Help needed with XHP project

jakethebeast · 2018-09-30T08:54:46.000Z

Hi! Had a grazy idea of swapping out LEDs from a chinese 25w offroad spotlight to XHP 70.2 chips. Swapping was made easy as the lights already had fitting holes for mounting the chips and the heat sinks are doing a great job at keeping them cool.

First time actually using XHP chips, and they are marvelous! But I’m seeking advise regarding the drivers.
Ordered these
Ebay driver

From ebay and while doing what seems like a good job, while adjusting the current limit one of them released its magic smoke, and lost all the faith for rest of them. So I’m looking for better drivers for automotive use.

Making them myself is not a problem, but if someone more experienced would point me in to the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated!

kiriba-ru · 2018-10-01T07:13:23.000Z

You should not use those drivers in car.
Also, I would recommend you check you alternator (or check output voltage with any oscilloscope). If there are peaks bigger than 30v, you need to fix this.
For using in car or atv, I would choose this drivers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pieces-LED-driver-LDRADJ29-4-8A-4-8A-DC-6-5V-28V-Multi-Mode-for-XHP70-6V/113279038462

jakethebeast · 2018-10-01T07:26:17.000Z

Thank you for your reply! Any info on why this driver is not suitable? The cars alternator is fine, already has some finer electronics than this

X31 · 2018-10-01T07:36:19.000Z

kiriba-ru:

You should not use those drivers in car.
Also, I would recommend you check you alternator (or check output voltage with any oscilloscope). If there are peaks bigger than 30v, you need to fix this.
For using in car or atv, I would choose this drivers: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pieces-LED-driver-LDRADJ29-4-8A-4-8A-DC-6-5V-28V-Multi-Mode-for-XHP70-6V/113279038462

1 on this, I use two drivers from Mtolya for two years on my motorbike (Bandit 650) and 2 XHP50 in S2+ shorty hosts.
No problem at all, the drivers are tough as nails

kiriba-ru · 2018-10-01T09:27:09.000Z

jakethebeast:

Thank you for your reply! Any info on why this driver is not suitable? The cars alternator is fine, already has some finer electronics than this

Some devices are developed to use inside hobby gadgets, and usage conditions are far away from automotive industry. Even chip manufactures have special product line for automobiles. Dust, moisure, big temperature, various frequincy vibration, many electromagnetic noises - cars are not very hospitable for random chinese pcbs (than never passed any tests, have unsupported (unfixed) coils and cheap varistors that cause resistance flow after any bump).

jakethebeast · 2018-10-01T09:31:18.000Z

Thanks, that was just the answer I needed. The chips we got are 12v, and found this from the same seller
Driver
Is this what I’m looking for? It seems very easy to install to the aluminium driver housing we have.

kiriba-ru · 2018-10-01T09:36:56.000Z

Yes, you can choose voltage and shape.
Fixing it to the heatsink is strongly recommended, better if you can use some sealer with known thermal properties - this way you will solve heat, vibration and waterproof problems at once.

jakethebeast · 2018-10-01T09:39:55.000Z

The drivers are mounted to a waterproof aluminium case which is mounted with rubber mounts behing the face grill of my Hilux. Vibrations will propably be still an issue, but I bet cooling will not be a problem