Had an old, burned out Novatac that was bought specifically to mess around with some different drivers, finally getting around to it.
Ordered an LFlex and got to work. Pretty simple mod:
1. Gut old electronics and preserve battery contact board and pill shell.
2. Dremel off the surface mounted components on the back of the battery contact board. If you're careful you can preserve the contacts to connect all the wires to.
3. Attach wires for the (+) and (-) battery connections and the switch signal. Some drilling may be necessary.
4. Attach wires to LFlex, battery (+), (-), and switch to SWA.
5. Mount LFlex to inside surface of pill with included thermal tape.
6. Reassemble.
Works great and the driver offers a wide range of features and operating modes. Fully programmable Low Voltage Detection and Shutoff, selectable groups of output levels from Max of 500mA to 3.5A, and too many other things to list. Check out the link above for full listing of features and specs.
The contact board.
Set up for testing.
Ready for mounting.
The nearly completed pill.
This driver would be suitable for any mod that allows for a switching circuit. It doesn't support power cycling for mode changes so it will require a host with a switch.
Ideal switching would be 2 dedicated wires for a momentary, however, the HDS/Nova design works fine in my installation. Leave SWB unconnected.
I'm running this with 1xRCR123 so I haven't tried any higher that the 1500mA max range, normally leave it on the 1000mA range, very bright. Haven't run it long enough on HIGH to generate any heat.
Have most of the exterior of the pill slathered with thermal paste to ensure transfer to the head.
Georges80 was fantastic with quick, detailed responses to a few questions I had.
The driver works over such a broad range of voltages and output levels that I will be incorporating one in my under-cabinet kitchen LED lighting project. And it just so happens that it has a firmware feature set for this very use!
Ordered an LFlex and got to work. Pretty simple mod:
1. Gut old electronics and preserve battery contact board and pill shell.
2. Dremel off the surface mounted components on the back of the battery contact board. If you're careful you can preserve the contacts to connect all the wires to.
3. Attach wires for the (+) and (-) battery connections and the switch signal. Some drilling may be necessary.
4. Attach wires to LFlex, battery (+), (-), and switch to SWA.
5. Mount LFlex to inside surface of pill with included thermal tape.
6. Reassemble.
Works great and the driver offers a wide range of features and operating modes. Fully programmable Low Voltage Detection and Shutoff, selectable groups of output levels from Max of 500mA to 3.5A, and too many other things to list. Check out the link above for full listing of features and specs.
The contact board.
Set up for testing.
Ready for mounting.
The nearly completed pill.
This driver would be suitable for any mod that allows for a switching circuit. It doesn't support power cycling for mode changes so it will require a host with a switch.
Ideal switching would be 2 dedicated wires for a momentary, however, the HDS/Nova design works fine in my installation. Leave SWB unconnected.
I'm running this with 1xRCR123 so I haven't tried any higher that the 1500mA max range, normally leave it on the 1000mA range, very bright. Haven't run it long enough on HIGH to generate any heat.
Have most of the exterior of the pill slathered with thermal paste to ensure transfer to the head.
Georges80 was fantastic with quick, detailed responses to a few questions I had.
The driver works over such a broad range of voltages and output levels that I will be incorporating one in my under-cabinet kitchen LED lighting project. And it just so happens that it has a firmware feature set for this very use!
