ThumperIII
Newly Enlightened
While waiting for my final components to arrive, I was breadboarding different circuits, just to test the light output and V & A values I got with different components. I found I was reading a small voltage in the circuit when the switch was OFF. I read 0.006V across the leads with a Fluke 73 DMM.
My setup is a 3D M*g body and tailcap. The stock switch was removed, trimmed off lamp pedestal and excess Neg strap, soldered on 22ga leads and reassembled. The leads were extended out the front so I could test attach different circuits. A P7 LED with leads was mounted in an alum reflector w/ arctic alumina (enough heatsink for short runs). Wire is 22ga, 19 strand, low resistance, silver tinned. Three Titanium brand 12000mAh NiMH D cells. Three different circuits were tried: 4*7135, 2 x 4*7135, and a 1A multi-mode driver. When the circuits were complete and main switch was OFF, a .006V (steady) was read across the leads (between the switch and the first component) with all circuits. The polarity of the current changed when I reversed the probes. With any circuit attached but broken open at one connection, the voltage constantly fluctuated 0.004 - 0.018 V and reversed polarity with the probes. Just the leads from the switch with no components 0.004 - 0.134V and reverses with probe switch. A meter check of just touching the probes together gives .000VDC steady reading. Everything seems clean and dry. No dirt, visible residue or lubes (except at threads of tailcap, which was same for all tests). Any ideas about how these electrons are sneaking through? Or is it in the meter? Picked up from fluorescent fixture by long layout leads? Can the components of even an open circuit act as a stabilizing ballast? Thanks for any clarification.
My setup is a 3D M*g body and tailcap. The stock switch was removed, trimmed off lamp pedestal and excess Neg strap, soldered on 22ga leads and reassembled. The leads were extended out the front so I could test attach different circuits. A P7 LED with leads was mounted in an alum reflector w/ arctic alumina (enough heatsink for short runs). Wire is 22ga, 19 strand, low resistance, silver tinned. Three Titanium brand 12000mAh NiMH D cells. Three different circuits were tried: 4*7135, 2 x 4*7135, and a 1A multi-mode driver. When the circuits were complete and main switch was OFF, a .006V (steady) was read across the leads (between the switch and the first component) with all circuits. The polarity of the current changed when I reversed the probes. With any circuit attached but broken open at one connection, the voltage constantly fluctuated 0.004 - 0.018 V and reversed polarity with the probes. Just the leads from the switch with no components 0.004 - 0.134V and reverses with probe switch. A meter check of just touching the probes together gives .000VDC steady reading. Everything seems clean and dry. No dirt, visible residue or lubes (except at threads of tailcap, which was same for all tests). Any ideas about how these electrons are sneaking through? Or is it in the meter? Picked up from fluorescent fixture by long layout leads? Can the components of even an open circuit act as a stabilizing ballast? Thanks for any clarification.
