what driver should I get?

I need help picking out a driver, I bought a diode link:

150mW 405nm Blue-Violet Laser Diode Module with Driver - eBay (item 280445080421 end time Jan-06-10 18:21:35 PST)

I obviously didn't give it enough thought, and am now tired of the 9V supply, Id like a driver that can run it on 1 or 2 CR123 or something similar so I can fit it in a small flashlight.

And by the way, I would also like to bulk it up a bit if possible, sticking to a two minute duty seams like a lot more fun then 24/7 not as bright.

Im asking for alot here but all helpful suggestions greatly appreciated, thanks.

Here's a few suggestions.

1) Stay away from eBay when purchasing laser diodes. I went that route once before too, but you'll pay a lot more there than what you can get them for here.

2) It comes with a driver as per the auction description...

"Already made 104mA Mini Constant Current Driver included.
Only need Connect to 8 - 15V(9V, 12V battery) for lasing.
Special price!!!."

3) You're not going to get 150mW with 104mA.

4) You can "bulk it up" but you risk killing the diode if you do so. Even if you don't kill it you will definitely shorten its life substantially.

5) Whether you use 6V, 9V or 12V, the output current is fixed @ 104mA so the laser will not become more powerful with more voltage.

Hope this helped.

1) Damn..? Well learnt my lesson.

2) Im well aware of that but I dont want to use a 9V source, takes to much space hence I want another driver that can make it work with less.

3) I have little or none experience in the area, my money is on you.

4) How?

5) Is the diode limited to 104mA? I thought it was the driver and thats another reason I want buy another.

As far as I know I can still "bulk it up" by using another driver please correct me if im wrong but shouldnt I be able to run it on smaller batteries at the same time?

If I got that right, where can I get such a driver?

Any response is a good response but I feel my question remains unanswered.

Steve said:

1) Damn..? Well learnt my lesson.

2) Im well aware of that but I dont want to use a 9V source, takes to much space hence I want another driver that can make it work with less.

3) I have little or none experience in the area, my money is on you.

4) How?

5) Is the diode limited to 104mA? I thought it was the driver and thats another reason I want buy another.

As far as I know I can still "bulk it up" by using another driver please correct me if im wrong but shouldnt I be able to run it on smaller batteries at the same time?

If I got that right, where can I get such a driver?

Any response is a good response but I feel my question remains unanswered.

Click to expand...

If you want a smaller driver then go with the flex drive.

http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/Micro_FlexDrive.php

It's a good drive, but ridiculously tiny. Also laser diodes are very sensitive components. When soldering, you must take a lot of care to not over expose the diode to heat or kiss it good bye. When soldering, you should only touch the diode pin for a split second to make your connection. Anything longer than a second or two max and your diode is toast.

When I said the current is limited to 104mA, I meant that the driver is doing that. With most drivers there is a potentiometer which will allow you to adjust the current. However you will need a volt meter and a dummy load. Read up more on that as I'm not going to type all of that out. You can adjust the current with a flex drive.

Cheers, thats much more like what I hoped for, bit better infact I think I will order one. Just not sure how high preset I dare to take, im thinking of coppying your and go for 110mA, opinions?


edit: Also, is it possible to change the drivers output in the future and how high can it go?

Steve said:

Cheers, thats much more like what I hoped for, bit better infact I think I will order one. Just not sure how high preset I dare to take, im thinking of coppying your and go for 110mA, opinions?

Click to expand...

I've been told that anything over 100mA is a gamble. Some people have successfully driven theirs at 150mA, and others have had theirs fail at 110mA. PHR's are very unpredictable, but they make good beginners diodes as they are inexpensive. If I were you, I'd keep that diode you ordered from eBay as is since you paid so much money for it, and I'd order another PHR with the flex drive. If you kill the PHR, it's only a few dollars down the drain. If you kill the one you ordered from that seller in Seoul, that's $50 down the drain. Up to you though, I don't know what your financial situation is. Check out all of the stickies and guides in here, you'll learn a lot. One thing about lasers is they require a lot of reading. Good luck and welcome to the forums.

Edit: Didn't see your second question. The flex drive can be set to 1.5A, but that would obviously kill any diode that we're used to working with on here, with the exception of some of the higher power IR diodes. You can always change the output of the driver, but it's tricky. The potentiometer is very sensitive and the slightest turn can increase the current by 50mA or so sometimes which most likely would kill your diode. The best way to increase it would be to unsolder it, set new current, then resolder. Just set it to 110mA and you'll be impressed. You'll be impressed with the one you're getting from eBay too.

Well I got hooked to lasers from seeing a 5mW green, bought one of those. Then another green 150mW green potmodded thing form DX.

After that I bought the UV but I got tired of it as I couldnt really make it into something portable and the hugeass 9V batteries could only power it for about 10 min, after that it couldnt burn anything.

Im currently waiting for a 200 mW red from dx but it would be fun to achually do something with my UV and not just having it as a dustcollector.

I underestamated the challange of getting a host for it, there are srsly no cheap flashlights that fit 9V batteries and even if there was it would only power it for so long.