Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser! (PIC HEAVY)

Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Well, I'm sick of waiting to get the right stuff. Should I just plug some paperclips into the user interface thing?

I've been told these are the pins Ill need to short, can someone confirm?

Connect pin 1 to pin 3 for interlock
Connect pin 2 to pin 13 to enable discharge
Connect pin 4 to pin 11 for IDLE.

Also, would paperclips be a ploblem? I'm worried they'll be so hard that they'll ruin the connector, or that they won't make good contact, do you guys think it's a bad idea to use them?
 
Last edited:





Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
1,358
Points
48
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Pin out sounds right and paper clips should be fine for a quick test. I used one for years on one of my computers to trick it into thinking the on board video card had a monitor attached so I could use the built in AV card.

If you're going to try and do a quick test you need to get some sort of airflow through the head. While normally you suck air in through the front and exhaust out the back if you can blow air in through the back it should be enough for a quick test. I'd keep it to 30-60 seconds at the most. If the tube gets too hot the thermal protection should kick in and open the interlock before the tube can be damaged. If the tube ignites and you get a beam I probably wouldn't run it again until you get proper cooling for it.
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Pin out sounds right and paper clips should be fine for a quick test. I used one for years on one of my computers to trick it into thinking the on board video card had a monitor attached so I could use the built in AV card.

If you're going to try and do a quick test you need to get some sort of airflow through the head. While normally you suck air in through the front and exhaust out the back if you can blow air in through the back it should be enough for a quick test. I'd keep it to 30-60 seconds at the most. If the tube gets too hot the thermal protection should kick in and open the interlock before the tube can be damaged. If the tube ignites and you get a beam I probably wouldn't run it again until you get proper cooling for it.

I agree. How should I shut it off? Just unplugg it or would that be hard on the system? I'll have to wait till tommorow to test it though, it'd late now.
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
2,918
Points
113
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

If you run it without a fan, don't do so for more Than maybe 5 seconds. These things get blazing hot VERY fast. get at least a good 100-150cfm blower for it with a good seal to the head. Airflow of the head is fore to rear. If you need a simple jig for the db-25 I can supply one. DO NOT do it the sloppy way. That's a good way to ruin the port and to potentially shock yourself, though that is on the LV side.

Id wager the tube is fine as long as it's not broken. Or run straight into the ground...But that's unlikely.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

I JUST RAN IT, IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM!!! started up on the first ignition, and was BRIGHT cyan, I only let it emit light for a second or 2 then immediately unplugged it (since I don't have a fan) and it didn't get to hot, so I'm very happy. The SECOND I get the right fan you guys are getting All THE BEAMPICS!
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
2,918
Points
113
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Congrats. Now you just need a good blower for cooling. I do highly recommend getting a good remote for it though. Simply shorting to run it will kill it fast
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Congrats. Now you just need a good blower for cooling. I do highly recommend getting a good remote for it though. Simply shorting to run it will kill it fast

Ive been looking but cant seem to find one, where can i get one? i don't want to spend too much more, since the fan is going to be like $80.

and why do you say shorting it will kill it fast? isn't it the same as a controller would do?
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
929
Points
83
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Ive been looking but cant seem to find one, where can i get one? i don't want to spend too much more, since the fan is going to be like $80.

MI has some for around $100. You could also contact MarioMaster, he'd probably have some blowers too.
 
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
MI has some for around $100. You could also contact MarioMaster, he'd probably have some blowers too.

I meant the controller sorry. Anyways, Cyparagon offered me a blower and controller, so I'm probably going to get those from them.
 
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
929
Points
83
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

I meant the controller sorry. Anyways, Cyparagon offered me a blower and controller, so I'm probably going to get those from them.

Yes, I was talking about a controller, I don't think MI sells blowers. Sorry for wording it so poorly. :eek:
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
2,918
Points
113
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Yes. Get a good blower and controller. You'll thank yourself A lot down the road. It's good for a test, but you're limited mostly to idle (3.8A or so) or full current (10.5A). Excessive idle is just wear on the cathode for less light, and full power will destroy the tube quickly...within a few hundred hours....assuming it doesn't overheat. You need a controller to run it properly at its 20mW rated power. every additional Amp if current drastically shortens the tube's lifespan.

The 2 general rules of thumb are to not start the tube more often than you have to, as every time you start it you literally blow a chunk off the cathode and plasticize it at the same time, which will eventually either Sag it or destroy it altogether. If you're going to stop using it briefly say to go to lunch for 20min but you're going to come back to it soon, then it's best to set it to idle instead of turning off. And the other is to use no more power than needed. The lower the current the longer it's life will be... By a lot! 5-6A may see 5-10,000 hours of life.... At 10.5A you're looking at as little as a few hundred hours.

Although I also don't advocate leaving a laser unattended. Especially these... Ion lasers of been known to start fires suddenly.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Yes. Get a good blower and controller. You'll thank yourself A lot down the road. It's good for a test, but you're limited mostly to idle (3.8A or so) or full current (10.5A). Excessive idle is just wear on the cathode for less light, and full power will destroy the tube quickly...within a few hundred hours....assuming it doesn't overheat. You need a controller to run it properly at its 20mW rated power. every additional Amp if current drastically shortens the tube's lifespan.

The 2 general rules of thumb are to not start the tube more often than you have to, as every time you start it you literally blow a chunk off the cathode and plasticize it at the same time, which will eventually either Sag it or destroy it altogether. If you're going to stop using it briefly say to go to lunch for 20min but you're going to come back to it soon, then it's best to set it to idle instead of turning off. And the other is to use no more power than needed. The lower the current the longer it's life will be... By a lot! 5-6A may see 5-10,000 hours of life.... At 10.5A you're looking at as little as a few hundred hours.

Although I also don't advocate leaving a laser unattended. Especially these... Ion lasers of been known to start fires suddenly.

Very good to know. I'll definitely be buying a controller from Cyparagon then, and maybe a blower too (though it might not be enough, he has one that's 120 CFM and I'm not sure if that'll work) I'll be getting more details on it, but it seems that this laser will be complete by the end of the month, then we can see this things full potential.

Oh also, the lasers start fires because of electronics or the laser light?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
2,918
Points
113
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

Aside from high voltage fires, a tube meltdown is on the order of over 1000 degrees C and very energetic...that'll vaporize most anything. Large ones have a solenoid to help contain the plasma because it'll eat the tube alive if it didn't.

Most of the large ones are always accompanied by a fire extinguisher in a lab :p

Although yes the beam can also potentially start fires.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
561
Points
43
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

When I get home tommorow, I'll have the necessary things to light this thing up, and we will finally get our beamshots. I need some votes, who wants what:

1. With the rest of my laser collection (could be easily washed out, but might show the color better)

2. Mix of solo shots, and rainbow shots, say what ratio you think would be good.

3. Purely solo shots of the argon.

I'd prefer 2, but I want to share this with everyone and don't want to dissapoint.
 

diachi

0
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
9,700
Points
113
Re: JDS Uniphase 2214-20SLMD laser!

When I get home tommorow, I'll have the necessary things to light this thing up, and we will finally get our beamshots. I need some votes, who wants what:

1. With the rest of my laser collection (could be easily washed out, but might show the color better)

2. Mix of solo shots, and rainbow shots, say what ratio you think would be good.

3. Purely solo shots of the argon.

I'd prefer 2, but I want to share this with everyone and don't want to dissapoint.


I'd go for number 2! Whatever ratio you think works.

Hopefully your camera captures 488nm well - some don't quite capture the colour.

Glad you hear you're getting a proper controller and a blower - that'll make operating the laser way easier. :D
 




Top