Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Well, here we go. Newcomer from the US

names TJ

names TJ

0
Joined
Mar 4, 2015
Messages
9
Points
0
So I've officially read the crap out of the stickies and I have a pretty good grip on general forum etiquette so I'm looking forward to talking with you guys, getting to know you all a bit and discussing my first build. I AM A NOOB with lasers, but I have great learning skills and a fair amount of common sense (so I think).

I've owned a few 5mW 532nm lasers and one advertised at 100mW. However these have only been experimental cheapo's from china.

Ill be starting my first build as parts begin to arrive. I'm doing a simple C6 build. I've purchased the host from DX and the heat sink is coming from Survival Lasts. I'm going with a 2W 445nm diode set in the 12x30mm module which I bought from our friend DTR. I should have bought a better driver but I made the mistake of buying one from china so I'll give it a shot. It's a boost driver that runs @ 1.5A-1.8A (2.5A max) out with 3.7V-4.2V coming in. I planned on using a single Sanyo 18650.
My first challenge is going to be figuring out the dummy load and setting the amperage for my diode (which is completely foreign to me), I've done some reading on it already so things are starting to click but I have a ways to go.

That's pretty much where I'm at so I'm sure I'll be seeking advice as things begin smoking and whatnot. That will have to do for a quick introduction for now. Any questions or comments feel free to pm me or whatever. I look forward to hearing from you guys and checking out more of your builds.

:thanks: :wave:
 
Last edited:





NightExplorer96

NightExplorer96

0
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Messages
8,549
Points
113
names TJ said:
Hey thanks man!
It seems like you guys sure do have something great here.
Click to expand...

Lasers are great, this is quite an amazing hobby! Not so much for the wallet though :wave:

Each wavelength is different from another so the possibilities are limitless!

-Alex
 
Pi R Squared

Pi R Squared

0
Joined
May 14, 2013
Messages
3,438
Points
0
Hello TJ welcome to LPF, the C6 has very little space inside, you must be careful to use the right parts and to keep your wires short. That driver from China is a laser driver and not an LED flashlight driver right? And it is a 16.8mm round driver that doubles as a battery contact board right? If it's not a round driver, then assuming it's small enough to fit, you will need to use the drilled pill for the C6 not the standard pill and you will need a separate battery contact board. Hopefully you already know this or if not it will help when you find something doesn't fit.

Alan
 
Teej

Teej

0
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
520
Points
48
In case it slipped by in the great deluge of info, you should get some laser safety glasses, so that you don't accidentally ricochet a laser beam into your eye off something shiny, etc.

The laser protection is by WAVELENGTH, so, you end up needing more than one pair, to cover the lasers you have.

Welcome A Board!

(From a fellow TJ)

:wave:
 
Gabe

Gabe

0
Joined
Jan 10, 2015
Messages
1,147
Points
83
Hey, welcome! Sounds like you're gonna have a great time here! Learn lots :)
 
gozert

gozert

0
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Messages
1,076
Points
63
Welcome to the forums!

I've not seen you talk about goggles yet, so I really recommend you getting a pair at Survival Lasers if you haven't already. 2W will definitely blind you if you aren't careful!
 
names TJ

names TJ

0
Joined
Mar 4, 2015
Messages
9
Points
0
Teej said:
In case it slipped by in the great deluge of info, you should get some laser safety glasses, so that you don't accidentally ricochet a laser beam into your eye off something shiny, etc.

The laser protection is by WAVELENGTH, so, you end up needing more than one pair, to cover the lasers you have.

Welcome A Board!

(From a fellow TJ)

:wave:
Click to expand...

Ya I suppose I did forget to mention the MOST important part haha. Just got excited talking about the build. The pair I have ordered is the Eagle Pair® 190-540nm & 900-1700nm from SL. This pair will cover my new build plus my 1mW 532nm 301 style laser from china. I also bought some cheaper pairs off of Ebay for guests to use on occasion. If I could afford 4 pairs of the Eagles then that's what I would have bought but one step at a time.

Thanks for the concern. I will say that safety can't be covered enough :D:D:D

gozert said:
Welcome to the forums!

I've not seen you talk about goggles yet, so I really recommend you getting a pair at Survival Lasers if you haven't already. 2W will definitely blind you if you aren't careful!
Click to expand...

Thank you as well. You guys seem to take care of one another on here. My safety glasses will arrive a while before the final components for my build. 2W is WAY more than I want to take a chance with! I love my eyeballs...

Pi R Squared said:
Hello TJ welcome to LPF, the C6 has very little space inside, you must be careful to use the right parts and to keep your wires short. That driver from China is a laser driver and not an LED flashlight driver right? And it is a 16.8mm round driver that doubles as a battery contact board right? If it's not a round driver, then assuming it's small enough to fit, you will need to use the drilled pill for the C6 not the standard pill and you will need a separate battery contact board. Hopefully you already know this or if not it will help when you find something doesn't fit.

Alan
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to read through my introduction. The driver that I ordered IS meant for a laser and not an LED. I ordered the 16.8mm round type so I can just press it into the brass ring that will accompany my host. It's a boost driver because I wanted to stick with the single Sanyo 18650 that I already have which is compatible with the C6 host I ordered. I have PMed Jufran88 about his DIY 3A test load kits in order to properly set the driver at 1.8A. So hopefully he gets back to me soon so I can get that on its way.

You seem to know a thing or two about this stuff so I will keep you in mind for if I run into any problems. Any other concerns, please feel free to voice them to me because I would love nothing more than to address any problems before I have to learn the hard way. Hopefully I get the opportunity to learn some of what you have to teach :)

DTR has already helped me a ton through meeting him on Ebay. He gave me some pretty priceless information already to which I'm super grateful. Thanks DTR!!!
 
millirad

millirad

0
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
2,416
Points
63
Welcome to LPF! Enjoy the hobby responsibly. As you get more experience you will learn what the real power of these photons can do. Be careful and read as much as you can.
 
names TJ

names TJ

0
Joined
Mar 4, 2015
Messages
9
Points
0
millirad said:
Welcome to LPF! Enjoy the hobby responsibly. As you get more experience you will learn what the real power of these photons can do. Be careful and read as much as you can.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I am really excited to learn everything I can about this hobby. I will do just as you said and read read read. This is way better than collecting stamps :D

As a side note, I think it's a fact that lasers are addicting. More, different, bigger, better.
So that being said, do you guys who have a history of lasers notice if that excitement continues and grows as you anticipate your next builds? Or do any of you feel like there is the typical honeymoon stage and feel like you've settled back down after a few builds?
Just curious about opinions :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.




Top