Can anyone step up for an AA/2AA only BLF budget flashlight?

I tried a driver from Simon of Convoy flashlights, Buy Products Online from China Wholesalers at Aliexpress.com. There seemed to be a firmware problem, and I don’t have a replacement yet. It has a lot of components, so it should do something well.
The firmware acted as if it was written for lithium ion cells and had low voltage protection. If I knew what resistor to remove, that might fix it.
The low voltage protection had been reported before: Test of LD-30 Boost 1-2 AA cell. Low voltage protection is not acceptable in a disposable cell driver, but I don’t know whether anyone will fix it. It would work, sort of, for CR123, 1.5 V lithium or NiMH, but a a 2/3 discharged alkaline puts out less than a volt at one amp., so two of them will trigger LVP. The test shows very good efficiency and o.8 or 0.9 A regulated output above two volts input.

I don’t see any boost driver listed at IOS.

Oh, yeah the LDCH brand LD-30 (and LD-20) driver. Search on those two terms here, and you’ll find quite a few mentions of how strange they are with 1 or 2 NiMH cells, maybe with alkalines too. Looking at pictures of them, there are several different variations all sold with the same name and description at different places and times.

Not real rewarding.

Chuckle.

I’m waiting on RMM at mtnelectronics, who has said that eventually — no promises when — he hopes to have a multi-mode driver for 1 or 2 NiMH. Right now he has a single mode one.

Lots of places sell this driver and they will not necessarily be the same in looks or the way they work. The last few I bought are the best yet. They were from Banggood and look similar to the ones in the link above from Convoy.

I put a Keepower 14500 3.7V in mine works just fine. All modes are present!

How long can you run it before it gets hot?

Simon’s description says “18650” and he said something about that in an email, but what is the sense of a boost driver with Li ion? In the test, it acts like direct drive over 3 V. Two volts is too low for lithium ion LVP.

What we really need is a good 15 mm. boost driver.

I’ll do a test in the AM. I am not sure it is bright enough to generate that much heat. I expected more output on the 14500 than I am seeing.

LD-30 review here (with links out): Review: LD-30 1/2AA boost circuit.

http://lygte-info.dk/review/DriverTest%20LD-30%20Boost%201-2%20AA%20cell%20UK.html

as mentioned several other places — compare pictures, several different versions of this driver have been for sale

I think I have a Nanjg 110, from somewhere. The test looks good. It is high mode that matters most. My relatives all live in cities where it is never really dark. And now days most people can get small amounts of light from their cell phones.
Thanks everyone.

Harleyquin’s designed an Oshpark board that marries the nanjg-110 to an attiny13A. Actually uses the components from the FastTech boost driver with a few upgraded components. Good up to 1A emitter current. Could be a possible driver choice for a AA SE light.

The problem there for me is that I don’t load firmware.

Me neither. But some of the recent GB’s used drivers developed by members here and implemented in SE lights so we could have a factory programmed and assembled BLF SE light. Most if not all of the boost drivers I’ve seen for sale use pic 12f mcu’s which for whatever reason are far less frequently used by modders. Having a driver controlled by an Attiny makes the light much more readily customizable and will help promote the idea of this thread.

Design: Manker U11. Dragon breath, rechargeable and just four well-spaced modes. AA/NiMH optimized but must work on 14500. Other modes: OK but behind a "pro UI" wall. Nichia LED please as an option and price around US 35,=. Lumens on AA 250 minimum.

Bumping it up in the hope someone of skills steps up :wink:

Would be interesting to have a BLF special 1-AA/2-AA light. We have had most other formats so far that i know of but a 1~2 AA small light.

I’d definitely be interested in a BLF AA light. It’s a great format for a backup or a gift.

I keep a couple of spare JETBeam JET-I MKs on hand to give away, and I like the look of the Zanflare F2 apart from the strobe.

What I’d really like to see is a high-CRI AA light with no disco modes.

A triple NiMH-AA with Luxeon V LED and FET+1 driver might be a nice “hot rod”. 1400 OTF lumens are doable. Will perform tests once I get the LED.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a AA or AAA light with built in USB charging.

It might be nice to have a light that you can easily recharge while still haveing the option of using readily available primary cells.

JetBeam produced this E10R for AA and 14500,

The light has been reviewed earlier in 2017 when it was released.

The AAA version is this E01R

AFAIK these are the only AA and AAA rechargeable lights on the market. (disclaimer I have been wrong before-just ask my wife)

Side by side 2xAA (like the MT22A), all metal, trit slot, moon mode, high CRI, minimum 400 lumens, small as possible, a good clip and I buy 2 or 3…

A dream EDC light…