Driver advice for spear R2 emitter

[problemchild200]

I want to install an R2 in my spear. Im new to this and have no clue which is the best driver to use.

Is this one OK or is there a better choice? I burned up the oem driver and Im running it direct now. I think the stock spear is a q5 emitter?

http://e-lectronics.net/boost-driver-board-input-voltage-8v7v-njg18-p-422.html

 

[old4570]

SSC P7 Li-ion 5-mode driver SKU: S005025 over at KD / ProductId=1845

17mm Dia , using one with a Cree P4 , and a MC-E .

Should work with a R2 , im going to swap one into a R2 pill this Easter .

 

[tx101]

It looks like one of the cheap HK/China made board
I would rather not take the risk
Buy a board from The Shoppe or Taskled

 

[Greg G]

Do a search for Stefan's posts. He has a DX board he likes to use in these lights. 7882 or something like that.

Here's the thread: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=218819

 

[nailbender]

The KD 5025 is a direct drive board. It will depend on how many batts you use as to current amount, it will go up to 2.8 amps so watch out if the R2 is not well sinked.

As for the Chinese boards I have had some bad boards and then I have had some bad shall we say local boards, the problem is finding american boards that are the right size and right amperage and I must say I am a big fan of our boards available through the forum and vendors. I have quite a few on the shelf at this time but some of the newer Chinese boards are starting to look amazingly like our local boards with alot of the same components on them. i just got one that is has adjustable voltage, and not all are AMC 7135 resistor driven. My last boards that I ordered even came with teflon wires that shocked me and heat tranfer pads, sounds like they may be listening (or watching).
Oh well did not mean to preach but be careful with that board the old ones did not have as high of amperage as the newer ones do. There is a chart of Vins and amperage out on the sales page.

Dave

 

[Greg G]

I haven't used the DX board, but Stefan has, and likes it.

If it were my light I'd probably use a Sandwich Shoppe GD1000 with a piggybacked sense resistor to get it up to 1.2 amps. 18650 only, which is what the Spear is built around.

 

[KowShak]

SSC P7 Li-ion 5-mode driver SKU: S005025 over at KD / ProductId=1845

17mm Dia , using one with a Cree P4 , and a MC-E .

Should work with a R2 , im going to swap one into a R2 pill this Easter .

I don't understand why you we recommending a P7 driver to run a Cree XR-E. That driver will kill that LED pretty quickly when it puts 3000 ma through it - that is 3 times its maximum current according to the manufacturer's specification.

 

[old4570]

I don't understand why you we recommending a P7 driver to run a Cree XR-E. That driver will kill that LED pretty quickly when it puts 3000 ma through it - that is 3 times its maximum current according to the manufacturer's specification.

Nope : I use this board with a Cree P4 and it only does up to 800mA
I also use it with a MC-E and it only takes 1.33Amp with a single CR123A 3.7volt rechargeable .

It might be for SSC P7 , but I think its a great Cree driver .
I think you give this driver too much credit .

I havent tried it with a R2 yet , but will shortly .

Sorry / also tried it with my SSC P7 - only put out 1.4Amp with a 18650 ... Which is why , if your looking for a 1400mA driver , I would recommend this one .

 

[nailbender]

Nope : I use this board with a Cree P4 and it only does up to 800mA
I also use it with a MC-E and it only takes 1.33Amp with a single CR123A 3.7volt rechargeable .

It might be for SSC P7 , but I think its a great Cree driver .
I think you give this driver too much credit .

I havent tried it with a R2 yet , but will shortly .

Sorry / also tried it with my SSC P7 - only put out 1.4Amp with a 18650 ... Which is why , if your looking for a 1400mA driver , I would recommend this one .

Hi
I try as you do to be accurate in my stated results and I have stated only to be cautious with these boards as newer models the more recent batches have been exactly as they have posted on their website except that it takes 6 volts for this to happen. Although the website says 4.2 is max on driver we have found it easily handles the increased voltage.

With six volts depending on battery strenths they will measure 3.1 to 3.3
on my meter driving an MC-E and with one 17670 and MC-E I get 2.25 and with resistance of meter probably 2.6 give or take.
Thanks

JE6 MC-E

 

[old4570]

I put it in the longer L2 body and its doing 1.43A with a 18650 .

I just havent seen much above 1.4A with this driver , I would love to see 2A + , I really would .

 

[KowShak]

I put it in the longer L2 body and its doing 1.43A with a 18650 .

I just havent seen much above 1.4A with this driver , I would love to see 2A + , I really would .

If your LED had a lower vf, your battery had higher voltage or less droop under load or there was less resistance in your circuit you'd get more current flowing through your LED.

 

[old4570]

Yeah , but ive tried many combinations , and all have been very consistent .
The only thing that has not been a variable is the driver .

In anyway ...

 

[KowShak]

From the description:

"Direct drive P7 LED"
"Input Voltage: 3.2-4.5V"

That suggests to me that it doesn't do any regulation at all, i.e. all that it does is PWM to vary the intensity of the various modes. If that is the case, you're no better off using this "driver" than you are sticking with direct drive in the Spear.