My latest and greatest 445 pen

Nice driver. If it's not to much trouble can you please add a picture of the it.:gj:
Actually if you can just explain it alittle would be ok, Don't want to hear about a led 445. Looks like possible smd resistors and cap?

iFoSh said:

Do you mind telling how you got the paint so perfect? What kind of paint was used and how was it applied??

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As far as perfect I just practiced on some chrome tubes a few times. And I'm glad i did. First pipe looked like crap lol. Drips and uneven coating.

The paint is a automobile parts spray paint for chrome parts to give them a "Anodized" look. Exactly what I was going for.
Its made to be applied over shiny metal. So u need a aluminum/chrome host. Or a first coat of chrome paint might work.

I gave it a few coats waiting for them to dry in between. Not much prep work. Just cleaned it well with solvent and didn't touch it directly prior to spraying.

Cheech said:

Nice driver. If it's not to much trouble can you please add a picture of the it.:gj:
Actually if you can just explain it alittle would be ok, Don't want to hear about a led 445. Looks like possible smd resistors and cap?

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Here are some driver pics from my first pointer build. sorry I don't have any more. The PCB has a SMD LM317 that can be seen. The main resistor is a regular thru-hole as to make it easier to change in case I needed different current. U can kinda see it there inside the plastic mount. Theres a smd cap across the diode also. And the button which had to be soldered slightly sideways to make sure its leads wouldn't short on the host.

It would take a serious failure to LED the diode. Even if the 317 decided to short to battery for some reason the resistors wouldn't allow it to reach 1000ma, but i'd have to calculate that. the resistors are almost completely enclosed as well. They shouldn't short on anything.

Nice custom job. It is a great feeling to build something yourself.:beer:

GMH said:

Yes, its a custom painted leadlight type host.

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Ah ok, nicely done! :beer:

BTW, at 300mA your pen is likely outputting in the range of 60-80mW. If you are using a coated glass lens, possibly a little more. But these diodes are not very efficient when being driven with such a low current (compared to what they can handle). My pen is driven at about 300mA, and is 65mW.

leukoplast said:

Ah ok, nicely done! :beer:

BTW, at 300mA your pen is likely outputting in the range of 60-80mW. If you are using a coated glass lens, possibly a little more. But these diodes are not very efficient when being driven with such a low current (compared to what they can handle). My pen is driven at about 300mA, and is 65mW.

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Thanks.

Actually I just measured it and the current. Its eating about 350ma. I was shooting for 300ma but I had to use the closest resistor I had around to set the current. It was reading 300 n change before i put it in the host. Probably some rouge resistance in the leads or alligator clips.

My laser check reads 106mw. However for 445/405 u can add like 40mw to that as it under cuts it by 30-40%

Cheers :beer:

my a130 445 labby I just did put out about 170mW @ 350mA FYI.. with aixiz 445 glass.