Direct drive 17mm driver from Fasttech

Ok, so just a quick review on this:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1114500

I bought a cheap C8 a while back but I was not too happy with it. The main reasons are, the fact that it had a plastic reflector but also a stupid next mode memory, disco, strobe the lot. It was so annoying not being able to turn it on high without going through the whole sequence.

So I went searching and found this driver, it was described as Direct drive but I’m not sure. When I asked the question what would DD pull from a cell with an XML, the answer ranged from 3.5A to 5A. Anyway this thing pulls nowhere near that, at least not 5A anyway. I got it mainly for the fact that, whilst it was still next mode memory it was only high and low, so no arsing around past strobe and SOS. Just high and low, perfect!

The measurement are as follows: LOW HIGH

Trustfire Flame 0.89A 2.5A

Sanyo 2600mah 0.99A 3A

Whilst taking the tail cap readings I also noticed it is LAST mode memory, so that’s a bonus!

My conclusion is that this good little driver, at $1.81 it’s cheap as chips and works well and at 3A you could not task for more really. It would make a good cheap alternative to the AMC 7135 drivers and half the price. I love it.

I must also apologise, but I do not have a good enough camera to take beam shots, but you the important stuff is there, above.

Thank you for reading and I hope this helps,

Marc.

Your direct drive current is going to depend a lot on the resistance of the circuit and the health of the cell you are using. I had (notice I say "had") a cheap blue Ultrafire 18650 and it could only provide low current levels, even in direct drive. I also have a number of Sanyo laptop-salvage cells that can provide 4+ amps when freshly charged in the same light. Other factors that can affect the tailcap current readings are emitter lead sizes and dirty threads on the light.

Does this driver have visible PWM on low? If not, this would be an awesome driver for an XR-E/Aspheric light...

driver is similar to the HD2011 which drives 2a max

I will check for the PWM. What is the best way to check? Also I have made sure all threads are clean and the cells are new (they’ve only done about 10 cycles) Both Trustfires and Sanyo’s. It’s a good little driver.

Marc.

Easy way: Shine the light in the shower and see if you see the water as steady streams or sparkling droplets...

Or shine it on fan blades to see if you notice a pattern...

Yes there is, but it is not as bad as my Solarforce XPG, the droplets appear much smaller with the XPG drop in, so you can make your own mind up there I’m afraid.

By the way I recharged my Sanyo as it was reading 4.16v. I took it off at 4.22v and it now pulls 3.1A. Not a lot of difference but I thought I would mention it.

Marc.

I think I'll drop a couple of these on my next order for testing then. Sounds like it might make a good driver for a C8-type light since it's a fairly high Low mode but can be bumped up to Turbo if needed.

Yes, The way I see it I do not want a C8 with a 200ma low. What’s the point? So 1A and 3A is perfect to me. By the way it is not last mode memory, it always comes on high. So even better!

Marc.

I wondered why there is a eeprom on that driver?
k24c02d

Me to, now you mention it! I may even be concerned about it if I new what one was. :bigsmile:

Marc.

Does your driver has a spring on the backside?
And had it presoldered wires?

I found out that if you remove capacitor from that drives you will most likely get 1-mode driver, it will always start in high mode :slight_smile:

Also mine has no low battery function.

i changed to this driver on my cheap, underdriven xr-e c8. couldn’t stand the next mode memory, and it was very boring when it was underdriven. now it’s much more useful when it’s only 2-mode!

Used one of these in a build I like the direct drive part and then have another mode if you want it. No strobe no blinkies just good ole lumens in different doses…………. Mine pulled 1.3a on a green xre with long thin wires (was trying to be conservative) will shorten them and see if it pumps up the power.

I have played around and this little beast pushes 5A through my testleds…
I have powered it with a power supply so no voltage sag…but it got hot and smelled a bit warm.

No spring and no wires, I’m afraid. But they were already on the torch.

Marc.

It does start on high every time.

Marc.

This looks exactly the same as the one in my hd2011 GK003A7

I think it must be, someone mention that earlier.

Marc.