how much millamps or amps can each of these drivers take?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

how much much milliamps or amps can a q5, r5 and x-ml t6 emitter (respectively) take to be pushed hard? also, how can i direct drive an emitter without the use of a circuit board? i think i need some resistors or something. where do i buy them?

thanks,

monty

2

Q5, R5 and T6 are actually not LED types, but brightness bins.

The LED types are

  • XR-C - max 0.5A
  • XP-C - max 0.5A
  • XR-E (typical bins P4 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 R2) - max 1A
  • XP-E (typical bins Q4 Q5 R2 R3) - max 1A
  • XP-G (typical bins R3 R4 R5 S2 S3) - max 1.5A
  • XM-L (typical bins T3 T4 T5 T6 U2) - max 3A

These are maximum currents according to the specs. With good heat sinking you can apply more. However it does not make sens to get more than 4A through an XM-L for example, because the generated heat reduces the performance.

3

There is also an XP-G R2, not listed by DrJones, which proves the point about how confusing it can be just talking in bins alone. An R2 bin could be an XR-E, XP-E or an XP-G emitter.

BTW - Don't be misled by Cree's max figures. Provided that a light has a good pill and heatsinking folks often drive XR-E's and XP-E's, for example, at between 1.2A-1.7A.