I recently ordered these laser diodes:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=280279354713
They're SLD1236VL diodes. The data sheet says that they run on 2.5 volts. If I used an LM317 which uses 1.25 volts, would these diodes be safe with 3 AA or AAA batteries? That would be 4.5~ volts, 0.75 volts higher than the diode and LM317 use up. Will that extra voltage burn the diode out or shorten its life? Or maybe this is a simpler question - what is the range of voltages that the diode will take? 2.5v up to . . .?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=280279354713
They're SLD1236VL diodes. The data sheet says that they run on 2.5 volts. If I used an LM317 which uses 1.25 volts, would these diodes be safe with 3 AA or AAA batteries? That would be 4.5~ volts, 0.75 volts higher than the diode and LM317 use up. Will that extra voltage burn the diode out or shorten its life? Or maybe this is a simpler question - what is the range of voltages that the diode will take? 2.5v up to . . .?