I’m currently working on a King driver mod, unfortunately I don’t have much spare time currently… I’ll post results when I’m done (if I succeed, that is), may take some weeks.
Maybe you will want to rethink about the spacing values for the modes: output is not linear with current, with your amperages I feel you will end up with 4 very bright modes, very close to eachother, and no real low.
For example, a light that I like a lot for the spacing between modes and good low, is the Lumapower Dmini-VX, and it has 2,5A - 0,50A - 0,12A - 0,02A
It wouldn’t be a straight up driver swap. The King uses an e-switch that doesn’t rely on power interrupt to turn off or mode flip. So the mode control EPROM of the circuit never really completely powers off. AFIAK no one makes a drop-in replacement driver that uses an e-switch.
Likewise, modding it to 3S or 4S 18650 would require a lot of DIY fabrication too, at both the + and - end. You would have to effectively isolate the cells from the - tailcap end and from the + head, and in place of the “P” connection wire everything up for series cells. Definitely an advanced mod, for a builder with some serious DIY fabrication skills.
Cool… keep us updated on how that goes. You should also kill the low PWM while you are at it. IIRC its in the vicinity of ~100-130 Hz which is way too low for almost everyone.
I am waiting until someone finally find the way to change this stupid modes (hi-lo-strobe) and then I’ll get the King :- )
Hope to insert DrJones’s ramping sw :- )
It’s not just an EEPROM, but a micro controller. I have not yet read of someone being able to reprogram these unmarked Chinese ones. Seems to have a PIC pin layout.
There might be space enough for three NANJG105C, one master and two slaves. A master with a firmware suitable for electronic switches (Tido made one for PIC, I made one for the NANJG/Atmel) would be a possible solution.
Curious what is the parasitic drain on this light?
How long does it take to drain 4-18650 from a full ~4.15V charge down to (say) less than ~4V
Its not a deal breaker in my book though since power can be 100% cut off by unscrewing the battery tube a ~half turn… I’m just curious more than anything.