Hi guys,
As some of you may know, I have caught the multi output level bug and have been doing some L1-PRT mods as well as a few X200's and working on my own design for an E series LOTC retro-fit. Of course many others are working in the same areas as well as two and three stage levels on other lights.
I was just working on an e-mail response to a fellow CPFer in regards to options and strategies on a L1 mod when I realized that more could be better served if I started a thread here and posted some of my thoughts and observations as well as getting the comments and considerations of the rest of you.
I'll try real hard to keep this post short but it seems that there is a lot to consider and learn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
First, let me just throw out some observations.
A resistor value in the range of 50 to 80 ohms seems to provide a great low beam on both buck and boost circuits for 1W, Lux III's and the 5W's. This low is typically a "low" low but very viable. The stock L1/A2 switch only uses 10 ohms and although this works great on the L1, The low is "higher" than I want on say a downboy system or even badboy system. Those who mod or have mods made for them will have a choice to some extent in picking their "low" level. This seems to me to lead to a discussion of strategy.
Presumably, one will want an ideal or typical "normal" level and then an additional, less often used level of output. To get the most out of one of these dual level lights, I think you want to decide if you are a "normal-High Beam" user or a "normal-LowBeam" user. For instance, with a LuxIII LED, a normal-HighBeam user might go for a low resistor value so that the low beam would drive the LED just out of regulation but at say a level of 500 mA whereas the buck circuit might be biased at 1 amp or even higher. A normal- LowBeam user might want a higher resistor value driving the LED at 30 mA on low with a buck circuit biased at 500 -750 mA. This discussion is probably more significant for lights that will be used in somewhat extended constant on situations. At the very least, it seems to me that we will want some data in regards to how differing resistor values effect various battery, converter and LED systems in terms of output. As a modder, I know I would like more information and data on this but I sure don't welcome this variable added to a build discussion! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif None the less, it is a variable with effect on both output and resulting performance.
I have been more involved in the design and function of a two stage switch than in experiments with its use so far. In checking some schemes out, I have been surprised at just how versatile a two stage switch is and at the options it will accord us. For instance, I just put a PR-T-DB917 (TV0J) on an E1e to see what level of light I would get from essentially driving the TV0J in direct drive. As expected, the output was useable but certainly not real bright. What I hadn't considered was the fact that I could use a two stage switch on this setup and get a resistored low level that was still useable and noticibly lower than the DD of the TV0J! For the heck of it, I put a L1 head on the E1e with two stage switch and observed the same thing; two distinctly different levels of useable light.
With a two stage switch, one could design a DD system whereas the DD mode would be an overdriven HighBeam and the resistored LowBeam could be used as a normal or long run time mode with the LED driven at a reasonable or even reduced current level. I get more excited at the range of possabilities everytime I think about this and get a chance to play with more combinations! With the same front end (converter and LED) one could even have interchangeable tail switches with different resistor values for different strategies; not to mention a pedestrian clickie switch as well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
As an ignoramous when it comes to understanding the magic of these circuits, I would like to comment on an observation that I believe is correct but don't understand. In some brief bench testing, I found that the resistor seemed to dictate the current level of the complete circuit (LED in series with resistor and battery) regardless of the Vf of the LED. Is this right???? With a given Vin, does the resistor set the current regardless of Vf? This does not compute?
To avoid some e-mails and PM's that I suspect this post might generate, I am just about done with the design of my E series LOTC module and have already gone out to bid on the key components. The module is based on the E series LOTC and I am looking into a guarded tail cap that could be used in lieu of the standard SF tail cap if one were so inclined. My design is based on using single or multiple SMD resistors (0805). Initially, I had designed the module to work in the Z57 shell as well but I have reason to believe that soon, the Z57's will not be provided in a dismantable state. That's cool, the Z57 is a great clickie and should be kept as such. It is my hope and plan that I will be able to assemble complete two stage switches as TK's as well as customize and build to suit, using existing LOTC's provided. Further, I hope that the various components and parts will be available on the shop for DIY. It is all too early to tell and the costs for components are not known yet. This particular program goes beyond the scope of a hoby for me, both in terms of expenses and time. I hope that I can see a return on investments as well as provide a useful part at a reasonable price for for the gang at CPF.
Regardless of my personal situation and plans with a E series LOTC, the door *is* open on varible output levels and we have only just begun to factor this varible into our wants and needs! The main point of this thread is to discuss this last comment, hopefully, in more general terms; not how it relates to a specific switch or light . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
As some of you may know, I have caught the multi output level bug and have been doing some L1-PRT mods as well as a few X200's and working on my own design for an E series LOTC retro-fit. Of course many others are working in the same areas as well as two and three stage levels on other lights.
I was just working on an e-mail response to a fellow CPFer in regards to options and strategies on a L1 mod when I realized that more could be better served if I started a thread here and posted some of my thoughts and observations as well as getting the comments and considerations of the rest of you.
I'll try real hard to keep this post short but it seems that there is a lot to consider and learn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
First, let me just throw out some observations.
A resistor value in the range of 50 to 80 ohms seems to provide a great low beam on both buck and boost circuits for 1W, Lux III's and the 5W's. This low is typically a "low" low but very viable. The stock L1/A2 switch only uses 10 ohms and although this works great on the L1, The low is "higher" than I want on say a downboy system or even badboy system. Those who mod or have mods made for them will have a choice to some extent in picking their "low" level. This seems to me to lead to a discussion of strategy.
Presumably, one will want an ideal or typical "normal" level and then an additional, less often used level of output. To get the most out of one of these dual level lights, I think you want to decide if you are a "normal-High Beam" user or a "normal-LowBeam" user. For instance, with a LuxIII LED, a normal-HighBeam user might go for a low resistor value so that the low beam would drive the LED just out of regulation but at say a level of 500 mA whereas the buck circuit might be biased at 1 amp or even higher. A normal- LowBeam user might want a higher resistor value driving the LED at 30 mA on low with a buck circuit biased at 500 -750 mA. This discussion is probably more significant for lights that will be used in somewhat extended constant on situations. At the very least, it seems to me that we will want some data in regards to how differing resistor values effect various battery, converter and LED systems in terms of output. As a modder, I know I would like more information and data on this but I sure don't welcome this variable added to a build discussion! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif None the less, it is a variable with effect on both output and resulting performance.
I have been more involved in the design and function of a two stage switch than in experiments with its use so far. In checking some schemes out, I have been surprised at just how versatile a two stage switch is and at the options it will accord us. For instance, I just put a PR-T-DB917 (TV0J) on an E1e to see what level of light I would get from essentially driving the TV0J in direct drive. As expected, the output was useable but certainly not real bright. What I hadn't considered was the fact that I could use a two stage switch on this setup and get a resistored low level that was still useable and noticibly lower than the DD of the TV0J! For the heck of it, I put a L1 head on the E1e with two stage switch and observed the same thing; two distinctly different levels of useable light.
With a two stage switch, one could design a DD system whereas the DD mode would be an overdriven HighBeam and the resistored LowBeam could be used as a normal or long run time mode with the LED driven at a reasonable or even reduced current level. I get more excited at the range of possabilities everytime I think about this and get a chance to play with more combinations! With the same front end (converter and LED) one could even have interchangeable tail switches with different resistor values for different strategies; not to mention a pedestrian clickie switch as well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
As an ignoramous when it comes to understanding the magic of these circuits, I would like to comment on an observation that I believe is correct but don't understand. In some brief bench testing, I found that the resistor seemed to dictate the current level of the complete circuit (LED in series with resistor and battery) regardless of the Vf of the LED. Is this right???? With a given Vin, does the resistor set the current regardless of Vf? This does not compute?
To avoid some e-mails and PM's that I suspect this post might generate, I am just about done with the design of my E series LOTC module and have already gone out to bid on the key components. The module is based on the E series LOTC and I am looking into a guarded tail cap that could be used in lieu of the standard SF tail cap if one were so inclined. My design is based on using single or multiple SMD resistors (0805). Initially, I had designed the module to work in the Z57 shell as well but I have reason to believe that soon, the Z57's will not be provided in a dismantable state. That's cool, the Z57 is a great clickie and should be kept as such. It is my hope and plan that I will be able to assemble complete two stage switches as TK's as well as customize and build to suit, using existing LOTC's provided. Further, I hope that the various components and parts will be available on the shop for DIY. It is all too early to tell and the costs for components are not known yet. This particular program goes beyond the scope of a hoby for me, both in terms of expenses and time. I hope that I can see a return on investments as well as provide a useful part at a reasonable price for for the gang at CPF.
Regardless of my personal situation and plans with a E series LOTC, the door *is* open on varible output levels and we have only just begun to factor this varible into our wants and needs! The main point of this thread is to discuss this last comment, hopefully, in more general terms; not how it relates to a specific switch or light . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif