Just throwing this out to see if there's interest. There are enough components to create about a hundred more genuine VIP circuit boards and they can be made up rather quickly (~one week). But first some caveats:
1) they will be fully regulated, but at just ONE (full power) level only. DIY'ers can add those leetle tiny SMT sense resistors to get the additional levels exactly where they want them to make true variable level lights; full directions will be provided.
2) initially they will be offered at a nominal 750mA output. Now I don't know how to describe this technically (my EE partner will chime in shortly I am sure) but 750mA output directly to the LED after traveling through all the electronic pathways somehow produces significantly greater output than a board simply "rated" at 750mA. That's why the VIP was so bright on High (all SMT resistance bypassed).
3) they are currently sized at .685" to fit the retaining lip of the VIP, but - important "but" here - all componentry is situated WITHIN the standard .55" diameter, meaning if you wanted to run it in an AA-diametered light all you need do is rotate the board edge against a sanding wheel or similar (or file it off by hand) for a custom fit in your particular application.
4) THERE WILL BE A FEW 1000mA NOMINAL OUTPUT VERSIONS, but this comes later once interest is gauged by followup posts to this thread. However these Must be run with two AA nimhs as they would suck the life out of a CR123 immediately.
5) finally, recall the "tabletop flat" output graph on Roy's runtime test. This is a TRUE, 100% FULLY REGULATED board. And when it goes off regulation it will simply dim down gradually and not drop you into a total and utter "moon mode" semi-darkness (but the EE will correct me here if I'm wrong, I'm certain).
So there you have it - as I said at the end of the run, there will be No More VIPs offered ever again, and this is an opportunity to create your own custom, TRULY "multi-level" (according to Merriam-Webster, "multi" means More Than Two) variable output light, in just the size and configuration you want.
Price will be determined by the EE after seeing some replies; however, you can expect it to be exactly competitive with other boards that Do Not offer the power - not to mention the dimming features - of this very special circuit (and competition is a good thing for the collective CPF community, right?).
Please sound off here and if there's enough interest - we will go ahead with it.
Or they will go into the dumpster... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
1) they will be fully regulated, but at just ONE (full power) level only. DIY'ers can add those leetle tiny SMT sense resistors to get the additional levels exactly where they want them to make true variable level lights; full directions will be provided.
2) initially they will be offered at a nominal 750mA output. Now I don't know how to describe this technically (my EE partner will chime in shortly I am sure) but 750mA output directly to the LED after traveling through all the electronic pathways somehow produces significantly greater output than a board simply "rated" at 750mA. That's why the VIP was so bright on High (all SMT resistance bypassed).
3) they are currently sized at .685" to fit the retaining lip of the VIP, but - important "but" here - all componentry is situated WITHIN the standard .55" diameter, meaning if you wanted to run it in an AA-diametered light all you need do is rotate the board edge against a sanding wheel or similar (or file it off by hand) for a custom fit in your particular application.
4) THERE WILL BE A FEW 1000mA NOMINAL OUTPUT VERSIONS, but this comes later once interest is gauged by followup posts to this thread. However these Must be run with two AA nimhs as they would suck the life out of a CR123 immediately.
5) finally, recall the "tabletop flat" output graph on Roy's runtime test. This is a TRUE, 100% FULLY REGULATED board. And when it goes off regulation it will simply dim down gradually and not drop you into a total and utter "moon mode" semi-darkness (but the EE will correct me here if I'm wrong, I'm certain).
So there you have it - as I said at the end of the run, there will be No More VIPs offered ever again, and this is an opportunity to create your own custom, TRULY "multi-level" (according to Merriam-Webster, "multi" means More Than Two) variable output light, in just the size and configuration you want.
Price will be determined by the EE after seeing some replies; however, you can expect it to be exactly competitive with other boards that Do Not offer the power - not to mention the dimming features - of this very special circuit (and competition is a good thing for the collective CPF community, right?).
Please sound off here and if there's enough interest - we will go ahead with it.
Or they will go into the dumpster... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
