SIpik SK68 Best AA boost driver?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Hi, im new here. Great Forum!

I will mod some of this great flashlight SK 68 clone with the pill solid:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10003898/1278403

I will put some good Leds ( copper base Noctigon):

Nichia 219b

http://intl-outdoor.com/noctigon-xp16-v2-mcpcb-nichia-nvsl219bt-r85-d220…

XP-e2 r4

http://intl-outdoor.com/noctigon-xp16-mcpcb-cree-xpe2-r4-1c-led-p-772.html

I will use a 22awg wires 200 º C for the driver and use with AA eneloop pro BK-3HCC. There are the best AA cells.

Review here:

At you see all parts are high end/best quality

But i need some help with the driver.

I want the best driver that i can put in this flashlight:

I want that the driver delivered much current to the led + 600mh ( 1x AA) + 3000mha in tailcap.
I preffer that have modes but no memory, in other words always start on high.
As Efficiency as possible.

The driver its use with AA panasonic pro, so no problem with high tailcap current + 3000mha.

I order 3 of these:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10001750/1127407-12-aaaaa-5-mode-800ma-linear-booster-led-flashligh

Review:

Seem to have a good driver:

3 modes with no memory ( always start in high)
good current 700 ma at 1,5v
good efficiency.

The problem is that only get 2,25 A more or less for the battery.

My question is: is there any better driver than this that improve current ( gets 3 A for the battery) and have modes and almost the same efficiency?

Any better drivers? of course they will fit in the sk68 host so no springs driver.

Thanks in advance.

Any information its great.

Alberto.

2

I'm pretty sure the drivers in the SK68 are 15mm. Just measured one of mine.

The one you linked to is 17mm.

This driver from DX has been recommended here before but I've never personally used it. However, it is 17mm also.

http://www.dx.com/p/3w-5w-20-mode-regulated-circuit-board-for-flashlights-7880#.U_HwO2IaySM

Try doing a thread search for SK68 mods - you should find lots of useful info.

Oh, and welcome to BLF

3

welcome to forum alberto7, keep us updated on your progress.

4

I second gadabout's recommendation. I have some, but haven't put them in a light yet. I purchased them because a Member I highly respect recommended them to me here in Post 10.

5

It is a difficult question, good boost drivers for a 1x NiMh cell are scarce. There are some great NiMh drivers in high end flashlights, but not a separate great driver that delivers 600mA, with modes, and is 15mm.

6

17mm drivers can fit under the pill (rather than inside the driver cavity on the pill). Electrical contact can be tricky with the aluminum pill.

7

Are you sure that particular SK68 has a solid pill, not a hole?

8

On 500mA emitter current a Benefit from a solid pill is questionable anyway…

These boost drivers can also be resistormodded slightly, but the gain in output is often not worth the higher current the cell has to provide. With decreasing cell voltage the tailcap current increases even further and on every resistance in the light(tailcap and driver spring) there is a higher voltage drop which cause even higher current which cause a higher needed current and so on its a vicious circle…

The best bet are 14500s in these lights…

9

yes is 15 mm, but 17mm will fit buffing.

Thanks for the recomendation!

Thanks! for sure.

Thanks!

I know that its dificult to find. Thanks!

Yes, its dificult to solder aluminium i don´t know why. Thanks!

Absolutely sure! Thanks!

Thanks for the lesson!

10

And if you want to use 14500 Li Ion batteries…we have several 15mm drivers already created (if you want to DIY)

11

Hi, finally i decided to use the 3 mode driver that originally came with the flashlight.

The driver is next mode memory, but i read that is possible mod for no memory.

How i do this?

I read something like “pencil mod” but i don´t understand. I think that i don´t understand because mi lenguaje is Spanish.

Can anybody tell me very simple and clear how delete the memory?

Thanks all.

Alberto

12

Well its not a sure thing but you can use a pencil and draw a heavy line from one end of the CAP to the other effectivly shorting it, this causes it to drain off, the driver checks the voltage on the cap to know what mode to start in, shorted out with 0v it will revery to the start every time.

This is NOT a for sure thing, it works on many of the cheap next more drivers but no telling if it’ll work on yours or not, just have to try it.

13

I don´t understand you. So, i take a photo of the driver:

Please teel me to do.

Thanks :slight_smile:

14

See the little brown box next to the chip…scrub a pencil trace from metal to metal over the top of it…it will allow that cap to drain faster and “reset” back to the first mode after a few seconds of being off

15

I’d say try the one further away from the red wire first.

16

Right…the one right next to the 6 pin IC…

17

I think you guys have it wrong. See my reply #1 in my thread here. Note that I used the capacitor next to the inductor. I soldered on an 8.2k ohm resistor, but I think something in the range of 8-20ohms would be good depending on your preference. (placing graphite with a pencil is an alternative) The driver in mine appears to be exactly the same as what alberto7 has based on the PCB markings.

18

Finally i abandoned this project. The 17mm drivers don´t fit and after cut to 15mm don´t work J)

I will buy a Solarforce z2, that its seems to be much more quality.

Thanks to all.

Alberto

19

A 17 mm. driver will fit, if you fiddle with the lengths. (Since you want a boost driver, I assume you don’t need space for the longer protected cells.) You may not be able to screw the pill down all the way, and it takes the space that could otherwise be filled with metal to connect the pill and battery tube better thermally, but the discussion above doesn’t sound like cooling the LED will be a problem.
Mountain Electronics has UltraOK SK-68s, which some consider to be the best SK-68s. They are cheap, except that you have to pay for shipping.

20

hallo.i dont want to open new thred ,so i ask here-i want to change the driver in sipik sk68 because the strobo…its for aa/14500…nothing special,only want to get modes-low mid high,or so…no strobo.it must be not boost driver…