Driving a 2x head on 1x body

[abarraga86]

I've tried searching the forums but have not found a direct answer. I have a 1x McClickie pak i bought from Don that fits my E1B perfectly. It would be very nice if I could use my E2DL head on this pak so that my E2DL could get carried more often since it is normally a bit big for my EDC needs. Is there a safe way I can run the E2DL head on a 1xcr123 body? This would be great, anyone with any experience on this area? Thanks

 

[Illum]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

I don't see why it wouldn't work if the head uses a boost circuit
RCR123As is 4.2V max, 2xcr123A is 6V


but...if the drivers a buck, then you might get very poor runtime on the RCR123A or it may not light at all

I know for sure the KX2 uses buck circuits, but it works fairly well on 1xRCR123A

 

[abarraga86]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

Thanks for the reply. I am not quite that good with the technical but let me see if i got this right. These surefire's use either a boost or a buck circuit, if it uses a boost then there shouldnt be any problems driving it with one RCR123A, however if it uses a buck then it might or might not work well? Sorry, im just really bad with the circuits....

I don't see why it wouldn't work if the head uses a boost circuit
RCR123As is 4.2V max, 2xcr123A is 6V


but...if the drivers a buck, then you might get very poor runtime on the RCR123A or it may not light at all

I know for sure the KX2 uses buck circuits, but it works fairly well on 1xRCR123A

 

[Monkiee]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

Im fairly sure that the E2Dl uses a buck circuit.
I can run 2x rcr123s in an E2DL.
Also many CPFers also uses 2x rcr123s and you can verify it with them.

 

[Illum]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

Thanks for the reply. I am not quite that good with the technical but let me see if i got this right. These surefire's use either a boost or a buck circuit, if it uses a boost then there shouldnt be any problems driving it with one RCR123A, however if it uses a buck then it might or might not work well? Sorry, im just really bad with the circuits....

buck circuits step down a high input voltage to the voltage required by the LED, boost circuits step up a lower input voltage to run the LED

so...say the LED takes 3.6V
If the light requires 6V input to light, its likely a buck or a boost on direct drive, but if the light requires only 3V to light, its undoubtedly a boost

 

[abarraga86]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

I tried running my E2DL (2x..) head on my E1B body (1x..) and the head wouldnt light so 3v wont light it up. Does this mean that the E2DL has a buck drive? If this is the case, is there any way to drive it using only one.CR123 sized battery?

buck circuits step down a high input voltage to the voltage required by the LED, boost circuits step up a lower input voltage to run the LED

so...say the LED takes 3.6V
If the light requires 6V input to light, its likely a buck or a boost on direct drive, but if the light requires only 3V to light, its undoubtedly a boost

 

[Illum]

Re: Driving a 2x head on 1xrcr

Does this mean that the E2DL has a buck drive? If this is the case, is there any way to drive it using only one.CR123 sized battery?

yes, you would have to use the RCR123A cell in place of an CR123A or have a forum modder replace the driver with a boost circuit

that or if you can find some BA-5372/U 6V 500mah cells you might be able to get it to work although the runtime will be purely comical. :hahaha:
Not to mention expensive [max discharge of 160ma] but hey...you did ask for all available options


On the serious side though, it probably will work with the RCR123A, but if you prefer the ergonomics of the 1xcr123A form factor, you might want to look around some other companies, Surefires KX1 [1xcr123A head] uses a boost circuit but its quite discriminating on batteries

 

[abarraga86]

Ok, sounds good, I'll go give the RCR123A a try and I'll try to post the outcome... Buck and Boost :twothumbs .... jajaja, well, much appreciated!