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Red Laser Diode to Driver Question

G

gerlazer

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Hey!

I bought a TMART red 1mw laser pen and disassembled it to attach a stronger red diode which I took out of a DVD-RW drive to the original driver.

The driver has a spring on it if this is not well recognizable in the pics.
I tried all possible pin-to-driver positions but it still didn't work.
The diode still works (tested it with two triple A's).

The laser pen is powered by 2 AAA'S.

Do you know which pins from the diode belong to which position on the driver?

Or do you have any other solutions?

Kind Regards!





 





gozert

gozert

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You can't just solder a diode to any driver. It has to have the current adjusted to what's right for that specific diode. I would recommend finding out at what current your diode performs at it's best and then find a driver that suits your needs.
 
G

gerlazer

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@gozert thanks!
And which diode pin goes to which position when I found the matching driver?
 
gozert

gozert

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Well, that's not too hard. The positive goes to positive and negative to negative. If you have three pins then you'll have to find out which one of them isn't being used. Maybe another member can help you out better though. I don't know too much about drivers.
 
G

gerlazer

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Yea sure but and I know which is the psoitive, negative and the non-used pin of the DIODE.
However I need to know the positve and negative spaces/positions on the DRIVER.

Is anyone among us who knows the answer?
 
Pi R Squared

Pi R Squared

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gerlazer said:
Yea sure but and I know which is the psoitive, negative and the non-used pin of the DIODE.
However I need to know the positve and negative spaces/positions on the DRIVER.

Is anyone among us who knows the answer?
Click to expand...

WHAT?! Why didn't you test for that with your DMM before you unsoldered the diode? I can see the connections at the top of the driver but what is + or - who knows, your photos are too fuzzy and I don't recognize it as a common driver, however it is very common for the driver circuit to be all on the + side or all on the - side, take your DMM and test for continuity fom the spring to one of the connections to the diode.

Alan
 
G

gerlazer

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@Pi R Squared

I didn't do that because I don't have a DMM.
I'm not an expert and just wanted to make a classic burning laser pen.

(And YES, I wear protection)
 
Pi R Squared

Pi R Squared

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gerlazer said:
@Pi R Squared

I didn't do that because I don't have a DMM.
I'm not an expert and just wanted to make a classic burning laser pen.

(And YES, I wear protection)
Click to expand...

I don't mean to be rude, but if you don't even have a DMM you have no business working on a laser like this. You also won't make a burning laser this way, you can't just replace the diode with a more powerful one without replacing the driver or the output will be about the same if it even works at all.

Alan
 
marcuspeh

marcuspeh

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Try testing the polarity with a LED. Dont solder, just tap on the negative/positive pads

Edit: Make sure the driver is connected to the batteries
 
Last edited:
10fenny

10fenny

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using a driver that's meant to power a diode rated for 1mW probably wont fire a higher powered diode. I agree on the DMM comment. you could do a lot of damage to the driver/diode/eyes with just guessing.

read read read. theres never harm in doing that.
 
APEX1

APEX1

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gozert said:
Well, that's not too hard. The positive goes to positive and negative to negative. If you have three pins then you'll have to find out which one of them isn't being used. Maybe another member can help you out better though. I don't know too much about drivers.
Click to expand...

haha that reply had me dying lol he needs to provide more info on which diode is being used
 
Mohrenberg

Mohrenberg

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That's not a driver. It's a blank board with a switch.

I'm assuming the spring on the side is to get negative contact with the case
Find out which pad leads to that spring, and that your diode's case pin probably connects to it. 650nm laser diodes are normally case negative.

If it's anything like an LPC diode, if you have the case pin on top, the positive pin will be the one on the left.
 
Last edited:
Mohrenberg

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This is my guess.

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