Building the McLux - badboy, wizard, 1w and 5w

[tylerdurden]

I've currently got a 1x123/1wBB400 McLux DIY. I just ordered another head and the 2x123 and 3x123 tails. I'm a bit unclear on which boards will work with each tail.

I'm reading the Badboy tech information from http://home.attbi.com/~theledguy/cpf_store/sandwiches/techical_data.htm but I still have some questions.

If I understand correctly, anything above 3volts sends the BB400 into direct drive, so there is no point in using it in 2x123 or 3x123 configurations, or is there? It seems the BB itself can handle 9 volts but the 1w emitter won't.

The wizard seems to be the answer for higher voltages, but I want to be sure I understand - is the wizard intended to be used with the 1w or the 5w emitter (or both)? Actually, the best way to phrase this question is probably with a small table:

(unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way to force a monospaced font)

1x123 1w BadBoy4/500 YES
2x123 1w BadBoy4/500 NO?
3x123 1w BadBoy4/500 NO?

1x123 1w BadBoy700 ???
2x123 1w BadBoy700 ???
3x123 1w BadBoy700 ???

1x123 1w Wizard400 ???
2x123 1w Wizard400 ???
3x123 1w Wizard400 ???

1x123 5w BadBoy4/500 ???
2x123 5w BadBoy4/500 ???
3x123 5w BadBoy4/500 ???

1x123 5w BadBoy700 ???
2x123 5w BadBoy700 ???
3x123 5w BadBoy700 ???

1x123 5w Wizard400 ???
2x123 5w Wizard400 ???
3x123 5w Wizard400 ???

Also, is there any plan for a wizard700 or similar "high-output"?

 

[McGizmo]

Tylerdurden,

The badboys are strictly boost circuits so the battery voltage must be below the Vf or voltage required by the LED.
Basically, consider 1W's go with one cell and 5W's go with two cells if you are using the BadBoy. The wizard is a buck/boost so it will work on the 1W's with 1,2or 3 cells. I believe it would also work on the 5W with 3 or 3 cells. There is a max current issue and this is why there are no wizard 700's. I'll let Wayne discuss his future plans on drivers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif He should also be the one to cut and paste your table with Y's and N's.

Note: when I mentioned cells above, I was refering to 123 cells.

Before the DD guys try to have me for lunch, you can also consider running a 5W on 3 cells without a driver /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

- Don

 

[jtice]

I plan on driving a 5W LS with a MM750 and 4 AA's, and Ive heard thats fine. Dont know if that helps what you want to know though.

I am also curious about when the MM 0r BB is actually regulating, and when it switches to direct drive.

 

[tylerdurden]

Don, thanks for the input.

OK, so with the wizard I can run pretty much any battery config, either 1, 2, or 3 123s or 2xAA in the long tail. But with the wizard, I'm just getting longer runtime with more cells, right - no brightness increase? Maybe I'll replace the BB400 with a wizard - luckily I just soldered it all together and I haven't epoxied it in place.

So for a 5w emitter, 2x123 with a wizard should work - but is it even worth putting a 5w in a standard McLux head? Does the 5w work well with the McFlood or the NX05? Everything I've seen with the 5w uses either the 30mm optics or a big reflector like the PM6 or the Mag C/D.

The direct drive option is attractive because of its simplicity (not to mention the cost savings). What is the trade-off between regulated and direct drive? I know that direct drive gives me a more constant light level at a cost of some wasted power burned up in the circuit, but is there anything else? If a regulated circuit were 100% efficient, would direct drive still have any attractive features (besides simplicity)?

Thanks again. I've been mostly dealing with pre-built flashlights and drop-ins up till now, so I'm still trying to wrap my brain around all of the internals.

 

[dw_1984]

MM750?

Jtice,

when you say MM750, do u mean BB750?

I think the MadMaxes are just called that. There's also the newer version called the MadMAx Plus. Is that what you're refering to when you say MM750?

Just wondering or have I been away too long?

Cheers,
Daniel

 

[jtice]

Re: MM750?

what i saw was a MM750+ im pretty sure,
datzip's site is down at the moment , so i cant tell you.
I think itts called the MM+ but its 750mA

I didnt see a BB that high.

 

[dat2zip]

Re: MM750?

OK, give me a few hours. Gotta run off for a while, and then I might not have time to fill in all the blanks. I have a meeting Saturday morning, so, I hope to have some input by then or just after that.

Wayne

 

[ufokillerz]

Re: MM750?

pretty sure that its not a MM750
I have a BB750...

 

[jtice]

Re: MM750?

hmmm maybe im wrong,,, ive looked at so many things the last few nightts, they all mix together in my head.

Well, whats the MM+ rated at then? I think its called the MM+ Q3L on the site?

Basically, Im wanting the brightest, most powerful board i can use with a 5W lS, and 4-AA's.

 

[dat2zip]

1x123 1w BadBoy4/500 YES (I think 700 & 750 is OK too)
2x123 1w BadBoyXXX NO (No Badboy configuration will work)
3x123 1w BadBoyXXX NO (No Badboy configuration will work)

1x123 1w BadBoy700 YES ( Should be fine) Not tested by me

1x123 1w Wizard400 YES
2x123 1w Wizard400 YES
3x123 1w Wizard400 YES

1x123 5w BadBoy4/500 NO
2x123 5w BadBoy4/500 YES
3x123 5w BadBoy4/500 NO

1x123 5w BadBoy700 NO
2x123 5w BadBoy700 YES
3x123 5w BadBoy700 NO

1x123 5w Wizard400 NO
2x123 5w Wizard400 Kinda (Should poop out sooner than BB)
3x123 5w Wizard400 YES

Thanks for the table.

 

[dat2zip]

Other configurations:

1X123 1W MM/MM+ YES
2X123 1W MM/MM+ NO
3X123 1W MM/MM+ NO

1X123 5W MM/MM+ NO
2X123 5W MM/MM+ NO
3X123 5W MM/MM+ NO


1X123 1W stepdown NO (Not yet released... TBD)
2X123 1W stepdown YES
3X123 1W stepdown YES
Up to 16VDC stepdown YES (That includes dirty 12VDC)

1X123 5W stepdown NO (Not yet released... TBD)
2X123 5W stepdown NO
3X123 5W stepdown YES
UP to 16VDC stepdown YES

Stepdown efficiency > 80% Typical 85%.

Wayne

Fixed the last table. 2X123 and 5W Luxeon.

 

[FalconFX]

Re: MM750?

Wayne,
Maybe this is way too redundant, but did you realize that your site's been posting this:

-------------------------------------
1016 - Can't open file: 'whos_online.MYI'. (errno: 145)

delete from whos_online where time_last_click < '1054969440'

[TEP STOP]
-------------------------------------

Error message...

 

[dat2zip]

BTW: The shoppe is back online. Sheez, how long has it been down. Sorry about that.

 

[FalconFX]

Thanks! Don't know for how long, but it's no biggie!

 

[McGizmo]

Wayne,

In your last table, I believe the last grouping on the step down are for 5W's, yes?

- Don

 

[tylerdurden]

Wayne, thanks for the filling in the blanks there. Now we just need to add two more columns for runtime and brightness /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now I have a few new questions about the 5w parts /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

"2x123 5w Wizard400 Kinda (Should poop out sooner than BB)"

I'm assuming you're comparing the Wizard400 against the BB400. Is this runtime difference just due to the fact the BB is more efficient than the Wizard? And is there any significant difference in brightness?

With the wizard400, 2x123 and 3x123 should produce the same brightness with different runtimes, correct?

Thanks again.

 

[dat2zip]

Don,

Thanks for pointing out my incorrect table.

tylerdurden,

The Wizard configuration internal IC switch carries both the LED current and the input current. Normally, in a boost configuration, it's only the input current. With the switch element rating of around 2A and I derate that to 1.5A, we can see that we need to subtract the LED current from the switch rating. This leaves 1.5A - 400mA or 1.1A margin. So, when Vin drops to the point where the Wizard is sucking 1.1A is the approximate dropout verses the Badboy which would continue to hold regulation till the input current reached 1.5A which would occur at a lower Vin.

Did I just ramble in circles??

Well, at least the one paragraph is not one sentence...


Wayne