I found on some builds 6A hits just above 1300 at 30s, and others that need 7.5-8A. There’s a lot of variance with these.
Why doesn’t Simon’s 8A driver run at 8A? I understand resistance but on some L21A units it’s around 6.4A and others 7.2A, never higher with a topped off 40T, both running at 1300 lumens. Must be to doing with the led?
Came across a faulty driver that maxed at 3.97A, what would have failed?
Yes, I assume there are variances in the LED's, maybe though these are worse than most? I thought CREE's were binned pretty good.
I'm not familiar with Simon's 8A driver but the only right way to do these high amps (8-9A) with these LED's is buck/boost, and that's probably expensive. If his driver doesn't do boost, then the circuit resistance matters big time. You need to do everything right - spring bypasses, decent size LED wires, decent cell. I assume his driver probably has more internal resistance than a FET+1, so all those make a difference. Basically, you need higher amp capability in order for his driver to regulate or buck down.
The 40T is good but still you need to address the rest of it.
Btw, in the past when I used to buy drivers, we were always buying 4 amp, 5 amp, 6 amp rated drivers relatively cheap, and I could never get the rated amps out of them, ever... It's not surprising. 2-3 amps is easily do-able, above that, it's not easy.
Here's what Simon's HX looks like mounted in the SD Mini with the MCPCB trimmed, 22 AWG wires. The opening was more like 19 mm, and clearance had to made for the switch PCB wires
Anyone try the CELMM1 0.5mm^2 die yet? It seems it might be a good option for small low current lights or triple with carlco optic? I can find them on mouser, but can’t find any mcpcb to mount it to.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/OSRAM-Opto-Semiconductors/KW-CELMM1TG-S3SA-ebvFfcbB46-8F8H?qs=wnTfsH77Xs6UbDlfbzhoTg%3D%3D
There’s a youtube video of a guy using it in a Convoy C8+. I’ve left a comment asking where to buy an mcpcb.
I wonder what would it do in GT Nano.
I like all of these ideas and have pondered the applications myself. I think a luxeon T mcpcb will be compatible.
Might be off center and electrical pads would be left partially soldered, but thermal pad would be 100% covered.
Is anyone else modding with the Boost HX? I've been pretty happy with it, planning on ordering more.
2 lights modded:
In the SD Mini:
In the GT Mini, extra long 26 AWG wires:
For the GT Mini, Simon's 4040 centering ring with a 6.85 mm opening fits absolutely perfect!
It’s definitely a great choice, not too narrow either.
What other leds would fit the 4040 footprint? I’m trying to track down an mcpcb for the FT03.
I wonder why Convoy is only using 20mm size for the SBT90.2, wouldn’t it be better to use a larger size?
Yep, much better. Hank uses 30 mm's. For 4040, Boost HL and HX, Luxeon V. Not sure if any others.
Hi Tom!
You take these longer awg26 wires to limit the amps?
So it would be a risk for the LED cause of the FET driver?
It should be an easy mod otherwise, or?
Yes - longer smaller gauge wires to reduce amps with the stock FET+1 driver. With the GT Mini I used a 35E and an older 30Q. 30Q did a little better, about 9 amps, while the 35E did about 8.6 amps. I've found max output is about 9 amps, but of course, output and amps will drop as the battery drains.
My GT Mini already has spring bypasses so I left them in. I specially like to leave the tail spring bypass in because my amp readings on the clamp meter with the tail cap off better reflect true running amps. If there was a poor tail spring, running amps will typically be lower then what I measure.
I've found the Boost HX performance to be quite good. Lumens at 30 secs is in the 1300's, at start lumens in the 1400's. Seems lower than what the tests indicated but still, good output for this type of LED, comparable to a XPL HI in a FET+1, but the XPL HI is at lower amps. The stock XPL HI did around 145 kcd.
Great results Tom! Did you try the GT mini with CSLPM1? Performance compared to CULPM1 (Boost HX)? IIRC the CSLPM1 didn’t perform well in the GT mini.
I’ve only recently discovered these awesome emitters and thinking about potential mods!
The CULPM1 is ideal because it can handle the fet driver, using the CSLPM1 wouldn’t be wise
Yeah - I went straight to the Boost HX. It matches well to FET based drivers, as Funtastic said. You still have to be careful though with measuring the amps and adding some resistance. Seems like the Boost HX's Vf is a little lower than the SST-40, though I believe 9 amps is about the max ideal for both.
Yeah understood about the FET drivers, I was thinking in terms of the reflector and suitability to the Osrams. Can’t find the post now but I think Zozz tested the CSLPM1 and only got a negligible increase in throw.
Edit: my D80v2 with SST40 just starts turning blue on turbo, don’t think it’s pulling that many amps though 
I had a D80v2 with SST40 that did that. It was due to a bad reflow of the LED from the factory.
This is extremely low considering that SST-40 has twice the die size and already has a low Vf.
Anyone here independently test a GT MICRO with the HL yet? Still can’t believe the numbers Neal claims…
Gotta say I’m kinda tempted by the Lumintop X1L . CSLPM1 / CULPM1 would be better though IMO.
Yeah I saw that at the time. I always planned on swapping the emitter so didn’t raise it. I still haven’t touched it yet though 