I've been following the recent SK-68 threads and even ordered two 1-mode models for about $6 a few weeks back. I was pretty excited to learn about the 3 mode model and intended to order one...but...they have strobe. It's not a deal-killer, but I hate strobe as much as the next guy. As coincidence would have it, I recently ordered this driver by mistake, thinking it was a 17mm but was 15mm:
LINK REMOVED - Shiningbeam driver not available at the moment
So, I had nothing to lose and gave it a shot. It only took about 15 minutes to desolder the old and solder the new. It's a press-fit driver, and it fit the SK-68 perfectly. I drove it in place with a socket and hammer, and the little ears seemed to dig in just fine. Now I have 3 great modes capable of using both AA and 14500, no strobe either of course. It pulls 1.71A, .77A and .26A on a trustfire flame, and 1.31A, .75A and .25A on a AA. Avoid the $50 SK-68 Ebay craze and make your own!
stock SK-68 on left, modded on rt on high, both using 14500's:
medium mode on right:
low mode on right:
These shots are pretty accurate as to what the eye sees. I took the shots on a gold/yellow colored wall...I was more interested in giving an idea of the actual brightness rather than tint.
Thanks for posting. Bit of a crash course for me, but I think I'll have to try as that whole Sipik clone merry-go-round is fast losing its appeal. How does brightness on high compare to un-modded single mode? Tailcap readings are something I'm still trying to fathom..
They have a strobe mode though, most of us dislike strobe.
Bookmarked this driver, will probably order one when I get the rest of my SK-68 clones.
I also like the fact that this driver has a memory feature, something I doubt the normal SK-68 3-modes have.
The only problem is that by the time you factor in $8 for the driver with shipping, plus the SK-68, you could buy a Romisen 3-mode RC29 for the same price.
I already have a couple, just too much uncertainty for my liking in sooo many ways.. Post 25 (and others): https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/5581 If I can learn to do it, soytnly's solution would solve all that.
@ moto: "They have a strobe mode though, most of us dislike strobe."
Hmm. Well I wouldn't be without it, so I'll need to find a different driver.
Anyway - thanks for posting, I've been considering ordering several of these, and the AA only that is slightly cheaper.
I definitely will now.
Are you sure on your current figures for AA, because that's a lot more than they claim.
If you confirm for me I'm definitely ordering - THAT is AWESOME. Some people won't like it because it will kill the battery so fast, but not me, I want the highest current boost driver I can find for making non-flashaholic AA lights...
EDIT: DUH...hadn't had my coffee yet...their figures are to emitter, yours are tailcap
For some reason it wouldn’t let me reply with the quote. Oh well
Anyway, are people really paying 50 bucks for this light? My romisen RC-a4 was about 17 bucks, but I heard somewhere its a better light than the sipik.
I was referring to the recent SK-68 thread talking about Ebay sellers jacking up the price on these to $50+...I can't imagine someone would pay it, but there's a sucker born every minute. My point in doing this mod was nothing more than I had a perfect driver replacement sitting in front of me and no other project for it...that and I wanted a 3 mode but didn't want strobe mode...yuck...we all have enough of those.
I've topped off my cells and remeasured using both of my meters
Harbor Freight cheapy:
TF flame 1.38
TF gray 1.06
AA: 1.06
Radio Shack DMM:
TF flame 1.77
TF gray 1.25
AA 1.33
Obviously one meter is off..I'd guess that the cheapy is more accurate...go figure. I wasn't really trying to make this light brighter so much as to get three great modes, and I'm more than happy with the results.
Looks like the modded one is a hair brighter on high on the 14500? This seam right? Guess it could depend on how hard driven the original light is. Mine seems to be driven extremely hard.
Might have to do this mod myself! I like the idea of extending the runtime with lower modes.
I bought around 20 or so of these 1 mode. This is perhaps the one of the few i kept stock. Pretty nifty little bugger on generic AA's. It's the only light i never actually missed additional modes. If anthing i would add a low one and that'sw it. No need for multiples for me in this little one. There are many flashlights i like them to be single mode, especially dedicated non overdriven throwers.
Bryan removes item from his site when they are not in stock so people don't order them. Probably this thread caused his supply to be bought up. Keep watching and it will likely come back, if not I am sure we can request it from him to be re-stocked.
