NANJG AK-47C 1050mA 3-Group 9 mode Driver
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Summary:
Size: | 17mm |
Voltage: | 2.6-4.5V |
Regulation |
Linear Regulator |
Current: | 1050mA |
Modes: | 9 in 3 groups |
Price Paid: | $3.60 |
From: |
1) The availability of this driver is uncertain. I got it when I ordered the linked sku 7612 (101-AK).
Pros:
- All 9 modes are available with soft-selection of groups
- Well regulated and efficient driver
- Has memory with indication of snap-in
- Has a 3-level group with no nonsense and very good spacing
- Has a high PWM frequency giving a steady light at low level
Cons:
- Unintentional group switching is possible
- Memory kicks in 2 secs after switching on (would prefer after off)
- Can only be used with 1 Li-Ion cell
Features / Value: ★★★★☆
Mode Groups
The groups are as follows:
1. Low(4%) - Medium(28%) - High - Fast Strobe(11Hz) -SOS(decent speed)
2. Low - Medium - High
3. Low - Medium - High - Fast Strobe - Police Strobe(1/2 sec Fast Strobe, 1/2 sec off) - Slow Strobe(3Hz) - Super Slow Strobe(1.1Hz) - Beacon(7sec) - SOS
The PWM frequency is high at 5.3kHz.
Mode switching
The AK-47C has stars on the bottom side just like the well known AK-47 but on the AK-47C they have no function. The mode switching is done entirely with the on/off switch in the following manner:
Select low level and stay here for 3 seconds until the light blinks, then shut off (one has to ignore a weaker blink after 2 seconds indicating memory snap-in). At next power-up the light will start up in the next group.
Mode Memory
The mode memory snaps in 2 seconds after a mode switch and indicates this with a weak blink. I normally prefers memory after switch-off so I don't need to tap twice to shift level, but this approach normally needs three more components.
Build Quality: ★★★★★
NANJG has a fine build quality and can withstand normal soldering with a fine tipped soldering iron.
This one runs with a MCU PIC12F629 instead of the AK-47 ATtiny13. This has hardly any influence on quality but NANJG has managed to make it run like it has PWM although the PIC MCU does not include PWM (or am I wrong here?).
Battery Life: ★★★★☆
Linear regulators with 7135 devices normally are well regulated and efficient. At lower battery voltages the drive becomes direct with a very little loss.
Light Output: ★★★★☆
The output current 1.05A is a fine level to drive XR-E and XP-E LED's. A fourth 7135 could be soldered on top of one of the existing ones to get 1.4A for a XP-G LED. The driver has no boost capability so it must be expected that the output falls at lower battery voltages where the drive becomes direct with no regulation.This happens at a lower voltage with XP-G than with XR-E/XP-E because of its lower forward voltage.
Summary: ★★★★★
The 3 modes have a very usable spacing of 4% - 28% - 100% and maintain a constant output as long as the battery voltage is higher than the LEDs forward voltage, all the time with good efficiency. A lot of special modes are readily at hand, but out of the way if one wishes so.