Is it possible to "Boost" the voltage in such a small host?

Update 5/23/13

Well I made a joule thief circuit to try and up the voltage to the LD in MiniMe...

Yes, quite possibly the ugliest laser job ever

The results were sort of interesting and seem to reflect what the Joule Thief is supposed to do. I fried the diode btw. Phenol tried to tell me it probably wouldn't work but I had to try it anyway

Initially when I hooked it up to the original batteries it just gave a very faint glow, but the batteries were running kind of low so I hooked it all up to a 16340. That was interesting. At first there was still the same faint glow, than a bright flickering and then nothing. I had even thought of going back to Radio Smack to pick up a voltage regulator, but noooo, I was in to much of a rush.

The joule thief builds up a magnetic charge in the coil and then dumps it as current back into the circuit as voltage spikes, it fried the diode when that happened. With a voltage regulator I probably could have saved the diode. I'm tempted to tear apart another cheapy laser but I have some diodes on the way from one of the very kind Vets, so I'll be patient and wait...

I have another smaller toroid hand wound already and I'll get a 4v regulator if I can. I'm waiting to pick up a better soldering iron too. It's rather sad I know, but it Lased momentarily so that was kind of encouraging.

~ LB

_______________________________________________






The LD is being direct driven by the 4 button cells at 1.5V. this is half the voltage the LD had in its original host. 4 x AAA 2 in series for 3V I believe.

Is there anyway to boost the voltage to 3V in such a small host?

I thought that stacking button batteries would add the voltages of the individual batteries, but that's not what's happening. I get the same voltage 1.9V from one battery and 1.9V from all four stacked in the host. I used this as reference...
http://www.technologystudent.com/elec_flsh/button1.html

update... (Skip these if you want)

Found the joule theif online...


http://electronics-diy.com/led-flashlight-1.5v.php

looks close, but kinda big.

joule thief circuit video

making a joule theif

Hmm, interesting. Apparently the ferrite core is not necessary...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQi6U7tgVwM

Ok a nice instructables article, trip to Radio Shack and find a dead CFL for the toroid.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Joule-Thief/

Hmm, lasers run on drain cleaner and aluminum can tabs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIGTRdmXT5s

This kid made a Tiny joule theif, looks possible...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guX9gDeNezQ&feature=endscreen&NR=1

I have a feeling this is similar to what the boost/buck drivers do. interesting stuff :thinking:

__________________________

Ok this enhanced back EMF Joule thief I think is the one to go for...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC2MK3gaFIk&list=PL72384B7FB4BD870E




~ LB

deleted

Dude 4x 1.5v button cells is 6v. You don't need a joule thief, the batteries simply can't supply enough power for the diode. Use the aaas instead.

Thank Zathras!!! Benmvw is right though, unfortunately those button cells don't work

Luckily Master Jayrob has saved the day He has 3 awesome threads which teach how to boost those tiny builds up to 200+ mw!!!

Follow the links in this recent post where he pointed out the viability of the 10180 Lithium batteries to power a LD...
http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/laser-contest-1-best-laser-under-100-a-82944-10.html#post1198753

Or this one showing a CR2 build...

http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-key-chain-cr2-build-kit-schweet-42773.html

I'm really stoked as I had put this project on the back burner for a while and didn't think it would be possible.

:beer:

~ LB

It's a neat project to toy with, but it's horribly impractical as an actual power source. It's inefficienct, has no regulation of any kind, and is incredibly noisy (electrically).

Agreed Cy, didn't get the results I wanted and blew the diode in the end I guess that's why they always show LED's and CFL's in the vids. Was kind of neat wrapping the coils though

~ LB