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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

rebuild - 180ma

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wicked1

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Well... each time I have to rebuild my laser, I get a little more ballzy.  
I brought mine to a party last weekend, and too many people wanted to play w/ it.  It got dropped, people tried unscrewing the top (mxdl build) and twisted it around.  It worked that night, but not the next day.  A leg was broken off the diode.  
I think I'll start a new policy of asking for a $100.00 deposit before I let a friend touch the thing.

Anyway, this time when I rebuilt it, I turned it up to 180 ma.  Ive got another spare on the way :)

So, this forum is getting a bit cluttered, and I hate to make it worse, but I'm just curious.  I know it's been discussed before, but how many other people are running them over 150ma?  I've seen a couple of posts.  Are there more than that?
 





daguin

daguin

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wicked1 said:
Well... each time I have to rebuild my laser, I get a little more ballzy.
I brought mine to a party last weekend, and too many people wanted to play w/ it. It got dropped, people tried unscrewing the top (mxdl build) and twisted it around. It worked that night, but not the next day. A leg was broken off the diode.
I think I'll start a new policy of asking for a $100.00 deposit before I let a friend touch the thing.
Anyway, this time when I rebuilt it, I turned it up to 180 ma. Ive got another spare on the way :)
So, this forum is getting a bit cluttered, and I hate to make it worse, but I'm just curious. I know it's been discussed before, but how many other people are running them over 150ma? I've seen a couple of posts. Are there more than that?
Click to expand...

I can't imagine a situation where I would let my laser be "passed around" at a party. I can't support a blind person.

I'm up to 200mA with the 803T diode. I have one at 190mA that I've stopped "testing."

Peace,
dave
 
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wicked1

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They were close friends... but still. Once the alcohol gets flowing, anything can happen.
I've been a laser enthusiast since I was in highschool 16 years ago, and these were friends I've had since then. We all know to keep it away from eyes :)


I was running it at 150ma before this latest rebuild.
They keep getting killed for reasons other than burning out, so I figure, what do I have to loose?
 
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wicked1

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daguin said:
 I have one at 190mA that I've stopped "testing."
Click to expand...

Have you noticed the output drop at all? I don't have a power meter, so can't do my own testing.
I used to be into the super bright LED's when they were first being introduced (luxeon's) and I know those steadily decrease in output. They may level off, but the first several days of running them is a down hill slope. Especially at higher currents.
 
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Eagle_1

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180 is for wimps!  I'm going for 200ma - I'll let you know if I live or die in a week or so.  Meantime, it's open to you to rise to the challenge.

(Disclaimer - I don't really want you to kill your LD because some tosser threw out a stupid challenge.  But, if you are a tosser like me, go ahead - pony up  ;))
 
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wicked1

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I'm not going to raise to that challenge quite yet, but I did give you a +1 rep for pushing the envelope ;)
 
daguin

daguin

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Eagle 1 said:
180 is for wimps! I'm going for 200ma - I'll let you know if I live or die in a week or so. Meantime, it's open to you to rise to the challenge.

(Disclaimer - I don't really want you to kill your LD because some tosser threw out a stupid challenge. But, if you are a tosser like me, go ahead - pony up ;))
Click to expand...


I've had one going at 200mA for a week now. It gets 7-10 60-second burns a day.

You better go for 210mA [smiley=evil.gif]

Peace,
dave
 
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Eagle_1

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daguin said:
I've had one going at 200mA for a week now.  It gets 7-10 60-second burns a day.  

You better go for 210mA [smiley=evil.gif]
Click to expand...

I might just have to start swapping some resistors on the 200ma rckstr drivers I just ordered  :)  Still, my mouth / trouser ratio is slipping into adverse territory once we talk about >200, particularly as you gurus are still bickering about whether it is heat, duty cycle, or both that breaks the hairy camel's back  ;)

However, I do like a challenge...
 
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Eagle_1

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wicked1 said:
I'm not going to raise to that challenge quite yet, but I did give you a +1 rep for pushing the envelope ;)
Click to expand...

My first rep! Thanks, man - I'm touched.
 
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wicked1

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Mine is still going strong at 180. I just took it apart and put thermal paste on all the metal to metal connections. (mxdl build)

Make sure you've got a spare diode, cause i'd imagine they will die sometime at this power. I don't use mine much more than 15 minutes a week now, so hopefully it has a good long life.
 
thesk8nmidget

thesk8nmidget

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mine is set at 190.3 and she is nice a bright you can see a noticeable difference from 150.

im happy with it and will keep running her and let you guys know if i have any problems!


i also took many precautions on arctic silver compound and made sure my solder joints were clean and not oxidized. they are all clean shiny joints

also the diode had the Arctic Silver on the sides and then same on the heat sink and module.
 
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360freak

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I know it makes you feel like an asshole, but sometimes you just have to flat out say no. I learned my lesson when i let kids play with my laser with me providing some safety glasses. Took me an hour with a flashlight in the dark (we were camping) to find the spring for my dilda and the rubber button for my CNI.
 
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wicked1

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Just FYI, this one died tonight. Strange thing is it's another party. This time only I was using it, and no one dropped it.
SO... 180mw.. failure from regular usage. (it worked earlier, turned it on just now, and it;s a diode)
 
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wicked1

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What the mother f'n f'n f f f f F

so, I rebuilt the laser real quick w/ another diode that was already in a meredith adapter... it worked for about an hour of on/off ... then same thing.... just turned into an led.

Strange, cause I've had this for over a month w/ a lot of usage, and it worked fine... now tonight, two diodes died.
 
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moond0ggie

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Thanks man, we feel your pain :(


.............note to self..........keep BR diode below 180mA.
 
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