DX Q5s on star = suck?

[Drewfus2101]

So I spent $10 a piece on 5 of these a few weeks ago. I finally got around to putting them into 3 flashlights last week.

One went into a 2C Mag using 2 x 18650s and a DX board that can accept up to 9V and outputs a constant 800ma. Light output is very disapointing when comparing to other Q2 lights. I have a Q2 running on 1x18650 thats a total thrower, with a very similar beam pattern. The Q2 reads 3 times higher on my lux meter than the Q5.

Next light is a DX light that came with a Q2 running on 2x18650s. I swapped the driver board (same as above) and installed a Q5. Light output is NO different.

I tested this board with a Q5, and with ~8V in, it put out 3.7V (or maybe it was 3.9V) and 940ma at the emitter. So I know the boards are good. So it must be the emitters.

I know what DX will say, just return the lights. Well I can't. They're installed. I might try anyways, as long as they know they're getting them back slightly damaged.

Anyone else have problems with these?

 

[Drewfus2101]

Is there any way of telling if I got the right emitter visually? When comparing the actual yellow part of the emitter to a Q2, they are identical. Including the size of that little square thing in there, the wires and placement.

 

[Mash]

Check out some of te threadsd regarding this issue.
From my little understanding, it seems that Q5s need a higher voltage to operate properly, and this is why sometimes in a straight emitter swap results are not so good. ie the board which was designed to run the previous gen crees, is not very well suited to Q5s.

 

[Drewfus2101]

I read that 3.7V and 1A was right for the Q5. I'm just under at 940mA. And the voltage doesn't really matter as long as the current is there. You can't have the current without the voltage. So since I know the current is 940mA, I don't really have to worry about the voltage.

My understanding of this board is that it will vary the output voltage in order to reach the 800mA (or 940mA in my case). So its perfect for the Q5.