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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

So whats the latest driver options?

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Hey guys,
Been a looooooooooong time since i've posted last. Life has been busy on my end!!!!


Anyway I have a blue diode here from one of those casio projectors that I've had for a while, and I want to build it into something.

What driver are people using to drive these diodes at >1A current from a single 18650 battery? Can the flexdrive v5 handle this diode voltage at more than 1A of current?

Thanks in advance for the help!
 





jayrob

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Hey Jayrob,
Glad to see you're still around! Now where's Dave Guin hiding?!

haha...

The parallel flexdrive is a pretty neat idea. How much current can I pump through a single flexdrive safely?
 

jayrob

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Dave's still here! He's one of the forum moderators...

For a 445, you can set it up to max, which is 1.5 Amps. But you need to heatsink the driver.

There are a few ways to do that. One method is to just thermal glue it to the inside of the pill as shown here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/fs-stainless-steel-18650-kit-polished-perfect-445-a-52159.html

Two ways shown there, but the 'maxed Hot option' is the one that shows how you thermal glue the driver inside the pill...
 
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Holy Crap.... Long time no see...

Welcome back GG..:wave:


Jerry
 
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I believe Dave is still in North Carolina, at least he was when I left on Saturday...

LED drivers are getting some use too, some don't think they are safe but it is what it is.

Jib77 was making some pretty cool linear drivers, cheap and compact. He hit some rough times though so I don't think he is making any more. That sucks, they were some awesome little drivers...
 
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So has anyone had any success running one of these didoes from a 14500? Is the battery life still decent?

I remember running a 405nm at fairly high currents from a 14500 and the battery life still seemed to be 'forever', but we're probably at a current setting of double that, so I was just wondering how the AA-sized li-ion's held up.
 

jayrob

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So has anyone had any success running one of these didoes from a 14500? Is the battery life still decent?

I remember running a 405nm at fairly high currents from a 14500 and the battery life still seemed to be 'forever', but we're probably at a current setting of double that, so I was just wondering how the AA-sized li-ion's held up.

If you keep it to around 650mA's, you will get about an hour (or close) of run time with a 14500/FlexDrive/445 build...

It would still be a class 4 laser! :)

Or you can set it higher, but just charge the battery sooner is all...
 
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You also have to take into account how safe it will be for those batteries to run at those currents. Maybe if you get an IMR 14500 or a LiFePO4 battery, you would probably be safe.
 

jayrob

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Good point too...

However, a good rule of thumb for max discharge rates with Li-Ions, is a 2C discharge rate.

So if your 14500 has a capacity of 750mAh's, like the quality ones from AW, then you can figure 1.5 Amps discharge rate is relatively safe.

But with a FlexDrive build, you will probably get over 1.5 Amps battery current draw with a 445 set at 1 Amp...

Which is why I normally recommend about 650mA's setting for a 14500 or an RCR123 Li-Ion. That said, you can use an IMR battery for safe discharge rate at high current settings, but then your run time/capacity will not be very good...
 
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daguin

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Good to hear from you again.

I was in North Carolina at an LEM

You missed the NorthWest LEM in Portland :(

People are running these with the 14500. I haven't done any battery charge tests

I even run them with a single 16340, although I keep the current down to <600mW

Peace,
dave
 
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I really missed out on that portland LEM :cryyy::cryyy::cryyy:

Jonathan texted me about a week and a half before the event, and I just couldn't get everything squared away to make it there. I would have loved to catch up with you and everyone else again. Hopefully we can do another one soon :D
 




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