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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

It just won't burn!!!!!! SenKat GB in a torch

Joined
Aug 16, 2007
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Hi,

I FINALLY got my parts from the US and spent the afternoon putting them in a 2x AAA mini mag copy - as good as though.

My "circuit" is a 16V 47uF Electrolytic Capacitor piggybacked onto the LD, and a current resistor (10 ohm) from the 2x 1.5V AAA batteries. Very neatly packed into the torch. I measured twice and cut once'd on everything - so not to blow my presicous LD.

I get about 240mA on fresh bats, and about 160mA on an old set. It's bloddy bright - I think I might be investing in some goggles very quickly, as I like my eyes as they are.

It just won't pop/burn/etch/light/melt ANYTHING!
I even went to our local balloon shop and bought a bag of black balloons to try - nothing! I left it there for about 60 seconds, and it won't burst. It just sits there being balloonish.

I did get a tiny puff of smoke from a match - but alas, it did not light.

I must be underpowering this LD, but I've followed the reccomended specs for basically everything - bar the torch itself - but that's just a fancy case.

Being in the UK, I don't really want a $17 LED, and the fact of ordering more taking about 4 weeks. The last GB one took the best part of 3 weeks.

Also, for this kind of work - DVD drive lasers etc. - what are the best goggles - I know there is a search button, and I have looked, but I get confused with all the , 3-5 transparency etc. Could someone definitvly say what I should be looking for, where I can buy them from the UK, or US, and if from the US, could I paysome for them and they send them to me via themselves if the company doesn't post out to the UK!


Lastly, what kind of duty cycle is best? I've heard 60/60 works well. Can anyone advise better?
Nothing gets hot in the case.....

Ta!


Dan :)
 





Gazoo

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Something is wrong with your measurements. With a 2.2 ohm resistor and a pair of alkaline batteries you would be feeding the diode appx. 160ma's. The 10 ohm resistor is the problem if I am reading your post correctly..
 

Kenom

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are you making sure your focus is right dead on? the focus can be the be all end all when it comes to burning. The easiest way is to get some smoke or fog on teh beam and you will see literally where it comes to a focus. =======>I<======== the "I" in the asci represents your focal point. give it a try.
Ken
 

LarryQ

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If you are really getting those current readings..then I think it's a focus issue.

160Ma should be plenty of juice to burn...and your higher number is Pushing it....It's not completely out of control high..but watch your ON times....!!!

Focus that beam down to a Tiny bright dot..and it SHould burn very well!!!

other than that...did you open up the back of the black plastic lens???

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1190476363

Larry
 
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Gazoo said:
Something is wrong with your measurements. With a 2.2 ohm resistor and a pair of alkaline batteries you would be feeding the diode appx. 160ma's. The 10 ohm resistor is the problem if I am reading your post correctly..

Hold on.... V = I x R
R = V / I
R = 3.05 / 0.240 = 13 Ohms

????
 

Gazoo

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I have double and triple checked, there is no way you can get those current readings with a 10 ohm resistor....2.2 ohms will give appx. 160 ma's.
 

Gazoo

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danielbriggs said:
[quote author=Gazoo link=1190489481/0#1 date=1190489882]Something is wrong with your measurements. With a 2.2 ohm resistor and a pair of alkaline batteries you would be feeding the diode appx. 160ma's. The 10 ohm resistor is the problem if I am reading your post correctly..

Hold on.... V = I x R
R = V / I
R = 3.05 / 0.240 = 13 Ohms

????
[/quote]

You have to take into account the voltage drop across the diode.
 
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LarryQ said:
If you are really getting those current readings..then I think it's a focus issue.

160Ma should be plenty of juice to burn...and your higher number is Pushing it....It's not completely out of control high..but watch your ON times....!!!

Focus that beam down to a Tiny bright dot..and it SHould burn very well!!!

other than that...did you open up the back of the black plastic lens???

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1190476363

Larry


When I first started the focus was a big fat circle - but after tuning it down - I got a super fine dot about 6cm from the lens cap.

And no... I've not enlarged the plastic hole - will do this tomorrow - will this really help?


Thanks,

Dan :)
 
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Gazoo said:
[quote author=danielbriggs link=1190489481/0#4 date=1190490164][quote author=Gazoo link=1190489481/0#1 date=1190489882]Something is wrong with your measurements. With a 2.2 ohm resistor and a pair of alkaline batteries you would be feeding the diode appx. 160ma's. The 10 ohm resistor is the problem if I am reading your post correctly..

Hold on.... V = I x R
R = V / I
R = 3.05 / 0.240 = 13 Ohms

????
[/quote]

You have to take into account the voltage drop across the diode.[/quote]


Shit....

Totally forgot about that. So what is the voltage drop? I've been testing it like 100 times with a spare UV 5mm LED I had knocking around.

So a resistor swap out it is tonight!


Thanks!
 

LarryQ

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Can't hurt... ;D

Well...Unless you butterfinger it and drive the exacto knife into your hand..... :p

Just be careful and don't stick the blade in too far..lest you scratch the lens!!!

Larry
 

Gazoo

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danielbriggs said:
Shit....

Totally forgot about that. So what is the voltage drop? I've been testing it like 100 times with a spare UV 5mm LED I had knocking around.

So a resistor swap out it is tonight!


Thanks!

The voltage drop will vary depending on how much voltage is applied! Do the resistor swap and use a 2.2 ohm resistor. It will then burn like crazy...and be careful..it will be super bright!
 
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Gazoo said:
The voltage drop will vary depending on how much voltage is applied! Do the resistor swap and use a 2.2 ohm resistor. It will then burn like crazy...and be careful..it will be super bright!


Good job I bought some more low value resistors last time I went to maplins yesterday. I used the last few a week back.

I'll let you all know in the next hour :-D


Dan :)
 

Gazoo

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Hi Dan,
I don't have the Aixiz module you and others do, but you might also want to remove that plastic bit everyone is talking about before you fire it up.
 
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OMG!

Now that is fantastic!
I'm going to make more of these :-D

Senkat! - 2 more please - I'll add my order to your post asap!
I think a blue would be a bit too ambitious straight away, I'll step it up like this: loads of reds! a few greens, and then try a blue!

BTW: Cheers guys for all your help - I'll be sticking around here for a while!
I'll enlarge the lens hole first thing tomorrow.


Ta!


Dan :)
 
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I'll take that to mean you're burning everything in sight now! ;D ;D ;D
Please take care to burn the everything, and not the sight. ;)
Great it's working. Post some pics!
 




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