Wanting to use this driver, scavenged from the module in an older (circa 2007-ish?) 2AA MiniMag, in a 2AAA incan conversion. Amazingly, it fits in the AAA battery tube, just barely. Testing with two AAs/XM-L I measure 530mA input, and 360mA to the emitter.
I'm not planning to use an XM-L in the conversion but it's all I have on hand to test with, thinking something more sensible like XP-G or n219. If the driver can't be hacked to get it up around 7-800mA, which emitter would work best at 360mA?
Well I wanted to stay with the alkaline AAAs just to be stubborn, but direct drive with a 10440+spacer (or two, if I can squeeze a parallel adapter thingamajig into the teeny little battery tube) would sure make things easier... and brighter...
that sounds like a boost driver, based on your input/ LED current readings, so I would guess that a li-ion battery would probably fry the driver (or go direct drive at the very least). 350mA output is decent enough in a small light, so I’d be tempted to leave it at that and use a nice XP-E2 for throw with some spill (XP-G2 for more spill and less throw).
Oh yes, of course - skip the driver with lithiums. An XP-G/G2 at 1000-1200mA (10440s in parallel) would be just flat out ridiculous. I like ridiculous, possibly more than I like the idea of keeping the alkalines. That would be, what, 300+ lumens?
If you want to use lithiums, why not just direct drive? I don’t think those tiny 10400 size batteries can supply a huge amount of juice, so you’ll limit current that way too. Would certainly make things simpler and you could always just use the extra space for a huge pill
Well, I don't want to use lithiums, but if it's limited to ~350mA with AAAs I don't think I'd be happy with it. Too spoiled by the XM-Ls & 18650s, I guess.
Using the leftover driver wouldn't take up any space in the head, it fits in the top of the battery tube where the plastic bi-pin socket/switch used to go. And I like the UI (no memory!), it just doesn't have enough horsepower if it can't be tweaked.