fyrstormer
Banned
I got my hands on a Surefire L1, and its output is predictably underwhelming. I've already got the driver removed from the body of the light, and upon inspection...I can't tell whether it's a constant-voltage driver or a constant-current driver. I think it's a constant-voltage driver, but that's based purely on my assumption that a constant-current driver would be less-than-ideal for use with a 2-mode resistive switch. If I understand correctly, even though a CC driver couldn't force the battery to supply it with the power it requires, it would still boost its output voltage as much as it could in a vain attempt to deliver the specified current, inflicting unnecessary strain on itself whenever it's operating in low mode. Whereas, a CV driver would just maintain the specified output voltage and deliver whatever current is allowed by the resistor in the 2-mode switch.
Is this an accurate assessment? If not, what am I misunderstanding?
So anyway, I'm contemplating installing a 1-amp driver in this thing to give it more punch on high, and changing the low-mode resistor in the switch to keep the low mode dim enough for use at close-range. I know I'm not the only person to do this, but I haven't had much luck finding current, relevant information for this mod -- probably because the L1 was discontinued about 6 years ago. If it turns out a CC driver is the way to go, I can find that easily enough at the Sandwich Shoppe, but if I need to use a CV driver I don't know where to find one. Can anyone recommend a 1-amp driver that would be suitable for use in the L1?
Is this an accurate assessment? If not, what am I misunderstanding?
So anyway, I'm contemplating installing a 1-amp driver in this thing to give it more punch on high, and changing the low-mode resistor in the switch to keep the low mode dim enough for use at close-range. I know I'm not the only person to do this, but I haven't had much luck finding current, relevant information for this mod -- probably because the L1 was discontinued about 6 years ago. If it turns out a CC driver is the way to go, I can find that easily enough at the Sandwich Shoppe, but if I need to use a CV driver I don't know where to find one. Can anyone recommend a 1-amp driver that would be suitable for use in the L1?
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