Which manufacturer uses a buck boost driver?

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

Hi Guys,

Wanted to ask a noob question here, Which manufacturer out there uses a buck boost driver in their light besides Armytek, Zebralight and Thrunite lynx? Is there any other manufacturer that also uses such a driver?

Thanks

2

Anyone with any ideas? thanks

3

All that use >= 2x LiIon cells in series (i.e. longer flashlights; multiple batteries could also be used in parallel to improve draw/capacity but that’s more difficult to build).
Edit: exemption are MTG2/XHP70 lights. They can use 2x lithium cells on a linear/FET driver without destroying the LED as their voltage is 6V vs the usual 2.8-3.2V

4

Why are you asking? Are you looming for a driver to pull for another project?

There are other topologies of drivers than just buck, boost, linear and buck-boost. For example SEPIC, which operates somewhat similar to buck-boost but with greater efficiency, lumintop uses a SEPIC in the SD10 as does Olight in some of its wide voltage input accepting lights.

Also note, I have no idea for sure since I’ve never seen one taken apart but I highly doubt Zebralight uses buck-boost, especially not in some of the smaller lights like th SC5x and H5/3x series. More than likely they’re using a boost driver with linear components and/or a turbo bypass.

5

Wouldn’t that still be a boost driver, just with different current draw regulation?

6

Yes, that’s what I said. buck-boost is a specific thing, it’s not 2 drivers shoved on top of each other, you couldn’t remove all the components the buck side uses and have it still function as a boost driver, many of the parts are shared between the two sides.

I suspect, especially on the H5x and SC5x (AA lights) that ZL is using only a boost driver (with some other junk percision electronics for the turbo bypass and Li-ion compatability). I wasn’t arguing they’re using some sort of boost driver topology, they definitely are, I was stating I don’t think, based on efficiency, output and tail current draw (since I’ve never opened a ZL to measure emitter current) that they’re not using a Buck-Boost driver.

7

Not exactly looking to pull a driver for a project at the moment. Just that i have a armytek wizard pro and i m quite impress with the kind of regulation the driver has for a single li-ion and i m wondering which other manufacturer uses such a driver so that i could add them up in my shopping list

8

I am reviving an old thread here because I too am curious about which lights / brands use buck boost drivers.

Anybody know any other brands other than the ones mentioned above?

My DQG tiny 26650 uses a super efficient boost driver, but I think it’s only a boost driver as opposed to a buck boost.

With low VF LEDs like nichias, I am thinking these would be the best drivers to use to achieve fantastic regulation, efficiency, and without loosing battery juice in form of heat like linear drivers do when battery voltage is still high.

I’d love to see something like an emisar d4 or d4s with a boost driver instead of a fet + linear. Will Hank ever design a mini M43 in a quad form?

9

Older Thorfire could take 1 lithium cell, 2 lithium cells or even primaries. That whole driver came in a 17mm form factor. The newer Thorfire ones are afaik designed for 1 cell (only own the old ones).