Step up drivers, what are the options?

[Dusty_Lenses]

Looking for a boost driver mainly to do a rebuild of an old WL arctic host. So far I cannot find anything of small form factor to
run a nubm44 for my project, and dont want to use 18350's running a step down.

Any diy's or commercially produced drivers that will fit this host and feed the diode 4-4.5A?

Post your findings and or ideas

 

[RedCowboy]

B70 Boost Driver Board

B70 22mm 5000mA 3V - 4_2V 1-cell 5-Mode Boost Driver Board for Cree XHP70 6V

kaidomain.com

You can find something here ( Note Page takes a second to load ) > http://kaidomain.com/Flashlight-DIY-and-Tools/Flashlight-Drivers

Also look here > https://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=67

 

[Dusty_Lenses]

B70 Boost Driver Board

B70 22mm 5000mA 3V - 4_2V 1-cell 5-Mode Boost Driver Board for Cree XHP70 6V

kaidomain.com

You can find something here ( Note Page takes a second to load ) > http://kaidomain.com/Flashlight-DIY-and-Tools/Flashlight-Drivers

Also look here > https://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=67

I want to keep the battery an 18650 as the original was set up.

You ever try one of these? Not too crazy about the modes, but it says "memory" so at least you dont have to cycle on every
start. Its also 22mm which is the tube size on the arctic. Going to have to figure out how to use the original fire button
on the host, and would like to incorporate the battery level indicator on the side.

B70 Boost Driver Board

B70 22mm 5000mA 3V - 4_2V 1-cell 5-Mode Boost Driver Board for Cree XHP70 6V

kaidomain.com

 

[thanhtung]

up to 6V will kill your diode with 5A current

 

[Alien Laser]

I believe the voltage is to high 6V, The best voltage for the nubm44 is around 4.4V / 4.5V unless the is a new diode out ?

 

[Dusty_Lenses]

up to 6V will kill your diode with 5A current

I believe the voltage is to high 6V, The best voltage for the nubm44 is around 4.4V / 4.5V unless the is a new diode out ?

@5A the diode will have a vf of approx 4.8v (see below pic from dtr). One of the key points of constant current regulation is to not exceed the current under any condition. Now if you were using a constant voltage driver and it was capable of exceeding the max current of the diode, you run into issues like thermal runaway and the diode's tendency to change its vf based on temperature.

6V in this driver simply indicates that it is capable of reaching the forward voltage of the diode and up to 5A if thats where you set the Rsense resistor.

 

[dubious speculation]

Hi @Dusty_Lenses,

How'd you go finding a high current small boost driver? Honestly all the suggestions here are for drivers designed for LED's. Especially for something like a NUBM44 I wouldn't be trusting some random $5 driver that claims to have current regulation.

I've been out of the game for nearly 10 years and back then we were totally spoiled for choice with Lazeerer's drivers. Nanos, boost, x-switch, every driver in every shape and size...

The only driver I could find here is @loreadarkshade 17mm 4.2A boost driver. Looks good but not available on his website...

15mm,17mm Buck+Boost drivers for sale

 

[loreadarkshade]

I will update my website soon and add them for sale once again

 

[dubious speculation]

I will update my website soon and add them for sale once again

That would be amazing! I will definitely be purchasing some in the future. Do you have links to testing and scope analysis? Vpp, ripple rms etc.

 

[loreadarkshade]

That would be amazing! I will definitely be purchasing some in the future. Do you have links to testing and scope analysis? Vpp, ripple rms etc.

I do not, the driver is still in development and I have failed quite a few prototypes.
R&D is expected to finish in a few months, as I had to do a complete redesign since my PCB factory cannot properly solder QFN packages this small consistently

 

[dubious speculation]

R&D is expected to finish in a few months

Sounds good! I've been looking for more suitable drivers and have found quite a few produced by Convoy. This one is very similar to the Kaidomain 22mm driver, but in a 17mm package.

17mm LED driver for 6V XHP70.2 XHP70.3 Hi,output 6V 5A

I'd like to test the start up ripple, Vpp etc on a scope. Do you know of any videos or info on learning how to do this specifically for drivers?

 

[loreadarkshade]

Sounds good! I've been looking for more suitable drivers and have found quite a few produced by Convoy. This one is very similar to the Kaidomain 22mm driver, but in a 17mm package.

17mm LED driver for 6V XHP70.2 XHP70.3 Hi,output 6V 5A

I'd like to test the start up ripple, Vpp etc on a scope. Do you know of any videos or info on learning how to do this specifically for drivers?

I have this driver in stock, will post its ratings on my website in a few weeks when I get around to it

 

[dubious speculation]

I have this driver in stock, will post its ratings on my website in a few weeks when I get around to it

That would be amazing! Will you be measuring it's start up ripple, Vpp etc on a scope?

 

[loreadarkshade]

That would be amazing! Will you be measuring it's start up ripple, Vpp etc on a scope?

yep

 

[dubious speculation]

Amazing! Will eagerly await your results Personally I really like having a multimode driver (10%, 50%, 100%) for some lasers and that automatically rules out every driver we use designed for LD's (SXD, Flexdrive, etc).

 

[loreadarkshade]

Amazing! Will eagerly await your results Personally I really like having a multimode driver (10%, 50%, 100%) for some lasers and that automatically rules out every driver we use designed for LD's (SXD, Flexdrive, etc).

Here you go buddy, this is the Convoy 17mm 5A boost driver test result
These tests were performed at 100% power

Driver @ 100% (5A continuous connected to a NUBM47-A1 diode)