Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 3.7v or 3.0v cells

Hi All,

So After further testing you Need XXohm Not .25 ohms To get ~1.8A i will know exactly this weekend

Before YOU try Any of this, It is YOUR DECISION where you want to set YOUR DRIVER to. Iam testing 1.8A because that is where I Feel Comfortable setting MY 445nm laser diodes to at MAX. So the Decision is your.
I received 1 out of 4 different driver that iam going to be check out to see how they work Etc.

So here are the driver that i just got in the mail that iam using in this video:
>>DealExtreme: $6.97 3.6V~9V 800mA Regulated IC Circuit Board for Cree and SSC LEDs (4-pack)<<


The Drivers above are the little brother to these Driver here:
>>DealExtreme: $1.99 18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm)<<

I believe the only difference between the two are the "Inductors".

This Drive comes stock around ~935mA.

All you have to do to mod this driver is simply place a Resistor in parallel to the "R27" Resistor. The only Resistor that i had on hand that was easier to figure out the math was 1 ohm resistors.

So what i did was i keeped placing 1 ohm resistor in parallel to the R27 resistor to see how much Amps could i get . Well i went all the way up to ~1738 with 4x 1 ohm resistors. This is only true to those reisistors that i was using, When further testing came it shows that you need a XXohms to get ~1.8A.


The 8 Pin Chip does get hot witch is to be expected just like any Driver. So a a little heatsink is all thats needed and you should be good to go.


To run this Driver at ~1.8A you Need XXohms.

In the video i had a 12v Computer Power supply hooks up, But i have tested it with 2X 18650 witch works well, and 2x14500 witch works well and Finally with 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells witch works well but does not hold the 1.75amps steady. This could be due to my old cells.

Edit: For driver Above: DX Has Change the schottky diode to an SS14 it is only rated to 1A and should not exceed that in risk of damaging the driver and possibly killing your diode. My original board where with the SS34 schottky diode witch are rated to 3A. So make sure you know this... If it has a SS34 Diode your good. but SS14 Not good. I hate when they do this.
Stay tuned for these 2 drivers mods:
>>DealExtreme: $1.99 18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm)<<
&
From Kaidomain.
>>http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1640<<

I will Post all the drivers and updates that i will test in this thread.

I want to see witch out of the 3 will be the best to use in hosts the take 2x + cells.

So i hope this helps anyone that want to give this a go.


Update: Driver 2

Hey All, :wave:

So i decided not to wait till these drivers come in and i took apart the laser i had this is to mod it and test it to see how well it works.

This is the Driver that iam using in this Video.
>>http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26110<<

Pay no Attention to the .25ohm resistor i say.
Heres the video:


So in conclusion I find that this driver is more stable and holds the current better at 2A then the ones that come in the 4 pack. But other then that they behave the same.

The driver still feels like it gets warm just as quick so heatsinking is a must just like any driver you are running a high current.

I have been using this driver for a few months now in one of my laser with no issues. I did not know about modding this driver so i just recently found this out that i could get 2A out of it with no issues.

You really cant go wrong with $2 dollars for the driver and capable of running at 2amps with minium of 6 volts 2x 3v cells "i used 2x 3.0v tenergy lifepo4 cells in one of the test and it works flawlessly" Right now i took the driver and put it in my 2W+ build witch iam still getting Over 2W still. "i ave to re test the output again with my DMM as the Display as my Display on my LPM only goes up to 2W":evil:

I heatsinked it to the pill were the LED was and i will tell you that it is doing a great job dissipating the heat from the driver.

If you Are going to run this driver pasts its stock settings you must heatsink it but you might get away with running it <1400mA.

Here are some Pictures i took of the Driver mounted in both host:


This is a Picture of one of the 4 pack drivers with just a 1 ohm resistor in parell of it.


Here is the driver that i just did this video you can see i add a small piece of aluminum to the 8 pin chip for 2 reason One so it can be level with the inductor to make .


Different angle. You can see the resistor that you will need to mod.

I Hope this Helps.

I also want to mention that Companys such as DX KD Etc tend to change up circuits and design. So Please Be aware of this.

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Is the output (spikes) stable enough for a diode?
Looks like you only had it on a Test load.

Also, just to make clear to other readers... this is a buck driver.
Like the Rckstr or Groove, it requires greater input voltage than the Vf.

Good testing! +1

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

If your talking about the mA dropping they are caused by the driver not being heatsinked well.

Yes in the video i have it on a test load but i have it in a laser right now with 3x 1 ohm resistor giving me ~1590mA witch is giving me Around 1630mW.

These Driver are fine for a laser
I have been using this driver here:
DealExtreme: $1.99 18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm)

Witch is basically the same driver for months now no problem. Also this driver that i have been using for months now not the one in the video above are being used by other members here on the forum no problem.

SO IMO they are fine.

But i dont have any equipment to acutely test this but if anyone is concerned cant they just add a filtering cap.?

:thanks: For the Rep

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

I'm talking about minor output spikes from the driver that one would use a filter cap, TVC, or Lasorb to mitigate.
Does the driver have reverse polarity Protection too?

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Well i have it in a laser right now and it is working perfectly. I do not think it is necessary But adding one wont hurt.

I do not see any type of diode on the driver so i dont think it is reverse polarity protection.

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Coil thingy = Inductor.

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Coherent Light said:

Coil thingy = Inductor.

Click to expand...

Thank you My Friend. It was driving me Nuts, I even wen to digikey trying to find out what it was called with no luck.

+1

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Your very welcome. Only other coil thingy You might encounter is a transformer to step up or down the voltage

Thanks for the Rep

Why does the board always update in the middle of a post??????

brb in 10mins is not always only 10 mins either!

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

more pics of 1 ohm resistors would be good im having trouble using all those color codes on google
ohhhmygoodness lol

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

b5s402 said:

more pics of 1 ohm resistors would be good im having trouble using all those color codes on google
ohhhmygoodness lol

Click to expand...

Just go and buy some locally?

The wires already soldered on the board have not good solder joints. I always have to re-solder the wires so they don't come off while assembling the laser.
@lazeerer, nice experimentation there. +1 for this, but could you provide a heatsinking method as well? I might use this mod for a labby 445 Also, why not use the $1.99 driver which already puts 1.25 A out and solder your resistors there?

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Hey All,

Updated OP with a second Driver.

:beer:

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

lazeerer, what exactly is that aluminum piece used for heatsinking? it's just a bare solid piece of aluminum in the size of 8pin ?

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Where do find those little squishy heatsink cubes?

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Silvershot said:

lazeerer, what exactly is that aluminum piece used for heatsinking? it's just a bare solid piece of aluminum in the size of 8pin ?

Click to expand...

Meatball said:

Where do find those little squishy heatsink cubes?

Click to expand...

Hello Guys,

All i did was cut some pieces off of the fins of this heatsink i have at home that i salvaged out of an old Computer power supply.

Here is a Picture of the heatsink that i cut the fins off to fit over the 8 pin chip.


PM your addresses and ill send you guy a piece.

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

Hey,

Sorry for being a noob but where are the +VE and -VE input/outputs? like there are two (+ and -) wires that are already soldered to the circuit, but is that for the diode?

So where is the positive and negative for the power source?

Re: Driver Mod For up to 1.8amps with 2x 18650 cells

The Purple wire is the + out to the diode and where you see in this picture below the two black wires coming out of the left side of the R20 resistor that is the - out that goes to the diode.

The + & - input is on the other side of the driver as normal where they are. The center pad is + and the outer ring is -.

Heres the Picture:


Also No need to Apoligize. we all started where you are.

Hope this Helps.:beer: Post Pictures of your work when you are done. Like to see them.