How to fix my cheap 3x xm-l flashlight

[Colol]

I bought a cheap 3x xm-l flashlight on ebay for $45 the seller advertised it as 3800 lumen.
It's 5 modes ( max, med, low, strobe,sos ).
I just wanted a powerful flashlight, i did not expect it to do 3800 lumen.

The flashlight was very bright and the only problem i had was the cheap batteries i used. ( uses 2x 18650 )
On the max mode the flashlight would shutoff after a while with the cheap batteries.

I decided to try some other cheap batteries i got.

I put the flashlight on the max mode and tested with 2 DMM. (multimeter)
As the voltage started to drop the amperage increased !
Till the point that the voltage got to about ~5.50volts and the current above 3a.
At this point the flashlight shut off, but this time when i turned it back on the light was dimmer in all modes!
So the max mode was like the low mode, and the low mode was super dim.
After opening the flashlight i saw the xm-l led still works so i know it was the led driver that got ruined. ( driver label says "hx-1150b" )
The new voltage in the flashlight at the 3x xm-l led ( in series ) was ~7.93 high, 4.04 Med, 0.88 low. ( with no load )

I have no idea what the voltage was before my flashlight got ruined but clearly running 3 xm-l leds at 4.04 volts would be very week with each led getting only 1.34 volts, clearly not medium power.

My question is, what exactly got ruined in my led driver? can i fix it?
I was thinking maybe i could just short circuit one of the led and run the flashlight on just 2 leds?
I understand that running the each led under 4 volts would be too high, but the voltage drops under load. ( was 6.27v 1.33a with my cheap batteries on max setting with 2 led)
If the voltage is too high for the 2 led, maybe i could just add a resistor?

I also accidentally broke one of my led, thought if i did manage to fix the driver i could order a replacement led.
But the flashlight is already powerful enough, so a 2 led solution would also be fine.

Thanks

 

[JohnnyBravo]

I have a similar 3 xmlt6 light too. Rated at 3800 lumens. When I tried two different brands of xxxfire 18650s, it would do the same thing. Then I learned of the AW IMR 18650s and how they can handle heavy drains/discharge rates. Problem solved.

 

[dudemar]

I second the idea for using IMRs. Two Li-ion 18650s will not deliver the amperage necessary for that level of output.

 

[Mike_TX]

^ There's your answer. Those XM-L's were drawing too much current for the 18650's. And under the right circumstances it could be a recipe for disaster.

.
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[bshanahan14rulz]

if your driver is fried you can try to order new drivers on DX or KD. maybe dx 57779 will fit

 

[HotWire]

I have the same, or similar light. I use IMRs in it most of the time. AW and Callie's Kustom batteries work well. I try not to use cheap batteries. I've had many cheap battery failures. No AW or Callie's Kustom failures. Redilast is good too. No problems with Redilast. Clean all the connection in the light while you are waiting for new batteries.