One watt, how many mA???

I am building a 445nm one watt laser. I have every significant and insignificant detail down. Im going to be using a Flex driver for my laser. If electrical language was spanish all i could say was hello, goodbye, and wheres the bathroom. So my question lies herein.

I want one watt of output power into the diode. How many amps?!?!

The driver im using is a 2.5-6 volt micro flexdrive. You can preset power out but i dont know how many amps to put down for an output of one watt.

REFERENCE: Driver below.
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php

tl;dr
How many amps for one watt?


EDIT.
Just found an ebay add selling my diode saying 1400ma is sufficient for one watt.
Yay or nay sayers?

Total power output will also depend on your particular diode, they all vary somewhat in their efficiency.
There are different lenses available, and that choice can make a difference of up to ~20% apparently.
That being said, 1400ma should in most cases provide well over 1 watt of output.
Remember, at this current, you are pushing the diode outside of its maximum factory rating, so expect reduced lifespan.

I suggest at first you might wanna aim for 1000~1200ma of current , that should
get you quite close to your goal of 1W while still being somewhat on the safe side.

Any where between 1.1 and 1.4 amps should give you one watt or over.
but you realy should know that a micro flex drive can not go to 6.0 volts, not if you like to keep it working !
the specs are as follows:
input voltage 2.0-5.5v
output voltage 2.0-5.5v
output current .065-1.5A
efficenty 80-95%
ripple <1%

You will need a dummy load to set the driver*

Its almost 1 mW for 1 mA with these diodes really. If you want to get 'about a watt' i'd just settle from 1 round amp, if you want a guaranteed watt, its probably best to go for 1300 mA or around there, altough that operates the diodes well beyond specs.

AUTO XX said:

You will need a dummy load to set the driver*

Click to expand...

What is a dummy load?

If i have them set it at my 1 amp or 1.1 amp do i have to do that still?

The dummy load is just a load that mimics the characteristics of a laser diode but is about a million times harder to destroy.
It will act like your laser by accepting any current but also hold to the same (or similar) voltage requirement.
With the dummy load connected to your driver, power supplied, and a digital multi-meter set to DC Voltage measuring on either side of the dummy load's resistor(s) you can adjust the driver until you get the current you want.
You have a lot of reading that you need to do before this step, everyone that builds lasers has a dummy load.
You could get lava to preset the driver as well but I feel it is better to know how to do it, know what goes into a laser, and be able to set as many drivers as you like in the future.

Building lasers is expensive by the way, if you want to build a cheapy, don't bother trying.
You will more than likely be disappointed.
I haven't been into it for long and I'd bet I have already spent an easy $800 plus countless hours reading.
There is all the info you need on LPF but if one statement sums up LPF it is:
The knowledge is available to those willing to learn it.
People here won't spoon feed info for very long, the search button is your friend
Welcome to LPF!

Thats what i thought, thanks.

I have been a bit of a thread whore. Tis my last thread untill im either done, dead, dying, or done trying.

I understand what your saying. Ive needed a hobby for awhile and im starting to think that making lasers is going to fill that space. I do have a bit of disposable income and a truckload of free time. Ive been researching this awhile before i became part of the community. If this works then i think ile stick with this!

Thank you all. The amount of knowledge on here is remarkable.

Missing one point...

What lens are you using?

Assuming you are going the Aixiz module route, you have a few options when it comes to lenses.

Your two best options are the Aixiz glass lens for broadband coated for 405-445nm or the 405-G-1 aspheric.

The aspheric lens will give you about 25% more power but the divergence will be a little greater.

I would love to keep power but keep down divergence... Ya have to give to take i guess. I would probably go with the broadband with the 445 coating.

basically what it boils down to:
Are you going to be beam viewing or pointing long distances? - Aixiz
Are you only going to be burning and etching? - 405-g-1 = up to 20% more light let through

Beam viewing and pointing for sure. I've decided in getting the o-like model collimating lens and module. it makes the most sense for my host.

thank you all for your help and suggestions, they be invaluable.