How much does a Blue-Ray laser cost to make?

daguin said:

[quote author=jasonck08 link=1231035204/0#14 date=1231303627]I know most people run the phr803t @ 100-150ma, but what voltage is this at?

Click to expand...

The diode needs 5V-6V.  If the driver needs any voltage, you need to add it on top of this voltage to decide what to give to the driver.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Wait, but can't you use a boost driver and have less voltage going into the diode itself? I thought I could use 3 AAA (1.2v ea, 1.2*3 = 3.6V) with a boost driver to power a phr.

"The Micro FlexDrive high-efficiency switching current regulator can be powered by battery combinations which result in a voltage of 2.5 – 5.5V DC (and up to 6.2VDC with a diode in series)."
Taken from Drlava's Flexdrive Data sheet

so yes you can power a PHR-803t using 3xAA or 3xAAA batteries

Mine build uses 2xAA batteries to run a Flexdrive (boost driver) at 125ma, which powers a PHR-803T

Th0ughts said:

[quote author=daguin link=1231035204/0#15 date=1231308632][quote author=jasonck08 link=1231035204/0#14 date=1231303627]I know most people run the phr803t @ 100-150ma, but what voltage is this at?

Click to expand...

The diode needs 5V-6V.  If the driver needs any voltage, you need to add it on top of this voltage to decide what to give to the driver.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Wait, but can't you use a boost driver and have less voltage going into the diode itself? I thought I could use 3 AAA (1.2v ea, 1.2*3 = 3.6V) with a boost driver to power a phr.[/quote]

Read the sentences again.  Where in there does it say that you can't use a boost driver? The diode needs 5V-6V.  The diode doesn't care how it gets the 5V, just that it gets it.

If you are using a "boost" driver like the flexdrive then the driver will give the diode the required 5V from as little as 2.5V from the batteries.  You still MUST be able to supply the diode with 5V-6V, but if you use a boost driver you don't have to have 6V in batteries.

The posting only reminds you that if your driver needs voltage (a linear driver) you have to add whatever it needs to the 5V.

Peace,
dave

So what is the cheapest pre-build driver solution?

Keep in mind that if you are new to laser diodes/working with electronics it is incredibly easy to destroy them.  If you know what you are doing I could realistically see powering a PHR diode for less than 20$ but if you will be buying a premade driver, host, spare diode, batteries, charger etc it could easily add up to 60$+.

Also don't forget safety glasses, I can imagine even the reflections from a 100mW+ laser blinding you with ease.

daguin said:

[quote author=Th0ughts link=1231035204/0#16 date=1231310926][quote author=daguin link=1231035204/0#15 date=1231308632][quote author=jasonck08 link=1231035204/0#14 date=1231303627]I know most people run the phr803t @ 100-150ma, but what voltage is this at?

Click to expand...

The diode needs 5V-6V.  If the driver needs any voltage, you need to add it on top of this voltage to decide what to give to the driver.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Wait, but can't you use a boost driver and have less voltage going into the diode itself? I thought I could use 3 AAA (1.2v ea, 1.2*3 = 3.6V) with a boost driver to power a phr.[/quote]

Read the sentences again.  Where in there does it say that you can't use a boost driver?  The diode needs 5V-6V.  The diode doesn't care how it gets the 5V, just that it gets it.

If you are using a "boost" driver like the flexdrive then the driver will give the diode the required 5V from as little as 2.5V from the batteries.  You still MUST be able to supply the diode with 5V-6V, but if you use a boost driver you don't have to have 6V in batteries.

The posting only reminds you that if your driver needs voltage (a linear driver) you have to add whatever it needs to the 5V.

Peace,
dave[/quote]
Thank you for the clarification. I wasn't completely sure how that worked.

Greenhorn said:

I paid $30 for my diode on eBay, which is apparently more than most people buy them for, as I found out later.

Click to expand...

I guess where you bought it... got mine there too for even a bit more... and burned it after just one hour

So my first "portable app" was build into the small black Box seen in my sig, with a selfmade LM317 driver and a Sixpack AA Akkus
Dunno what the whole thing had cost, diode+module+shipping was 20$ from Jake, box and the driver aprox 7€

Sadly its dead now too... i did without the second resistor to save space but so i hit it with full battery current some times accidently