Now that sounds like a floody little bugger.
Pretty please with cherry on top - can we see some pictures? :-)
Now that sounds like a floody little bugger.
Pretty please with cherry on top - can we see some pictures? :-)
I did the same with mine. Changing to MT-G2 emitter, it is easier to mod TK35 clone than ZY-T08, since batteries are already on series. One needs only to open up the reflector and bypass the sense resistor, in order to bump up the current, while reusing the same stock driver. The harder part is now to source one! DX has seemed to have run out of its stock.
I donāt think I had an original idea. Now the question is, are there enough of us to approach a vendor or maybe even the MFG? to get a deal?
Also I wonder how far we can easily bump the current so that the second step down is also more then the factory unit. As I remember the āTK35UEā is only 750 Lumens on the second step down.
it sure is a flooder but it does throw a little, pure because of the amount of light. ill take some picture tonight!
i have a ZY-T08 too and its a pain in the butt to get the reflector as deep over the led as i want it. this mod was just so fast and easy. i was lucky, but only the black one was in stock al the colored (and cheaper) lights were out. u can find some hosts under the UF-F10 name.
I have a New-117 i have not modded yet. Iām looking froward to the pics and many do the same to the one i have.
Uploaded some pictures.
Beamshots will follow when its dark outside
Is this the New-117? Is the PWM of this light really as bad as many had commented on? I am thinking of getting one too to mod with MTG2
the PWM on low and Low-Low is bad indeed, it does not bother me that much but if you hate PWM you will hate the stock driver on the low settings. im planning on switching the uC out with a custom programmed one (so i can have ramping but still use the rest of the driver), this way i can also use higher PWM speed.
My New-117 was forgotten because of a faulty switch. After seeing your post I replaced the switch and changed the emitter to a XP-G2 on noctigon. Iām not super sensitive to PWM, but I can see it on the lowest setting on a white wall up close.
Anyways, great mod you have there!
dentillozie,
Thank you for posting this. I think this clone will have a new life of its own now that folks are looking for 2S 18650 hosts to install MT-G2 emitters in.
Now my question(s), I noticed that you are the first one I have seen to by-pass the resistor on other then on Direct Drive, Driver circuits. Everyone else seems to ādoubleā/stack another resistor on top that leaves some resistance in the circuit.
As you can tell I am not an expert but I am working hard to come up to speed.
Oh do you know of any options where we can address the less then desirable PWM this circuit has? you mentioned āswitching the uC out with a custom programmed oneā do you have a microcontroller in mind?
Thank you in advance
Kevin
Iāll answer most of your questions:
The stock light uses a buck circuit to bring 2s voltage (6.0v to 8.4v) down to 1*XM-L or 1*XM-L2 voltage (~3.0v to 4.0v range). With the higher voltage MT-G2 there is very little headroom for the buck circuit to operate in.
Wight,
Thank you for help.
I read āUnderstanding the difference between Linear, Buck, Boost and Direct Drive driversā at Understanding the difference between Linear, Buck, Boost and Direct Drive drivers
And I think I follow most of it. but I think the new MT-G2 and XHP emitters are all exceptions to his conclusions about design number limitations do to the higher needed voltage.
I looked up ā17mm & 20/26/27mm single-sided DD/FET driver release: A17DD-SO8 / A20DD-SO8 / etcā at 17mm & 20/26/27mm single-sided DD/FET driver release: A17DD-SO8 / A20DD-SO8 / etc regarding the āBLF17DD V1.0ā
And āBLF17DD Info Thread - Referenceā at BLF17DD Info Thread - Reference and frankly I am more then a bit lost.
I know that old-lumens took a tk35 clone and stripped the boards and made it 2p and put new stuff on the board but that kind of work is above my skill set. I liked this host better because unlike the Small Sun zy-t08 this host is already 2S.
I can solder a jump wire or resistor onto a board (I know big deal . I know that the TK35 Clone is a very different size and configuration then say the typical C8. so how do I get one your recommended drivers screwed into the TK35 clone? each of the two boards is screwed on with four screws. Do they come in this configuration?
From one of the postings I saw you have had your challenges upgrading wiring. If the design goal was to push āHIā to 4-6 Amp range I think (but am not sure) that 22 gauge silicon as shown in the post above should be sufficient. What do you think?
My understanding is that some work has been done to develop a good 6V Driver but I do not know if the design has a consensus yet or if it is available in a screw in configuration for this host, that to me just screams for a MT-G2 emitter to make a very usable all around light.
ANY help is appreciated.
Kevin
Ronin42,
I like New117 because it is relatively compact for 2x18650 host and it is already 2s (no need for ugly hack, eg:ZY-T08).
If I were you, I would start something simple like bridging/jumping the current sense resistor and upgrading wires to the emitter to thicker ones, while still using the stock driver.
Those are what I did. I plan to completely to change the driver someday in the future, if I have the time and grow bored of it. But at this present moment, I find that Iām quite okay with the stock driver UI and the brightness (I can get up to 4A driving MT-G2 with a good pair of batteries).
Just give it a try, and later decide whether next you are going to replace the driver, or not. Aside from the MT-G2 emitter, it almost costs you nothing (eg: only wires vs new driver).
This may call for a slightly deeper understanding of how things work. DD is what you can get away with whenever input and output voltages are close enough to settle down into aā¦ ā¦ now where did I already go on about all that? hmmmā¦ . .
OK, take a look at my posts in this thread (Note that I made a typo as Bright_Mike points out, this has now been struck through. Focus on posts #9 through 23): Basic Driver Questions
Also take a look at my posts in this thread (Note that DD ādriversā are NOT part of the discussion. Later in the thread when I say āLED drivers are all constant currentā what I really mean is that generally nobody is selling Constant Voltage LED drivers. Focus on posts #7 through 18.): How many amps can a flashlight pull ?
Report back on your findings of course.
Can you link to whatever you are looking at with me & wiring? Iām sure I have plenty of difficulties, but I donāt remember whatever you are referring to. (24AWG can be OK for 6A, depending on other factors. Youāll probably have a better handle on it after scrutinizing the graphs I refer to in those threads.)
Now, as to how youād fit an AxxDD-SO8 driverā¦ they are very small drivers. Youād just bypass the stock driver and put the new driver in the middle of the sandwich. No problem: PLENTY of space in there.
-Yup common sense strikes again.
dnkyblf
I guess My questions to the greater community are:
Kevin
wight,
I have read both links provided -done
Regarding wiring I did not intend it to sound like a dig, I simply saw a bit about 18g wire that you and cereal killer discussed. As far as what I am looking at, it is the 3rd photo of this post (donāt want that to sound like a smarta)
My plan is to buy some 22g or maybe 24g if you say that is not beyond the point of diminishing returns for the mods to this clone, if thatās a bad call let me know.
The AxxDD-SO8 sounds like a good easy solution. do I need to strip out components from the existing boards? or does it really just fit in there?
I know enough to know I donāt want to learn how to design PCBās, I know that the folks here who do the designing have forgotten more then I will every know.
With that said my gut still tells me āweā should have a MT-G2 emitter (ābolts inā) driver for this light. it just deserves it!
Oh and this thread ā17mm single-sided / DD driver w/ low parasitic drain for e-switch lights: AxxDD-SO8+LDOā started by a very smart guy at 17mm++ single-sided / DD driver w/ low parasitic drain for e-switch lights: AxxDD-SO8+LDO seems to make a good case for a design with no zener diode in it, although this TK35 clone is clearly a clicky light (aka mechanical switch) and as the thread says thus parasitic drag is a non issue, but the moonlight mode argument is a good point.
Yes I can see you were the thread OP. maybe you are just the guy to come up with a PCBās / Driver for this itching MT-G2 platform?
After reading both threads you probably see how DD works: between battery voltage sagging and LED current being tightly tied to current, cell performance dictates maximum drive currentā¦. assuming your DD driver is good (Like A17DD-SO8 or BLF17DD, which is just as good.) The performance of the stock driver with resistors bypassed is limited by the baby FET and the inductor (coil).
I did not take the wiring comment as a dig, donāt worry. I often need clarification when people mention things. 18AWG is only for extreme mods. 22AWG will be fine for your purposes I think.
The A17DD-SO8 is very small. Take a look at the pictures in the OP of the driver thread. Iām sure there are more pictures deeper in the thread, but those should suffice. If I was putting it in the stock light Iād strip the bottom PCB. I donāt think the top PCB needs to be stripped. All you really need to get to the new driver is BAT, GND, and SW. All you really need to get to the top/contact PCB is LED- and BAT+.
Unless supply shows up again there doesnāt seem to be much point in making a new driver for an unavailable light.
I wouldnāt bother for this application. If you are interested in very low moonlight levels then one of the new drivers (DD+single-7135) would be a good choice except for the lack of a Zener or LDO. You can still Zener mod them as I mention briefly in this thread: [WIP] 17mm DD+single-7135 driver / single sided / Dual-PWM
The lights are available, It is not like they are out of production (yes the names on model numbers keep changing but it is the same tooling). As single cell lights have been the big mover it has lost is appeal from 2011 or when the tk35 came out. But now with folks showing a growing interest in 2S, MT-G2 mods I bet this will be ever more available as ātheyā see market demand.
To some degree the TK35 UE and the new Nitecore P36 are cases in point of new supply for similar 2S MT-G2 lights.
Links?