Trying to find a driver for a few unused CR123A hosts that i have.
Had a couple of different AMC 7135 based 2800mA drivers that i tried with XM-L, but the output is awful with these.
What kind of driver does for example Olight S10 have? That output and runtime is fantastic and my EDC.
The driver in your S10 is a buck/boost driver (with linear capability for single secondary cells) there isnt a lot of choices for really good buck/boost, especially not cheap or in small sizes.
But these buck/boost seems to be hard to find.
I tried two types of boostdrivers that I bought long ago and they did not work much better.
Please give me any suggestion to give me a chance to find something that works.
17mm would be preferred if that is possible.
I don't know of any buck/boost drivers in that size for sale separately anywhere. The boost-only ones are all around 1-1.2A output max. Some of them will go direct drive if Vin is above Vout without complaint (though that's not a situation you'll ever get with only CR123a's); I don't know if they're intentionally designed to do that or if it just happens accidentally. That's only a consideration if you want to be able to use either CR123 or 16340 in the same light.
HKJ has done reviews on most of the small boost drivers. https://www.google.com/search?tbs=li%3A1&sclient=psy-ab&q=site%3Abudgetlightforum.com+hkj+boost&btnG=
I believe the S10 driver uses the TPS63000 buck/boost converter. This is the same chip I use on the color section of my MELD drivers, it works quite well. I don’t know if you’ll be able to find a driver that uses it but you could design your own. Also I have a handful of S10 drivers from MELD-converted lights that I could part with if you just want one of those…
An XM-L runs well on a CR123 with no driver, because of the XM-L’s low forward voltage. Current is limited by all the resistances. But of course the output will fall off as the cell becomes older much faster than with a boost driver.
An XM-L runs well on two CR123s in series with no driver or even a high drain 26650 with no driver, a single CR123 with anything other than a boost driver is going to have pretty miserable output.
Here is a 2AA/AAA boost driver w/ contact plate
http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002000/1143101-1-2-aa-aaa-1-18650-1-mode-1a-led-flashlight
output current is limited to 1000mA however
As others have said HKJ did a review of one (I believe from banggood) that might be better
No here it is Test/Review of 1~2* AA/AAA 5-Mode 800mA Linear Booster LED Flashlight Driver Circuit
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10001750/1127407-12-aaaaa-5-mode-800ma-linear-booster-led-flashligh
Not the best output…but will run a XR-E or XP-G at fairly decent currents
I bought a couple of “Nanjg 110 Boost 1/2*AA” from intl-outdoor.com and these work better than expected!
Crelant V31A with its original lens but XM-L2 and the boost driver is a favourite.