Probably the best driver you could use in that setup is the 2.8a driver from shiningbeam. After playing with various triple set-ups for a bit, the only noticable difference between 3 xpg's at 900ma and 3 xpg's at 1.4a is the heat. Unless they're side by side, I can't notice the extra lumens.
well i actually just found this
will this work with the optic?
if it solves my driver problem, i might do it. i really would like to find a driver to at least get 4 amps
even without side by side, my R5's driven at 1amp are NOTICEBLY dimmer than those driven at 1.4-1.5 amps. so x3 im assuming a big gain. side by side its VERY noticeable. while you are correct about heat, this copper slug fits snug (maybe wrap it with 1 layer of aluminum foil lol or just thermal compound), so heat transference should be BETTER than most my flashlights when done)
you guys gotta remember, go big or go home is my moto. still trying to get a duece and a half (my friend has one). so im going full power if i can.
if i could get it to work, i would use two 2.8amp drivers if i could find a 1 mode driver.
All well and good, but I've checked this site on many occasions and I got quoted $60 for shipping to Pa.! Also no Paypal... he has some bizarre payment system I couldn't make anything out of so I gave up.
well considering im near PA (CT, i consider it near) im gonna skip on that and keep looking into different driving methods.
i really would like to get this as close to 4.5amps (or a 1.5amp voltage boost driver so i can run in series) but i want to still run it with one 18650.
Bump for new folks.
Just wondering... have you used this light enough to know if there are long-term downsides to running the leds in parallel? A lazy troll of the interwebs suggests that mismatched leds can lead to one getting too much juice, but I'm not sure what constitutes a mismatch. (I'm asking because I'm the new proud owner of one of OldLumens' shorty creations, and a triple might work nicely.)
Thanks in advance.
I like it.
I haven't had any problems, but I think LED Supply matches 'em up pretty well.
Rich
Thanks for the info... much appreciated.
This is an outstanding mod... based on it I made plans to do few of my own builds, P60 and E-series head conversion...
The only thing I'm missing is good wire... I bought #24 wire from LEDSupply but it's thick - only three wires can be pulled thru the hole on the star... Their wire is relatively flexible... I also tried wire from IlluminationSupply and it's too stiff, for some reason...
That wire that you bought, is it flexible ??? In Surefire E-series mod, the space is rather limited and flexibility allows more space between driver and heatsink... I would like to do three parallel lines from driver to LED, like you did...
Welcome to BLF, TNT!
Very Nice Work!
Nice work
thanks rc,
I've been lurking around here forever now but I'm into modding more and more and this is the right forum for it... Now that I think of it, I should've posted a new thread with quest for 1-2 feet of flexible AWG28 wire... :-) Hopefully I'll be able to source a good one soon...
Whats that you say? $20 each plus postage? Whats your PayPal? Ill take 5 
Just kidding, I am very impressed. I wish I could do this myself.
Id love to see some beam shots too.
Nice use of copper slug! They are located in the plumbing isle of many hardware stores and cost ~ $4. Big iron is cool. I use a mapp torch for large chunks and a butane pencil torch for small stuff. What did you use for copper sheet under the led pcb and did you lap it? Illumination supply has thin copper adhesive tape for snugging the fit.
I also have lights with parallel leds; 2 with cutter 3up xre q5 boards modded for 3p and one home brew copper sink with 3 xre r2 stars 3p. All three are driven with the kd 3-mode 2.8A driver so the leds are under driven but all have seen regular use for 2 plus years.
Awesome job!
From your own drop-in and what others have posted on here it looks like I will be making my XT-E triple (CW R5s) and XP-E triple (red) parallel driven.
Now I just have to figure out how to split a AMC7135 driver board into 3 different outputs (think 3x2 AMC7135s each addressing a different LED for the red drop-in)... haven't figured out how I will do the XT-E triple but probably the same as what has been done in yours. Cheers
I know this is an old thread but wow, what a teaching tool, it's well explained and put together. You listed the parts, where to get them and steps needed to assemble it. I know you explained why there are no beam shots but they are the only thing missing from this thread. Has anyone else that's been following this thread built one, if so could you post some beam shots? Threads like this are what I expected to find here on BLF and I haven't been disappointed.
I used a copper penny, filed down flat and soldered to the slug with the monster. I'm not a metalwork guy, so I don't know what lapping is...
Trouble is, now these are pretty underwhelming now that triple XML's are common! And I add four additional AMC's to the boards to up the current. The 3 XPG's will do 4.2A with an IMR cell.
The 4000K neutral is still my favorite tint. I finally built up a triple-triple XPG Mag with 3 of the neutral boards. Now that's a vicious flooder!!
Glad others are seeing this thread now!
Rich