Since I went direct drive with my Blaster VI yesterday, I wondered how depleted the surefire batteries were in my 2 1/2 week old Blaster and I thought I might as well try out some fresh batteries just to see if I was missing anything. Surely I thought, I hadn't used the Blaster for more than a minute here a minute there kind of thing. Well, I'm making this post because I was really surprised at how much brighter the Blaster VI was. So, every time I turn this light on I'm going to be wondering how much dimmer is it this time than last, knowing that the only reference blast will be the first on a superior set of fresh batteries, UNLESS it was running in regulation, full blast until the light can no longer run at that level,and then, maybe a moon mode for a few hours, but always secure that full mode is full mode, what a relief that would be.
What do you think Wayne, a realistic upgrade or mod at an increased price?
PaulW
04-26-2003, 07:58 AM
Keith, that too is my problem with each non-regulated light I have. One the one hand, I feel a little cheated by the continually declining output. On the other, I want to get as much bang for my buck as I can, so I tend to keep it running on the old batteries. I wish I didn't have to worry about that. You stated my goal well, "always secure that full mode is full mode."
I'm aware that the PowerPuck, which is capable of handling a 5W Luxeon, will in a few months be available in a smaller size that might fit in a flashlight. But I don't know what its dimensions will be. Something else I don't know is whether there is some other ready-to-use regulator available now, although I suspect not.
Perhaps others have some ideas. I'll bet that Wayne has already given this some thought.
ElektroLumens
04-26-2003, 09:15 AM
If a good buck regulator can be designed, like the powerpuck, that will fit into a flashlight, that would be nice. Put in 9 AA batteries into the Blaster II, for 13.5 volts, or 10.8 for rechargables, and use the buck regulator, and a 5 watt. Now that sounds like a nice settup, and very doable. I will definately give consideration to this.
I myself have dabbled quite a bit with regulators, both buck and boost, and even built a few. But to put together a circuit is one thing, to mass produce it is quite another.
