KD 5 mode Drivers..

[Superdave]

Just a word of caution, i have several 5 mode KD "direct" drivers designed for the MC-E and P7 to run on 1 18650. I made a MC-E P60 dropin and noticed that it was never as bright as i expected.

Tonight i finally took the time to hook the dropin up to my benchtop DC power supply. @ 4Vin the Psup load was a whopping 1.2A (confirmed by my Fluke). Current was the same to the emitter as well. I took out the driver and was instantly able to run the MC-E up past it's rated specs, and boy what a difference! *edit, yes i made sure the output was on "high" mode

So the moral of the story.. you get what you pay for when it comes to drivers. :shakehead

Now to find a driver that'll deliver a true 2.8-3A and regulate the Vf...

 

[jasonsmaglites]

were they claiming 2.8a? are you saying it stinks because it cant deliver the maximum power or do you think it was inefficent? might not be too bad of an option for someone who prefers longer runtime. but they just shouldnt advertise it as full power.

 

[Superdave]

It was supposed to deliver whatever possible from the battery, i'd assume 2-2.8A on high. http://www.kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1845

as for the runtime, i never ran a full test but i'd say it should have gotten almost 2 hours on high.


I can actually run a full on test now that it's not hooked to anything. I'll post the results in a while...

 

[bbgobie]

Hi SuperDave
I have that driver, and yes, mine only outputs 1.2A, but it is very efficient at that.

Now about your statement, because 1 product that a retailer sells doesnt do 2.8A doesn't mean all products do not.

There is a very big difference between saying product X from KD doesn't do this...

And KD 5 mode drivers from KD don't do this...

 

[Superdave]

Hi SuperDave
I have that driver, and yes, mine only outputs 1.2A, but it is very efficient at that.

Now about your statement, because 1 product that a retailer sells doesnt do 2.8A doesn't mean all products do not.

There is a very big difference between saying product X from KD doesn't do this...

And KD 5 mode drivers from KD don't do this...

Considering they offer very few 5 mode drivers at all, and only 1 or 2 for the MC-E/P7 i think my post was accurate.

I have one of the Super P7 drivers for my P7 Maglite, it delivers on it's specs driving the P7 near 2.8A. It just seems to be a design flaw with the direct drivers.

I couldn't replicate the load of the MC-E on the circuit accurately, however with 4.3Vin and a 2A load provided by my Sencore DC Psup load tester, the Vout was 3V.

the thread was just a fair warning to those who might have built a light using the same circuit that i did and were dissapointed by the output.

 

[nailbender]

KD's service leaves much to be desired but I have used their super P7 and came very close to what was called for in the specs except for one. I have also had good luck on their Driver designed for MC-E, it was not exactly 2.8 but it was very close and have a couple in the field with no complaints.

I have only had two of these DD 5 mode drivers and the one I used with an MC-E turned it blue in a second and like to never got it turned off before it blew but I did so I think it must have been in full DD but you now have me curious and will have to get the other one out tonight and test it to see what it does. I am curious to see if it might have been the batches.

I have just today ordered a couple of the new 2.8 Deal Extreme P7 - MC-E drivers they have just come out with. It will be interesting if they end up being any better.

Dave

 

[Superdave]

i looked at those drivers, the diameter for me is the killer though. They'd work well in a Mag-Mod or something with a bit more space.

 

[Superdave]

I ran the MC-E in a true direct drive today, with a protected 18650 it drew 2.1A at the tailcap, unprotected 18650 2.6A and on 2 CR123's it drew 3.1A (around 5Vin). No angry blue, lots of heat though.

I'll test all 3 configs in my "Integrating Cylinder" and post the results.

 

[nailbender]

Hi SuperDave

I recieved a few new 5 mode DD boards from KD the other day and they have changed the board. It is not a nanjg board at least it is not labeled at all, the guts side of it is alot alike but definately has some different components.

I used it in a P7 build and was quite pleased and I measured 2.65 to 2.75amps @ the tail cap so this batch is doing what it is supposed to.

Dave

 

[Superdave]

Hi SuperDave

I recieved a few new 5 mode DD boards from KD the other day and they have changed the board. It is not a nanjg board at least it is not labeled at all, the guts side of it is alot alike but definately has some different components.

I used it in a P7 build and was quite pleased and I measured 2.65 to 2.75amps @ the tail cap so this batch is doing what it is supposed to.

Dave

Good to hear!

i guess my other ones could be used to drive Q5's.. that might be fun.

 

[nailbender]

I have used two now building some drop ins and they have worked quite well. @ six volts they are between 2.9 & 3 amps and did not burn out even when I put two 16340 in the light although the emitter was mighty bright it did not turn blue but I did not run it long because I figure it was well over 3amps although I did not measure, one did not have to by how white the light was.

The MC-E driver of theirs has been redesigned also with a full heat pad the circumference of the board except for a cut out at the large round electrical item that I AA to the sink.

Dave

 

[gunga]

Are these available on DX? I tend not to shop at KD these days...