Thanks for the feedback! It makes sense that it does not change linearly over time! The rest I’m not sure I understand: I’d have thought that in this case, the led is driven at a constant current and hence the numerator (led Vf) is a constant. Now, if the denominator (cell voltage) halves/triples/etc… than the total value of the ratio doubles/triples/etc…, no? So that aspect aspect it is linear, only the discharge does not happen linear over time?
If by ‘time average’ you mean this: Temporal mean - Wikipedia ; than that seems like the best way to do it, but also a lot of sampling calculations, no? With battery discharge, does the result differ a lot from the “the supposed linear” result?
EDIT: The discharge curve of the Samsung 35E at 7A draw looks extremely linear though (except with drops at the start and end of the safe range wich are however also quite symetrical). So if I only use that battery, I would be quite accurate with LED4power’s simple method, or is it a lot less symetrical at lower current draws (I can’t find data on those lower draws)? Samsung 35E
Yes, cell discharge is sort of close to linear. But I’m saying even if the discharge is linear that calculation is wrong. A quick example of what I mean about the efficiency not being linear with discharge is: with a 3.0V LED and battery going from 4V to 3.8V the efficiency changes by 3.9 percentage points. The same change in voltage at the bottom of the discharge, going from 3.2V to 3V results in a larger change in efficiency, 6.25 percentage points. The end result is that calculation overestimates the efficiency by 3-5 percentage points.
OK, lets outsource the voltage curve integration to HKJ. Samsung 35E . IIRC 7135 loses at least 0.1V even when Vf is below battery voltage.
For Vf = 2.8V we don’t need to be concerned about what happens below that voltage because that’s already the cutoff. We need 1A but we can use the data for 2A to account for resistance outside the driver (that’s arbitrary). We got 11.838Wh/3.327Ah = 3.558V avg. under load, but it can be done without using that voltage, we have 3.327 * 2.8 = 9.315Wh out. 9.315 out / 11.838 in = 78.7% efficiency or 21.3% loss. 2.8V / 3.558V gets the same number. I know I’m neglecting significant figures.
For Vf = 2.9V, lets assume that we lose a constant value of 0.1V in the unregulated region, we have 3.2Ah above 3.0V and 0.127Ah below. The regulated region contains about 11.5Wh, 11.5/3.2 = 3.59V. So we lose (((3.59 - 2.9) / 3.59) * 3.2 + 0.1 * 0.127) / 3.327 = 18.8% loss (with many sources of errors).
For Vf = 3.3V I think the regulated region ends at 3.4V, have 2.35A, 8.5Wh above = 3.62V avg, 0.977Ah below, so (((3.62 - 3.3) / 3.62) * 2.35Ah + 0.1 * 0.977Ah) / 3.327 = 9.2%. I took the wrong data as the current is about 3A rather than 1-2A but that correcting that will only increase the efficiency.
The point is that linear drivers are quite efficient when the Vf is about 3.3V or higher, for example when running a SST40 at 4.5A, but they lose efficiency at low current where the Vf is lower (overall driver+led efficiency still increases).
That’s the first chart with many colors, 2 lines for each load as there are 2 samples.
Note that in the case of Convoy the CULMP1 driver should also be suitable for SST40. OTOH the linear / regulated FET drivers are also suitable for CULMP1 if you feel that the 8A driver mode spacing is inadequate, but they are less efficient.
You can request such changes from Simon, I’m not sure what’s the current procedure for the price adjustment, but you can contact him first.
The 1mm^2 is better for throw at the cost of lumens, but check whether the hotspot is big enough. The difference in lumens will be maybe 10% at 1A, but it will grow to over 20% at 3A. The ramping driver is not ideal for it as during adjustment it will be at 8A for some seconds, it will probably survive if your sample is as resilient as the one tested at BLF, but I wouldn’t recommend it (or use a battery below 40% to adjust it). Running the 8A driver with the 1mm^2 at 100% is a bad idea as well.
I think the 20.5mm LD-29 buck driver might fit in one of the Convoy 21700 hosts, or just take the stock 5A/6A regulated FET driver and accept some efficiency loss. There is a 7135*3 driver with 7 modes between 10% and 100% but the perceived changes will be small and leaves you with no options when you need high output.
Could also change the sense resistor on the convoy configurable “ramping” driver to make it a lower current so we not to damage an LED during adjustment. Its easy customizable modes make it great for when you really want to control your runtimes.
I don’t think the OP is comfortable with changing driver components. I’m not sure if Simon is willing to do that.
Edit: to that list of some throwy flashlights add the “Noctigon KR1”: Noctigon KR1 review | EDC Thrower flashlight with 1300 lumens | 1Lumen.com . The runtime was 170min at 275lm using 3000mAh battery. Not really sure how the efficiency compares to other models. There is also the Noctigon K1 but probably outside your budget.
Thank you all so much for your imput! I needed some time to digest and research it all a bit.
My impressions are that the osram 2mm² is at the limit of minimum beam width that I’d need.
I am considering the osram in an M21A it has 1.5x more throw. I’m asking Simon for a ramping version.
Alternatively the osram with a buck driver in an M21B, or else the M21A with an SST40 and ramping.
My D25S arrived so I’ll get some batteries for it and try that out first before I decide.
Meanwhile many thanks again for your feedback!
Yes I know. The 8A driver is 22mm and hence doesn’t fit into the C8+/M21.
That’s why I’m considering the M21B (M21C, L21A are a bit too heavy/large as a bike - head light; the Acebeams etc beyond my budget )
Edit: disregard my ramblings, the M21B with Osram 2mm^2 is looking like a good option, 40g lighter too. I don’t longer think the SFT40 will be a real improvement over the Osram.
Original post:
If you are unsure between the SST40 and CULPM1 because the Osram is too small and don’t plan to purchase soon you may as well wait until the end of March, when the SFT40, a dedomed version of the SST40, is expected to be released.
The old XPL HI would be suitable as well with a 3x7135 driver (a 8x7135 will have poor regulation) or the regulated FET drivers at low current if Simon is willing to build it, and should survive the ramping driver because it won’t go above 5 or 6A with Li-Ion voltages, but the only advantage would be the choice of warmer color temperatures, due to its high forward voltage the output will will reduced when battery is low. However the CULPM1 in the M21B reflector should be somewhat similar to XPL HI in the larger M21A/C8 with better regulation. Both will output about 400lm at 1A.
The advantage in output of the SFT40 will be mainly at high current, at low current the main advantage will be the low Vf allowing better regulation or higher efficiency with a buck driver.
Great summary of options! The 3*7135 will have PWM, no?
It may be a good idea to wait for that SFT40 (I was reading up on dedoming sst40 but without much confidence: reading about faulting led/bondwires )
I’m awaiting Simon’s response and meanwhile I will experiment with the S25D: I’m looking for smooth reflectors or throwy TIR options for that light.
Many thanks again!
Disregard my ramblings, the M21B with Osram 2mm^2 is looking like a good option, 40g lighter too. I don’t longer think the SFT40 will be a real improvement over the Osram at low current, the throw will be 1.4x lower than the Osram because of larger die size, maybe a small improvement over the XPL HI with lower Vf. It will be between the SST40 and the CULMP1 but the CULPM1 in the smaller M21B reflector will be in between too.
Edit: between both Osram 2mm^2 LEDs the CULPM1 will be more expensive but the bin is higher (1690lm vs ~1400lm at 6A but I’m not sure how it will translate at low current), it will also handle 8A within specs instead of 6A ( but the CSLPM1 should still survive the brief time at 8A out of specs from the ramping driver but I’m not sure if Simon is willing to risk it).
Edit: look at this youtube channel , he compared several Convoy flashlights, at least look at this one.
Thanks again (it’s been a while - had much work in the house).
I think I’ll stick to the ramping driver (only fits the C8+ apparently) and wait for the SFT40.
Meanwhile I still have to order 18650 batteries. Since the Samsung 35E’s are sold out most of the time, I’m thinking of buying Liitokala’s.
Both my Lii-100 charger and C8+’s ramping driver (and Sofirn D25S?) should have the necessary protections, no?
Are there in my user case reasons to buy or not to buy Liitokala protected/unprotected and buttoned/flat topped?
Will the Convoy C8+ fit with protected button topped Liitokala’s (69.5x18.5mm) vs unprotected button topped (67.5x18.5mm) vs flat topped (65x18.5mm)?
I suspect they wont fit my Sofirn D25S, whose tube I measured as 73x19.5mm, but the tube’s lenght is reduced by springs of 7mm and 4mm. Am I right?
Which model should I chose and should I buy from its official store or any high rated ali store? I guess it’ll be unprotected in order to fit the D25S?
I have no idea, but it won’t get any brighter than at 4.2V if it survives and all the extra volts will be wasted as heat. Also several amps from a CR123 is a bad idea. Trying a single CR123 if a 18350 tube fits at low current for emergencies would make more sense, but it would hit LVP fast, using high current with primaries gets very expensive anyway.
Thanks for those suggestions! Just bo be on the safe side:
Should I be safe in using unprotected cells without risking burning myself or my room, even if I am the kind of person that may forget I’ve got a battery active in a charger or in a torch?
I’d be using them with the Lii 100 (and perhaps a XTAR VC2S) charger and a D25S (I understood but am not sure it has LVP) and C8+ or M21A.
I live in Europe and can’t buy from 18650batterystore. The vapcell seems interesting for higher Amps but are there other advantages over the relatively cheap Liitokala’s?
Shortcircuit: when there is a low resistance path between both battery terminals, for example if both ends are touched simultaneously by your keys. In a flashlight or any device that doesn’t happen because there is at least one component which spends the electrical energy, in this case the driver and LED, thus the electrical current is limited as it must do work to reach the other terminal.
Underdischarge: Below some voltage the Li-Ion cell is damaged, below some lower voltage the cell will start growing dendrites that will cause an shortcircuit when the cell is changed again. If the flashlight is turned on accidentally and forgotten for days or months the circuits may keep drawing a small current which eventually would empty the cell. Also flashlights with electronic switch will consume a very small current while turned off (parasitic drain), that could take months or years but it will eventually deplete the cell, this can be prevented by unscrewing the tailcap a bit before storing the flashlight so the circuit is interrupted. The lowest safe voltage is between 2.0V - 2.5V, flashlights with LVP typically shutdown at 2.8V to be in the safe side, but it’s not always effective to prevent parasitic drain.
The issue with Liitokala is that they were caught employing deceptive advertisment in the past, for example selling Liitokala 30Q, which was actually a cheaper cell with less CDR, as Samsung 30Q, so the community doesn’t trust them much when it comes to 18650 cells. Vapcell is more expensive but at least they are selling what they promised, when tested they always come within the expected specs, they also get some early access to new cells compared to other vendors, they certainly have some good contacts.
But if you brought their batteries recently and they served you well for your needs I think it’ s ok to continue buying them, just don’t expect them to fully meet their specs.
Lumeniac updated his C8G runtime graph for the SST40 version. The driver is actually regulated. Efficiency and regulation looks somewhat similar to Convoy’s SST40 drivers (M21A), without more precise output measurements I cannot be certain, and falls short of the SP35 results (the SP35 test used a 4800mAh battery instead of 4000mAh but the runtime difference is much larger than 20%).
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