PL520 S4 Build

Hey guys, just wanted to share my first green build...with a shiny new Osram PL520 diode. :san:

I was too excited to think of documenting the build, but it's pretty much the same as most of my builds. When I get my osram 450 build up check it out for pics of how it went together.

First, all the little pieces:

Osram PL520 diode in copper module w/x-boost set to 300mA and G-2 lens > DTR

Unmarked Survival Lasers DIY S4 host > Survival Lasers USA

Battery contact PCB > Survival Lasers USA

C6 copper heatsink from mohrenburg GB - still fs > mohgasm.com

Again, sorry for the lack of build pics, but that just means more beam shots.

The first thing I did was drill out the pill to make room for the driver. Then I put the diode and driver into the heatsink, with a thin layer of thermal compound on the diode module, and tightened the lock screw. Next I put a thin layer of thermal compound inside the drilled area of the pill, for the heck of it.

Then I fed the leads through the heatsink holder. I then put the leads from the driver through the slit and soldered them to the batt PCB. I pushed the PBC into the pill and pressed the brass ring in, then screwed the pill into the body. After a quick test, I also added a blob of solder to the bottom of the batt contact, as the batts positive nipple wasn't quite touching. After that, it fired up.

For the last bit, i slid the heatsink holder up (i was holding the body upside down) and screwed it onto the body. I screwed the pill in the same way, except rotating the body while holding the pill. Then I put a thin layer of thermal paste on the heatsink and carefully slid it in, rotating to make sure the driver would slide into the pills slit.

While putting slight pressure on the heatsink, I finished it by putting on the heatsink retainer.
And now the pics.


Shot of the GITD i added to the side grooves.


Beam shots! Taken with vapor from my ecig.










In this one, I was messing around with a dicro and my 650nm.


Lastly, a video of the LPM.

Thanks for looking, and have a nice day.

Nice build!

What did you do to get the GITD into the grove on it?

Very nice! Is the LPM video with the G2 Lens and fully charged batteries? Just wondering because I am trying to get an idea for the output I can expect from mine. When my host arrives(tomorrow I hope) I will LPM mine but it is hard, the waiting.

Thanks! So far it's my favorite build.

I used the same method found here

Though I did vary the ratio of fixit pro and GITD powder. I made a little pool of the fixit and added powder till it saw a thick liquid. I used a toothpick to spread it in the groove, wiped off the excess, and set it with a 405nm pointer.

wannaburnstuff said:

Very nice! Is the LPM video with the G2 Lens and fully charged batteries? Just wondering because I am trying to get an idea for the output I can expect from mine. When my host arrives(tomorrow I hope) I will LPM mine but it is hard, the waiting.

Click to expand...

Yeah, its a G2 with a semi fresh aw IMR 18650, it was just over 4v. That's the highest i've gotten it. I tried with a different brand (efest i think) and it hit 92, but after switching to the aw, it hit 95 every time.

I also wanted to put it in a nicer host... But I couldn't wait!

I have had my diode since April 9th....so over a month now of waiting

That's got to suck. Staring at my diode while waiting to get my s4 was bad, i don't want to think about a month...

Haven't even opened the envelope to look at it. Also, have had 3 or 4 C6 Hosts in my possession as well as a couple of Aurora SH-032's. I also have a PL450 Single Mode Diode in a similar envelope. Both waiting for the same host. Both with drivers. Both drilling into my skull every hour of the day.....

With that said, I love your build! +1 if system allows! EDIT: It doesn't allow, shoot me a PM in a couple of days and ask me where ur rep be.

wannaburnstuff said:

Haven't even opened the envelope to look at it. Also, have had 3 or 4 C6 Hosts in my possession as well as a couple of Aurora SH-032's. I also have a PL450 Single Mode Diode in a similar envelope. Both waiting for the same host. Both with drivers. Both drilling into my skull every hour of the day.....

With that said, I love your build! +1 if system allows! EDIT: It doesn't allow, shoot me a PM in a couple of days and ask me where ur rep be.

Click to expand...

Will do :beer:

I also recently did a PL450 single mode. I had a microboost set to 266mA, and i was loving it. Then i LPM'ed it and it topped at 77mW... Witch was low according to what i read.

Then i got stupid and was using a piece of foil trying to quick jump the driver to see if i could raise the current a little and boost output. It was working, then it dimmed.

I known the driver is dead, and hope i just blew it. Will find out when i get my microboost in. My first tragedy...

AAAAARRRRGGGGG!!!! I need my MS-SSW to arrive!!!

Very nice build, ChaosLord! I'm quite jealous. Meanwhile, my PL520 is sitting in an MXDL heatsink just so I can fire it up and look at the beam...oh, the horror.

scumbagatheist said:

AAAAARRRRGGGGG!!!! I need my MS-SSW to arrive!!!

Very nice build, ChaosLord! I'm quite jealous. Meanwhile, my PL520 is sitting in an MXDL heatsink just so I can fire it up and look at the beam...oh, the horror.

Click to expand...

Lol, I just pictures several of us, all sitting around drooling over this diode, waiting to get it in a host...and i lost it! :crackup:

Thanks, It is definately my favorite build so far, and i can't stop playing with it...um...

Yeah...I was told I'd have mine in 3-5 days....12 days ago!

Sounds like a replay of my LPM. It literally sat in illinois customs for three days. I was on the verge of declaring a road trip.

Hell, mine made it through customs already...It's been sitting in NJ for a week now!

Wow, after three days i started to call usps to find out why my package was just hangin out in Ill. Before i got a hold of someone, i tracked it over the phone and it had made it to the local office.

Hopefully it will just show up tomorrow. I want to see that shiny host get green.

Oh, it's not at the USPS. It's at someone's house. He just hasn't had the chance to get it shipped.