Mini maglite LOC laser, and some other questions

Now, I finally finished it yesterday, it's my first high powered laser. And this is the first site telling me that it was bad to put it in a mini maglite. So, without the driver (I'm still running it at the red 3V (2x AAA batteries) 'requirment') what are the problems we're talkin about here? Quick life? Low power going to it? TOO MUCH power going to it? So far it runs fine, although sometimes it will 'flicker' while going back and forth between bright and dim. Althouh that happens rarely. On a different note, I have two PHR-803T's in modules, although one might be fried, I put it to a AA 4-pack, and it was bright for a bit, then went REALLY dim...:yabbem: but I still have a third PHR, I also have another 'empty' module. I say 'empty' because it still has a diode in it, but one of the pins fell out >.< So I can pop it out and put my last red diode in it....which I'll probably do, to have have 2 reds, and 2 405nm's. Anyway, what are the problems with a mini maglite laser, what can I do with my three PHR's on a short budget? Thanks! And yes, I'm new here, but I do know quite a bit about the 'non-gas' lasers. I'm still quite the noob to lasers though. I don't have the trial and error experience.

There is nothing wrong with using a mini mag as a host just check out my avatar

Whats wrong is when people see Kipkays vid of a mini mag laser WITHOUT a driver.
If your laser doesn't have a driver it is free to consume as much power as it the wants,
drastically shortening its life and reliablilty.

You could have elaborated a bit on that, Gryphon.

Bloompyle, the thing is that laser diodes are difficult to power up because of their electrical characteristics.
I am guessing you do not know much about the electronics so let me put this in layman's therms for you.

Electrical energy is defined in two values: Voltage, and Current

You see, you can visualise those two things as simple as this:
Voltage is gate though which peope are passing through,
and Current is quantity (how many) people goes though it.

All other components like LEDs and such work when a constant voltage is supplied (you predetermine the size of the gate and let as much people though as you can).

But, laser diodes are different.
At their nominal voltage needed for operation, too much current is drawn.
As in: At the gate of needed size, too many people will go through.

And you diode dies!

What you need to to provide constant current source.
You predetermine how much people must go through the door.

This is usually done by means of linear regulators, you will find that therms
LM317, LM1117, DDL driver
Are fairly common around here.

Or you can have boost converter drivers.
But you will get to that in a minute.



So, what you need is to supply constant current to your diode.
Red Long Open Can diodes work nice even up to 0.5 A!
But, considering your limited heatsinking ability of host, I would reccomend keepin it around 350 mA maybe, it will provide nice and good life for your laser.

Search for LM317 current regulator schematics,
Search for components on ebay,
and use [Search]of this forum.

You will learn a lot of things, but if you take effort to search for them.

Once you have completed your very first laser that will live long and serve you well, it is very difficult to resist the addiction of building lasers

Photonaholic, how about that Welcome post of yours now?
Those links will come in very handy for this fellow here.

GOODNESS!!!! Thats a lot to soak in......but, where do I put a driver in a maglite? I knew it was for regulating the current, I just didn't know the science behind it. Thanks for all that! I just don't see any room to fit the driver ... I'm perplexed....dernit!

bloompyle said:

GOODNESS!!!! Thats a lot to soak in......but, where do I put a driver in a maglite? I knew it was for regulating the current, I just didn't know the science behind it. Thanks for all that! I just don't see any room to fit the driver ... I'm perplexed....dernit!

Click to expand...

Haha, just take it easy, it will settle in time.

Where to put the driver?
Improvise.
Depends on the driver you use.
If you have a protoboarded DDL with 317 in TO220 case, then you are not actually going anywhere since it won't fit.

But, if you have a tiny Flexdrive, that is another story...

Maybe you would want to take a look at my similar-to-maglite build, except that it has a tail clicky instead of twist action:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/stylish-loc-build-2x-aaa-45756.html

Note that without tail clicky, it would be impossible to turn off the laser since you cannot twist the head, otherwise you would bend and break the pins that go into bulb socket.

Eudaimonium said:

Haha, just take it easy, it will settle in time.

\Note that without tail clicky, it would be impossible to turn off the laser since you cannot twist the head, otherwise you would bend and break the pins that go into bulb socket.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured that out the hard way, my 'off' is taking off the tail cap + the batteries. It doesn't work then ha? HAHA, it works!

I plan on buying this BDR-SO3 8x sled....I just don't know what to run it on...And what I will get as far as wattage on that current. Thanks for any help! I think I might skip the 80-110mw, and go for 400! HAHA!!! MO POWA! (Tool Time reference....) Anyway, thanks again, I can't wait until I get it + a driver. I may go with the PHR + driver first though and work my way up. Or I may get a 6x....SF-AW210 6x Laser Diode Sled - Laser Diodes - PSXBOY.COM -wholesale and retail welcome (I don't know how to do URL's yet....So, thanks for any and all help I have already recieved, and am about to recieve. Take care =]

bloompyle said:

I plan on buying this BDR-SO3 8x sled....

Click to expand...

these 8x 'BDR-S03' sleds are 'fake' 8x burners, IIRC they come out of 2x burners so you be getting the power of about a phr. if you want an 8x do it the proper way.. pioneer drives FTW!!

stuart

What about the 6x sleds the sell? Are they legit? And how do you mess that up?? 8x for a 2x? Ugh....andyet they wont remove them from their stock.....So yeah, how bout those 6x's?

And how much do pioneer drives cost?? lol I see people get 12x from pioneers too >.<

well the 6x GGW comes from the LG burner IIRC and that is a very good diode in that (a true 6x) compared to the SF-AW210 which is also a 6x but not as powerful as the GGW.

for a starter real laser with a driver i would buy this for bluray 100mW: Aixiz Rkcstr Blu-Ray 405nm 100mA Laser (PHR803T) Module [PHR-803T & Rkcstr Microdriver] - $59.00 : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!

red ~200mW: Aixiz Rkcstr Red 650nm 320mA Laser Module [Aixiz Rkcstr & 20x Red Laser] - $59.00 : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!

or a more powerful bluray 200mW: Aixiz Rkcstr 6x Blu-Ray 405nm 200mA Laser (GGWH20L) Module [Aixiz Rkcstr GGWH20L] - $110.00 : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!

these laser modules already have drivers attached to them so you wont need to worry about that... all you would need to do is attach it to 6-12v for red or 7-12v for bluray.

and also the 12x pioneer drives that are being harvested for their diodes are around 200$ just for the drive, but there are members on this forum who would sell you one pre-harvested.

stuart

Well, The driver is the only other thing I need, so I'm not going to pay $110 just for a $20 dollar piece, and $90 for labor....I can put diodes in a module then solder on a driver. Just saying, it seems like a waste of money to pay a c-note (+shipping) just for 'labor'. So I'll just buy a driver now, and and set-up a PHR, then when I get some more money, I'll probably buy one of Jayrob's 'kits' for the 6x, ....and maybe a 405-G-1 lens. Also, ARE there any sites where I can buy some legit 8x sleds? And, if not, how much do 8x pioneers cost, I know 12x are abot $200....so if an 8x isn't much less (180...170...) Then I might aswell pay the extra 10% for another 120mw haha....all these lasers...omg, it's like it's the only thing on my mind...woooooo....
:lasergun:
I had to ROFL!!

bloompyle said:

Well, The driver is the only other thing I need, so I'm not going to pay $110 just for a $20 dollar piece, and $90 for labor....I can put diodes in a module then solder on a driver. Just saying, it seems like a waste of money to pay a c-note (+shipping) just for 'labor'. So I'll just buy a driver now, and and set-up a PHR, then when I get some more money, I'll probably buy one of Jayrob's 'kits' for the 6x, ....and maybe a 405-G-1 lens. Also, ARE there any sites where I can buy some legit 8x sleds? And, if not, how much do 8x pioneers cost, I know 12x are abot $200....so if an 8x isn't much less (180...170...) Then I might aswell pay the extra 10% for another 120mw haha....all these lasers...omg, it's like it's the only thing on my mind...woooooo....
:lasergun:
I had to ROFL!!

Click to expand...

I don't know what are you trying to tell here,
but the module of price $110 contains a 6x GGW diode which is alone worth 50$, it is preextracted and pressfited into housing , and rkcstr driver is used which is worth around $20 I think,
Module is $3 I think,

And the shipping is free.

BTW, Kendall from HighTechDealz is very reputable guy and awsome dude, guess why.
It's not from running bad business, I'll tell you that!

Eudaimonium said:

BTW, Kendall from HighTechDealz is very reputable guy and awsome dude, guess why.
It's not from running bad business, I'll tell you that!

Click to expand...

kendall has always been an amazing seller, thats why i have always gone with him with my laser products, cant beat his prices!

and kendall thanks for the +1

stuart

laserboystuart said:

kendall has always been an amazing seller, thats why i have always gone with him with my laser products, cant beat his prices!

and kendall thanks for the +1

stuart

Click to expand...

And don't forget free shipping.
I don't know how he does that but I am glad that he is.
If I needs sleds, first place to look is HTD.

Eudaimonium said:

And don't forget free shipping.
I don't know how he does that but I am glad that he is.
If I needs sleds, first place to look is HTD.

Click to expand...

free shipping is the icing on top of a beautiful cake!

and same here, i only shop at HTD unless i can get parts in the UK of course...

stuart