I have a new GhoseDrive2 driver set for 456mA output. I want to build a burning laser powered by one or two 10440 cells. What is the best diode for this project?
Thanks for the help!
If you want a red laser (which I assume you want since you posted in the "Red lasers" forum) a LPC-826 would be your best choice. It costs around $10, At that current you should get around 300mW, which is enough to light matches, pop balloons, etc..... the LPC-826 is 660nm which is the more common red, if you want a more orange red and more power than you can get a Mits. 638nm diode but that means more $$$.
There is currently three 638nm diodes available (please correct me if I'm wrong):
1. A 110mW (ML520G54) (single-mode) : HERE
2. A 300mW (ML520G71) (multi-mode) : HERE 3. A 500mW (ML501P73-02) (multi-mode and heavily over-spec) : HERE
Just do a bit research on these but on the link you can get it with the driver already set and it can run off one Li-Ion.
@OP Sorry, I misread that you wanted to burn. What would you like to burn? If you just want to pop balloons, light matches and etch a bit of wood, an LPC-826 (single-mode) would be your best choice, although their not 638nm. Except for the 110mW 638nm diode, all of them are multi-mode which have horrible dots and beams which (correct me if I am wrong) are hard to focus, which is mandatory for burning.