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FrozenGate by Avery

405nm S06J getting dim diode

scumbagatheist

scumbagatheist

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Feb 10, 2013
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Hi all. I've searched the forum with no luck for my question.

I've got a 405nm S06J in am MXDL host by Mrcrouse and just love it.

I'm driving the s06J @ ~495mA with a Benboost Mini V5 and it's been smooth and fun all along.

Well, I noticed last night that the beam is certainly not as bright as it has been. So, since I don't have an LPM, I decided to test it by attempting to burn some black plastic. It won't burn any more. Considering how well it burnt before, there is certainly a change in the diode's transmission.

So, I know I'm driving this diode hard. And, it's taken a couple of drops. But, it still lases, and this is not LED yet.

So, is this thing on it's way out? Perhaps when this diode dies, I will re-tune the driver to ~450mA for a longer life.

I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
 





jander6442 said:
How about the batteries?
Click to expand...

I double checked them. All were fully charged 18650s @ 3100 and 3400mAh.

awillis2589 said:
A few drops doesn't help!
Click to expand...

No, dropping doesn't help at all. That being said, the lack of brightness has occurred since it's last concussion. It's been driving fine up until the last couple of days with no change in temps, run times, drops, etc.

I should say that the benboost and diode have always run pretty coolly in this host's massive heatsink. It's never experienced a thermal shutdown.
 
I imagine you may have lost a connection on one of your bond wires inside the diode from dropping it.
 
Show us the raw output of the laser without the lens. We can see if the diode has become ledded.
 
Have you seen this thread: http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/12x-diode-life-78595.html?

I have a diode I was running at 568 mA with a Moh linear. The output started at 790 mW and steadily dropped from there down to 500 mW. I noticed that the tail cap current dropped too, which was odd, and so I removed the diode and put it into a MS V1 with a special Xboost I got from Lazeerer. Actually it just arrived and I built it a couple of hours ago! ;) Anyway I set the driver at 500 mA and the diode seems to have come back to life and I am now getting 680 mW!!! :)

The Ben Boost has been known to kill these diodes too and they seem to slowly degrade from what people have written. Maybe you could try an X-Boost with its soft start? :beer:
 
grainde said:
Have you seen this thread: http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/12x-diode-life-78595.html?

I have a diode I was running at 568 mA with a Moh linear. The output started at 790 mW and steadily dropped from there down to 500 mW. I noticed that the tail cap current dropped too, which was odd, and so I removed the diode and put it into a MS V1 with a special Xboost I got from Lazeerer. Actually it just arrived and I built it a couple of hours ago! ;) Anyway I set the driver at 500 mA and the diode seems to have come back to life and I am now getting 680 mW!!! :)

The Ben Boost has been known to kill these diodes too and they seem to slowly degrade from what people have written. Maybe you could try an X-Boost with its soft start? :beer:
Click to expand...

Ben Boost:yabbem: unless there was something I did not pick up on after the capacitor omission across the output fact, then I would avoid using that driver almost altogether. :shhh:
 
Blord said:
Show us the raw output of the laser without the lens. We can see if the diode has become ledded.
Click to expand...

Blord, it is still lasing just fine. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the output has dropped by half. It's still ~70% as bright as my ~50mW 532nm.

grainde said:
Have you seen this thread: http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/12x-diode-life-78595.html?

I have a diode I was running at 568 mA with a Moh linear. The output started at 790 mW and steadily dropped from there down to 500 mW. I noticed that the tail cap current dropped too, which was odd, and so I removed the diode and put it into a MS V1 with a special Xboost I got from Lazeerer. Actually it just arrived and I built it a couple of hours ago! ;) Anyway I set the driver at 500 mA and the diode seems to have come back to life and I am now getting 680 mW!!! :)

The Ben Boost has been known to kill these diodes too and they seem to slowly degrade from what people have written. Maybe you could try an X-Boost with its soft start? :beer:
Click to expand...

I forgot about the benboost issues with the S06J. I have a X-Boost adjustable on my 445 that I was planning on using to test the 405nm with. I suppose I will have a lot of work to do this weekend.

Perhaps I will start a WTB thread for someone's used X-boost so I can keep it with my test load for all future diodes.
 
jander6442 said:
Ben Boost:yabbem: unless there was something I did not pick up on after the capacitor omission across the output fact, then I would avoid using that driver almost altogether. :shhh:
Click to expand...

Good point, did you solder a cap across the pins before you wired up the diode? Its generally recommended to avoid current spikes...esp with a benboost...:(
 
Last edited:
grainde said:
Good point, did you solder a cap across the pins before you wired up the diode? Its generally recommended to avoid current spikes...esp with a benboost...:(
Click to expand...

I have not done that yet. I suppose it is too late for this diode. I may just reset the resistors on the Mini to get ~50mW so I can use it for spotting. We'll see when I test it on the X-boost.

Cap suggestions?
 
I used a 22uF cap, but I was just reading that with the Benboost some people had better luck with a 2.2uF cap. I didnt have time to finish reading, so if youd like to have a look the thread is here :beer:
 
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Blord said:
I thought the latest BenBoost mini drivers have no problems anymore. Even the 405nm diodes should work fine with the drivers.
Click to expand...


I had that perception as well reading the Moh GB on the mini's.... I searched and nothing plausible came up:can:
 
I too thought the issues were taken care of. Mine is a Mini V5. I may still put in a cap for safety sake if it's recommended.

It's probably over-driven, and I get that..I knew the risks after all. I just hope if I knock it down to ~300mA if it will keep this diode alive. I came here for these questions.

Again, I'll just have to see where we are when I strap it to the X-Boost.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. +1s coming when the system allows.
 
what does the output look like out of focus or raw? my 12 dropped power bad when something got onto the diode window. i was able to clean it off with acetone and restored the output.
 
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