Possible to mod or replace driver in Apex 5T6, want to get rid of PWM flicker.

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Well, I have the Apex 5T6 and do quite like the light for the most part, however one thing does bother me, it has pretty bad PWM on Med and Low modes. I can deal with it if need be, but I was wondering if anyone has modded the light at all with a new driver that doesn’t have noticeable PWM. The modes are great, the High is fine so I don’t really need anything more powerful or wirh more modes, just higher PWM frequency. Any help is appreciated.

2

Guess not, oh well, it’s ok as is.

3

Hi mate,

I too have the 5T6, and not only do I not like the PWM, but mine is also less throwy and less floody than my Nitecore TM11 (which is only rated at 2000 lumen).

With the know-how you can change the driver - Ric sent me a replacement driver for mine, but on close examination it is exactly the same as the existing one so I didn’t bother risking a driver swap.

Vinh (from CPF) was for a time doing custom Direct Drive 5T6s - he removed the driver completely and replaced it with a simple direct drive setup, along with a beefy extra copper heat sink and other wiring improvements … he was claiming 5000 lumens from the results.

I hope someone else here chimes in if they’ve had some luck modding their 5T6’s driver.

Cheers

4

Are the four cells series or parallel? If their series, this may be an option:-

http://www.intl-outdoor.com/boost-5led-3-modes-23-cells-input-circuit-board-p-544.html

I’ve not used it myself, but its the one I had in mind when I read this earlier, just didn’t have time to post. Hope it helps.

5

Cells are all in parallel. That’s why I wasn’t looking at the boards from KD or IO.

6

Bummer :frowning: I suspected as much that makes life difficult. How about asking ric/hank Wang if the upgraded drivers are available on their iteration of the light?

7

Why not throw in a bunch of KD V2 drivers?

8

I swapped a few drivers as well and ran it direct drive. besides a big leap in output
it warms up quite a bit faster. I would recommended beefing up the heat sink or replacing the thin aluminum sink the LEDs are mounted on. I don’t have that Apex anymore but the new will
get the same treatment…

9

Do you have a closeup PIC of the driver? What is the diameter? Is it a bunch of linear drivers? or a buck/boost circuit? I could visualize switching ON/OFF (i.e. no PWM) three sets of linear drivers matching the mode output.