Lifetime PHR-803 - 225mw DONE - 200mw DONE

Just curious, but after building a few blu-ray lasers I decided to amp up one of them for fun and see what I could dish out.

So here are my results..
From cold/warm startup it usually averages at 150-175 depending on how cold it is up here in Toronto.
As soon as it is warmed up it continues to climb up higher and higher and begins to slowdown from 195mw-200mw

Now I've never had it run more over than 205mw and never past the 2min mark.  I know that people have ran these suckers pretty damn hard to it's breaking point, but what I really am curious about is that is it's stability and lifetime for running at 150mw 175mw and 200mw

Aoi

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

AoiShikaku said:

what I really am curious about is that is it's stability and lifetime for running at 150mw 175mw and 200mw

Aoi

Click to expand...

So does everyone else. It is why IgorT, myself, and some others test them. Your information could/should be added top the data. What have you run it at? How many minutes/hours of actual run time has the diode accrued?

Peace,
dave

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Mkay.. got an update on it from the tests that I've conducted this morning.

After verifying that it goes higher and higher it peaked at 227mw at 5 minutes run time.
I don't know if it was due to battery drain or if it was due to the extreme heat it produced, but it began to melt the hot glue on the module (I put a drop there so I knew how hot this sucker was)

Anyhow.. back to the data after the 5 minutes it began to drop very rapidly it began to sit and 177mw-179mw, but the module was still hot... I left it on for another 2 maybe 3 mins and it just sat there at 175.

I let it cool off for about 10 mins or so then just turned it on to see if it held up after the abuse I put it through and it still works.. reading shows it goes straight to 175+ then begins a slow climb from maybe 180-190.. still goes to 200 but the 2nd time I didn't push it.

so far so good.. didn't crap out on me
I've been pumping 180ma into it running at 6.4v

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Until I can get my LPM talk to my computer at home then i'll be able to leave it unattended for a long period of time semi-unattended to see it's breaking point or hopefully stability point.

(waiting on serial to USB cable compatible with Vista)

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

sounds like a pretty hearty diode. I just bought a laser with the PHR 803T, is this the same diode you are talking about here? or does the "T" make a big difference?

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

(waiting on serial to USB cable compatible with Vista)

Click to expand...

http://www.beaglesoft.com/232usb.htm

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USBG-RS232-P12&cats=199&catid=482,199,601,461

There's two that say they work with Vista. I just Google'd "serial usb vista"

Hope this helps

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

the ones with the prolific chip set keep fucking with my comp more so than making it work with my LPM.

Anyhow... I've got an update that a lot of you might be interested in.

The Setup:
I ran direct power from my outlet to my driver and ran it for as long as I could.
I kept the same settings 7.2v and 180ma.
Attached a Thermal Take water cooling system that I used for my PC a while back.

The Experiment:
Started at 2pm
- after the first 5 minutes the power started to settle at 225-230mw
- after 10 mins checked to see the temp by hand and power.. stable at 225mw and water cooling kept it nice and cool still.
- 30 mins - still stable and no change since the 10 min mark
- 1hr - still the same... 225mw-230mw and temp held well
- 2hr - same
- 5hr - was warmer than before... water must be getting warmed from the recycled heat.. changed a portion of the water to lessen the heat
- 8-9 hrs - diode is gone... touched the diode... warm to the touch, but not unbearable. Watercooling worked perfect... diode couldn't take it.


So there you have it... successful at 225mw-230mw
If cooling was perfect... 8-9 hours continuous run time
Saddly.. I don't think any hand held could handle such a stress load.

I'm going to try to replicate this in one of my pen style hosts and see how long this sucker will last.

1/5 spare diodes dead ;D

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Cool info AoiShikaku!! This forum would be pointless without guys like you, Dave, Jay, Igor, Ken, and many more who provide info like this.

My 803T build is running at 150mA, and it's been going strong for months I think around 140-160mA. I wanna get an LPM. I'm tired of guessing!  

-George

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

I did some more research on this one.. people are having decent luck with it on 32-bit Vista.. IF yours is 64-bit, thats why you have the problem.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124051

This one's a PCI card.. much less problems than trying to get it to work thru the USB bus..

If you have Vista 32-bit, disregard the following statement lol

64-bit Windows systems are a recipe for trouble in so many ways that they are barely worth if for the home user.. Personally I do not bother to put XP64 or Vista64 in ANY of the computers I build for people.

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

yeah.. that's my last resort. I'd prefer not to go with a PCI card just for a serial.

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Yours is another data point to be added to our empirical knowledge base on this diode.

Since no one really knows the true specs for this diode it's a bit of a crap shoot. One member (heruursciences) thought the 803t may be this sharp diode:
http://www.sharpsma.com/Page.aspx/americas/en/part/GH04P21A2GE

Based on other members experience, anything >150mA is likely pushing it. The general rule with LDs is the further over spec you push them, and the hotter they run, the shorter the life. Sometimes exponentially so.

I would say if you're interested in long life (once you get over power lust) keep the current < 120mA.

I've a pointer based on the 803t with over 50 hours use, running at 100mA. Still strong enough to burn and plenty bright. Another member, climbak, did a long term test of an 803t diode. His diode survived for over 3500 hours - the diode ran > 100mA the entire time, and ~130mA for at least half the test. See this thread, especially the last page..
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209940381/520

A good heatsink is very important also, especially if you want to leave the pointer on continuously. The cooler it runs the better.

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Cant't blame u there.. although with Vista being still new(in the ways of Microsoft lol), there are just so many things that are a serious pain in the ass to make work correctly.. as I am sure you know. I have had more problems with USB devices than anything else, save my now-useless TV/Video Capture card(BT878 chipset)....... :-/

In a few years Vista will be nice and stable, and Windows 7 will be thrown into the mix, making us start all over again.. although it seems 7 is basically a Vista dress-up mainly adding integrated touch screen functionality..

Back on topic though... What was said above is true. The information you guys with proper equipment provide makes this hobby much more enjoyable and saves us guys without meters a lot of trouble. Thanks to all of you for all your work! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

Xplorer877 said:

Cool info AoiShikaku!! This forum would be pointless without guys like you, Dave, Jay, Igor, Ken, and many more who provide info like this.

My 803T build is running at 150mA, and it's been going strong for months I think around 140-160mA. [highlight]I wanna get an LPM[/highlight]. I'm tired of guessing!  

-George

Click to expand...

Not trying to Hijack the Thread......

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1225241169

Jerry

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

flogged said:

Another member, climbak, did a long term test of an 803t diode. His diode survived for over 3500 hours - the diode ran > 100mA the entire time, and ~130mA for at least half the test. See this thread, especially the last page..
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1209940381/520

Click to expand...

One thing that we need to keep in mind about the Climbak test is that the diode was run without a lens. There was NO reflected light (besides the diode window).

Peace,
dave

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

AHHAHAHHAHA
MKay.. after 2 hrs in a lead light case held still at 225mw
my freaking components started to melt.. AHHAHAHAHHA... I thought the diode died, but my rckstr (or how ever you spell it) driver just melted on me.. the aixiz housing was so hot that I practically burned my finger.. the button for the lead light case melted.. LOL.. after removing the components.. it melted the plastic around the momentary switch.. god.. this was a mess.. I practically threw everything away... nothing was able to be salvaged except the diode.. which I must say... STILL WORKS.. HAHAHAHHA...

Man.. I had a good laugh at this...

So if anyone has iron rock hands and is running at 200mw+ I'd say stay away from lasers LOL

Re: Stability and Lifetime Question concerning PHR

djra said:

sounds like a pretty hearty diode. I just bought a laser with the PHR 803T, is this the same diode you are talking about here? or does the "T" make a big difference?

Click to expand...

I don't think the "T" makes any difference. Yours should be the same as this.