Boost Driver Mod? Help.

Wolfman29 · May 15, 2011

Hiya again.

So now I am working with this ($2.19 - 1.5V~4.2V 3W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.7mm*5.6mm) - Flashlight Parts and Tools) boost driver I got from DX. It's a nice driver, it *does* boost, but I don't know why it won't boost high enough....

I changed the resistor on it (sense resistor) to be roughly .09Ohms in order to get 1A output (I = .09/R)... and yet it won't output even close to that. I am getting about 180mA of output on it.

Now, I am powering it by an 18650, so I know it can supply the current necessary... I just have no idea why it won't boost higher.

I realize the product information given says 1.5-4.2V... however, I am not sure if that is input or output, but I am certain that even if it is output, it should be able to handle more abuse like we regularly give these kinds of things. In fact, it is pushing about 4.8V through my testload when hooked up to a not-so-fresh 18650.

Help, anyone?

rhd · May 15, 2011

curious - where did you get the formula (I = .09/R) ?

Wolfman29 · May 15, 2011

From the comments on the driver page. Unfortunately, while testing, I accidentally short-circuited the driver, so it's dead now (shoved 8A through it, surprised my 18650 didn't explode). But still curious because, if so, it may be a very workable, cheap 445 or 405 driver.

LuxorLasers147 · May 15, 2011

Wolfman29 said:
Hiya again.

So now I am working with this ($2.19 - 1.5V~4.2V 3W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.7mm*5.6mm) - Flashlight Parts and Tools) boost driver I got from DX. It's a nice driver, it *does* boost, but I don't know why it won't boost high enough....

I changed the resistor on it (sense resistor) to be roughly .09Ohms in order to get 1A output (I = .09/R)... and yet it won't output even close to that. I am getting about 180mA of output on it.

Now, I am powering it by an 18650, so I know it can supply the current necessary... I just have no idea why it won't boost higher.

I realize the product information given says 1.5-4.2V... however, I am not sure if that is input or output, but I am certain that even if it is output, it should be able to handle more abuse like we regularly give these kinds of things. In fact, it is pushing about 4.8V through my testload when hooked up to a not-so-fresh 18650.

Help, anyone?

Dont use that driver. Heres the best LED driver capable of 2A with no heat problems. Input must be at least 6v (cuz a 445 diode needs ~6v) you can use 2x cr2 and of course, 2x 18650 batts.

Driver from DX, standart output of the driver is 1.25A

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/18v-5w-cree-circuit-board-for-flashlights-16-8mm-5-5mm-26110

YouTube - How to build a cheap 1000mW+ blue laser

Detailed review from lazereer:

YouTube - Driver Test 2 For a 445nm laser Driver Capable of 2Amps MAX No Problem with Heatsink.

Machro · May 15, 2011

rhd said:
curious - where did you get the formula (I = .09/R) ?

I'm wondering too.
IF .09 was U then formula was right but he said .09Ohms.

Right formula : I=U/R

Wolfman29 · May 15, 2011

Luxor, this is a boost driver, that isn't

Why would I use a buck driver instead of a boost driver? Anyway, I am just exploring different LED drivers right now.

LuxorLasers147 · May 17, 2011

Cuz you wont get a boost driver for 2$, at least capable of powering a 445 xD. That would ruin dr lava`s business hahaha. But if you do, let me know!

Wolfman29 · May 17, 2011

What about the NJG-18?

bluuray · May 17, 2011

its not that efficient..

Wolfman29 · May 17, 2011

Nontheless, it *is* a boost driver. And I will investigate more boost drivers and I *will* find one capable of driving a 445!

steviedezie · May 18, 2011

wolfman, i am currently using that same driver you mentioned in the OP. Its a great boost driver, but not for 445. It runs 12X 405's and LPC-826's perfectly...

When i tested the driver stock, it pushed constant current of 620mA from an input of 2V to 4.2V (on a 6V testload to similate a 12x). Changing the resistor I managed to get it at a very nice 525mA and have used it to power a 12X in a pocket build i have. Of course i added additional 10uF 16V input/output solid tantalum caps. very stable driver and indeed is constant current. Does heat up quite a bit when boosting for a 12x. I had another host that needed that driver, but ran it with a lpc-826. I just used a couple of smd diodes to increase the forward voltage of the LD, and the driver boosted as expected, keeping a constant 525mA.

rhd · May 18, 2011

This one is pretty good:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f67/new-shiningbeam-boost-driver-445-1w-63475.html

Wolfman29 · May 18, 2011

But Stevie - the problem I was encountering was that it was only boosting to 4.8V. How does it manage to boost to 6V?

steviedezie · May 18, 2011

I added a low esr cap and stacked a couple of resistors on top of R1. it seems to boost 4.2V up to 6.1V fine...but like i said, it gets more warm boosting to 6.1V then it does boosting 1.5V to 3.1V

i tested it with a regulated power supply. this sucker will draw some insane current at low voltage though. I think it is more efficient as the input rises.... from what my power supply says at 4.2V input the Current input is 982mA thats 4.1W input, output is 6.1V 525mA thats 3.2W output thats 78% efficiency...not bad...

@ wolfman29: i ordered my driver from DX last year...in DEC of 2010, i recently found it in my pile of junk so i decided to play with it. My knowledge of drivers wasnt that great as well as my soldering skills 6 months ago, so I didnt use it till recently. If you ordered yours recently, they must have changed the design or used another chip on the driver, like they do all the time. And the worst part is they always scratch off the markings of the chip so you cant tell what chip is being used.

Wolfman29 · May 18, 2011

Damnit, yeah, was going to say - probably changed the driver then (or defective chip? but that's doubtful).

steviedezie · May 18, 2011

I have ordered like 5 more of those drivers last month so I should get them in anyday now. I will test those out to see if they did in fact change the chip and the new chip only boosts to 4.8V

also i will try running 2 in parallel to see if we cant get more current from them. they are just soo damn cheap not to use!!

Boost Driver Mod? Help.

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