Soft start vs. Regulated incan driver

[Linger]

My incans are for enjoyment, walks in the woods with family, or through the park just as an excuse to use them.(I have a led on me for any 'need')

I'm planning on an AW soft-start for M@g D. I've have a few different combinations for the M@g: ROPs, to WA's, Carly's, to the new wunderkind Hikari 5607. And some different power supplies: 8aa'a, 14500's, IMR (16340, 18650, 26500) 25500, 26650, etc...
With the multi-mode I expect the brightest become more manageble when I can turn them down, also the somewhat longer run-time from using lower modes is nice.
My question is if I am already spending $75 on a soft-start, would I be better served going with the regulated driver instead?
I understand the driver will give me longer at max as I could load up with the big lithium cells. But I don't see myself needing long run times on high. It would be nice to know I could get 1500lumens at the click of a switch, at any time. But I also get by fine with the gradually declining output.
The driver would be pre-set (I'm not allocating time to learn the reprograming) and I would lose out a lot of combinations. There's a work-around - I just port over the higher power items into the 3D M@g if the driver will work with different bulbs.
Question: Is it possible to use a few different bulbs with one driver, e.g. if it was set for 11.8v as max, could I swap between 1166, 1185, JC5607, etc...

How is the regulated driver best used? I feel that at this point AW's soft-start may serve me better as it has more instant flexibility (no reprograming required). Is the regulated driver best when a single configuration, like an FM mega host with a 100w bulb?

Thanx,
Linger

 

[Conte]

I've never worked with the regulators, but I have worked with the Incan drivers. Perhaps I can offer you a few things to think about.

First off, as a warning, Incan Drivers are addictive. I was reluctant to buy my first one, but did, ended up buying 2 more to load into my USER lights.

One pro about the incan driver is, you lego it around different lights.
Say you get bored for the light you installed it in, and want to try it in a diff light, you can. As long as you are running the correct matching power plant, you are gravy.
I would imagine that once a regulator is programmed for a specific v-out then you are limited to using bulbs in that voltage range.

On the other hand, later on, if you invest in the programming hardware and learn to program it, which I'm sure isn't that hard, that you could get the regulator to do all sorts of things.

Either or, one thing I've noticed about multi-mode operation in incan, is the higher the output a bulb, the less practical the modes become. You can go ahead and dim that bright bulb, but, you still end up with bright somewhat blinding output, jsut now its yellow and ugly.
It depends on the bulb really. I imagine a bulb like the hikari that is designed to run at 6v won't look so bad with such a decline in output.

I find the 11watt range of the magcharger or the rop low a sweet spot when using multi-mode operation cause the light doesn't get too yellow. You go from a 3D to a 4-6D to full output 11watts.
It kicks *** for functionality in my 6P style EDC that uses a EO-4 equivalent bulb with one 18650.

For the high output hotwires the advantage to these units is more the softstart then the multi mode.

Perhaps if you were using the regulator and could program tweek the mode you could find all the sweet spots for the particular bulb.
I personally wouldn't get the regulator unless I was willing to go all the way, getting the extra hardware and learning to program it. But that's jsut cause I'm a lego fiend that juggles my Mags into all sorts of different configurations.

If you plan on setting it and forgetting it, and keeping it that way, if could be jsut the thing for you.

Hope I've given some insight.

 

[Linger]

I personally wouldn't get the regulator unless I was willing to go all the way, getting the extra hardware and learning to program it. But that's jsut cause I'm a lego fiend that juggles my Mags into all sorts of different configurations.

Much thanx for the input Conte.
I'll think about it.

 

[JimmyM]

The regulators I build can be field adjusted with a small screwdriver and a good meter. But for only $40 each + $12 for the KIU base, you can use different ones for each light.

AWs soft start is simple, straight forward, but does not do any kind of regulation at all. So you're still tied to matching bulb to battery.
It's best employed, IMHO, in a single pack/single bulb arrangement.

A regulator can be programmed to do anything you want, then you just use it.

AlanBs regulator can be programmed by him to use internal jumpers for different settings, so that's an option too. His is a little more expensive than AWs soft starter, but it's immensely more flexible.

Once the regulator's voltage is set, you can use any bulb you want that runs at that voltage, regardless of power. To increase run time, you just add cells.

 

[Steve in SoCal]

Your regulator appears to be targeted toward the mag market, are there any current applications of this product for SF M6's? I know Petrev worked up a solution some time ago that involved a modified tailcap and I believe Leukos rigged up a FM 3x17670 holder with a regulator but it would be nice to hear your thoughts.

 

[JimmyM]

Absolutely. One is already in the works.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215806

 

[Steve in SoCal]

Absolutely. One is already in the works.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=215806

Hopefully that project will come to fruition soon.

 

[Linger]

Jimmy M.,

I was just reading an old hotwire thread for no particular reason and I came across mention of your regulator and spent the last 20min reading the thread. Then I log on to PM you and check this post and see your post.



Thank-you, your regulator looks PERFECT!

Guess this means the AW softstart I ordered will arrive in my mailbox tomorrow :shakehead I'm sorry I thought there was only one regulator, I saw your banner add months ago and I guess I just presumed it was the board inside Alan's reg? Dunno, my error and AW's gain. But I've got many lego combo's for bulbs / batteries so it'll the soft-start will still have legs.

PM sent, your product looks fantastic. And especially for my new stack of Hikari (JC5607) bulbs, 6v rated means multi-level output should be nice and white all through lower drive levels.

-Linger

 

[JimmyM]

Glad you like them. Alan and my regulators are based on the same original design work we did, but the hardware differs quite a bit.
There are areas where his are better and where mine are better.
Our regulators have different target markets, so they excel in different areas.

Read up on both of ours and make an informed decision.
Of course, at $40 each you can buy a few of mine. He he he. :devil:

Jimmy M.,

I was just reading an old hotwire thread for no particular reason and I came across mention of your regulator and spent the last 20min reading the thread. Then I log on to PM you and check this post and see your post.



Thank-you, your regulator looks PERFECT!

Guess this means the AW softstart I ordered will arrive in my mailbox tomorrow :shakehead I'm sorry I thought there was only one regulator, I saw your banner add months ago and I guess I just presumed it was the board inside Alan's reg? Dunno, my error and AW's gain. But I've got many lego combo's for bulbs / batteries so it'll the soft-start will still have legs.

PM sent, your product looks fantastic. And especially for my new stack of Hikari (JC5607) bulbs, 6v rated means multi-level output should be nice and white all through lower drive levels.

-Linger

 

[Conte]

Whoa, I knew about your regulator. I was under the impression that it is what Alan loaded into his sled, and that it would require programming to tweek.

For some reason I missed the part on your thread they mentioned the Vbulb and Vlow are tweeked on the fly . . .damn.

Ok, sorry for my mis information.

I'm sure Linger will still love his Incan Driver, as I do, but your unit, is awfully tempting. I think I'm going to be ordering one of those soon.

I actually like how they are a RAW PCB. I asked AW he would sell just the raw PCB so I could integrate it into other non mag lighting systems, but he refused. I had the battery powered 100watt flood light on my dirt bike in mind. MX Bike, no stator.

Do you stock any Kiu Kits, you can sell/ship with them? I'm trying to order a Kiu kit but his response time is lacking.


Linger, Look on the bright side, you KNOW as a flashoholic, you're going to end up owning both in the end anyway. :twothumbs

 

[Linger]

...still waiting on shipping...AW's stuff usually flies here in under a week.

It's all good. I'll order a kiu and when-ever it arrives I'll contact JimmyM

 

[JimmyM]

I don't stock KIUs, so I can't help you there. Sorry.
My regulators can be adjusted by tiny pots on the board if you like, however, I do set them per your specification before shipping.

 

[nighttrails]

If you're not overdriving a bulb to it's extreme limits, does a softstart still extend bulb life? Or is there only softstart benefit when the filament has become weakened with use and is nearing the end of it's life anyway, thus only providing marginal gains in bulb life?

 

[Linger]

nighttrails,
The majority of the stress to a filament comes during start, when filament goes from happily hanging around to being hit with x current. A longer life bulb will take this abuse more times to be sure, but the start is still hardest on the fillament.

So from this we could deduce that softstart should reduce stress / wear on any filament, even one driven to spec.

But this is not a definative answer.

 

[JimmyM]

Linger, If it's not a definitive answer, it dare anyone to refute it.
A soft start will extend bulb life. The amount of additional life will depend on how far you're overdriving it.

You can select 3 rates of softstart with my regulator. it will start in ~0.1 sec to over one second. Since it's an "S" curve, it get's to about 80-90% voltage pretty quickly, then sneaks up on full voltage for the remainder of the soft-start cycle time. Very good for bulb care.

nighttrails,
The majority of the stress to a filament comes during start, when filament goes from happily hanging around to being hit with x current. A longer life bulb will take this abuse more times to be sure, but the start is still hardest on the fillament.

So from this we could deduce that softstart should reduce stress / wear on any filament, even one driven to spec.

But this is not a definative answer.