Another Skyray flames out

Should have kept my mouth shut... my original, early triple XML Skyray had a switch that was getting dicky, so I put in a new one. Routine repair.

Put the batteries in, turned on and "fwwwwwit..pop" and that was it. Smoke came from everywhere. So I tore it down and the driver was burned so completely in one spot that I couldn't tell what component burned up. Really stank.

Oh, well... I was looking for a broken one anyway for good emitters. Fortunately they're fine. Still sux though. This is the "good" one with the emitters right on the head-no drop-in. I'd really like to just use the head and screw that onto a host that isn't so boring that'll take more heat and put in new electronics.

Rich

*pat pat*

Huh...smoke poured out? You used unprotected cells? My protected cells just shut the circuit down when the MOSTFET burned and shorted.

Time to DD. If you don't have an extra tube from another suitable flashlight, time to get those BIO IMR 18350 pocket rockets. 3 x XM-L in serial so you'd need 3 cells. 3 x 18350 = 100mm length so just use it without the mini extension. I tried it, it does about 3.7A and slowly slopes down, just nice.

You will get an !@$!@%!$ amount of light. (at least for LEDs that is)

That is a bummer!

Looks like the Skyray drivers goes toast after some use. Is it the FET that burns out or what?

No reports of TF 3T6 or DRY 3*XM-L self destructing yet?

That really sucks, Rich!

AFAIK there are no reports of the Trustfires self destructing yet. Glad I ordered the 3T6 instead of the Skyray. I will be avoiding all Skyray torches as they are just too questionable for my taste.

My Skyray 3xT6 3800 Rev 1 also died. It was left tailstanding in the attic while I went to get the phone and was dead when I retrieved it. It actually still works, but the output is more like 3x Powerlight instead of 3xT6. The LEDs don't look discolored, though. I don't blame this on Skyray, since it was 104F here and the attic probably 110F when I left it running there. I'm perfectly happy to admit my stupidity of leaving it running like that, but - Dry here I come!

Try plugging direct to 3 x 18650 (all balanced to 3.9V would be nice, doesn't have to be same cells for this short test) and see if it lights up. I mean take out the driver and cut the red/white wires. red = postiive, white = negative.

Would it be possible for a total newbie to DD a 4-mode DRY in case of burning the driver? Luckily i read no bad experiences yet with the DRY so far but then the skyray is already longer available.

Yes, if you examine the driver, it is a piece of cake to DD. Just a 2 min solder job and done. Only thing is that you'd miss is Low mode and Strobe. Other than that, perfectly usable for 1 min runs in tropical weather, or unlimited in real cold weather. :D

Anyway i thought you ordered extra drivers to ride on the postage. $4.50 per driver only. I have 3 more on the way, so total 9. Sorry, occupational hazard from my photography job....heh.

But if you put in overcharged 3 x 4.25V CGR18650CH cells and deliver 6-7A to the LED, then i can't help you.

Never soldered before except maybe once in high school :), no i didn't order extra drivers as i didn't order from CNQ, but to be honest didn't even think about it :o. Let's just hope it keeps working, i'll try to use hi mode only for 5 minutes max, even with my 4-mode hope that will help. And if it goes wrong i can always order some drivers at CNQ and try to fix it with the help of people like you :).

much appreciated!

I have the SkyRay 3xT6 3800 Rev 1 (drop in). I don't know how to disassemble the reflector from the aluminum (outer) pill since it appears to be glued. I also don't see how to safely remove the inner brass pill with the two mounted springs from the larger surrounding block of aluminum. Neither one seems to budge, twist, etc. I'd like to get in there and insert a new 3-mode driver (any recommendations?) or direct drive the light, since I think my driver is fried. Any suggestions how to crack this open without ruining it? Or should I try to order a replacement drop-in from Manafont?

I have this drop-in module in mine:

Just need to desolder it bro. Hmm...the drivers that i have seems to be about the same size....actually can be modded to fit that base anyway.

The thing is, for direct drive you'd need an additional extension from another light so that it fits 3 x 18650.

I just tried 3 x 18350 IMRs (just take out that mini extension), the sag is still too much, drops from 3.7A initial quite fast....think not too good for the cells.

3 x 18500 is too long also at 150mm, for a light that takes 130mm batteries.

I tore mine down, gutted the driver, and said the hell with it and made it direct drive through a 1/2 ohm power resistor. I managed to screw, poorly, the head into a Solarforce L2P body to make a short blowtorch. I run it on 3X RCR123's or IMR's with no worries as it draws ~3A at tailcap.

Still very bright with no appreciable difference to the eyes.

The Skyray host is boring anyway.

Rich

Well, I just received my G6 after several weeks in delivery and it's sort of a dud. It starts on the next mode (i.e. first start at H, second start on M, third start on L,...). Yay..

There shoudn't be much difference to the eyes as it is not linear plus the way our pupil works if you overpower your eyes if you hit it in the house, all this is really appreciable on the lux meter. What i noticed on 950mAh IMR 18350 x 3 is that the current drops quite fast. Afraid that i may mess up the cells as it seems to be even too much for the IMR 18350.

Ok, maybe a smart guy would ask "if it is not appreciable to the eyes even if it's a diff of 15% in lux due to the way our pupils work, why would you bother then"? Well, in real life you really don't stare at the hotspot just 8m away (if you have the DRY, most likely it's in low). It's more like bounced light for inside use (extremely effective for a say 30m^2 room), or you use it outside where you wanna flood as well as throw some object which is 100m away. Yes this DDed light has more lux intensity than your typical U80/Keygos/UF-980L/C8/TC6 40mm-class light. This has a throw of approx 350m (object @ 0.25 lux)

If anyone has a dud, I'd love to buy the host. No LEDs necessary.

dorpmuller gets first dibs, of course.

Thanks !

you should of brought the TrustFire TR-3T6

CNqualitygoods has the TF. usd45. If you combine your orders together it can be much cheaper than MF, and coz it's via DHL you'll get it within 2-3 days. (I usually get my stuff within 2 days, and i got them twice in 1 day).

FryRays. I'll be nucking-futs to ever buy another. I have (had) two.

thats quick shipping but the shipping to australia is about the same $$$ as the torch and i normaly only order 1 at a time, ive used manafont about 10 times now, im happy with there customer service, they are in the same time zone as me so i can use the live help if i need questions answered and the respond quick to emails and the batteries i get from there are gen,s

i have read all the threads i could find on the fry rays lucky as i almost brought me and my old man one each, but i whent for the TrustFire TR-3T6 lucky and the reports comming through on some of the new sky rays tripples are not much better i made a post here so if any one has read the sky ray threads and then read this thread it should be clear witch is better, well i think so.

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/3304

Nah... you go ahead. Since mine smoked I used that so I don't need it now.