Not as bright as before

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

My blue laser became dimmer after I installed it in a different housing.

A140
Aixiz housing
1W Driver: 1W 445nm blue laser diode driver / 405nm laser driver | eBay

For some reason when I rebuilt the whole shebang, it was more than half as bright as before. I compared it with a friends to make sure, and sure it enough, it was a lot dimmer. Closer to about 100mW.

Any ideas?

I'll see if I can get some readings off the diode when it's on.

lazeerer · Mar 30, 2011

DID you forget to discharge the capacitors when re connecting your driver to your Laser diode.?

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

I'm pretty sure I shorted the cap on the board...
Edit: By short I mean discharge, and by cap I mean capacitor.... just in case there's any confusion.

lazeerer · Mar 30, 2011

You cant remember if you did or not.?:thinking:

I would then check your battery. Alot of times people over look that.

If thats not the case Do you have a testload.? If so Disconnect the diode from the driver and test the driver.

If that is working fine then you most likely shorted something when reconnecting everything.

Or Possible the diode Just decided to Not live a long happy life.

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

Yeah the battery is fine: 4.2 volts open circuit, 3.5 under heavy load.
I need to find some more resistors for a good dummy load.

Coherent Light · Mar 30, 2011

You only need one if it's 1 ohm. Should be at least 2W tho.

Oh and the diodes will quickly unsolder themselves at high currents unless you buy the 3 amp versions.

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

Coherent Light said:
You only need one if it's 1 ohm. Should be at least 2W tho.

Oh and the diodes will quickly unsolder themselves at high currents unless you buy the 3 amp versions.

Yeah, I don't have a 2W resistor, just a bunch of 1/2 watt. So 10x10Ohm=1Ohm, 5W

I need to find them though haha

By unsolder, do you mean the leads? The diode was still firmly soldered to the driver when I took it apart just now.

Coherent Light · Mar 30, 2011

It only applies if You just have the diode leads soldered together in a chain. I had mine unsolder 4 times setting a Flex once it was a huge PITA. Not to mention a Flex with no load can fry itself.

lazeerer · Mar 30, 2011

WOW. Thats Nuts.

Never had something de solder on me before. Does sound like a pain.

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

I'll get some more measurements tomorrow, it's too late for me now!!
Hopefully my driver is just burned out or something. The diode is too expensive to be broken!

Coherent Light · Mar 30, 2011

It was a surprise when all of a sudden My meter went to zero. One of the 4 times a diode de-soldered on both ends, and I heard it hit the tile. I was only at ~1.2a at the time, but let Me tell you They get Hot as #$%^! I knew to limit the on-time to a few seconds, and even that short span was enough.

AutoItKing · Mar 30, 2011

What kind of heat sink were you using? Or lack thereof?
That just should not happen.

Coherent Light · Mar 30, 2011

No I did and have not Heat Sinked My diode chain. I modified the way I set the current. I take a reading, cut power, adjust pot, power on, check current so on and so forth. No further problems have been encountered, but I will let the diodes cool for 5 minutes or so after the 3rd or 4th setting.

BennyF · Mar 30, 2011

Is your lens a plastic one because if so you may have melted it.

Not as bright as before

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