Cheap(er) 12x Diodes/Sleds Reviewed!

A few weeks back, there was some talk in a thread somewhere about whether you could actually purchase a 12x diode for $40.

So I thought I'd document my ongoing journey into cheap(er) 12x diodes here!

#1 - First go at it were these (from eBay) - $44.50 total final cost:
New SF-BW512 Laser pickup has 12x Laser Diode sled
I mentioned having received them here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f41/40-12x-diode-sf-bw512-arrived-today-60373.html

At $40 plus shipping, they weren't "truly" under $40 options. Buying two at a time, after shipping, the final cost delivered was $44.50 each! They worked great! No problem extracting. The sleds were clearly new/untouched. I've now put them to use, so it's time for the eye candy.

On the left: BW512 diode, Rayfoss (intended for 532nm module) host, OdicForce boost driver, 1x16340, driver output 410mA.
On the right: BW512 diode, DX Aurora DIY host, SurvivalLaser heatsink, LM1117 DIY driver, 2x16340, driver output 560mA.



#2 - Second cheap source (PSXboy) - $37.50 total final cost:
SF-BW512 12X Sled

Don't know anything about these guys. They're China based. The $33.60 price required adding another ~$5 for trackable shipping, and they forced you to cover paypal fees. Again purchasing two at a time, the individual cost was $37.50 each, all in (after all fees)

Ordered tonight, I'll keep this thread updated when they arrive!

Any other suggestions are welcome!

Nice builds, rhd. I'm a big fan of the S06J's lately, although they are $44 where I get them. I'll have to look in to these sometime too.

seems lovely. thanks for pic.

I bought one from the ebay seller a week or so ago. Ill report back my experience.

Unsurprisingly, PSXboy is where people originally bought PHR and PS3 sleds. For the most part, I think we can trust them, unless anyone has had any bad experiences with them lately.

rhd, please keep us informed about this 12x diodes were like ~$200 some time ago, now they might even be purchased for $35 if this comes out true

Of course - will do

rhd said:

Of course - will do

Click to expand...

With the A130's being discontinued, it would be soon that the A140's disappear as well. We might be forced to move to 405nm lasers again

Silvershot said:

With the A130's being discontinued, it would be soon that the A140's disappear as well. We might be forced to move to 405nm lasers again

Click to expand...

There are other models.

Peace,
dave

Not exactly replacements for each other IMO

daguin said:

There are other models.

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

I would think twice buying a 445nm diode for $70 though.

There are like 10 models -

Bottom line: There's a market for < $1000 projectors. If kasEO wants to be in that market, they'll move a model down into the price range.

Your real concerns shouldn't be the discontinuation of a particular model, but rather:
- Implementation of an alternative light source. Like a powerful blue LED.
- Reduction of the diode count (though this might imply more powerful diodes, so 6 & 1/2 dozen)
- Design switch, to some other diode housing (CMount, or non-aixiz size, etc)
- Some other emerging technology that obsoletes this style of projector all-together

Regardless, there are probably enough of these projectors in legitimate use as actual projectors, than a 2nd hand market will emerge once they become obsolete. So I wouldn't worry about supply for some time.

I have no direct knowledge here. Just a bunch of (what I think are) logical guesses.

rhd I just ordered one of these sleds....I'll let you know if it's as good as what you got.

rhd said:

There are like 10 models -

Bottom line: There's a market for < $1000 projectors. If kasEO wants to be in that market, they'll move a model down into the price range.

Your real concerns shouldn't be the discontinuation of a particular model, but rather:
- Implementation of an alternative light source. Like a powerful blue LED.
- Reduction of the diode count (though this might imply more powerful diodes, so 6 & 1/2 dozen)
- Design switch, to some other diode housing (CMount, or non-aixiz size, etc)
- Some other emerging technology that obsoletes this style of projector all-together

Regardless, there are probably enough of these projectors in legitimate use as actual projectors, than a 2nd hand market will emerge once they become obsolete. So I wouldn't worry about supply for some time.

I have no direct knowledge here. Just a bunch of (what I think are) logical guesses.

Click to expand...

I think because of the properties of lasers they will be incorporated even more in the future. To project small precise points of specific spectrums of light over distances its pretty hard to beat a laser.

My only concern might be the volume of diodes.

IE, there was talk about direct green diodes on the future, being developed for pico projectors, etc. But I would bet they're not envisioning 24x of these per projector. In other words, fancy diodes, 1 at a time in lots of little (expensive) devices might not be so awesome for us.

I guess it's a timeline thing though - I suppose that if every cellphone in 5 years has a built in three-diode pico projector, then it will be pretty easy to harvest them cheaply from throw-away dead electronics, etc.

rhd said:

My only concern might be the volume of diodes.

IE, there was talk about direct green diodes on the future, being developed for pico projectors, etc. But I would bet they're not envisioning 24x of these per projector. In other words, fancy diodes, 1 at a time in lots of little (expensive) devices might not be so awesome for us.

I guess it's a timeline thing though - I suppose that if every cellphone in 5 years has a built in three-diode pico projector, then it will be pretty easy to harvest them cheaply from throw-away dead electronics, etc.

Click to expand...

I would be ecstatic if moved to a single diode in big projectors! Can you imagine the power! :gun:

haha but yeah you have a good point even though a 25 watt visible spectrum diode would be amazing it wouldnt be practical for handhelds or affordable.