DIY Homemade laser diode driver

Well I built my Daedal Driver! Slightly modified though so it would work in a small housing.



Sorry about the bright-ness to it. My camera doesn't like focusing without flash and then the flash is too bright at times.

Rhith... I can't wait to see that thing in action... Show us what it can do... It should be running by tomorrow, right?

Congrats;
DDL

what would i need to change if I only wanted to input 3v and regulate the current?
Jaycar (AUS digikey) sell a project case with built in holder for 2aa or (1) 9v

____://___.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=HB5610&CATID=&keywords=project+box&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=

Heyy guys, im new to these forums, and like many others have been attracted here through the wonders of video advertising. First off lemme say real nice tutorials!! Really appreciate them. I've already purchased a laser diode from the GB and an AixiZ housing. While i'm waiting for these items to arrive I figured i'd start building my circuit, as I wanna be real careful that I dont burn out my diode lol.

Now i'm a little confused about a few things. If I purchase a mini dorcy, will I be able to use that circuit to safely run my diode, or will I still have to build my own? If I do have to build my own, I'm finding it hard trying to track down the exact matching parts, as I'm from Australia and will be getting my parts from a shop called Dicksmith Electronics
dicksmith.com.au

If someone gets a chance, would they please be able to tell me if the following parts would be appropriate, or if not, point me to the right ones off the Dicksmith website.

Capacitor:
dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46c6f87608a0ea802740c0a87f9c078b/Product/View/R4715
LM317T:
dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46c6f87608a0ea802740c0a87f9c078b/Product/View/Z6541
Potentiometer:
dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46c6f87608a0ea802740c0a87f9c078b/Product/View/R7512
Resistor:
dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46c6f87608a0ea802740c0a87f9c078b/Product/View/R1618
Rectifier Diode:
dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46c6f87608a0ea802740c0a87f9c078b/Product/View/Z3204

As you'll probably figure, i'm not the most knowledgable when it comes to electronics. If someone could please help me out i'd be forever in your debt

the different silicone diode wont change a thing all the IN400x diodes are all virtualy the same IN4004 is just the standard in AU

Oh okay appreciate the quick replies, I wasn't sure whether there was a difference between Ohm and kOhm but I guess there is. xgeek what do you mean by a 25 Ohm Potentiometer would be better than a 100 Ohm? I wouldn't have thought 25 Ohm would have been powerful enough to run the diode, if that makes any sense :-[ lol. Also would the 5w resistor make any difference as apposed to having the 0.5w?

Oh and also as with my original post, is the mini dorcy circuit useless with these laser diodes? Or am I somehow supposed 2 incorporate this DIY circuit into the dorcy circuit, instead of just completely scrapping the original circuit? Thanks again guys

The 5w resistor will work fine but it is an overkill for the circuit you are building here. The resistance is the same as a 0.5 watt one but you can push more current through a 5w one.

Well you will be using a 4.7 ohm resistor with a pot in series. With a 4.7 ohm resistor and a 100 ohm pot you have the resistance range from 4.7 ohms to 104.7 ohms. With a 25 ohm pot it will be 4.7 ohms to 29.7 ohms. The 25 ohm will give you finer control over the output current. i.e a Qtr turn of the 100 ohm pot is the same as a full turn of the 25 ohm pot.

Note:- With a 4.7 ohm resistor the max output current will be under 300mA

Rhith....
WOW..that really came out NICE AND SMALL!!!!

You should sell them....

I know I would take a couple!!!!!!

Nicely Done!!!!

Larry

Thank you for the praise Larry!
I replied to your email!

Hi,

I'm planning on building one of these as a test bed for diodes, then when I know what voltage and what current, I can get fixed components and make it really small, SMD, to put in a maglite???
Does anyone have plans for a voltage AND current regulator?

Thanks,

Dan

I don't know if anyone has plans but I know Daedal is VERY knowledgeable about this sorta thing so send him a PM possibly and ask.

lol make it with smd's EPIC FAIL!

kwinchee said:

lol make it with smd's EPIC FAIL!

Click to expand...

Please enlighten us...

well you would be able to make it very small but you have odviousley never worked with smd's thay are very small so lots of fine work

kwinchee said:

well you would be able to make it very small but you have odviousley never worked with smd's thay are very small so lots of fine work

Click to expand...

I can easily and whole-heartedly confirm this claim. SMD work is damn near impossible to do! You need a hotplate and you need to know what you're doing. Solder doesn't like to stick to things very easily, and when it does... it likes to goo all over the place. SMD's are so tine and so light, when trying to solder it, you'd either cook the SMD itself in the process if you're touching it with the iron, or cover it completely in solder, thus defeating its purpose either way.

If you don't have a hotplate and enough experience, SMD is tough. More power to you though... and I hope you get it done I know I'd like to see it.

--DDL