I was just curious if anyone has a list or can point me to one that has <$100 Lights that run constant current/constant output drivers. Think non FET lights that don’t rely on 7135s either.
Looks like some of Simon’s newer Convoy drivers are now constant current with Biscotti and temp regulation which is nice.
Off the top of my head…Acebeam’s L series (L16, 17-L19, L35, L30), Sofirn Sc35 I think, Convoys L21A or others with the boost HX or CSLPM1. The Manta Ray xhp70.2 lights sold on Kaidomain, Sofirn SP33 v2.
Anything with buck or boost is constant current… So all of zebralight and olight afaik (correct me if I’m wrong here)
This will also include the original XHP35 BLF GT
Hank’s got some current regulated drivers without fets for various versions of his lights
Worth noting that many constant current drivers not using 7135s use a FET or two to regulate the output… But it’s a bit different than the basically direct drive fet modes we’re more familiar with here
To name a few types. Any single cell light with 6 or 12 volt XPH emitters. Also any 18650 light that can also use 2 CR123A. The Zebras. A few Sofirns like SP 31, 32 and 35.
Most Thrunite lights fall into that category I think. I have their TH30 headlamp, a Cat V6 and the TC15v2 and all are regulated output. Just looking at a few other lights I have……the Sofirn IF25 and Rofis MR70 are constant current.
The C8+ is kind of an odd light, my example has much worse runtime than the same light engine in my S2+. I suppose it depends on the light and LED but I consider the 7135*6 (*4/*3/*2) regulated, if very inefficient.
Parametrek flashlight filter may be helpful, it has an option under features to check regulation: Parametrek Flashlights
You can then filter by battery, price, etc. to narrow down to a list of potential lights.
I know they’re at the top end of your price requirement, but the new FireFlies models (like the E12R, T9R, and NOV-MU) have a 6-amp constant current buck driver (plus a FET if you want a bit of Turbo action). My review of the T9R is up, hopefully I’ll have the others wrapped up in a few days.
A bit less expensive, the Convoy M21C-U is regulated (an efficient boost driver) and very nice.
I thankfully have not fried mine during runtime tests, but I could see that being a concern. I’ll probably never actually use turbo on mine. It’s got a FET because they plopped the exact same driver in several lights without any modifications. Honestly, even if you’re not going make hardware changes, I would probably eliminate the FET channel using a custom config file. But in talking with loneoceans, I don’t think he even knew that the driver was going to be used in something like the NOV-MU. I’m sure he would have gladly tweaked the config if they had approached him about it.