Suggestion for AA headlamp driver?

lumenzilla · 2018-03-23T04:32:14.000Z

Hi there…

My Fenix HL23 was suddenly out of service and I have received replacement product from Fenix, I can’t be more happy than this.

Now I have “blank host” for headlamp and looking for 1.5 v driver to play around with it. I’ve been searching this forum but found no luck (yet).

So far I can only found this driver from KD but the input voltage is far beyond AA battery.

Any hint(s) is very much appreciated.

kiriba-ru · 2018-03-23T06:59:41.000Z

Why you dont want to use linear driver with 14500 cell?

Pablo_de_Llama · 2018-03-23T09:08:18.000Z

Some people prefer AA for convenience and other reasons.

I know I love my eneloops. :D

I've had a similar problem, not being able to find efficient AA/AAA drivers. :(

kiriba-ru · 2018-03-23T09:09:31.000Z

There was a blf thread where you could order boost driver from reylight. Not sure this offer is still open.

lumenzilla · 2018-03-23T09:12:48.000Z

kiriba-ru:

Why you dont want to use linear driver with 14500 cell?

For headlamp, I choose AA (nicd/nimh) over li-ion 14500 because it’s easy to get. I use it mainly for outdoor activity where runtime is expected than the brightness output.

And like Pablo said, I feel more convenient with AA battery attached to my head than lithium-ion.

lumenzilla · 2018-03-24T01:32:24.000Z

Last nite I finally use this driver for the mod.

I haven’t figured out how to install the clicky switch but a twisty headlamp seems to be okay at this moment.

Tumbleweed48 · 2018-03-24T06:54:34.000Z

I don’t know if you could still find any, but there was a very good EOSLAMP driver available that would handle 1xAA or 2xEneloops, but over-volt and misbehave on two alkys or anything higher - i.e. it could handle 2.4 v, but not 3v.

I have 3 or 4 in mods right now, and CNQG showed nine in stock when they disappeared from the face of the earth. I bought mine from Intl-Outdoors, but they seem to be out. They are low-med-high, always start on low. Oddly enough some of them have a strobe after ‘high’ and some don’t, but the strobe is easily avoided since they always start on low.

They came potted in some black stuff, so I really don’t know what’s on the board or how it’s set up. Two ground wires, one hot wire, and very efficient.

I still have a couple of spares, but you’d have to pry them from my cold dead fingers.

N.B. If there was a driver guru out there who wanted to reverse engineer one of these and perhaps replicate it or even improve upon it, I might be talked into surrendering one.

lumenzilla · 2018-03-24T07:23:17.000Z

@Tumbleweed48

I think I remember seeing those drivers couple of years ago.
It was easier to find AA drivers back then.