What driver is this?

Someone please help me identify this driver?, came from a SK68 clone bought on Fasttech.

Planning to cannibalize this and mod my 3xAA lantern to run on XM-L2 with this driver primarily using it on low mode, which through testing pulls about 350ma

Can it be done or should I just get a different driver, for my application in the lantern I prefer current controlled and low drain 200-350ma.

PS Can't seem to post pics from photobucket, doesn't show up?

Looks like the common buck/boost driver used for SK68. If you’re planning to power an XM-L2 with 3x AA, I think it will work well because the driver should appropriately adjust the output voltage for the XM-L2.

Thanks!, waiting for my star to arrive though, will post pics of it if in successful.

Btw,how to post pics so that it shows up in the thread?

Click on the sunset picture icon in the text toolbar and copy a direct link then set image size to 100% or smaller. This makes the image the same width as the text column.

Hahaha...so for testing purposes I directly used the flashlight pill, will switch it out when I receive the XM-L2...so for now I have a working 3 mode lantern (still ugly bluish tint though)

Soldered up the driver. I switched out the original battery holder wires because they were way too thin.

Light all lit up, ignore the paper and tape, was centering the pill and making sure it didn't sink back inside plastic base.

PS: Okay I did as instructed pics still don't show up...on other forums I only need to copy paste the "IMG" link in photobucket.

Lets see, if it works :slight_smile:

:

EDIT, yes it’s works fine
just click those “insert image” and then copy direct link
or
copy direct link at image url with additional IMG link at optional link to make it clickable

Okay, forgot I could do this so I resoldered the battery connection to be able to run off 2xAA, now it won't use an odd number of batteries!

Will XM-L2 still run okay with 2 batteries?

BTW pics still don't work for me but that's okay I'll just give dropbox link for people to click on

HowTo: Adding pictures to posts

3 batteries would be more efficient and give you longer run time.

Keyword is ‘boost driver’.

The main difference between an XML2 and the XPE/XRE this driver was used on is not operating voltage (~2.8-3.3ish V afaik) but efficiency (more lumens per ampere) and max current draw (also means more potential lumens).

I'm not looking for crazy brightness, maybe 100 lumens minimum on low mode. Emphasis here is on runtime. Besides if you've seen the lantern it cannot handle heat generated by max brightness (plastic lantern, only heats inking would be the star the LED is sitting on and surrounding air)...reason I chose the driver because on low mode it pulls 350ma, and from my test run with the cheap XP-E on pill running on low mode still gives out plenty of light in complete darkness, therefore xm-l2, being more efficient should put out better brightness at the same 350ma draw.

Strobe can be useful since if this works well I'll mod another one for the car for breakdown situations.

Of course what drove me to mod in the first place was the ugly blue light full of artifacts the 9 LEDs originally gave out. In addition, I have no access to nice lanterns where I'm at, it's all the cheap led types with ugly beams. Those sold in outdoor shops are unfortunately for me, prohibitively expensive and I could easily make 10 of these with the price.

Not sure how to do multiple quotes but in reply to the previous posters thanks for the picture posting how to.


Also, thank you for the input in regards to 3xAA, will resolver back tomorrow, or maybe not, since my application is low current draw. Regardless, will have to test runtime in real life when I get my emitter.

3 AA in series is more efficient, the driver won’t need to boost until voltage drops.

Yes I now realise that, kinda forgot that alkalines have 1.5V and the batteries are connected in series. Changed them back to 3S. I also realise that for LSD cells (due to lower nominal voltage) 3S would also be much better. Thanks for all the input people. Now just waiting on that XM-L2 T4 from FT...that's gonna take awhile