I got a “old” sky ray 3xT6 (2x 18650, “3800 Lumens”) as a gift…
on the tail cap I measure 1,6 Amps with full batteries (2 different manufacturers)
driver has one coil and a big capacitor if that helps…
is there a way to:
a) improve the amps
b) get rid of the disco?
Don’t use 2 different batteries in a light that requires cells in series. Bad things can happen (fire, explosion, etc).
If it’s the light I’m thinking, it’s a very nice quality flashlight. The driver can be resistor modded to increase the drive current.
Disco is a tough fix. Werner figured out a very cool mod on a 3up TF iirc. Dunno I you can do it to this one or not (over my head). I would just get a new driver.
A. If driver is a FET type, resistor mod to boost the amps
B. Thicker wire from driver to emitter (allow more current and less voltage loss)
C. Solder braid on the negative springs to allow more current for normal “boosted” currents…for crazy high currents like 12+ some people are actually stripping the solder mask over the traces and soldering over the traces on the end caps to thicken them to allow even more current
There are also a few developmental SRK driver boards…I know the 32*7135 Nangj style board works but there is still on going tweaking of the FET based direct drive SRK board
The light mentioned in OP have batteries in series and completely different design..
I have resistor modded both a Sky Ray 3xT6 (3800 lumen). A light I consider the TR-3T6`s big brother (larger head, and beefy stainless steel bezel), and a regular TR-3T6. With all the differences in the driver circuits that comes with these lights, its best to take some pictures and get some help, or read up on resistor modding and do some experimenting. Most of these lights can be resistor modded. The Sky Ray light I resistor modded was not as mod friendly as the typical "standard" driver in a TR-3T6 though...
M4D M4X. What is the heat sinking like on your light. A lot of the SkyRays in 3 led format had poor heatsinking. Does yours have a screw in pill? If not it may be best to leave it the way it is.
Looks like the same driver as in the light I modded for a local guy. I dont have the light anymore. Modded it earlier this year..
Like mentioned, its not that mod friendly. First you have to split the driver... Then you get access to some resistors that are limiting current.
You see R068 and R130. On my driver I added 3xR120 in parallel. That bumped emitter current from about 1,3 to 3,07A to each emitter. Drain from two batteries in series were then around 4,9Amp after that mod. Since the light is properly regulated that number will increase as battery voltage gets lower.
The issue with resistor modding the driver, is that it can behave a bit "sketchy". If you have it on a mode for some time, it can refuse to change mode, unless you turn the light on and off again.
I lowered the emitter current below 3A, but still had the issues. Depending on how you use the light you might never see the issue. It does not happen right away. I did a fair amount of testing if it had any reliability issues, and I did not run into any. Owner have never mentioned it, he was aware of the issue..
There are alternative drivers in case you mess it up, or want to avoid blinky modes. I am not aware of any drivers that will give you emitter current in the 2,5-3A range without resistor mods and such.. Having two batteries in series and 3 emitters is probably the least attractive emitter to battery combo when it comes to have good choices in high output driver circuits..
I also upgraded the emitters to 3x XM-L2 U2 1A and de-domed one of the emitters.
Do you have any links to those drivers?
I have a triple emitter Fandyfire G36 that I really like. If I could find a driver that has no memory, always starts on high, and has no blinky modes, I would be even happier.
Most of the triple emitter drivers I found require 3 cells, or have the same 5 modes with memory that I already have.
Changing out wires to heavier gauge probably will not help by itself for a light like this. Or, you may measure same amps but you may have improved the loss's going to the LED's, so may be more brighter. However, 1.6A tail means 3.2A between 3 LEDS, about 1A per LED - wires probably don't make any measurable difference at 1A.
If you crank up the amps though, it should then help.
2 cells in series, and if you measure 1.6A at the tail, that means 3.2A effective at about 4v. Each LED is about 4v, so, divide 3.2A by 3... Not sure if this explanation is what you meant... There are some loss's, depending on the driver, etc., so loss's may be very low or significant, at most maybe 20% or so.