Hey, so I have a milwaukee m18 stick light that only produces 300lumens… I’m hoping to modify the leds to produce around 700-900lumens.
I took it apart and took some pictures, in your opinions what is the easiest way to do it? Is it as simple as soldering on a brighter led, which ones? I really appreciate your inputs, thank you!
Those three LEDs should be able to produce 700-900 lumens, but it would require a more powerful driver. The LEDs are probably wired in a 3s configuration, (~9V) and the driver is getting 18.5V nominal, 21V max, from the 5s pack. You’d need a buck driver that can handle 21V input and puts out 1 Amp at ~9v. A Taskled H6CC LED driver would work, and it offers dimming via a POT, but it costs $34 plus $6 shipping. I’m not sure if there are other options. LED drivers are usually constant current.
You could use any cheap DC-DC adjustable constant voltage buck supply though, setting the output to ~9v. Checking the current over the wires with a clamp meter, you’d be able to adjust the voltage to the right level such that the LEDs are getting ~1A. Be aware that the LEDs will pull a bit more current as the heatsink gets hotter, if the power supply is not a constant current source, as LED Vf reduces with temperature rise. If you wired a 2nd pot in parallel to the regulator’s voltage ADJ pot, that may work to gain pot dimming control during operation.
I’m using these as drivers for “custom” exterior security lights using Cree XHP50 and XHP70 LED’s (way more current than you require.) They’re basically on every night (the XHP50’s) automatically at dusk and off at dawn and haven’t failed in about 5 years. I’m using a 13V source, but they’re rated up to 36V input. They don’t run hot so must be reasonably efficient.
I’ve been planning on making some work lights using them XHP50’s and 18V power tool batteries.
That looks good, having a constant current mode. The two trimpots are labeled as having the same function, but one probably adjusts the current limit and the other the voltage limit.
There is another CC driver on banggood with lesser specs for $3.50.
Pretty easy to do, just replace the driver. whether or not heat management will handle 3 times the heat load is a different question.
Yes, one is voltage limit and the other current. I’ve used them for all sorts of projects.
Plumbguy, if you just want something cheap with decent light output you can buy battery adapters off AliExpress for popular power tool batteries. That gives you a plastic adapter that plugs onto your Milwaukee battery with two power wires. Then buy a LED car/ motor bike flood or worklight that operates off a wide voltage range - quite often they’ll do 12-30V and bolt it to the adapter and wire it up. I’ve done that with a Dewalt battery and an “18 Watt” flood/ work light I picked up cheap. It’s output is pretty impressive and it’s handy for working on the car etc.
e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-milwaukee-m18-power-adapter.html