445nm issues (I killed it...)

Ok so, some of you recall I built a pair of lasers not long ago, a 445nm and a 462nm. I put the wrong batteries in the 445nm (derp), and killed it. Question now is just how I killed it. I thought it was the driver, Mohrenberg was cool enough to set another up for me and shipped it to me. I installed that tonight and...nothing. So my next guess is I fried the diode. Process of elimination right?

Specs on the build:
Diode:1.8W 445nm A-Type M140 Blue Diode in Module W/Leads & G-2 Lens (from DTR)
Driver: 1.2A Benboost
The driver came as part of a kit from Budget Beams (Limited:1.2A WF-501B Kit)
The kit uses 1x 18650, I loaded 2x 16340 into it. The 462nm uses 2x 16340, I got the two crossed up, much to my chagrin.

So I have two questions at this point:
1) Is it correct to assume I fried that diode?
2)As I have exhausted my (very limited) knowledge of diagnosing recalcitrant lasers, does anyone wanna take a look at it?
I wouldn't normally ask someone to try to fix my mistake, but school has so much of my time right now, I honestly can't even think about trying to do more to it myself. If anyone is interested message me, I would greatly appreciate any help anyone has to offer.
In the meantime, I'll be over here, kicking myself in the ass....:banghead:

VanillahGorilla said:

Ok so, some of you recall I built a pair of lasers not long ago, a 445nm and a 462nm. I put the wrong batteries in the 445nm (derp), and killed it. Question now is just how I killed it. I thought it was the driver, Mohrenberg was cool enough to set another up for me and shipped it to me. I installed that tonight and...nothing. So my next guess is I fried the diode. Process of elimination right?

Specs on the build:
Diode:1.8W 445nm A-Type M140 Blue Diode in Module W/Leads & G-2 Lens (from DTR)
Driver: 1.2A Benboost
The driver came as part of a kit from Budget Beams (Limited:1.2A WF-501B Kit)
The kit uses 1x 18650, I loaded 2x 16340 into it. The 462nm uses 2x 16340, I got the two crossed up, much to my chagrin.

So I have two questions at this point:
1) Is it correct to assume I fried that diode?
2)As I have exhausted my (very limited) knowledge of diagnosing recalcitrant lasers, does anyone wanna take a look at it?
I wouldn't normally ask someone to try to fix my mistake, but school has so much of my time right now, I honestly can't even think about trying to do more to it myself. If anyone is interested message me, I would greatly appreciate any help anyone has to offer.
In the meantime, I'll be over here, kicking myself in the ass....:banghead:

Click to expand...

Does the diode emit light at all? Usually when you kill it it just turns into an LED zombie diode in my experience.

VanillahGorilla said:

The kit uses 1x 18650, I loaded 2x 16340 into it.

Click to expand...

Yep this will kill the diode and driver.:yabbem:

If you want shoot the module over and I will rebuild it with a new diode for the cost of a bare diode. Also since it is open circuit don't try to power the boost again and short the leads before trying to connect it to another diode. A boost can be damaged if run without a load and the output caps can be charged up at the moment.

so sad

RIP lil buddy

btw .. you never get completely 'used' to it..

see my 'kills
below

I urge you strongly to take up DTR's offer.
That's a lot of kills Hak lol. I would guess I've killed around 10 (so far) and about half that in drivers. Last one I killed was from pushing a weak diode too hard. Stupid considering I have all the equipment to test them beforehand. Not going to put together anymore builds that may push the diode hard without testing first.

hakzaw1 said:

so sad

RIP lil buddy

btw .. you never get completely 'used' to it..

see my 'kills
below

Click to expand...

Pman said:

I urge you strongly to take up DTR's offer.
That's a lot of kills Hak lol. I would guess I've killed around 10 (so far) and about half that in drivers. Last one I killed was from pushing a weak diode too hard. Stupid considering I have all the equipment to test them beforehand. Not going to put together anymore builds that may push the diode hard without testing first.

Click to expand...

Yes that is too many, too bad he couldn't have put that money toward his retirement, that is part of the price of an expensive hobby. I think Hak is even older than us, he's had more time to make mistakes and kill more diodes.

Alan

Apocalypse said:

Does the diode emit light at all? Usually when you kill it it just turns into an LED zombie diode in my experience.

Click to expand...

It lit for a split second with the too high voltage batteries in, and nary a photon has she emitted since. Didn't even get a Zombie, just KIA.

DTR said:

Yep this will kill the diode and driver.:yabbem:

If you want shoot the module over and I will rebuild it with a new diode for the cost of a bare diode. Also since it is open circuit don't try to power the boost again and short the leads before trying to connect it to another diode. A boost can be damaged if run without a load and the output caps can be charged up at the moment.

Click to expand...

That is awesome, I appreciate it! I will get with you and arrange to send it your way soon. Thanks!

hakzaw1 said:

so sad

RIP lil buddy

btw .. you never get completely 'used' to it..

see my 'kills
below

Click to expand...

Damn! That is a veritable diode graveyard you have going.

Thanks everyone for the support and advice, greatly appreciated! :thanks::worthy:

Hi, don't feel to bad i did this with a 700mW oclaro diode with a boost xdrive oops !!! Not so bad with a 20.00 diode but bad enough. i just bought a dynamo label maker and i label my builds. NM/MW this way i don't oops again. this happens when you have more than 30 builds hanging out .:

I was impressed with what you'd built. I just finished my first solder and go kit.
Don't be to hard on yourself. You had me impressed enough to give it a go after my first miserable failed attempt. Second try produced a working laser. Keep up the good work.

Lifetime17 said:

Hi, don't feel to bad i did this with a 700mW oclaro diode with a boost xdrive oops !!! Not so bad with a 20.00 diode but bad enough. i just bought a dynamo label maker and i label my builds. NM/MW this way i don't oops again. this happens when you have more than 30 builds hanging out .:

Click to expand...

I labeled everything right after this snafu, hope it keeps it all straight for me now!

Davidx said:

I was impressed with what you'd built. I just finished my first solder and go kit.
Don't be to hard on yourself. You had me impressed enough to give it a go after my first miserable failed attempt. Second try produced a working laser. Keep up the good work.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Nice to know I inspired you to try your hand at it. I still need to get this module sent back to DTR, school keeps me so busy, I keep forgetting to mail it...:yabbem:

My first successful build was short lasting. I had so many screw ups on that build it wasn't funny. It was an m-140 so luckily wasn't too expensive. But I used a boost rather than a buck driver and loaded up a couple too many batteries and poof. Sad thing was watching it die. Just kinda shine as bright as the sun then quickly faded to black and as it happened I knew exactly what I had done.:yabbem:
That was my first kill. Their have been others.

The first thing I do is take a sharpie and mark the +/- ends


I do this ASAP because I'm dyslexic, and also have so many devices that take so many different battery options, I WILL forget what goes in what.


I had two flashlights, the same, but one took the cells one way, and the other, the other way...and, yes, I destroyed one of them with a simple opps when I forgot which I was loading...the other survived, as that was the FIRST mod I sharpied...the survivor.

I leave the other one, still not working, on my work bench as a reminder. Well, originally to remind me to try to fix it...but, its been there for years.





I think I just wasted a 3 w 445, it had a wonky rear button switch, so it was not lighting consistently. I put in on the bench as I had to run out the door, figuring I'd fix it when I got back.

When I got back, apparently (As I had neglected to remove the two 18350's....), the switch went on by itself...and had burned a nice dot into the wooden work benchtop. (Today)

I am glad it didn't set the house on fire, etc....but, apparently the fire resistant coating didn't flame....no sign of smoke at least.

I removed the (Stone dead) cells, and, yes, put the new carcass next to the original unsharpied corpse....to remind me to fix it, later....


It was normally only on for ~ a minute or so, as even with a giant heat sink, copper body, etc...that's a lot of juice/heat, and I didn't want to burn it out. Now, I know it was on long enough to drain 2 18350's to ~ 1 v...which I am extrapolating out to over a minute, by a lot.




sigh

Markers, label makers are how I do mine. The worst mistake I can remember was batteries in backwards on a beautiful Blood build a couple years ago on a 1W+ 638nm that I think cost $300+.
Luckily I just blew the driver and I only had to ship it both ways and pay for the driver (of course it had to go to Belgium though).
By the way J, you don't have the new 515nm in your sig