Hey y’all,
I was trying to increase the current in my C8+ by replacing the wires on a MTN-17DDM driver with thicker 20AWG wire. I got it all working and installed, and was configuring the thermal step-down. I let it get too hot, as it desoldered the cathode wire from the driver at some point…:person_facepalming:
The good news is that before this problem arose I was pulling almost 6A at the tailcap, measure with a clamp meter! About two full amps higher than with the 22AWG!
When resoldering the cathode wire I probably did poor job, multiple times, and now it will only turn on its highest mode. I have unsoldered resoldered a few times, cleaning up all the solder I can and trying again, replaced the cathode wire, to no avail. Still only on high. It also does the same without the tailcap do I know the problem is in the head of the light.
Did I fry a resistor sitting near the cathode wire? Is there perhaps some solder connection I can’t see that is connected to ground? I’ve tried to clean it all up again and again but it won’t resolve the problem. If a tiny bit of solder is touching the screw holding down the MCPCB (which doesn’t appear to be the case) could this cause that behavior too?
Perhaps I’ve just heated and damaged the driver and it’s toast…
Any help is appreciated!