My first build....

Well I have been debating this for a long time now. I am mainly interested in doing this because I have a saltwater tank and I have some nasty pesky aptasia's and I can't get rid of them. I have tried everything and its resulted in me going this route.

Here is my shopping list. Please let me know if I have forgotten anything or if something isn't going to work for me. Thanks!

Diode: 2W 445nm Copper Blue Laser Module W/X-Drive & 405-G-2 Glass Lens with standard barel from "DTR laser shop"


Heatsink: Extended and Tapered Copper Heat Sink from "survival lasers"

Host: Survival Lasers S4 DIY Host

Is there anything that I have forgotten? Besides the 18650 Rechargeable Batteries with the charger and te goggles ( I work with YAG lasers at work so I have a pair already)

Thanks everyone!

Hi!

I`m going to build something very similar to your laser.

I will use the stainless steel host from SL and a 9mm 445nm diode with 2.1 A x-drive from DTR.

I don`t think something is missing on your list, so good luck for your first build!

Wil be mine first too!

Greets brunes01

Looks good, but you will need a batt contact board. I have a couple of survival laser host (also have an s4 diy on way), and they dont have the contact board. Survival lasers sells them for $5.
I would recommend getting an x-blank from cajunlasers.com, but last I looked hes out of stock.

You could also get one out of a flashlight and remove all the components.
Unless you want to try to improvise a way for the positive end of the batt to make contact.

I assume this is what you're talking about? There is another build on here similar to mine this is what I assume is his contact board for the same driver.

Yup, thats it. Looks like one from a flashlight with original components removed. The pill is the metal retainer that it sets in. The s4 has the pill, but no pcb board.
Oh, the x-blank is at cajunlasers.com, my mistake. But still out of stock.

It would appear I need both the pill and the blank battery board to work with the stainless steel host from survival lasers after looking at what comes in the host itself...

The host comes with
"includes the body (retaining ring, heat sink holder, battery holder and tail cap with 'clicky' switch and wrist strap)"

So I think i need to get from them....
Drilled Pill & Brass Ring
and
Survival Laser Driver

Am I correct Chaoslord? I really appreciate you catching this for me!

Wait, you got the steel host, not the S4? In your OP you listed the s4, witch comes with the pill and brass retainer. However, if you got the steel sl, then yes, you would need both.

Well, maybe not the pill and brass ring. If you get both, it would make it a smoother build. You MAY not be able to use the entire module with the pill. I'm not sure on that though. That host is a little longer than thier c6 host, so you might be able to use the whole module with a pill.

The build I recently finished used their c6 host with copper hestsink. It also did not come with a pill and brass ring. However their c6 unmarked host does have a pill w/ring. I debated on whether to use the pill from the other, but realized the aluminum bottom of the module (a 638nm w/xdrive and g2, also from dtr ) would not fit with the pill in. What i wound up doing was using a paper clip bent into a diamond shape and using it to pin the contact board just below were the pill threads stop. I did this because i wanted to use the whole module.

I would say get both, and if you have to just take the bottom of the module off. Just be gentle removing it. With the bigger heatsink, the driver should be well inside it. If you have any small peices of copper or alunimum, use thermal paste to sink the chip on the driver. If not, don't worry, these driver are good at staying cool, and have a thermal shut off for protection.

Hope that helps, and good luck!

Yeah i decided I wanted a flashier host! hahaha! I talked to DTR and Survivallaserusa I think I should be fine. I order both the pill and the board. It is what I am going to need. When everything gets here this week I will see how it all goes. I don't think I'll have a problem or well hope i wont. I really appreciate your help here chaoslord! I look forward to my next Laser or LED build. Maybe I will make a crazy LED flashlight!

No problem, glad i could help. :beer: