My laser beam has no power! why?

alx · Jan 30, 2009

AjentX said:
im using a rckstr adj high range (130mA-430mA) red sucks dosnt burn/light matches/pop balloons/meltslashcut electrical tape etc.. (of course all blacked up) where the blu would cut tape/pop balloons/burn skin/light matches etc.. ran blu at ~130mA and LOC starting at ~130mA and going up to ~430mA still nothing..

exactly, my situation is identical. maybe diode is good, but cannot do what we expect from. I harvested from GH22NS40 22x DVD writer. That's why i asked here about my situation, to be sure that that LD is suitable for more then 250mW output and CAN lit matches!

On the other part, i have no other diode to start a new test. I looked up here, sent some emails, but no answers from sellers. I would like to buy one PHR-803T and one LPC-815. No luck yet.

alx

danq · Jan 30, 2009

alx said:
To be more specific: how long can be powered a red LD from alkalines, without destroying it (safest time)?

:

hasn't this been said enough times?

not to you specifically, but about 12 times a week:

DO NOT DO THAT

alx · Jan 30, 2009

DanQ said:
[quote author=alx link=1233171135/0#14 date=1233334224]To be more specific: how long can be powered a red LD from alkalines, without destroying it (safest time)?

:

hasn't this been said enough times?

not to you specifically, but about 12 times a week:

DO NOT DO THAT

[/quote]

thanks for reply danq.

you know why people still asking? two possible explanations below:
- because a lot of posts are teaching newcomers to test their laser diodes using batteries "for short time" ... no problem about missing driver (you confirm and i teach myself, on my money that is false)
- because is not registered in the FAQ!

alx

danq · Jan 30, 2009

alx said:
- because a lot of posts are teaching newcomers to test their laser diodes using batteries "for short time"

yes, I know - the problem is, most of the people saying things like that are not long-term, knowledgeable LPF members; or knowledgeable people who count on this: complicating matters is the fact that under certain conditions such practices may be safe. Note the double modifiers there!

The people who are knowledgeable about both technical and human factors know not to confuse "newbies" by telling them things that are risky for a beginner to try.

Using batteries directly is one of those risky things. With t he right LD, and the right battery, at the right level of charge/discharge, in the right phase of the moon, it's ok to do. But you need to know the exact "right" answers to all those factors!

So when we're talking to someone who doesn't have enough background to know all those factors, we say "DO NOT DO THAT - USE A DRIVER"

Anybody telling a novice otherwise is being unresponsible.

that's what I should have written the first time, but I really don't have time to write an essay every time somebody ecounters this problem! Writing at the computer is literaly painful for me.

I'm sorry that I hit you first with my less-patient response!

DanQ

alx · Jan 30, 2009

DanQ said:
that's what I should have written the first time, but I really don't have time to write an essay every time somebody ecounters this problem! Writing at the computer is literaly painful for me.

I'm sorry that I hit you first with my less-patient response!

DanQ

hi danq,

no problem, i'm engineer and is very easy for me to understand you, that's i said that are good to be in FAQ. You have no time to write and essay... but maybe you have time to copy/paste a paragraph or an URL ;-)

i would like, of course if you have time, to post here which are those "exact "right" answers to all those factors!" safe to power a LD direct to a battery...

alx

danq · Jan 31, 2009

alx said:
I would like, of course if you have time, to post here which are those "exact "right" answers to all those factors!" safe to power a LD direct to a battery...

being an engineer, you will understand that for a system working beyond its design parameters, those factors are highly variable and dependent on specific characteristics of each individual situation.

Which is a long way of saying that I don't know the exact values for your case - which is why nobody should be recommending that method for some novice... but also why some of this is called "experimenting".

;D
DanQ

alx · Jan 31, 2009

DanQ said:
for a system working beyond its design parameters, those factors are highly variable and dependent on specific characteristics of each individual situation.

danq,

we are not talking about solar storms... we are talking about very easy/basic things... you have enough input (red LOC harvested from 22x LG dvd writer, model is above) to post here restrictions which apply. if not to this one, to other one you know better.

DanQ said:
Which is a long way of saying that I don't know the exact values for your case - which is why nobody should be recommending that method for some novice... but also why some of this is called "experimenting".

that is the correct answer, but has nothing to do with newcomers(novice) or advanced users as you suggest ... is just science, not pray! the rest, are just words...

alx

daguin · Jan 31, 2009

alx said:
[quote author=DanQ link=1233171135/20#21 date=1233362017]for a system working beyond its design parameters, those factors are highly variable and dependent on specific characteristics of each individual situation.

danq,
we are not talking about solar storms... we are talking about very easy/basic things... you have enough input (red LOC harvested from 22x LG dvd writer, model is above) to post here restrictions which apply. if not to this one, to other one you know better.

DanQ said:
Which is a long way of saying that I don't know the exact values for your case - which is why nobody should be recommending that method for some novice... but also why some of this is called "experimenting".

that is the correct answer, but has nothing to do with newcomers(novice) or advanced users as you suggest ... is just science, not pray! the rest, are just words...
alx[/quote]

To produce such a guideline one would have to destroy quite a few diodes and buy lots of batteries that may never be used again. This would amount to a significant expense and investment of time simply to find that it is NOT recommended that you power the diode directly from the battery because the results are too inconsistent to be useful.

Maybe I'm just a selfish bastard, but I, for one, am unwilling to spend my money or waste my time to figure this out. Perhaps YOU are the fellow who can and will do this. For most of us, we will probably continue to simply say, "ALWAYS use a current regulating driver."

Peace,
dave

danq · Jan 31, 2009

alx said:
that is the correct answer, but

good - that's what we're trying to convey

alx said:
the rest, are just words...

right... words are the medium we're using to convey the answer...
I'm not going to waste more time on this...
but maybe you should know, it's not wise to argue with the Old Farts

we've been through flame wars that would curl your DNA...

but mostly, have chosen an online life of peace

now go engineer a nice laser, while I get some work done on my new driver.
;-)
DanQ

alx · Feb 1, 2009

daguin said:
For most of us, we will probably continue to simply say, "ALWAYS use a current regulating driver."

Peace,
dave

peace all too... i asked because reading explanation, i thought that experienced users knows how to do it.

now is clear: "for most of us" statement make more sense (novice and experienced, all included). in my case, ignorance killed diode... next time i will use my driver...

just another question comes to my mind: when diode is extracted from/inserted into module, should i use a Static Wrist Strap (like this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5451) to protect it by electrostatic shocks?

alx

danq · Feb 1, 2009

alx said:
just another question comes to my mind: when diode is extracted from/inserted into module, should i use a Static Wrist Strap (like this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5451) to protect it by electrostatic shocks?

It would be best to do that, any time you are working with static-sensitive electronics - which includes laser diodes, integrated circuits, FET's, and others...

That said, I must confess that all I do is, if it seems like a static-y day, I will ground myself by holding on to s grounded metal object - like my computer's case - right before picking up the component.

That works for me because where I live static is rarely a problem; and my air is a bit humid in cold weather; I don't have carpets; I pay attention to what I'm doing and the environment where I'm doing it; and I'm barefoot most of the time, which helps to keep me grounded ;-)
but I should use a grounding strap... :

DanQ

daguin · Feb 1, 2009

alx said:
just another question comes to my mind: when diode is extracted from/inserted into module, should i use a Static Wrist Strap (like this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5451) to protect it by electrostatic shocks?
alx

Whenever I start to take out laser parts to start working, I put on my wrist strap. ESD will kill a diode in an instant.

Peace,
dave

My laser beam has no power! why?

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