Buildus Interruptus

I feel like a fifteen year old who already had his girlfriend nekkid in her bedroom when her mother came home early :'( :'( :'(

I've got the day off. I have collected enough parts and built up enough confidence to try to build my first laser. I get my desk set up. I get the needed tools set out. I spread the parts in front of me. Now to go over the steps one last time to make sure I understand what I need to, to get this done. Momma always taught me to "measure twice -- cut once"

long can diode from an Optiarc -- check
aixiz module -- check
MXDL flashlight -- check
Jayrob heatsink -- check
CR123 batteries -- check
Drlava flexdrive -- check

HEY!! WAIT A MINUTE!!

Something isn't right here. Isn't the voltage limit on the flexdrive 5.5volts? :-? Quick, check the post about it. Yep. Sure enough -- 5.5volts. CR123's are 3 volts each!!!! That makes 6 volts!!!! Shiiiite! Now what? All of the alternatives will take some time to get accomplished. No build today :'(

Here are the choices I see before me:

1) Find and purchase a DDL type (or comparable) drive that can put out over 400ma safely from someone
2) Learn to solder better really fast and make the above drive
3) Ream/drill out the MXDL to hold an 18650 battery (and order one)
4) Purchase a different host

Any other ideas or suggestions from y'all would be greatly appreciated.

Peace,
dave

Hi, there was a post about this in the previous flexdrive thread until the forum balked.  The input voltage range of the Micro FlexDrive is optimized for dual 1.5V cells and single li-ion cells, but it can accommodate the 6V of two lithium primaries with the addition of a common 1n4001 or any shottkey diode that drops 0.3V or more.  You probably have several of these diodes sitting around in some broken electronic thing in your house.  

simply solder the diode in series with the + battery input and you're good to go.
Don't despair you can still get it done today

Use only one of the CR123 batteries.

EDIT: Dr. Lava beat me.

another thing, I haven't tried it yet, but the datasheet says the /maximum/ input voltage is, in fact, 6V. Usually those are a wee bit conservative so it may be just fine without any thing. Must go try...

drlava said:

Hi, there was a post about this in the previous flexdrive thread until the forum balked. The input voltage range of the Micro FlexDrive is optimized for dual 1.5V cells and single li-ion cells, but it can accommodate the 6V of two lithium primaries with the addition of a common 1n4001 or any shottkey diode that drops 0.3V or more. You probably have several of these diodes sitting around in some broken electronic thing in your house.
simply solder the diode in series with the + battery input and you're good to go.
Don't despair you can still get it done today

Click to expand...

OK. Thank you. I'll do a quick search to find a picture of what one of these looks like. Do you think my local Radio Shack would carry them?

chido said:

Use only one of the CR123 batteries.

EDIT: Dr. Lava beat me.

Click to expand...

I thought of this, but figured that I would prefer not to work with a dummy in the tube.

OK. That statement just sounds strange.

drlava said:

another thing, I haven't tried it yet, but the datasheet says the /maximum/ input voltage is, in fact, 6V. Usually those are a wee bit conservative so it may be just fine without any thing. Must go try...

Click to expand...

** waits to see if he can push the envelope **

Peace,
dave

Ok, tested. Even though it works fine at 6V, the fresh voltage of a lithium cell can be upwards of 3.25V, and it won't work there. So, Diode it is!

Connect the anode to your battery + and the cathode to the + input of the driver.
good luck!

drlava said:

Ok, tested. Even though it works fine at 6V, the fresh voltage of a lithium cell can be upwards of 3.25V, and it won't work there. So, Diode it is! good luck!

Click to expand...

Thank you drlava. I may or may not get to get back to it today now,

but it WILL happen

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

Any other ideas or suggestions from y'all would be greatly appreciated.

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Hey Dave, I haven't tried one, but I am 99.9% positive that a 17670 battery will fit perfectly into the MXDL. In fact, if it doesn't fit, I will pay you for your cost of the battery!
U.S. site: http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-17670.html
Same length as an 18650, same diameter as an RCR123...
Jay

jayrob said:

Hey Dave, I haven't tried one, but I am 99.9% positive that a 17670 battery will fit perfectly into the MXDL. In fact, if it doesn't fit, I will pay you for your cost of the battery!
U.S. site: http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-17670.html
Same length as an 18650, same diameter as an RCR123...

Click to expand...

Nice, Jayrob! The measurements sure do look good. The only challenge left is, "Do I want to keep one type of battery just for this one host. The only other thing that I can think of that uses 2 x cr123 is the Kryton 1. I might just do it anyway to prove the concept. I'm never going to sell or gift my first build anyway, right.

Since the flex drive is designed as a drop out for standard AA. C, D, etc. is there any real value to paying for protected batteries for this?

Peace,
dave


**EDIT** OK. I've been looking around. I can find several flashlights that can use either 2 x CR123's OR 1 x 18650. Does anyone have an 18650 AND some calipers? The ID of the MXDL is 17mm. Are the 18650's being manufactured thin or are the CR123's extra loose in the tube of those flashlights?

daguin said:

[quote author=jayrob link=1209758870/0#7 date=1209777440]Hey Dave, I haven't tried one, but I am 99.9% positive that a 17670 battery will fit perfectly into the MXDL. In fact, if it doesn't fit, I will pay you for your cost of the battery!
U.S. site: http://www.batteryjunction.com/protected-17670.html
Same length as an 18650, same diameter as an RCR123...

Click to expand...

Nice, Jayrob!  The measurements sure do look good.  The only challenge left is, "Do I want to keep one type of battery just for this one host.  The only other thing that I can think of that uses 2 x cr123 is the Kryton 1.  I might just do it anyway to prove the concept.  I'm never going to sell or gift my first build anyway, right.

Since the flex drive is designed as a drop out for standard AA. C, D, etc. is there any real value to having protected batteries for this?

Peace,
dave
[/quote]

The 3 volt lithium primaries can be used for the MXDL Cree mod. Although the 3.6 volt rechargeable batteries work a little better, the CR123 lithium batteries will give you a 10 - 15 year shelf life! Great for a flashlight. It's just about as bright using the 3 volt batteries vs the 3.6 volt batteries. I can hardly tell the difference. I'm sure you've seen my thread on the Cree mod:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1194770080

For the lithium rechargeable batts, I would definitely recommend using protected batteries. Unless there is a protection circuit built into the laser. (not sure if the flex drive serves this purpose)
If you happen to have this charger,
http://www.batteryjunction.com/tlunlichfor1.html
you can charge the RCR123 (16340), 18650, and 17670 as well.
Jay

daguin said:

**EDIT** OK. I've been looking around. I can find several flashlights that can use either 2 x CR123's OR 1 x 18650. Does anyone have an 18650 AND some calipers? The ID of the MXDL is 17mm. Are the 18650's being manufactured thin or are the CR123's extra loose in the tube of those flashlights?

Click to expand...

OK. Some of this is now moot. I went ahead and ordered some protected 17670's and (theoretically) I have some 18650's coming from Australia. I already have a charger that will work for them. The other parts aren't going anywhere and neither am I. I am still interested in the info Re: 2xCR123 vs. 1x18650.

Peace,
dave

well with the new lava driver (flexdrive) you'll want to use the 18650 as it was designed specifically for that battery.  They are cheap as hell, easy to get (get one out of an old dead laptop battery) and fit in my barrels V2.

Oh and with calipers in hand I measured a protected 18650. 18.33mm wide and 67.51mm long

Kenom said:

well with the new lava driver (flexdrive) you'll want to use the 18650 as it was designed specifically for that battery. They are cheap as hell, easy to get (get one out of an old dead laptop battery) and fit in my barrels V2.

Oh and with calipers in hand I measured a protected 18650. 18.33mm wide and 67.51mm long

Click to expand...

Absolutely. The problem was that the host I had on hand, and was naively expecting to use, uses two CR123's. An 18650 won't fit without reaming out the barrel.

Thanks for the measurement. Apparently in those "convertible" flashlights, the CR123's just rattle around in the barrel a bit.

Peace,
dave

daguin said:

 Apparently in those "convertible" flashlights, the CR123's just rattle around in the barrel a bit.

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Yep, your are right Dave. The CR123's are loose in the flashlights that take both. The MXDL will not fit an 18650 unless it is drilled out. But the 17670 should work for you. Same as an 18650, just a little less capacity...
Jay

jayrob said:

[quote author=daguin link=1209758870/0#12 date=1209792209] Apparently in those "convertible" flashlights, the CR123's just rattle around in the barrel a bit.

Peace,
dave

Click to expand...

Yep, your are right Dave. The CR123's are loose in the flashlights that take both. The MXDL will not fit an 18650 unless it is drilled out. But the 17670 should work for you. Same as an 18650, just a little less capacity...
Jay
[/quote]


I believe you are correct. We will see. They have been ordered.

Peace,
dave

I am going to use a 16340 in an MXDL for my BR. I found a bolt to use as a spacer. I hope to have it completed this evening.