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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

My first project and phr just died :-(

mdjd07

mdjd07

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As the title says, It died...after about 5 minutes, not continuous use. I have it set up with a switch and a rkcstr driver...I checked the driver before conecting the diode and it was at 89.1 ma so i left it. I first turned it on with the little green cap on...That was cool for a couple seconds lol. Took the cap off and saw how i could adjust it to infinity and unfocus it. I then tryed to burn some stuff. Tryed is an understatment, It burned right through a plastic cup with ease. So then i was messing around with the focusing again and thats where things went bad. I was unfocusing it on a wall to see how big the dot could get. I shut it off and went to go get a drink and when i turned it back on it was very dim and not projecting a beam. and now it doesnt even light up, and has current going to it.....Bummer. Any one know what went wrong? Did I unfocus it to far or something? I know these are unreliable diodes but damn 5 min....:(
 





daguin

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There is not enough info to be able to tell why it died. Just "focusing" should not bother it. Now if the module was turning instead of the lens, then maybe that could break it while focusing. However, that is not part of your description.

Sorry. They do this.

Peace,
dave
 
E

ElektroFreak

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yeah.. we've pretty much all lost our fair share. Sometimes it's hard to tell what went wrong. All you can do is go over your drive circuit to make sure everythng's right and try again.
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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i went over everything afterwards. The driver is still putting out 89.1 ma. I did see tho that it looks like two wires on the switch did touch when i turned it on cause i did not have it secure in the box yet because i was just trying it out to see if it worked before i put everything in the box. could two wires shorting on the switch cause this? I figure no because it would have had to happen after the driver for it to kill the diode, but I guess anything is possible. I can post pics later after work if you guys want but i dont think it will help any.
 
diachi

diachi

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shorting the two wires on the switch is the same as pressing the switch. It completes the circuit and allows current to flow.
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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diachi said:
shorting the two wires on the switch is the same as pressing the switch. It completes the circuit and allows current to flow.
Click to expand...

so are you saying that his most likley shorted out the diode?
 
Tech_Junkie

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mdjd07 said:
I first turned it on with the little green cap on...That was cool for a couple seconds lol. Took the cap off and saw how i could adjust it to infinity and unfocus it. I then tryed to burn some stuff. Tryed is an understatment,
Click to expand...

Surprised no one caught this. This is exactly how one of my first PHRs died. It burned like a trooper. Turned it on with the cap on to see what it looked like. Then it would not burn anymore, then LEDd in under 2 minutes after.

Igor has said this, and I should have listened, never turn on the laser with a cap on.

*Basking in the irony*
 
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Bluephics

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Tech_Junkie said:
Igor has said this, and I should have listened, never turn on the laser with a cap on.

*Basking in the irony*
Click to expand...

Damn, I wish I knew that before. I've been doing that with my first build all the time. I have the same problem pretty much, one day it's working great and the next it's probably no stronger then a 10mw.

I also increased the current when I replaced the batteries as well so that might be another reason it dimmed. Could be the same for him.
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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ohh man that makes sense to me....with the cap on it prob shined the beam back into itsself killing it right? i never thought of that.
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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Bluephics said:
Damn, I wish I knew that before. I've been doing that with my first build all the time. I have the same problem pretty much, one day it's working great and the next it's probably no stronger then a 10mw.

I also increased the current when I replaced the batteries as well so that might be another reason it dimmed. Could be the same for him.
Click to expand...

im not using batteries and i never changed the current. its still set st 89 ma.
 
jaycey

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Just going back to post No1..."I know these are unreliable diodes but damn"

Hell no way is the PHR a unreliable diode! its a great little diode...its a Star amongst diodes!

Anyway, moving on:D
 
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ElektroFreak

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I use my blu-ray pointers as flashlights sometimes in a pinch by using them with the GITD cap on.. never had a single problem. Maybe I've been lucky,though.
 
Tech_Junkie

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I think its the heat. With the cap on it traps the heat inside, and maybe accelerates the degration. The focus could have something to do with it too. This all a guess, but it sounds plausible.
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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jaycey said:
Just going back to post No1..."I know these are unreliable diodes but damn"

Hell no way is the PHR a unreliable diode! its a great little diode...its a Star amongst diodes!

Anyway, moving on:D
Click to expand...

idk man i just read allot about them failing....neway hell yeah it seemed great....it burnt through my plastic cup in like a second!
 
mdjd07

mdjd07

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ill post pics of the host i machined when i get home... i think u guys will like it.
 
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