Micro-Drive laser driver by rkcstr

leukoplast · Apr 19, 2009

Alexizupinhea said:
Yep, just placed an order for four fixed (2x 125mA, 2x 422mA). I've never used you're drivers before (only two I bought already attached from outside an aixiz module w/ the diode already wired up), so hopefully everything works out just fine. btw, I had a question about using your driver w/ 3x 10440 batteries - is it fine to use that, or can it be bad?

I asked a very similar question which was answered here.

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206947255/564#564

And I am personally using a 3x10440 setup with a PHR right now and the driver is handling it just fine. The only issue is the extra volts that the driver/diode doesn't need will be turned into heat. So things in general will heat up a little quicker.

leukoplast · Apr 20, 2009

Alright, just put a order in for 4 adjustables

FlightLevel350 · Apr 21, 2009

I just put in an order for 1 adjustable. Just for clarification, these are compatible with both blue and red diodes. Could you hook up 2 diodes to 1 driver and limit the current draw to 50 or less mA?

leukoplast · Apr 21, 2009

I can clarify they are compatible with both violet and red diodes...in fact they are compatible with any diode. All you have to do is supply enough voltage for the diode + driver. The driver needs 2.25v, so for a violet you would need to do 5v (for diode) + the driver voltage (2.25v). So a minimum voltage of 7.25v for blu-ray and roughly 5.25v for red.

As for the double diode thing... I dunno about that.

rkcstr · Apr 21, 2009

Yes, they're compatible with just about any type of diode if their forward voltage is within the output voltage spec of the driver (1.25 to ~9V).

It is not usually recommended to connect more than one diode to a driver. It would be best to do so in series, if so. Just make sure that your combined voltage is not more than the output capability of the driver, which is ~9V (or about 4.5V per diode). That voltage is limited by the max input voltage of ~12V, which can be bypassed to 16V, if necessary. But, as I said, more than one diode per driver is not recommended. You can limit the current to whatever you set the driver; with the diodes in series, the current will be the same in both, so no special consideration needed aside from input voltage.

ColdStl · Apr 21, 2009

Hi Ryan,

I just purchased some adjustable driver "kits" from you. I was wondering if you could post a pic or some instructions on how to bypass a driver so it will accept more than the 12V. I didn't see it on your usage instruction PDF and was wondering why you don't have it posted...Is it bad for the driver? or.. Do you think too many people will start destroying the drivers in trying to mod them and come complaining to you :-/ ? (Then you could sell them more drivers and advise them not do the mod ;D)

Thanks!

rkcstr · Apr 21, 2009

I didn't put it in the instructions because it isn't really "recommended". It essentially defeats the input polarity protection, which is the limiting factor for the input voltage, but will damage the driver if you reverse the input polarity, possibly causing damage to any diode attached as well.

What it requires is to remove (or not install) the MOSFET, then bridge the pad that is connected to the input wire to the one that connects to the leg on the regulator IC. Leave the pad with the small trace leading to the cap (and negative wire) open; make sure you don't bridge it as well, that will short the battery and probably blow that small trace.

The attached pic has arrows pointing to the pads you need to connect.

ColdStl · Apr 22, 2009

Thanks for the pic and instructions. I know others have successfully used over 12V without incident, however I would rather do the mod and be extra careful as to not install the batteries incorrectly.

rkcstr · Apr 22, 2009

That should allow up to 16V, but keep in mind that the higher your input/output voltage difference is, the more heat the driver will generate. Too much heat and it may cause the driver to shutdown (or cycle on/off) and can cause damage with repeated/prolonged use. So, my point is that just because you can use 16V, that doesn't mean you should

ColdStl · Apr 22, 2009

The 10440's I use usually show about 12.6V on full charge, and I have been draining them using a small fan motor to be less than 12V before I install'em. This is why I want to do the mod.

I was also wondering if I could "safely" use a heatsink on the driver? Something along the lines of the heatsinks used on the LM317...as long as it was isolated from the other components.

Thanks again for your help. These drivers are awesome!

rkcstr · Apr 22, 2009

You might be able to use some thermal epoxy to stick one to the case on the regulator IC, it may help, but it may also not do much.

If you're just using 3 lithiums, that should be just fine. I wasn't really pointing that out just for your sake, but for anyone else who would consider that as well.

weetsie · Apr 27, 2009

i got this email:

Order Number: 355

Detailed Invoice:
(not allowed to post links)

Date Ordered: Tuesday 21 April, 2009

The comments for your order are: Shipped 4/25. Thanks!

Your order has been updated to the following status:
New status: Delivered

what does "Delivered" mean? shouldn't that mean i have it?

rkcstr · Apr 27, 2009

weetsie said:
i got this email:

Order Number: 355

Detailed Invoice:
(not allowed to post links)

Date Ordered: Tuesday 21 April, 2009
[highlight]
The comments for your order are: Shipped 4/25. Thanks![/highlight]

Your order has been updated to the following status:
New status: Delivered

Click to expand...

what does "Delivered" mean? shouldn't that mean i have it?

That's the part you should pay attention to

My checkout system doesn't have an option for "Shipped", but rather "Delivered". Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to have "Delivered" and not "Shipped" as an option, but not much I can do (I think). So, anyway, that just means I shipped your package... it shall be "Delivered" soon enough

Mohrenberg · Apr 27, 2009

there is a place to "add" options on that for zencart....i saw it somewhere when i was playing with it..........zencart is just too big! theres a million different settings to mess with.....

rkcstr · Apr 27, 2009

Hmm.. I'll have to look around for that. There is a ton of stuff in there to mess with! But, that would avoid the frequent confusion of "it says 'Delivered' but I don't have it yet?" ;D

EDIT:

Hey! You can change it. I scoured the admin page for the option to do it, couldn't find anything in the "configuration" section, so I searched the Zen Cart forum... apparently, they stuck the options under "localization"?? Ok :-? Anyway, thanks Mohrenberg for the inspiration to check again! ;D

weetsie · Apr 27, 2009

hey rkcstr, why dont you buy a domain?

Micro-Drive laser driver by rkcstr

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