Need a driver for Streamlight Tasklight 3xAA mod.

[LLCoolBeans]

CPF,

I need a hand choosing a driver for this mod. Planning on running one of the High-CRI SSC emitters.

Here are the bin codes:
either one of these: [FONT=&quot]889-N42180L-S2 [/FONT]
Or one of these: [FONT=&quot]889-S42180-S2 [/FONT]

I believe that the flashlight is direct drive, it has a push button on/off switch attached to a PC board and a resistor attached underneath. I have no idea what the resistor is doing. I don't see any ICs or anything that would lead me to believe that there is any sort of regulation going on. Voltage drop at the emitter is 4.5V.

Anyway, I'm guessing I need a buck driver that will take in 4.5V and output whatever it is the SSC needs. Different modes would be nice, but all I really need is on/off. Also, driver must be small enough to fit inside, behind the star.

I've browsed through the availible drivers on DX and Kaidomain, but am lost with all the different drivers availible.

Thanks for your help and patience. (in advance)

 

[datiLED]

I was searching for something else when I came across your post. Since you didn't get a reply, I thought that I'd take a moment to answer you.

I did this mod for someone a while ago, and I used a GD500 driver board from the Sandwich Shoppe. Of course, you could get the current set to whatever you would like. The boards from DX, or KD will not fit due to their larger diameter and inductor size. The GD board is a buck/boost driver, and it handles three 1.5V cells very well.

Even with the small 0.55" board, it is a very tight fit. You have to slide the board in sideways along with the switch. I actually had to Dremel some clearance for the edges of the board and the inductor for it to fit into the opening. You remove the resistor from the stock board, and wire the GD driver to the switch. Then the entire assembly slides in as a unit.

The mod turned out excellent, and the large head allows for some decent throw. I shimmed the Seoul LED by 0.030" to get proper focus, but it is not necessary if you don't mind losing some throw.

The best part about the mod is that it will deplete alkaline cells while keeping the brightness constant. If you use the light often, it will pay for itself quickly.

Good luck with the mod. :thumbsup:

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I was searching for something else when I came across your post. Since you didn't get a reply, I thought that I'd take a moment to answer you.

Thanks dati,

This was a blast from the past and a pleasant surprise this morning. I figured this thread was long gone and no one would ever see it again.

I ended up doing this mod a month or so ago. I just used the stock "driver" and replaced the lumiled star with an XR-E star. This worked pretty well, but I'm sure your suggestion would have worked even better.

I still have another one of these, so I may do the same as you in the near future.

Thanks