one driver, multiple lights.....what mA?

[Mohrenberg]

i'm wanting to make a DIY flashlight with cree LED lights, with 4 LED's and one driver, so if i wanted each LED to be somewhere around 800 mA, what would i set the driver at? also would i put the LED's together in series or parallel?

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Well -- 4 Cree emitters x 800 mA = 3.2 Amps. If you attempt to run in parallel, you may need balancing resistors or the lowest volt devices will try to take it all. Series and you will need about 12 or more volts with a current regulator.

Mike

 

[Mohrenberg]

what if i had a seperate driver for each cree packed into the flashlight?

 

[artix]

;D;D;D


Click the middle one

 

[Mohrenberg]

well i am building it from buying the mag lite LED upgrade, which has a driver built in that runs around 850 mA and is made for 3 cell C or D batteries,

so what if i wried them all in for each LED light, how would i hook them up to the power source?
would i put them in series?

 

[Xplorer877]

well i am building it from buying the mag lite LED upgrade, which has a driver built in that runs around 850 mA and is made for 3 cell C or D batteries,

so what if i wried them all in for each LED light, how would i hook them up to the power source?
would i put them in series?

No parrallel.

In a parrallel configuration full voltage is applied to all loads but current is divided between them.
In a series configuration current is constant through all loads but voltage is divided between them.

The driver needs 4.5v to operate. Connecting them in series will inhibit the voltage they receive. 3 drivers in parrallel will draw 3 times as much current from the batteries. I would recommend you find a driver that can supply 2.25A and connect 3 emitters in parrallel. But that is some driver!