Boost drivers for $2.00 -(Still testing)

Greenmechanic · Jan 1, 2010

I found these boost drivers for $2.00 a piece. I was wondering if I could use them for LD's?
Here are the specs;
Input voltage 1.5 to 3.6VDC
Forward-3.6V at all input voltages.
Output current 58mA@1.5V----78mA@3.6V
My question is can I modify these to run a LOC or PHR?
I know for PHR's, I would have to change the resistor (large green) correct?
For both LD's I also would have to increase the current (a lot for LOC's)
What component would I have to replace to install a variable pot.
What value pot. would I need,100 Ohms?
Is this even possibile with this driver?

If I could make these work for a couple $$ in parts this would be a great deal!

These are very close in size to a Rckstr driver.
Here's a copule of pics. As good as I could get them, being the driver is so small.
Thanks for any input you could give me..

:wtf:

jander6442 · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

Looks like a linear driver to me... have you hooked some powa to it w/ a dummy load just to play around?

Greenmechanic · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

Looks like a linear driver to me... have you hooked some powa to it w/ a dummy load just to play around?

Yes, the values with a LOC dummy load are almost the same. Voltage remains stable at 2.9-3.0V no matter what the input voltage. The current does vary although.
I have not tried higher voltages for fear of blowing it.
I only have one, for the time being.

lasersbee · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

What were these originally designed for... or out of what product
did they come...:thinking:

Have you tried to input only 1.5Volts... if so what was the output
voltage with a 4 diode dummy load....

One thing that worries me is the low Max Output current...
(58mA@1.5V----78mA@3.6V)

BTW... I would think the current values would be reversed per
voltages shown...:thinking:

Jerry

lazerov · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

If the output voltage is higher then input ... than the driver should be boost type. Very simple one. The green "resistor" on the PCB looks more like a small inductor than a resistor.
You should try finding the datasheet of the IC. Then we could determine if it's usable. I may try searching for it; it looks like BAB94 to me.

Edit: Search yields nothing for BAB94; must be something else...
Edit 2: @Lasersbee: I think he meant 58mA output current at 1,5V input voltage and 78mA output at 3,6V input voltage. It sounds right this way, at least for an unstable driver.

Greenmechanic · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

What were these originally designed for... or out of what product
did they come...

Have you tried to input only 1.5Volts... if so what was the output
voltage with a 4 diode dummy load....

Jerry,
This came out of a 1 white diode flashlight ran by one AAA.
Forward voltage with dummy at 1.5V is 2.9V
I just tried running it up to 6.0V input, the forward voltage was 3.6v@129mA
No heat what so ever from driver. (5 min duty cycle)
Getting close to running a PHR!!
I am getting ready to run it at 8V, see what kind of mA I'm getting then. (2X10440=8.0-8.2, under load, fully charged.)
Being as it did not even get warm at 6.0V I'll try 8V. If it blows, I'm out $2.00!
Getting ready to run back out and buy some more@Wal-Mart.

You should try finding the datasheet of the IC. Then we could determine if it's usable. I may try searching for it; it looks like BAB94 to me.

The number looks like ALR1-12 to me, but is partly obscured by components.

EDIT: just ran it at 8.0V with a PHR hooked up. 4.2V@129mA forward, PHR output 110mW. Driver got slightly warm with 1min duty cycle.:wave:

I think he meant 58mA output current at 1,5V input voltage and 78mA output at 3,6V input voltage. It sounds right this way, at least for an unstable driver.

Yes that is it. Looks like I might have found a $2.00 PHR driver:na:[/SIZE

lasersbee · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

Sounds promising....:gj:

If the Driver does blow...
that's what experimentation and research & development is all about...

Jerry

Greenmechanic · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

If anbody wants to try this driver the Ray-o-Vac number for the flashlight is:
BRSLEDPEN-B
Bought at wal-mart for $2.88
Or look online for some site that sells them.

lazerov · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

Greenmechanic said:
The number looks like ALR1-12 to me, but is partly obscured by components.

I was talking about the component which has 4 pins (on the second picture). ARL1-12 or whatever it is should be the model number of the driver itself.

Also, it looks like the 100Ohm resistor (on the second picture too) might serve a current limiting purpose. If you want, you can try soldering another 100Ohm resistor in parallel and check if the current increases.

BTW, I'm almost seeing myself buying a load of various cheap LED flashlights just to see whether or not they have usable driver

Greenmechanic · Jan 1, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 (maybe)

I was talking about the component which has 4 pins (on the second picture). ARL1-12 or whatever it is should be the model number of the driver itself.

Also, it looks like the 100Ohm resistor (on the second picture too) might serve a current limiting purpose. If you want, you can try soldering another 100Ohm resistor in parallel and check if the current increases.

BTW, I'm almost seeing myself buying a load of various cheap LED flashlights just to see whether or not they have usable driver

The ##'s on component are BAB-94

I think it's going to work for PHR's the way it is. Just got back from Wal-Mart and bought all they had left.
I'll try the piggyback resistors now that I have a few more drivers to play around with.
Sadly, I don't have a spare IE:uninstalled LOC or LCC on hand untill tommorrow's mail (I hope) . Mail is slow this time of year.

FireMyLaser · Jan 2, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

This is another Joule Thief circuit. This one does not seem to have any filtering and will most likely kill your diode with emf-spikes!

lazerov · Jan 2, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

FireMyLaser said:
This is another Joule Thief circuit. This one does not seem to have any filtering and will most likely kill your diode with emf-spikes!

The Joule Thief has two coils around a ferrite core while this circuit has only one. But I have to agree that it lacks good filtering at the output. It has some small capacitor on the PCB but it might not be enough (and I'm not sure if it is at the output).

epicdoom · Jan 3, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

Heya folks my first post
Greenmechanic can you post a picture of the flashlight please. I saw a ton of ray-o-vac flashlights at my local Wally world today. I want to see if I remember seeing the one you have befor I drive all the way over there. I build and code tiny IR RC circuits for 1/72 scale planes and would like to look at this device for that as well as building lasers.

Doom

Greenmechanic · Jan 3, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

Epicdoom;
Greenmechanic can you post a picture of the flashlight please

It's the little orange (also in gray) one in the photo.

UPDATE: The PHR has around 1 hour run time on it already.(in 30 sec. to 1 min. duty cycle) So far so good. Although this PHR (the only one I have at the moment) is severely underspec.
I am going to try some others as soon as I receive them.

But I have to agree that it lacks good filtering at the output. It has some small capacitor on the PCB but it might not be enough

:thanks:I'll change the Cap. out on future tests. Still lots of experimenting to do.LOL

HIMNL9 · Jan 3, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

That driver is a boost, but for low currents ..... the "resistor" that you see in the pic, is in reality a coaxial inductance ..... and the "transistor" on the back is a boost driver IC, but for 100mA max, if i recall correctly .....

Greenmechanic · Jan 3, 2010

Re: Boost drivers for $2.00 -Yes it's true! (EDIT)

HIMNL9:That driver is a boost, but for low currents ..... the "resistor" that you see in the pic, is in reality a coaxial inductance ..... and the "transistor" on the back is a boost driver IC, but for 100mA max, if i recall correctly .....

Running at 120mA it does not run hot at all. Measures about 20 degrees over ambiant.
But,only time will tell.

Boost drivers for $2.00 -(Still testing)

Greenmechanic

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