0.177 mW red LED

Today I managed to transform a super Opnext LD into an LED :'(

For those of you making DIY reds --- go carefully as you turn up the mA. I thought I had it figured out and one more "little" step to 380 mA can't hurt.....

The power meter didn't even register the death !! Well -- It's not the first or last for us here.

Mike

OW !!!!!!!!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

How did you turn up the current - did you use a pot ? Or a benched power supply ?

No -- I just got impatient and switched a resistor --- POW. Word to the wise -- be patient an go slowly. Each LD is different.

Mike

oops - do I hear a doorbell ??

Yeah, go slowly is great advice! I was tired and in a hurry one morning at 4AM - Killed not one, but two pulsar diodes (on separate occasions) within an hour.

I am pushing the diode I salvaged out of a BenQ drive at 250mw. This is when the batteries are fully charged. Last night I mounted the module in one of those standing flashlights that comes with a drill. The battery pack for the drill died. So I removed the batteries and replaced them with a 4batt holder with Nimh's installed. I cut the cord to the charger and can hook it up to a universal charger I got from radio shack. The best part of all this is that the module fit in the reflector hole, so the reflector acts as a heat sink. It makes a big difference in heat dissipation. At first I thought the reflector was plastic, but it is metal. The other advantage is the head on the flashlight rotates so I can position the beam where needed. I know it is huge for a laser, but I got tired of everything being on the table.

I found the information on the Opnext LD Hemlock Mike is referring to, and the original group buy. If anyone knows where to get them please let me know, or perhaps we could organize a group buy. It seems like an awesome diode.

HemlockMike - no joy on the doorbell, but I won't hijack your sorrowful Psalm to the opnext that could.....

Gazoo - those diodes are quite costly on a per unit basis....I owuld hate to see what the quantity would be in order to get them down to where I could safely afford a few ! IIRC, they were close to $30 or more EACH diode. I am working on another GB for some other diodes, the kind that were destined for 20X dvd burners...will keep everyone posted with my progress...

Definitely SenKat. If you can find some decent diodes it would be great! Thanks