Hey everyone. So updated thread: I am finishing work on the next batch of BlitzBuck V4s to be sent out to Clif. Here, there will be two types in two form factors! One low-powered one, at around 400mA-1.1A and the other is the standard power, 1.2A to 3A.

Two form-factors, too! The standard round I have been using, and the now smallest board on the market, at 8.2mm x 11.3mm in rectangular shape.

Here is a picture of the new form-factor BlitzBuck V4!



That's my thumb nail, but it's actually even smaller than my pinky nail! Very small! Great for those tight builds

UPDATE:

So just an update: the green chip on the round V4s that are now for sale should be heatsinked if you notice that the output current increases as the driver warms up.

This is part of the design to keep the board cheap and small. I am working on a different design to remove this effect and keep the same size and pricing.

Wow! That's a lot of drivers! Will they be available in currents higher than 1.7A?

They are actually pot adjustable with two settings. The first setting is 1.2A to 1.8A, the second setting is 1.67A to 3.1A >

Awesome! Guess this will be able to drive the 9mm at the higher currents then I'll have to buy a couple when they are available.

How much heat do these put out compared to a boost driver? I've never used a buck driver before.

The buck driver is most efficient at higher currents - around 2A or so is my approximation. Typically, buck drivers are more efficient than boost drivers.

However, at its least efficient, it is about 89% efficient. These should be able to run unheatsinked for an unlimited amount of time up to around 2A - not sure about above that, haven't tested it.

I am actually using one of those 9mm 445s at 2.05A in my own build right now using one of these! I am not using the pot - I just took off the pot and set it to exactly 2.05A.

And actually, the formula for calculating the resistor necessary to change out the pot is this:

For low current mode: r = (3636/i)-2050
For high current mode: r = (3636/i)-1175

where i is the desired current and r is the set resistor you replace the pot with. When looking at it so that the inductor is at the top, you'll want to connect the right lead on the pot with the bottom left lead of the set resistor. Or you can jump the top left and the bottom left leads of the pot with the set resistor (the top left and the right leads are shorted anyway).

So yeah. There's some more information for ya'll

What's the lowest this can output

1.1A :P I mean, it could output less, but I decided not to make it able to do that in this version.

I mean, I could do a two versions for the V4 edition (probably will be out in a few months), one that could do 100mA to 1.2A and another that could do 1.2A to 3.1A, but I will talk to Clif about that. DTR may be supplying these come fall as well.

Sounds good

As a buck only, this needs 2 LiIon cells
for a Blue? Looks like a good design.
How much $ ???
HMike

Yup. Designed for a blue. Can also do the Mitsubishi reds on a single li-ion. I think they will be approximately $20 or so on Cajunlasers.

I like it. $20 ain't bad for a driver
like this.
HMike

Glad you think so. I hope he will keep the price down. Don't want him making as much profit as the doctor makes =p

Bye Bye Dr. flex drive

This isn't a boost drive, so it's not gone yet. But I am working on a BlitzBoost, so then it may be time to say bye to the Dr. =p

honestly how cheap will it be if this is 20 bucks ? a flex is 25 for buck boost and has been known to be reliable for a long period of time.

im not doubting you!! just curious

It probably would be no more than $20 either.

But you need two FlexDrives to pump out 2.2A to one of those new 9mm diodes, don't you? That's like $52 right there. With ONE of these, you can do the same. And probably get higher efficiency

Anyway, if I could sell these efficiently, I would probably price them at $15 or $17. But I don't want to have to hold onto them for a few months, selling a couple every other day. I would prefer to sell to reseller.

My bad I forgot that part but I figured the boost was up next. I am using your V2 and it woks great. Thanks for all your hard work.

oh i forgot about the MOAR POWERZ lol i like low power long duty cycle builds so needing 2 doesnt affect me but good luck

@n2stuff: Glad you like it!

@bennett: Yeah... diodes are coming that can handle a lot more current. These can also be used (in series with a voltage dropping diode) to power high-powered IR diodes, probably making them capable of running any of your standard green modules off of it (of course, you need to put a 3A, .7Vf diode in series with the output).

cool i havent kept up with the handheld stuff for a few months im a scanner man now

=p I haven't gotten into scanners. I'm still wavelength collecting!

lol thats even more expensive than scanners sheesh

Not until you get where I am :\ Now I have hit the cheapo wavelength collector's limit! (I have 405nm diodes now, just haven't gotten the time to build any yet.)

Nice. From the looks of them those should fit the popular C6 host right? I think the laser I got from yorbresal 18 months ago finally took one to many knocks and had its driver go wonky as the laser still lases on my bench supply.

Yup! These are specially designed to fit in most pills. They fit quite snugly in a C6 pill, and will fit well enough on most other pills.