Trying to identify LDs... any ideas?

I have unmount two computer DVD burners and two TV DVD players to extract the diodes and practice my initial buildings. But I have made the mistake of chaotically mixing the sleds and some diodes once extracted... ::facepalm::

From the players I should spect 5mw red ones, is it correct?

From the burners, one was 48x and the other 12X. Do you know what power and wavelength should it contain?

I remember having found 2 diodes in one of the units. The second one is infrared, I guess. Could I use it with a frequency doubler crystal (from a green) to obtain green or another color?. What are IR red used for in DVD units? What power and wavelength use to have?.

Whatever method or idea to identify the diodes, polarity, etc would be welcomed. Thank you!

some high speed dvd burners use open can diodes. Most diodes, though, do look identical.

Is there any way to at least identify the polarity of an unknow diode without destroy it?. Im thinking in driving it with 3v 50mA?. I don´t mind the 5mw ones but I really would like to rescue the >100mw ones.

from http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/pin-out-lpc-826-a-69802.html

good luck :san:

TBH those red diodes are so cheap you can throw the ones you have away and buy brand new ones. 200mW red LPC diodes are under $10. The IR diode is useless also. You cant see the beam, and its not powerful enough to pump a DPSS set up. Even if you could its extremely hard lining up diodes and crystals.

If you want you can hook up 2 half dead AAA batteries to the diodes, and see which ones blow, and which one lazes. The one that lazes with be your >100mW diode. The others are junk anyways, so no big loss.

IR = CDR
Red = DVD
Violet = Blu-Ray
Blue = DLP Projector

Really helpfull answers, I´ll coment you my findings.

I do it for pure DIY pleasure of experimentation, and curiosity. Im very interested in building some big blue and violet ones when I feel ready.

Let´s try that half dead AAA batteries... haha