-Ion reacts to salt water (if something goes wrong with the light)

Greetz Johan

 

[mikeh]

Hmmz I might but how does a Li-Ion reacts to salt water (if something goes wrong with the light)

Lets just say that I'd recommend a protected cell.
If salt water were to short an unprotected cell for more than a few seconds, there may well be much heat, light and magic smoke lost.
There are other reasons for using protected cells too.

 

[LukeA]

I for one would want to be able to rely on my backup light. I don't think that can be done with 14500.

For a driver, two of these in parallel will net about 850mA. A little big though.

 

[mikeh]

I for one would want to be able to rely on my backup light. I don't think that can be done with 14500.

Why do you say that?
For one thing, Li-Ion is more reliable than other rechargables.

For a driver, two of these in parallel will net about 850mA. A little big though.

And a little fscking expensive. $25 for shipping, $45 total!! What a joke.

DX have plenty of drivers to suit DIY. e.g. for boost:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10084
Theres probably a 3V single-mode somewhere too.

Johan, Does the light have sufficient heat-sinking for a high-power LED?
You can't let them get too hot.

 

[SUBjohan]

Johan, Does the light have sufficient heat-sinking for a high-power LED?
You can't let them get too hot.

Yes it has, its all made out of aluminium and i own a lathe so I can make my own heatsink fit.

To give you an impression of how the light looks:

Greetz Johan

 

[mikeh]

Yes it has, its all made out of aluminium and i own a lathe so I can make my own heatsink fit.

It looks like a good torch. If I were you, I'd just change the LED, and keep the driver and heatsinking. Just changing the LED will make far more difference than anything else you can do. Get a nice Cree on a suitable board from DX.
Do you think the current will be too small?

 

[LukeA]

It looks like a good torch. If I were you, I'd just change the LED, and keep the driver and heatsinking. Just changing the LED will make far more difference than anything else you can do. Get a nice Cree on a suitable board from DX.
Do you think the current will be too small?

An SSC would work better.

 

[LukeA]

Why do you say that?
For one thing, Li-Ion is more reliable than other rechargables.

Except when they explode.

And a little fscking expensive. $25 for shipping, $45 total!! What a joke.

It's not my fault you live on an island far away from everywhere. Shipping to the US is $5.

 

[mikeh]

It's not my fault you live on an island far away from everywhere. Shipping to the US is $5.

How will that help when the OP lives in the Netherlands? Thats in Europe Luke. There is a world out there.

 

[LukeA]

How will that help when the OP lives in the Netherlands? Thats in Europe Luke. There is a world out there.

*ignore list*

 

[SUBjohan]

I just orderd 4 of these drivers.
It seems like that they can be mounted in parallel.

Greetz Johan