n00b question about driver voltage

Hello, folks. I have some TO-5 1W 808nm diodes I want to do some bench experimenting with. I also have a BDR-209 405nm diode coming. Eventually I'd like to be able to run more powerful diodes as well.

I'm looking at getting a SDL / IDL-820 type driver to support this work.

The 808 and 405 diodes run at different voltages.

Can the IDL-820 be adjusted for this? I see that the current levels can be set, but don't see anything about voltage.

Can somebody hit me with the clue stick?

Thanks.

peterloron said:

Hello, folks. I have some TO-5 1W 808nm diodes I want to do some bench experimenting with. I also have a BDR-209 405nm diode coming. Eventually I'd like to be able to run more powerful diodes as well.

I'm looking at getting a SDL / IDL-820 type driver to support this work.

The 808 and 405 diodes run at different voltages.

Can the IDL-820 be adjusted for this? I see that the current levels can be set, but don't see anything about voltage.

Can somebody hit me with the clue stick?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Have a link to the driver/component you mentioned? A quick use of my google-fu didn't turn up much.

Here you go:

http://www.markettechinc.net/pdf/LDI-820DD.pdf

Thanks.

peterloron said:

Here you go:

http://www.markettechinc.net/pdf/LDI-820DD.pdf

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Looks like that will drive your 808nm diode just fine - however, it likely won't drive your BDR-209. Maximum Compliance Voltage is listed as 4V, the BDR-209 needs more than that IIRC.

To answer your question about how voltage is set - if the driver is constant current it will adjust the output voltage to whatever it needs to be to maintain the set current. Within current and voltage limits of course.

Is there a reason you are going for this driver? An LM317 or LM338 would make for a suitable constant current driver and probably at a fraction of the cost.

The main reason I was looking at those units was that they could drive a fair amount of power and that they had multiple safety features (both for diode and users). I also would like to be able to manage laser power via photodiode feedback rather than just by fixed current.

Thanks for the information.