Just Received my Cyclone C88

Bort · July 21, 2012, 1:33am

NightCrawl:

Bort:

1. Can I test for voltage sag under load?

2. Two others who have tested this light with eneloops got 1.9 amps, does this mean the AMCs are splitting it equally, or does it mean only some of them are operating?

3. I am curious because if we assume both of their lights work correctly and this is the capability of the eneloops, if I get 1.6 or 1.8 amps with them would it suggest an AMC failure, or would it still be 1.9 if one or two failed since that would be less then the difference between 1.9 and 2.8 that the driver should be pulling?

1. You can. You need to disassemble the light, connect the cells with magnets and add some leads. Now install the leads of the DMM to read the voltage of all 4 cells in series -> should give you about 6V. If you now connect this setup to the pill, it will light up and the voltage will sag to somewhere around 3.5V.

2. They dont work at all, the light basically goes direct drive.

3. The driver doesnt pull anything, the LED does. The driver just regulates it, because XMLs can pull 5A or more from good cells. By building a driver in, you limit it to 2.8A (in this case).

Now LEDs do have a forward voltage. They wont light up below a certain voltage and this voltage determines current draw. The higher the voltage, the higher the current draw. But its very inaccurate, thats why AMC-baseds drivers are so popular. They regulate the current and let the forward voltage determinate itself.

_{no scientific explanation, but thats how I understood it and it works out in real-life applications}

So, would it be correct to say that the amperage for eneloop batteries is sagging under the current draw to the led lower limit and thats what setting the 1.9 to 2amp draw limit?

Since the light uses 3 batteries in series, would using 4 batteries allow more current to flow, less sagging on each?

Would trying this damage the led or driver since it has a 4.5volt limit?

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/amc71358-5mode-circuit-board-nanjg-105c-p-216.html

I know i’m asking complicated questions that may be hard to answer

Boaz · July 21, 2012, 3:30am

I'd grab a tr01 for under 10$ and rip apart that lap top battery pack .unless you have a real dud then there are going to be probably 5 decent cells in it . meanwhile i'd order a few decent batteries and wait on those .

I assume there are only a few bad cells screwing up the entire pack that's normally the case ..buy a tr01 from T mart or someone who will ship it fast and then you can wait on the rest .

Bort · July 21, 2012, 4:21am

I re-read my posts, i did write it a bit confusingly, the laptop batteries are maybe 5 years old and at 100% charge (4.2V) only hold 40% of what they did when new.

I am planning to buy some new 18650 or 26650 batteries with a decent charger, but i have not decided what is the best value, i don’t mind spending a bit more, but i have to careful about cost. I am currently considering the sanyo 18650 from intl outdoor, unless someone has better suggestions.

NightCrawl · July 21, 2012, 7:50am

Voltage is sagging, not amperage. 4 cells would give you more current draw, yes. Normally no problem for the driver, low mode might be critical tho.

Well, those Sanyos from IO are unprotected. If you are OK with that, there are cheaper sources.. for that price you can get them protected.

Bort · July 21, 2012, 5:55pm

NightCrawl:

Bort:

So, would it be correct to say that the amperage for eneloop batteries is sagging under the current draw to the led lower limit and thats what setting the 1.9 to 2amp draw limit? Since the light uses 3 batteries in series, would using 4 batteries allow more current to flow, less sagging on each? Would trying this damage the led or driver since it has a 4.5volt limit? http://www.intl-outdoor.com/amc71358-5mode-circuit-board-nanjg-105c-p-216.html I know i’m asking complicated questions that may be hard to answer

Voltage is sagging, not amperage. 4 cells would give you more current draw, yes. Normally no problem for the driver, low mode might be critical tho.

Well, those Sanyos from IO are unprotected. If you are OK with that, there are cheaper sources… for that price you can get them protected.

where?

NightCrawl · July 22, 2012, 12:01am

http://www4.buyincoins.com/details/new-sanyo-li-ion-18650-rechargable-3-7v-2-6ah-2600mah-battery-with-protected-product-12508.html

Other very good 18650 cells:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/pingyi.co.ltd/m.html?_nkw=18650+2600mAh

Bort · July 22, 2012, 12:06am

I very much dislike ebay, bad experiences

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 5:26am

Buy good Li-ion cells, then try to measure. And simply buy thick leads and eliminate the possibility of the leads adding to much resistance.

Don't go for the cheapest, these are very good: http://www.intl-outdoor.com/2-pcs-sanyo-ur18650fm-2600mah-protected-battery-p-516.html

Bort · August 25, 2012, 5:30am

How ironic you replied to this old thread just now, the cells i ordered arrived today, and like i posted in the what you got today thread, still no dice, 2.44 on high, 0.75 medium, 0.11 low

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 5:32am

I simply did not read this thread until today.

So you got the Marsfire?

Bort · August 25, 2012, 5:35am

king kong INR 26650

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 5:38am

I see, then those cells should have no problem regarding resistance. Try cleaning the threads of the flashlight and use thick leads.

Bort · August 25, 2012, 5:43am

already done, i took the pill out and used several layers of wire before i accepted those as the final numbers

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 5:48am

Try changing the driver and see if that brings any change. Or you can take the driver out and test it separately out of the pill but still connected to an XM-L.

I'm really curious of this.

Bort · August 25, 2012, 6:00am

I have no other drivers, this is my first foray into xm-l territory, the next newest led technology i have is from 2008 (an xp-e)

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 6:05am

You should buy some other Nanjg 105C and try to see what's going on.

Bort · August 25, 2012, 6:10am

i’m not so impressed by these 105c drivers, not sure i want to buy any more of them, i wonder if one of the 7135 chips is defective

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 6:16am

I am actually very impressed with these drivers, owning several and having seen only good remarks about them (expect one).

Hikelite · August 25, 2012, 6:19am

Let's say one does not work, 350mAx7 = 2450mA, 30% = 735mA, 5% = 122.5mA

Bort · August 25, 2012, 7:19am

looks about right