idea: high power LED driver into laser driver??

I was browsing through DX web and I got an idea: what about buy (for example) this: DealExtreme: $1.99 18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm) (or this DealExtreme: $2.53 MR16 1*3W 320~350mA Constant Current Regulated LED Driver (12~16V Input) etc...) and somehow change the output current from its pre-defined current to 100mA or any other current...
Is it possible? Is there anyone, who tryed it?

They usually have different voltage output for the diode part ..... can try, but checking before the current with a good dummy load that match the voltage drop of your LD.

Other than this, these drivers are usually not too much stable, cause these leds accepts much more fluctuations than lasers ..... can worth the effort as a trial, but it's still a risk, so i suggest you to try with a cheap diode

There is absolutely no reason to suppose that these drivers are any less stable than LM317 types or drlavas FlexDriver. Good find 3zuli, +rep for you! I'll probably get a couple of these some time, but whether it will be possible to identify the IC, that's doubtful...

EDIT: this looks like a step-down-only driver, which is a pity, as I'm in need of a step-up driver due to my preference for the 1xCR123A form factor...

Considering the few components (if you exclude the 4 diodes and the electrolitic capacitor, that are on the module only for left it used also with AC), it looks like one of the TPS series led regulators from Texas Instruments, or an equivalent from other manufacturer ..... like this one, as example

http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tps5410.pdf

i was experimenting with this one, some weeks ago, but i burned the only one i had for an accident and need to wait til i get another one, for continue my experiments ..... anyway, they need to be presetted like some other modules, cause are basically not current regulators, but only voltage regulators with overcurrent protection.

By the way, there is also a boost serie, the TPS61x serie, and this serie have a current sense input and current regulation capability, if you are searching for boost units and can made experiments with QFN10 package ..... like these ones (the only difference from 58 and 59 is the output current) ..... but i can't say you anything precise about them, cause i never got my samples from TI

http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tps61059.pdf

There is a huge plethora of (less suitable) CV and CC regulator ICs out there, differing by their Vin, Vout, Iout, Vfb and whatever characteristics, which makes it difficult to choose... but also quite interesting.

I have often thought about using flashlight driers. My searches led me here, where you can see that there are some CC drivers that would work, but most aren't regulated.

Clicky

i just bought the dorcy LED for my new host. and it didn't have a driver at all just a resistor. not sure if i am on topic though. but at least i will save somebody from buying a flashlight just for the driver.

Big trick ......... Most of the high current diodes are + ground. That is case +. I don't think these drivers are + ground (case).

Mike

That depends on the host mostly, you need to reverse the batteries from your typical flashlight application.

The only ohter real alternative is to get inverting drivers, which often use the same chips but in a different configuration.