Flashlight modders

[tattoosteve99]

Looking for some advice here. I have a couple super nice heatsinks that I will be making a triple led out of. What I need to know is what driver (circuit board) do I need to use for 2xrcr123 @4.2 volts each. This is the led I am using.
http://www.ledsupply.com/indusstar-3up.php
I want to drive it as high as I can with a 1 or 3 mode driver. I would post this at CPF but it seems when you ask a question all they do is tell you to search the forum. Search that place is a hassle.

[mvyrmnd]

That board, by default, is wires to have the emitters in series. That means a total Vf of over 9v. 2 RCR123's will need a boost driver in order to power them. Something like this: http://www.taskled.com/fatman.html

It could be easier wiring them in paralell (more wires, but will make driving them easier). That means you only need a "normal" driver with enough current output to push them. You could easily use a 2.8A shiningbeam driver to run them at 933mA each. You could get a 3.1A XM-L driver to run them at just over 1A, etc.

I've stolen this image from a CPF thread, but you'd need to wire the LED board like this:

[tattoosteve99]

Kereberos I believe that's his pic. I have a driver but want to know if it will work.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/18v-5w-cree-circuit-board-for-flashlights-16-8mm-5-5mm-26110

I plan on driving them by removing the crossovers and wire them individually like posted above. Will this board work?

[mvyrmnd]

That board only has an output current of 1.25A. If you use that board and wire the emitters in paralell, you'll be sharing that 1.25A between all the emitters, each will only see ~415mA.

You could use that board, wire them in series and each emitter would get 1.25A, but you'd need to use 3 RCR123's (the input voltage must be higher than the output voltage. 3 RCR123's will give an input voltage of 12.6V, the output would be 9.9V)

[tattoosteve99]

Ok I changed my mind. Since the triple is a super flood I want more of a spot beam. So this:
http://www.ledsupply.com/creexml-w280.php

Is what I want. What is the board I should use for this one?

[Essexman]

I was going to say this one   http://illuminationsupply.com/8xamc7135-28a-selectable-mode-driver-p-45.html?zenid=aac04abc34fe4b2fa1e47883f64b6c4f

but no, highest input votage is 6V.

Maybe go to one 18650 to replace the pair of RCR123?  Then you coiuld use the above driver.

[tattoosteve99]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

[mvyrmnd]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

It should do. You'll get about 900 emitter lumens from that, expect ~700 OTF.

[tattoosteve99]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

It should do. You'll get about 900 emitter lumens from that, expect ~700 OTF.

Will that work for the single or the triple? Both maybe?

[mvyrmnd]

It'd work for the single, and the triple if you wired them in parallel. Each emitter would see 933mA.

Assuming you were using R5 bin emitters, each emitter would give ~330 lumens, giving you a total of 990 emitter lumens, or about 700 OTF

You'd have exactly the same brightness. Well not exactly, but you'd not be able to tell with the naked eye.

The XM-L would have a hotspot, and be reasonably throwy, the Triple would be all flood.

[tattoosteve99]

Fantastic!  I'll order some supplies and get to it. I need some backups for my backup.

[Essexman]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

It should do. You'll get about 900 emitter lumens from that, expect ~700 OTF.

TAKE NOTE -  25mm diameter !  Will that fit your heatsink?

I'm only saying beacuse I've done the same before!

[mvyrmnd]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

It should do. You'll get about 900 emitter lumens from that, expect ~700 OTF.

TAKE NOTE -  25mm diameter !  Will that fit your heatsink?

I'm only saying beacuse I've done the same before!

I was speaking electronically. I'd assumed he'd already taken physical parameters into account.

[tattoosteve99]

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/regulated-cv-cc-led-driver-circuit-board-for-cree-mc-e-ssc-p7-emitters-8-4v-max-input-20330

I believe this will work?

It should do. You'll get about 900 emitter lumens from that, expect ~700 OTF.

TAKE NOTE -  25mm diameter !  Will that fit your heatsink?

I'm only saying beacuse I've done the same before!

Oops! Glad you pointed that out. Lol. Yes I have taken size into consideration but didn't notice that until you said that. Thanks!

[tattoosteve99]

Where do I find a board to fit my light? 16 or 17mm as mentioned above.

[tattoosteve99]

So what I am doing is changing it some. I can't get a driver that will work lime I want it too so I'll just upgrade my existing light to somewhere around 500 to 600 lumens by building a new drop in. I'll post it up when I get it done.