OPEN SOURCE: "CC-Boost" - 2.4 Amp boost driver - RC1

[adam1]

Yeah it was really annoying to have to pay the $12 shipping charge on $9 worth of resistors too. Plus the time it takes them to get here. Also here's a photo of the assembled driver if anyone wanted to see (first ever attempt at SMD, a lot easier than I thought it would be)

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

With those resistors, you should be safe up
to 1,825mA.

0805 isn't too bad, but 0603 can be a real
pain if you're doing reflow by hand with an
iron. Did you use solder paste?

 

[adam1]

Yeah I used solder paste. Tried initially with a second hand toaster oven but that tripped the safety switch in my meter box a few times so moved onto using a hot air gun which worked great. It's pretty cool watching all the components pull themselves into the correct places. Thanks for the resistor tip, I might have a bit more of a mess around with the driver now that I know it's safe

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Sure, any time. Toaster ovens need a good
15 or 20A circuit and a good name brand
breaker. I have seen lesser breakers wear
out and start tripping below their rated
current.

I'm just really afraid to buy solder paste
unless I start getting a lot of demand for my
boards. The last time I bought some, it
went bad on me and I just don't want to get
burned again.

 

[IWIRE]

Also here's a photo of the assembled driver if anyone wanted to see (first ever attempt at SMD, a lot easier than I thought it would be)

Looks good :beer: Your try with solder paste turned out a lot better than mine. What a mess I made :crackup: I ended up doing it the way I know with an iron and regular solder. I haven't gave up on the paste. I'll try it again

 

[rhd]

Has RC1 gone to ARG for a final scope yet?

Nope. Wasn't planning to send it myself, just because so little changed. But if someone has one to send, and ARG or someone else is up for scoping, then go for it. I'm all for as much scoping as possible. I still think someone should scope a flexdrive running a 16x 405nm at 750ma

I didn't actually make any of RC1. My mind is already on the next revision.

 

[IWIRE]

My mind is already on the next revision.

I like the way you think.

I offered to send a member with a scope a flexdrive but nobody took me up on the offer. I found a scope on fleabay that is in my price range and seems to get good reviews. I've never owned a scope but I used scopes in my previous occupation testing automobiles. All it did was measure time and voltage or time and current. Surely I could figure one of these out

But I think I have Attention Deficit Disorder, somehow I was looking at scopes and wound up ordering a mill :thinking:
If all this overtime I've been getting holds up, and if my body holds up, I'll have a scope soon

 

[crazyspaz]

Thought I should post here rather than in Adams FS thread- If anyone chooses to sell these drivers, can we agree to keep the price low? Adam is selling them for 8$ a piece which I think is perfect. Personally, whenever I get around to buying parts, I plan to make a batch of ~10, keep a few, and sell the rest for 7$ or 8$- basically enough to cover parts and shipping materials (ESD safe bags, shipping envelopes).
As much as RHD will say "The forum designed it!", it was 99.9999% him, and we shouldn't try to sell for 20$ what cost us 6$ to make.
It really only seems fair and logical. If there is enough interest in these drivers, I may sell them for somewhere between 12-15$, and donate the extra (after 8$, that is) to the forum. Even at 15$, these would be cheaper than anything else (that isn't a chinese piece of crap).

Just my thought, let me know what you all think

 

[adam1]

Thought I should post here rather than in Adams FS thread- If anyone chooses to sell these drivers, can we agree to keep the price low? Adam is selling them for 8$ a piece which I think is perfect. Personally, whenever I get around to buying parts, I plan to make a batch of ~10, keep a few, and sell the rest for 7$ or 8$- basically enough to cover parts and shipping materials (ESD safe bags, shipping envelopes).
As much as RHD will say "The forum designed it!", it was 99.9999% him, and we shouldn't try to sell for 20$ what cost us 6$ to make.
It really only seems fair and logical. If there is enough interest in these drivers, I may sell them for somewhere between 12-15$, and donate the extra (after 8$, that is) to the forum. Even at 15$, these would be cheaper than anything else (that isn't a chinese piece of crap).

Just my thought, let me know what you all think

You've basically summed up my reasoning in pricing them at $8. I'm not really trying to make a huge profit, just hoping to get these drivers out there. $8 is basically the price of the parts when you have a small order, and if ordering in bulk you can still make a little profit to cover dead components/donate/refunds/time commitment. And if we do think of this as a forum designed driver, it's for the forum, not for an individual to make a huge profit off of.

 

[crazyspaz]

Regarding the low current version (sub 500ma):

If you do that, could you get it under 12mm in one dimension? I would like to be able to fit it into a pen/aixiz module.

Also..whats the chances of "the forum" working on a high-ish current buck drive? I would like to do some red builds soon

 

[rhd]

As much as RHD will say "The forum designed it!", it was 99.9999% him, and we shouldn't try to sell for 20$ what cost us 6$ to make.

It really wasn't. ARG for example put a lot of time and effort into thoroughly scoping various revisions. That was critical work, and has contributed largely to the end result. It has also, I hope, set a new and overdue standard for driver documentation.

Various other users have helped us overcome hurdles at various stages along the way.

While schematic and pcb layout may be highly visible contributions, they would have been of little value without the insight, recommendations, and issue-spotting of other contributors.

Regarding the low current version (sub 500ma):

If you do that, could you get it under 12mm in one dimension? I would like to be able to fit it into a pen/aixiz module.

Also..whats the chances of "the forum" working on a high-ish current buck drive? I would like to do some red builds soon

Yes to the size, but please send me some examples of what you would potentially be driving so that I have a load in mind to design to.

Regarding a high current buck for reds - that's not something for me, but maybe others will. Bucking from two cells down to the voltage dropped by a red diode will produce a lot more ripple than dropping to a higher voltage like the vf of a blue. I think with reds I'm still undecided on buck v linear. Anyway -that's a task for someone else

 

[crazyspaz]

Come to think of it, I wouldn't need it at that size- i was thinking red builds, but I would need a buck or linear. Derp. If I were to use these for pens, they would probably be for 445's...Seeing as I have a load of A140's on the way But, I have a few mini boost drives from lazeerer that I will be using for those...after that, i won't need the smaller form factor, I will just use the CC-boost, in bigger hosts

 

[petters]

Regarding the low current version (sub 500ma):

If you do that, could you get it under 12mm in one dimension? I would like to be able to fit it into a pen/aixiz module.

Also..whats the chances of "the forum" working on a high-ish current buck drive? I would like to do some red builds soon

I'll take on that challenge, starting now

 

[rhd]

I'll take on that challenge, starting now

Awesome! My suggestion:
- Find an inductor with 40+ uH inductance and 750+ mA saturation current. Then sort by size and find an affordable option.

 

[KRNAZNBOY]

Yo just my opinion here, but we IMO, and this is completely up for debate, we need a new high power LAB style driver. No regard to size, just something that you can bolt to a heatsink, and that has a 12-turn pot for precision current setting. Basically, FlexmodP3 but for cheap and cooler!

Just a suggestion!
-matt

 

[rhd]

Yo just my opinion here, but we IMO, and this is completely up for debate, we need a new high power LAB style driver. No regard to size, just something that you can bolt to a heatsink, and that has a 12-turn pot for precision current setting. Basically, FlexmodP3 but for cheap and cooler!

Just a suggestion!
-matt

That should be a linear driver, and I think those projects exist on the forum

EDIT: I think someone should make a DIY bench supply circuit that can supply really high currents, from a LiPo source (instead of AC), with both coarse and fine voltage and current adjustment knobs.