Noobie Help!

Ok... i am a complete noob to lasers i mean right it all started through them video's you know the ones! the stupid ones like on kipkay.com 'minimag laser conversiation/hack' at first i generaly thought it was that easy... to make a homemade laser so i brought my stuff i got my LD's of ebay i will suply link at bottom of the post and the AixiZ's Brass Cases - $4.50 from mfgcn.com anyways i started doing a bit more research "After i brought my stuff" Dumb i know... but yes and i started to relize it is a lot more complicated then i thought if i wanted to make a proper one so after looking through diffrent websites and everything i came across styropyro and he pointed me to here so after a few days of lookin around as a guest i decided to signup and post this to see if you guys could help me well more like 'IF you guys WILL help me' anyhows i guess basicly what i am askin is what would i need/you recommend to run the diode and where would i get them cheap also what batteries would you recommend to power it? Thanks alot! and Thanks To [highlight]StyroPyro[/highlight] for letting me know about this place!

The link to the diodes i brought of ebay is - cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270155537824&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:UK:11 :-/

You bought infrared diodes???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...sid=m37&satitle=270155537824&category0=&fvi=1

in the description it said they burned so i brought them ...lol why whats wrong with them? and like i said i am a complete NOOB! :'(

Yes they will burn, but the beam is barely visible and that makes them very dangerous. A 200mw infrared laser is just as dangerous as a 200mw green or red laser, but at least you can see the beam. With any laser with this much power you will need eye protection.

If you can cancel the order and get in on the GB's here:

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187465349

Welcome to the forum..... Styro is smart....

-Witch-Doct0r-; welcome to LPF and glad you decided to CHECK before powering it (I hope).

The laser didoes you bought are InfraRed... which makes them invisible to the human eye (not completely invisible, but something as bright as your light bulb in the room would seem like it's only as bright as a candle at best). At that level... you would think that your laser is "dead" and some might take the liberty of looking INTO the laser to CHECK... BAD idea!! At 200mW+ a single glimpse of the laser would make it the last thing you see EVER! Please do not power these diodes up or use them in any laser "pointer" if you don't know how to use IR.

If you would like to do things the right way, I suggest you take the time to build a drive circuit to power your laser diode. The guide can be found here:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1185701612
OR you can follow the guide to making your own regulated flashlight laser:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1186966870

Both of these will yield good results that you will be very happy with.

As to where to get the diodes themselves. SenKat has a great group buy for the right laser diodes that you would need. They are the ones I am using and probably the best ones you can find around... at a price that's damn near free!

I hope you get them working soon But be VERY safe with these

--DDL

[smiley=dankk2.gif] Guys but now i am kinda pissed lol... $55 worth of LD's that i cant use :'( when i get some more spare cash wich is prob gonna be a while i'l get the correct diodes cheers for the welcome and info i apreciate it alot!

P.S does he ship the diodes WW? because i live in the UK...

yeah he ships worldwide! you can use them, but don't expect to see a big bright beam, it's invisible, but it still burns like any other laser.

Did you open them yet? Why don't you contact the seller and ask him you you can exchange them. As I recall, he is selling the same diodes as is being offered here in the GB.

I have already opend them i'l just save them till i am more experienced and then use them by the way could you link me up to diodes on ebay that you said where the same so i know what i am lookin for in future refrence please? Although i'l probaly just buy the ones off here when i get the cash Thanks

It is these but the GB dides are MUCH less...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-2-180mW-650...0152253QQihZ017QQcategoryZ53141QQcmdZViewItem

The common red diodes have a 650 to 660nm wavelength and that is what these are. Then there is the 635nm, which are much brighter but also much more expensive.

Don't feel bad, had I not done research I would have made the same mistake. And I still have a lot to learn.

Thx dude and what do you mean by GB? LOL! :-/ sry i am dumb... [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

GB means "group buy"

Nice 1 dude sorry i aint upto date with slang yet

you'll learn it pretty quick though!

GB diodes are the ones offered by SenKat here on this forum for a great price and the ones you see us all integrating into our own setups. The link with all the info to buy these is here

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187465349

--DDL

Oh - as a further FYI, not to mention shameless plug - I have placed a link to the Sony data sheet on the same page that you can buy the GB diodes from ------------------------------> http://sales.stonetek.org I will EVENTUALLY place links up on the same page to the various DIY threads on here as well as a link to some fabulous, certified working ready made circuit PCB's manufactured by Daedal ! Oh yes..... I threw your butt RIGHT UNDER the bus on that one didn't I, Daedal ? LOL !! Now you HAVE TO get up a valid quote and send me the link to host on my page hehehehehe Along with my 5% referral charge, naturally....Muahahahahahahaa !

G !