I'm not sure what to think about this driver. I have an underwhelming SST-50 and I'm wondering how it would do with this bad boy behind it. I guess I don't understand why they would make a drop-in like this. Is it because they thought the warm tint looked dimmer, so they drove it harder? When you look at Match's chart thing he did a while back, 5 amps over 3 amps doesn't net you many more lumens. But, it does give you more heat and less run time.
yeah i would stick that driver in your 2.5 amp SST-50 and the driver from that in this. as 5 amps is nuts, but with my luck if i brought the same drop in and the same batteries i would be lucky to get 2 amps lolls but i rather under driven for run time and heat and i dont like the warmer tints im crazy like that.
My experience with the DRY and 1A, 5A3 tints is pretty noticeable. Like 16%. So WW is pretty significant.
My Balder BD-2 WW, actually it's the higher range of the WW I believe it's like 3500K (Should get the cam out to test)...it takes in 3A at the tail and gets me only approx 500L OTF initial lumens. Ric listed it as NW, but it is pretty warm. Luckily i am sort of a "I Like warm lights" kinda guy. My Yezl M7X CW easily gives me 650 OTF lumens initally same form factor but of course slightly different drive levels.
I don't know . . . I'm a sucker for stupid stuff like this. Other than the heat demonstration, I'm not going to leave it on high for long and I've learned from some of you how they actually get it to be "warm." As usual, I gain as much information as I give when I do things like this - it's part of why I do it.
It's interesting too, that most here believe the high amperage was not the builders' intent, which suggests very high manufacturing variance - something I've not encountered (to this degree) with other drop-ins with regard to current. Quality and other factors are occasionally all over the place but among the 10 UF XM-Ls I have, none pulls 5 amps.
And, Boaz is right; an XM-L driven this hard is going to have a very hot and very short life.
I just got this dropin today. I ordered on 10/22. Mine has a very warm incandescent glow to it like Langcjl's photo's show. I took tailcap measurements in my new L2P and my old 501b and on high was getting 2.80-2.83 amps with a protected TF flames 2400.
I don't like the disco modes, so I think this will be my first victim for a driver swap.
Just a thought for you guys: That driver likely isn't going to give you 5A to an SST50. I assume the Vf of the SST is higher, so you'll get less amps. It's all just DD so the LED will dictate the current.
The color looks good on the warm white for a romantic LED light dinner with your favorite lady- got that rosy orange glow.......
Would actually be a nice tint for a room LED lamp for this reason but not as clinical or bright for practical applications in flashlights except maybe camping for a lantern type light with a pleasant/flattering color.
The color renderig is far superior. Take it in the wild and see if you like it better. I would too maod it with a 8xamc driver myself. After all around 650 lumens ain't slouch either.