Hello BLF I’m still pretty new on the forum and very green behind the gills when it comes to flashlight modding. However, I have an idea for a flashlight mod and I want to ask you guys for help.
. So I have a thrunite TN30 (not mini) with the OP reflectors and I like this light a lot as to fit and feel. The magnetic ring, output and throw, and basically everything but the cauliflower beam make it a great light. As I have three xhp35 HI on hand and found that they already will fit the reflector dimensions via the stars they rode in on, I was thinking of turning my TN30 into a 3x XHP35. Problem is, Ive never modded a flashlight before. I’ve taken them apart and looked at them but to say I know the in’s and out’s of doing a job like this would be, to some extent, the polar opposite of reality.
. So my question for starters would be, is there a good driver that can be recommended for driving 3x xhp35 HI parallel with 3s 18650? TN30 battery pack is 3s 18650 already. I’m not trying to drive these LEDs to the max with this light but I would like to get say at least 1,500 lumens from each xhp35hi. Any feedback about the TN30 (not mini) and my idea is very much appreciated.
I would use a LD-2 driver (search on the forum) or a fet driver.
The LD-2 can be configured to drive the LEDs by a specific amount of current so you can better control the performance.
A fet driver allows the maximum amount of current for max performance.
Nevertheless the LEDs needs to be mounted on copper dtp boards. Aluminium or non-dtp boards will kill the LEDs.
My LEDs are each mounted on the little aluminum boards. So these are basically no good in any config or they will work with lesser current? Hope I didn’t sucker buy these. Anyway I’m now thinking about the magnetic control ring and I don’t even know if amperage is regulated pre-driver given the mechanical function of it, or if current is regulated from the driver itself. May have to open it up further and see. I really do have little experience but my Hakko solder station came in and I am determined to start into a project sooner or later.
OK thanks. I guess the first thing I need to look into then is the magnetic control function and why/how it works. Also shopping for copper sinks and reflowing LEDs might be something useful for where I’m at with this stuff. Thanks again.
I think you’ll find these style lights a tough mod to retain the magnetic ring function. The board in these lights has sensors placed on the perimeter that correspond to the location of the magnet in the ring. Plus the other problem you’ll find is that 3x18650s probably won’t provide enough voltage for the xhp35s. Sure when fully charged they each supply 4.2v, but that will drop quickly. You’ll only have a 0.6v overhead before the LEDs wont light up anymore. These lights make great mod hosts, but usually you have to be willing to let the magnet ring go.
I was just now thinking about having to bypass the ring and having sole functionality via tail clicky. I then picked up my tn30 to switch it on and the ring felt a little loose and clanged a bit when turning. The modes are not aligned anymore. Turbo is at the end, no strobe and standby is like three clicks from where moonlight would have been. I may just need to do this mod out of necessity now. In any case, I’ll want to open it up further at this point and see what’s going on as the contacts aren’t identifying at all correctly. Also, I knew I’d need some manner of boost driver but figured since it’s so close there may be better drivers since only a minimal boost is required. I don’t know what that may be called if it exists though, or exactly which driver is which as far as naming and functions so I likely just need to do my own digging as BLF has a lot of gold to find.
i have the same TN 30 which is the old model giving a good throw instead of the newer which is more flood. Would be interested in upgrading the LED to XML-2 U4
My control ring seams to have busted. Either the magnet or one of the metal contacts that pull onto it came loose and it’s all crazy now. So now I’m thinking that bypassing the control ring is not a big deal. I don’t know what would be involved to fix the ring and then it would be an extremely involved mod to keep functionality. So maybe at this point, I really don’t know where this project is going.
I know you already have your XHP35s, but I don’t think there is a very good driver solution for your setup. You will be able to get more performance (output and throw) if you use new XPL HI V2 emitters (or better yet dedomed XPL V6 1A emitters) with a FET driver. You could have your emitters and cells all in series and use a FET driver modified to work with the higher voltage. With this setup you could probably get ~4300 lumens out the front and ~80 Kcd of throw.
Do you think it would get over 4000 lumen with the Xm-L2 U4?
I ordered 3. I wanted the XPL but then I wouldn’t be able to reflow on same heatpac as its a smaller footprint to XML original.