My 2nd build not working, help plz!

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

So on Friday when my flexdrives come in the mail I build my 1st Guidesman host laser with a flex set at 1.5A and that is fine and working great. Today I go to build another and it's not working.

I think it may be the flexdrive. I'm only getting continuity between the 2 neg wires but not the + to + or - to + wires. Can anyone confirm this to be something wrong? Thanks.

daguin · Jun 7, 2011

Without knowing WHERE you are checking continuity, we cannot help much

Do you have a camera as well? Pictures usually make it much easier

Peace,
dave

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

I don't know what else to say since there is only 4 wires on a flex. I'm only getting cont on the negs at each end of the flex and nothing else.

rhd · Jun 7, 2011

You shouldn't get continuity on anything other than the (-) leads. If you had continuity on the (+) leads too, you wouldn't have a flexdrive, you'd have a really expensive two-conductor wire

...can flexdrives do 1.5A now? I was under the impression that 1.5A would really be pushing their capabilities. How do you have it heatsinked?

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

After taking it apart and re-solding the wires I tested the voltage with my multi-meter and the diode is getting 3.9V so maybe it's a dead diode. Any other tests I can do?

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

rhd said:
You shouldn't get continuity on anything other than the (-) leads. If you had continuity on the (+) leads too, you wouldn't have a flexdrive, you'd have a really expensive two-conductor wire

...can flexdrives do 1.5A now? I was under the impression that 1.5A would really be pushing their capabilities. How do you have it heatsinked?

The Flex V5 could always do 1.5A. I didn't heatsink it yet, I wanted to know it was working first. I do have a heatsink in the Guidesman. I have re-soldered it 3x now and still nothing. It is getting the voltage and it is grounded fine so I guess it's a dud diode.

rhd · Jun 7, 2011

Hmmm, cool - didn't realize they could do 1.5A.

Don't toss the diode just yet though. The only Flexdrive I ever purchased was a dud itself. So I would give the diode a test with another driver before sending it to the grave.

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

All indications show it's the diode since it's getting the volts and it is grounded. I was afraid I'd have bad luck with this stuff. I only wanted to make 1 and sell 1 and that was it but I can't even do that. I don't have the money to waste on dead parts.

SpecV · Jun 7, 2011

sent you a pm rhd.

rhd · Jun 7, 2011

LOL - it totally didn't even occur to me that you got that diode from me! Not withstanding how it looks given that I was encouraging you to have faith in the diode

Anyway, that was a while back, so I don't have any special insight into the diode itself, other than that it was from a new projector, and that I tested it before I sent it. I certainly didn't test it at 1.5A though.

Having said that, 1.5A isn't too outrageous, these guys can usually handle 1.5A. If you'd like me to test it for you, I'd be happy to. There's nothing I can do if it's dead though. But I can certainly give it a safe test and see what happens. Since we're both in Canada, that shouldn't be too crazy of an undertaking shipping wise.

rhd · Jun 7, 2011

Oh and hey - when I said there's nothing I can do - I meant scientifically/literally/physically. I'd certainly be ok with what you requested via PM which was to sell you another at a discounted price.

I don't have any 445s on hand, and I'm not planning to sell any in the future (which is why I don't mind setting this precedent), but I do have a new projector on it's way, so in a week or so I'll have some more

rhd · Jun 11, 2011

Hey,

Your returned diode arrived today. Just got in the door, and didn't have time to do much (The game is in 30. Good luck Vancouver)

The diode sure has taken a LOT of solder, lol. It looks like you really wanted to make a good connection! When I opened it up and saw the leads, my initial reaction was that so much heat must have been applied in the soldering, that the bond wires must have melted.

Then I, very quickly, tried it with a 1A DDL circuit I keep on hand for testing.

At least from this 30 second initial test, your diode works fine

I'll look at it more thoroughly when I get home tonight, and do a quick LPMing if you'd like. But ya - the diode seems to be A-OK.

Cheers

SpecV · Jun 11, 2011

Ok great thanks. There was a very small amount of solder on the diode, but I'm surprised to here that it is working. Keep me updated on the test. Thanks...later.

rhd · Jun 11, 2011

Will do. I'll solder leads on it and lpm it at 1A for you tomorrow.

Cheers

SpecV · Jun 11, 2011

If it tests ok you could leave the wires soldered on for me so I don't melt them on

rhd · Jun 11, 2011

Hey - It tests A-OK

Here it is as I received it back in the mail from you yesterday:

I added leads to it for you. Blue is (+), black is (-), white is (case).

I LPM'd it at 1,000mA and it metered at about 700mW. I was just using the Aixiz acrylic lens you shipped it back to me with - so the power makes sense and is healthy. The multi-mode output looks fine too, when viewed with no lens on.

Long story short, I think the diode is A-OK and healthy. You might have gotten lucky though, because that really IS a lot of solder to have accumulated. But no harm done here, so I think you can count your diode as alive and well

Shoot me your address to mail it back to you. Cheers

My 2nd build not working, help plz!

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