8x BR DIODES

Why would the current change? Unless the diode is powered by a constant voltage source... I think i recall Hemlock Mike using a CV source for a 6x diode once, the current varied some 10mA with heat as a result, IIRC... :thinking:


But this to me looks like a kink. itw3ak is sending me a "diode with fractures in the beam" for examination - i asked him to look at this photo and he said it looks the same!

He also told me, that the spot starts out normal and then splits into two - that's EXACTLY how it happened with PHRs which were set just outside a kink (or brought there during plotting). The diode is slipping into a kink as it warms up and it's power drops..

Setting it higher would prevent this behavior, but shorten it's lifetime even more.
It's possible there is some life left in it, if it was re-plotted and then set below the newly developed kink?



Another interesting thing, i remembered just now... As my first GGW slowly degraded with a lot of (ab)use, it started showing a beam profile SLIGHTLY reminiscent of a PHR at the very beginning of a kink - just before it becomes really apparent!

I've been wondering for a while now, why these diodes have no knees or kinks, but it would seem like they can DEVELOPE kinks wherever they are set to, when set WAY too high!



Just a thought... But i think that re-plotting Hemlock-Mike's diode, and comparing it to a new plot of itw3ak's diode could teach us a little more about WHERE their limits actually are!

This info would be very useful before i start murdering the two 8x's donated by the forum! :angel:

Just finished some power testing on my BDR-S03 8X...
with the new brass machined Hi-Power lens assembly.

Here is some of the preliminary data:

I (ma) Power(mw) Voltage

190 . . . 226 . . . . 5.2

I think this is a good operating point for this diode.

I calibrated my Scientech LPM before the test, so it should be fairly accurate.

I will do some more playing with it when I have some time.

LarryDFW

This is a great OP, thanks for doing it FrancoRob, and for updating the first post so we don't have to wade through the whole thread. I wish the plots all went down to 0mW though..

One thing.. can you post photos of the different sled types from different machines so that we can recognize them?

DiesleMarine just reported that his 8X just went LED.

LG diode
Flexdrive
Jayrob Key Chain CR2
405-G-1
365mA
440mW

Use time unknown, but he didn't have it long enough to use it very many minutes :cryyy:

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

DiesleMarine just reported that his 8X just went LED.

LG diode
Flexdrive
Jayrob Key Chain CR2
405-G-1
365mA
440mW

Use time unknown, but he didn't have it long enough to use it very many minutes :cryyy:

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

yea 365mA sounds a little high to me. I'm hoping for 100+ hours at 300mA.

bryce007 said:

yea 365mA sounds a little high to me. I'm hoping for 100+ hours at 300mA.

Click to expand...

There are at least 7 of them running at 360mA or higher.

One of them is in my drawer and has in excess of 20 hours on it now

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

There are at least 7 of them running at 360mA or higher

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Woa. I'll guess we'll see when Igor gets the diodes.

daguin said:

There are at least 7 of them running at 360mA or higher.

One of them is in my drawer and has in excess of 20 hours on it now

Click to expand...

How do you calculate the hours, Dave?

IgorT said:

How do you calculate the hours, Dave?

Click to expand...

Since it was the first one, I kept track of it up to 20 hours. After that, I simply stopped keeping track. Now I just play with it when and as I feel. My "science" with it is done.

For me, at some point, it has to become simple "fun" or I loose interest.

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

Since it was the first one, I kept track of it up to 20 hours. After that, I simply stopped keeping track. Now I just play with it when and as I feel. My "science" with it is done.

For me, at some point, it has to become simple "fun" or I loose interest.

Click to expand...

Sure, that's why i have one laser for playing, and torture other diodes in the meanwhile. If at all possible, automatically... :angel:

But i was mostly interested into how you keep track.


However, if you're sure it's been around 20h or even more, then that is great news!
It would mean that 8x diodes actually stand a chance at 400mW - at least the high efficiency ones!

In that case, there is hope that we could get 100h+ at 400mW levels, which would be great!

I mean, i have three 8x diodes here you sent me, tested two of them for efficiency, could make myself a laser, but i kinda wanted to wait for the final test results of the murder experiment..
Didn't want to risk setting an expensive diode too high, but if i can get 400mW after my "Medium" glass lens, with a certain level of reliability, i'd be very happy!

IgorT said:

Sure, that's why i have one laser for playing, and torture other diodes in the meanwhile. If at all possible, automatically... :angel:

But i was mostly interested into how you keep track.

Click to expand...

You know that I am "old skool." I simply kept a pad of paper on my desk, under the laser. Whenever I would turn it on, I would write down how long it was on.

I think GooeyGus actually has the longest "burn" recorded on it. He got to shine it around in the "fog" at a Laser Meet. I wasn't actually keeping track, but I remember thinking to myself, "Relax. It is just a laser, dave. If it dies, we have had a great time with it"


Then I held my breath until he turned it off

It does not get nearly as much use as my lower powered violet lasers. Who needs 500mW of ANY light just shining around inside the house?

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

It does not get nearly as much use as my lower powered violet lasers. Who needs 500mW of ANY light just shining around inside the house?

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Me? :angel:

daguin said:

DiesleMarine just reported that his 8X just went LED.

LG diode
Flexdrive
Jayrob Key Chain CR2
405-G-1
365mA
440mW

Use time unknown, but he didn't have it long enough to use it very many minutes :cryyy:

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Yep just after a few 30-45 second duty cycles, No more then 5-6 minutes in total! It totally messed up my day :yabbmad:

8x BR Owners datasheet updated.

wrong thread sorry

daguin said:

You know that I am "old skool." I simply kept a pad of paper on my desk, under the laser. Whenever I would turn it on, I would write down how long it was on.

Click to expand...

That's all good, i just wanted to know it was done... Like was it actual logging or was it an estimate.. Because people usually exaggerate 5-20 times in their "estimates".. But if it was logging, it's exactly what i wanted to hear..

Thanks!

I think GooeyGus actually has the longest "burn" recorded on it. He got to shine it around in the "fog" at a Laser Meet. I wasn't actually keeping track, but I remember thinking to myself, "Relax. It is just a laser, dave. If it dies, we have had a great time with it"

Click to expand...

I remember that, but why? Why were you worried about it?
Didn't you say he only had it on for 2 minutes?