Could someone please explain to me the difference between the Convoy S2+ custom 5 amp driver they are using now vs. the Nanjg AK47 driver x-7135 drivers that they used to use.
I don’t understand why they switched, which one is better, and if the S2+ host and pill can be customized with a different mcpcb, led, and driver.
When I looked into this before, I was looking for good runtime in the 300-400 lumen output range, I was recommended to get 4x7135. So I bought 2 different ones with the older trapezoid threads with high at about 350 lumens which is good. I want to change one of them because the tint is too warm for me and I want a more defined spot in the beam. It has 3x7135 set to 2 modes. Not Biscotti.
So I am looking at converting it to a more defined spot to throw better, and get a cooler tint with decent CRI and R9 in 4500-5000k. I will stay with the decent runtime at about 350-400 lumens. I will try a real spot smooth TIR lens either 5, 10, or 20 degree. I only need 4 modes but would prefer to be able to choose the mode power output levels.
I read through the 219b high cri tint thread, and it looks like good LED options for decent CRI with good throw / spot would be:
GT-FC40 4500K or 5000K
XHP35.2 HI 5000k, with 80 or 90 CRI
Simon says:
GT FC40 can not be installed in S2+ , the host and driver are all not suitable.
XHP35.2 HI 5000k, the host and driver are all not suitable.
Can I get those LED’s on a different MCPCB, in the correct size?
And what driver would work with those and fit in the S2+ pill with 4 modes?
The 5A driver is a Regulated FET driver and isn’t as efficient as the 7135 drivers but it offers more current/power. Each 7135 chip allows for 350ma to 380ma, so a 8×7135 is 2.8A to 3.04A.
With all the above in mind, I would recommend a Nichia 519A 5700K(Dedomed) with the 5A(12 group) driver and the 5° or 10° TIR.
Note: The light will get good and hot if you run it at 100% for more than a minute or 2 but if you want High CRI and good throw in a S2+ you’re gonna have to deal with heat.
Regulated FET driver would sort of implies that it is a driver that use a MOSFET for PWM dimming the LED, with an advanced control of the duty cycle for a constant output.
But the 5A Convoy driver is a linear driver, just like a 7135 chip, with the difference that it uses analog dimming instead of PWM dimming (7135 has a fixed output, turning it on and off allows lower brightness), in most case the 5A linear driver will have a small efficiency advantage (and of course more power), it is only at low output that a driver with 1x7135 (350mA) channel will have an advantage since the efficiency of an LED actually decreases at low current, the LH351D efficiency peaks at 200mA for example.
My goal here is decent runtime in about the 400 lumen range. The priority is a good balance of runtime and output which doesn’t overheat during continuous use at 350-400 lumens. Having a higher setting available for short burst turbo at higher output with short runtime and overheating is nice to have but would be rarely used.
I wasn’t aware that I could get a defined spot like I am looking for out of the 519a due to how big the emitter is, so I thought it wasn’t a good option for my goal.
If the old 8x7135 is all that will fit on the driver, and that is 2.8A to 3.04A, but the new driver is 5A which one is a better driver ?
Would you happen to know why they went to a 5A driver?
So the Convoy S21B and S11 with a single 21700 battery can power the GT FC40 12V Emitters but the S2+ with 18650 cant ?
There are no drivers out there that can fit the S2+ pill that can run the GT FC40 / 12v emitters?
I’ve got a Kaidomain KDIY K12 (very similar to an S2+) that came with an SST20 (which sucked) so I put in a 5000k LH315D. It’s got a smooth reflector and gives a brighter spot- but nowhere near as tight as you want. It’s got a 3 mode driver . I’ve just received some Convoy 20mm TIR’s and they work well with it, but I didn’t get anything with a really tight beam angle.
Have you looked at an SST40 5000k with the 5 Amp driver? I just bought an S2+ with that set up and have been surprised at the throw and the CRI looks pretty good to my amateur eyes. Next to the LH315D reds actually seem brighter/ better defined. (I don’t have anything to measure the CRI and don’t get hung up on what I see on white walls…)
Simon was supposed to be releasing a 17mm boost driver (mentioned in older threads) but I haven’t seen anything about it recently. I was going to fit a high CRI 6V XHP50 in an S2+, but have instead had to settle on the cold questionable CRI 3V version.
That might be a good option to consider then. I have seen the 519A has a warmer tint when de domed, and supposedly throws better also. If I get 350 lumens out of it on high I will be happy if the tint and spot are good.
Good to know, thanks for the info.
Interesting. I Don’t know much about that.
No but I have read that SST’s leans toward a green tint which isn’t my preference. I avoid the tints that emphasize a purple, green, blue, rose, red, and pink tints. I prefer more yellow or orange to those.
I ordered my S2+ lights with XM-L2 T6 4C - 4300-4500K, and the other with Nichia 219C 4000k. But the 4300-4500k is somehow much warmer color than the 4000K so I have no idea what led’s my S2+ flashlights actually have in them. All I know is the 4300-4500 one color is way to warm for me.
Sounds like the 7135 driver that is in my S2+ is fine for my application since I am not trying to get maximum output anyway. I just need to swap in an led with better tint and a more defined spot. At least I understand now why the GT FC40, and XHP35.2 is the wrong part for a simple swap in the S2+.
Interesting how in that thread it was mentioned that BLF tends to burn out driver circuitry designers, and that they basically don’t get paid for doing it.
I don’t know any of what’s happening behind the scenes, and i haven’t been here long and don’t know what the history is, but seeing how good some of the stuff BLF members have designed is, that for profit companies are using, these guys should be on the payroll for some major manufacturers. Or getting 5 figure royalty checks every couple months at least. But not like you can go and sue china. Or any major company without significant resources for that matter.
I hope that some of them have been able to get payment upfront for some of their work or have some kind of financial arrangement worked out with somebody somewhere because they really deserve it.
But of course the flip side to that is if you start taking money and patenting stuff and then someone uses a flashlight with your design incorrectly and hurt themselves or burn their shed down they might try and take you to court and you might not be in china. Ideally you’d probably just want a job offer so you don’t have to deal with that end of things I would think.