I have been trying to learn more about direct drive and have a question I cant seem to find an answer to.
Forgive me if it sounds dumb, I am new to all this.
When planning a direct drive build, can protected cells be used, or is this a unprotected only type of thing?
If protected cells can be used, how would you figure which will handle the current without tripping?
Thanks,
Jim
I think you have the right idea, protected cells would likely trip. From what I remember, you don’t often get more than 6A to the LED in DD. If the cells you have/interested in specifies tripping current of 6A or greater, you should be fine. What size cells are you thinking of using? Any particular reason to use protected cells?
None in particular right now, just trying to get a bit more knowledge about different ways of doing things.
I generally try to run protected cells when I can, though I do have/use unprotected in one of my favorite mod lights so far.
I don’t mind unprotected cells for single cell lights, but don’t care for using them in pairs (as for a 6v emitter).
Guess I am still a bit worried about out of balance issues causing problems.
Thanks for the info……….logging it in my mental file cabinet now, hopefully I can find it again later if needed.
Jim
I’d suggest using matched sets, checking discharge voltage of each cell, and doing capacity checks to make sure they remain matched sets. As long as you aren’t pushing the discharge voltage to the edge then you should be fine.
This is my thinking as well. If you’re likely to use the light till it dims then you’ll have to be very specific about the pair of cells used. If you don’t drain the cells (how I do it) then equal open circuit voltages is a good enough ‘match’.