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- Feb 10, 2013
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This list is an effort to create a comprehensive checklist, using BPM (Best Practices Management) to keep us from killing our diodes. Please, feel free to add something if you feel I missed it. Let's please try to refrain from esoteric arguments with regards to what is and what isn't BPM.
Before You Even Open That Baggy:
1) Do you NEED to really open this now? Really?
2) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
3) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Equipment, tools, components needed for why you're opening the bag in the first place
Direct Driving Your Diode:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
4) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
5) Set current and voltage settings on PSU
6) Turn off PSU
7) Short the PSU leads
8) Ensure SECURE connections to you diode leads. Ensure all soldered joints, all leads securely connected
9) Turn on PSU; Ramp up your current SLOWLY; Use your "Fine" adjustment settings if applicable.
10) Turn current then voltage adjustments to zero; Turn off PSU
11) Remove leads; Secure diode in anti-static packaging.
Connecting Driver to Diode:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Use a GROUNDED soldering iron, with approriate tips only
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Always use a test load to ensure driver current settings before connecting to diode; Driver makers do occasionally make mistakes. So do you.
7) Short the LD leads from diode before connecting to diode
8) Ensure all connections are secure; Soldered joints are wet, probe connectors securely attached.
9) Ensure all connections and lead ends are protected against short
10) Ensure proper polarity of batteries used; Ensure PSU settings correct and leads shorted.
11) Never attempt adjusting driver current while connected to LD
12) Safety eye wear on before supplying power.
Final Assembly:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Use a GROUNDED soldering iron only
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Test for shorts in assembly BEFORE connecting diode; Connect DMM and check for current from driver, powered by batteries in host.
7) If no shorts found, short your driver leads
8) Flux and Pre-Tin ALL wire leads
9) Use heat-shrink tubing on ALL soldered connections
10) Ensure no open connections available to short circuit
Moment of Truth:
1) Ensure batter charge/capacity/internal resistance
2) Ensure proper battery polarity (are you sure the + end goes in for this 532nm module?)
3) Ensure all components securely connected, threads completely screwed together.
4) Pray if you must
5) Hit that freakin' clicky-switch!
How to Not Kill Your Diode Now:
1) Keep all lasers in appropriate storage when not in use; padded case, display case, etc.
2) Do NOT store laser with batteries installed
3) Transport lasers in safe, padded container
4) Use wrist-strap if applicable
5) Be aware of your surroundings
6) Do NOT let some A-hole play with your laser
7) Do NOT drop laser. Particularly a 405nm laser!
8) Ensure removal of lens cap before engaging laser
9) Avoid any reflections of laser beam back into diode lens
10) Avoid over-discharging batteries
That's the basic list for now. Please, feel free to add more.
Before You Even Open That Baggy:
1) Do you NEED to really open this now? Really?
2) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
3) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Equipment, tools, components needed for why you're opening the bag in the first place
Direct Driving Your Diode:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
4) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
5) Set current and voltage settings on PSU
6) Turn off PSU
7) Short the PSU leads
8) Ensure SECURE connections to you diode leads. Ensure all soldered joints, all leads securely connected
9) Turn on PSU; Ramp up your current SLOWLY; Use your "Fine" adjustment settings if applicable.
10) Turn current then voltage adjustments to zero; Turn off PSU
11) Remove leads; Secure diode in anti-static packaging.
Connecting Driver to Diode:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Use a GROUNDED soldering iron, with approriate tips only
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Always use a test load to ensure driver current settings before connecting to diode; Driver makers do occasionally make mistakes. So do you.
7) Short the LD leads from diode before connecting to diode
8) Ensure all connections are secure; Soldered joints are wet, probe connectors securely attached.
9) Ensure all connections and lead ends are protected against short
10) Ensure proper polarity of batteries used; Ensure PSU settings correct and leads shorted.
11) Never attempt adjusting driver current while connected to LD
12) Safety eye wear on before supplying power.
Final Assembly:
1) ESD: Personal Ground Protection; This means a REAL ground, not the sink or your bench legs.
2) ESD: Grounded work mat, etc.
3) Use a GROUNDED soldering iron only
4) Flat, level workspace, clear of unneeded cords, cables, equipment, or parts
5) Pets, children, curious idiots at a safe distance
6) Test for shorts in assembly BEFORE connecting diode; Connect DMM and check for current from driver, powered by batteries in host.
7) If no shorts found, short your driver leads
8) Flux and Pre-Tin ALL wire leads
9) Use heat-shrink tubing on ALL soldered connections
10) Ensure no open connections available to short circuit
Moment of Truth:
1) Ensure batter charge/capacity/internal resistance
2) Ensure proper battery polarity (are you sure the + end goes in for this 532nm module?)
3) Ensure all components securely connected, threads completely screwed together.
4) Pray if you must
5) Hit that freakin' clicky-switch!
How to Not Kill Your Diode Now:
1) Keep all lasers in appropriate storage when not in use; padded case, display case, etc.
2) Do NOT store laser with batteries installed
3) Transport lasers in safe, padded container
4) Use wrist-strap if applicable
5) Be aware of your surroundings
6) Do NOT let some A-hole play with your laser
7) Do NOT drop laser. Particularly a 405nm laser!
8) Ensure removal of lens cap before engaging laser
9) Avoid any reflections of laser beam back into diode lens
10) Avoid over-discharging batteries
That's the basic list for now. Please, feel free to add more.
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