which driver for 4xD alkaline?

I'm planning to mod a 4xD lantern to LED but I don't know what driver do use. Ideally it would be as simple as can be, most of the ones at DX are multimode. From what I've learned it's also a good idea not driving it to hard using alkalines. Any suggestions? Something cheap with free shipping would be best.

Thanks.

what sort of led configuration are you planning ?

single cree + 7135 based driver @700ma is nice since you are using alkaline.

steve6690 said:

what sort of led configuration are you planning ?

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It will be a single cree.

rizky_p: What do you think about this? http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=2982

That one would be good, but it is still out of stock. This drop-in module has that driver, and a LED.

Maybe this one would work?

Gunner12 said:

That one would be good, but it is still out of stock.

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Emphasis added - it's been a long time. I find myself wondering why it's in the top sellers list on the home page. :ironic:

Gunner12 said:

That one would be good, but it is still out of stock. This drop-in module has that driver, and a LED.

Maybe this one would work?

Click to expand...

Thanks. The DX one says 3V input, my lantern will be running on 6V which I assume won't work. What do you think?

How did I mess that one up?

I meant this board(I've heard this one wasn't at full current at 6v).

Gunner12 said:

How did I mess that one up?

I meant this board(I've heard this one wasn't at full current at 6v).

Click to expand...

I put together a 4D mag with this board this past weekend using a ssc p4. The emitter was running at 3.55V and ~1A which was a bit higher than I expected.

Why not use a Micropuck in 'buck' configuration. It should deliver just over 300mA to the LED for a really long time.

MartinSE said:

.....Ideally it would be as simple as can be, .......Any suggestions?

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Why not DD with 3 cells?

Bypass one cell and use a resistor (1,5 Ohms, 1W) for your latern.
Simple, cheap and looong runtimes.

Best regard

____
Tom

I've been doing alot of modding lately for friends with Mags and trying to stick with alkalines has taught me that using alkaline batteries is a bad choice. Its not that there arn't any good drivers to use with them, its that the batteries are a bad choice for driving LEDs.

But if you have too, this is about your best bet:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3256

And they are back in stock. I just had some ship from DX a few days ago.

If you would stick with 3 cells, that would change alot, but with 4 cells, what I listed above is your best bet. Besides possibly taking apart a drop-in module for parts. That would work out about the same I guess, which would actually be pretty smart.

But my point is that using alkalines is a bad idea. Trust me, I know. I've spent countless hours doing the math and researching and experimenting with them and direct driving and different driver boards, and it just never works out well. Get some recheargeable NiMH batteries and you'll be much happier.
http://batteryjunction.com/bcqusmch4d10.html

MartinSE said:

It will be a single cree.

rizky_p: What do you think about this? http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/ProductDetail.aspx?TranID=2982

Click to expand...

that driver is not in stock for months now...dont count on it.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3146
Since you will be using 4 nimh range is aroung 1v - 5.2v that one above is good enough for you needs i think. simple and single mode and also cheap to boot. the think is you have to buy 10 of them

rizky_p said:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3146

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Because of how quickly the voltage of an alkaline battery drops I think I'll recommend 4 x alkaline or 3 x NiMH. With three alkaline cells you might run out of voltage when the cells are only 1/3 used.

rizky_p said:

that driver is not in stock for months now...dont count on it.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3146
Since you will be using 4 nimh range is aroung 1v - 5.2v that one above is good enough for you needs i think. simple and single mode and also cheap to boot. the think is you have to buy 10 of them

Click to expand...

That board isn't really a driver board, its more of a glorified resistor. I believe it is called a linear regulator. I'd research that before I bought it over other boost and buck boards.

Sure, linear regulators are drivers, Drewfus. The linear regulators on that board are being used to drive an LED, so of course they are. Nice avatar, BTW.