LED driver voltage difference

Lupino.86

Newly Enlightened
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Jan 24, 2010
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I want to buy a P7 LED Driver (3.6/4.2V - 2800mAh) but I do not know whether to buy a driver for 1S or 2S battery (4.2 or 8.4V). :shrug:
I have no trouble creating a battery pack, more than anything else I would know if there are brightness variations in feeding the driver 4 to 8V.


Exist a driver that accepts voltages from 3 to 9V?
With a driver, if I use 4.2V 8800mAh have more light time that with 8.4V 4400mAh, right? (maybe stupid question but I can not know if a LED driver change the light duration)

Thanks in advance,
Lupino.86
 
I could use 8xAMC7135 (2x 1400mAh) in this mode?
See pic (taken and translate in http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhgsGk6vyAwPfDUNS3ixkxapWCVsSA):

228945311_6dcb9a4e6f_b.jpg
 
If I use a higher power LED driver for example: P7 LED driver of 2800mAh use with a simple Q5 1000mAh), what happens? What risk? is useless? :thinking:
Thanks lovecpf
 
Hi, what the LEDs "need" is relatively constant current. This can be accomplished multiple ways.

a) Resistor in line with the cells
- burns off the excess voltage over the LED Vf.
- As the cells discharge, the current changes some.
- The more voltage difference (battery - Vf), the more wasted energy and heat
- More cells in series equals more waste

b) AMC chips
- Similar to a resistor
- Resistance varies to try to deal with the changing voltage, making a more constant current
- Not really much more efficient than a resistor

c) Inductor based driver
- Converts the excess voltage into power for the LED
- Well made ones are very efficient
- More cells equals more run time
- You are looking for a buck converter
- Strongly consider either taskled.com or the sandwich shoppe, both have very decent products made exactly for what you want.
- I also have used buckpucks from leddynamics

In the sticky threads at the top of this section, there is a link to a range of suppliers of drivers and types.
 
Thanks for explanation :thumbsup:
Let me know right away if a driver should I use for a 2S or 1S battery pack, thanks
 
I would like immediately to understand if it suits me to use a driver for a package batteries, thanks and sorry for my "bad" english :shakehead
 
Thanks for explanation in the other thread. :thumbsup:
Don't worry, the discussion continue HERE :popcorn:


I will use 18650 batteries from 2200mAh in packages from 2 or 4 batteries.
Following your discourse (and your suggestion) it suits me to use the 7.4V (2S) having so 2200mAH or 4400mAh, are OK this way?
 
Hi, I think I understand your question.

If you put 2 cells in series, then it is 2200 mah at 7.4 volts, which is fine.

2 cells in parallel, then combined as 2 parallel x 2 series (4 total) does make for 4400mah an approximate 7.4 volts (close to 8.4 fully charged)

Be careful as you start making these into larger packs though. Make sure to charge each cell by iteself and make sure to check it with a voltmeter before use. Each cell MUST be very close in voltage value to the others, and similar brand and type.

Please read through the threads in the "fire and smoke" section on the potential hazards of using Li Ion cells before using them. They are a great product, but must be respected.

Of couse, use only cells with "protection circuits".
 
Yes Yes, don't worry :thumbsup:
"safety" is my word of order! :D:D:D
I have experience in to build sure batteries packages and well balanced... believe me, have never had problems or accidents! :party: you think that I love to go on MTB under the rain even if it is dark :nana:)


Thanks for reply, I now put immediately me to the search of a good P7 LED driver from 5 to 9V (2S battery) :huh:
Would you be so kind to calculate me the duration of the brightness with a package batteries from 2200mAh and from 4400mAh?


lovecpflovecpflovecpflovecpflovecpflovecpflovecpf
 
you know that the translation might as well be in Chineeze , cause we still can not read it.

Lupino get yourself a AMC7135 board and Test it, it is fun. they dont cost much, it is easy to hook up on the workbench.
drive it with a single li-ion and see where you get on the bench.

when the voltage of the battery gets very close to the voltage that the LED is at, AT the current it is driven, the AMC7135 type of drivers will fall out of regulation.
it is a rather nice way to treat the battery, and it is reasonable efficent. the thing will just clip off the excessive voltage to make the current for the led.

do not drive the AMC7135 type of driver with more than 6volts. remember everything over the led voltage will be clipped and come out as Heat into the AMC7135 chip thing. so do not use 2S li-ion (8.4V) with those drivers. Untill you do special tricks that are not without issues.
that is the jist of it simply.

if you dont like that, then the costs of the drivers to keep in full regulation (full power always), is higher , and then the input voltages will proably WANT to then be higher, just because the next type of drivers would work best with the 2S and up configurations.

you really have to try this stuff out (when it doesnt cost much to do so, especially)
some people love it, some people hate it, the battery will like it.

Then to progress from there, you would know more of what you want and do not want. you might think that neverending runtimes and dwindling outputs are just not your thing, or that a single easy li-ion battery just isnt complex enough for you, or you insist on higher outputs, or different configuarions.
without trying the simple stuff that costs little, the more complex stuff wont be easier.

you dont want to toss power out through any losses, the diagram you show (i think) will do just that, might be good if you have wall power handy , but there are better ways of wasting power, like wasting it through a LED :) . and that method still leaves much to be desired.

it is still too easy, get the board, hook up for ONE cell and One led, then play with it, then make these alterations and see what you get, then put a LED in where you were blowing power for nothing, and see that too.

check out this thread, where they "waste" extra power in light items.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=201392
 
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VidPro, practically you telling me to purchase AMC7135 and even making some tests before purchasing more complex and efficient driver?
 
VidPro, practically you telling me to purchase AMC7135 and even making some tests before purchasing more complex and efficient driver?

yes the 7135 is fun to play with at any rate, putting a single li-ion and a single led together with that type of driver is well worth it, and easy to do. i am sure it wont go to waste , you can think of somewhere to use it :thumbsup:
 
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