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Hey all! So this post will be added to when I can get some pictures and all that 
First and foremost, I'd be a fool if I did not thank [COLOR="Dark_Orchid"]Jufran88[/COLOR]. He helped me so much with this. He sold me 2 boards that he used in his LPM for a very reasonable price and answered all my questions and helped me troubleshoot. He really is a stand-up forum member! Check out his stuff, its really great!
A note on his boards. He had them made for use with smd components, but I used some through hole parts soldered to the pads seeing as that's all I had. Works like a charm
Here are some photos of the build!
As you can see the mounting hole was cut a little too long vertically in the upper left corner of the panel meter. My dad got a little carried away with the reciprocating saw...
I like this switch. It's sturdy! But it has a big 3/4" mounting hole.
Here's the audio jack and plug used to connect the TEC to the amp
Theres the TEC. I secured the wires with some epoxy and thermally adhered the peltier to the big ol' heatsink.
There's the meter up and running!
This photo is just because I wanted to sneak a beamshot in here The meter was still going up, but the fog kinda hinders that. Anyway, I like the photo so its in here
Here are some videos of it!
Here's the LPM Turning On. I had just switched rooms so it isn't zeroed properly until the test. But it does zero!
Here's a test with it using my 428mA LPC-815 Aurora C6. I cut off the end a little short since it goes to 256 and stays there
You may be asking yourself/me how I can know if the measurements are right. Valid question. A while back I got some lasers from Lazerer and got the Power Certificate. I used those for calibration under the same circumstances that they were tested under.
In the end, both lasers come in at their marks consistently!
Also, all lasers I have tested that I have built all come in at around what their "mA to mW" show for each diode. So I'd say I got it pretty good. not to toot my own horn
The display is not as deep green as the video shows, but it's still nice. I kinda like its simple color. It's more of a yellow-green color.
Instead of opting for the $30 custom 8x8mm TEC Peltier Jufran used, I found an 12x12mm TEC with less couples on eBay for less than $7! It works just the same, but the final reading takes a little bit longer to achieve. The seller also has 8x8mm ones, but they have a low coupling count.
TEC. It's not the same one I have, I can't find that. But this one is 15mm x 15mm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-2V-2-8W-..._Equipment&hash=item1e695a8624#ht_2212wt_1141
Voltmeter
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Mini-...847?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1517830f
This whole build cost me about $40 in total parts. Definitely happy with the quality for the money. It'll satisfy my measurements to a "good idea" until I buy a professional LPM.
I might build another one at some point with the other board and spare parts I have. But for now I love this thing The only thing I'd change would be the TEC and Voltmeter display color
:thanks: for the help, Jufran88!
Lemme know what you think!
First and foremost, I'd be a fool if I did not thank [COLOR="Dark_Orchid"]Jufran88[/COLOR]. He helped me so much with this. He sold me 2 boards that he used in his LPM for a very reasonable price and answered all my questions and helped me troubleshoot. He really is a stand-up forum member! Check out his stuff, its really great!
A note on his boards. He had them made for use with smd components, but I used some through hole parts soldered to the pads seeing as that's all I had. Works like a charm
Here are some photos of the build!
As you can see the mounting hole was cut a little too long vertically in the upper left corner of the panel meter. My dad got a little carried away with the reciprocating saw...
I like this switch. It's sturdy! But it has a big 3/4" mounting hole.
Here's the audio jack and plug used to connect the TEC to the amp
Theres the TEC. I secured the wires with some epoxy and thermally adhered the peltier to the big ol' heatsink.
There's the meter up and running!
This photo is just because I wanted to sneak a beamshot in here
The meter was still going up, but the fog kinda hinders that. Anyway, I like the photo so its in here Here are some videos of it!
Here's the LPM Turning On. I had just switched rooms so it isn't zeroed properly until the test. But it does zero!
Here's a test with it using my 428mA LPC-815 Aurora C6. I cut off the end a little short since it goes to 256 and stays there
You may be asking yourself/me how I can know if the measurements are right. Valid question. A while back I got some lasers from Lazerer and got the Power Certificate. I used those for calibration under the same circumstances that they were tested under.
In the end, both lasers come in at their marks consistently!
Also, all lasers I have tested that I have built all come in at around what their "mA to mW" show for each diode. So I'd say I got it pretty good. not to toot my own horn
The display is not as deep green as the video shows, but it's still nice. I kinda like its simple color. It's more of a yellow-green color.
Instead of opting for the $30 custom 8x8mm TEC Peltier Jufran used, I found an 12x12mm TEC with less couples on eBay for less than $7! It works just the same, but the final reading takes a little bit longer to achieve. The seller also has 8x8mm ones, but they have a low coupling count.
TEC. It's not the same one I have, I can't find that. But this one is 15mm x 15mm
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-2V-2-8W-..._Equipment&hash=item1e695a8624#ht_2212wt_1141
Voltmeter
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Mini-...847?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1517830f
This whole build cost me about $40 in total parts. Definitely happy with the quality for the money. It'll satisfy my measurements to a "good idea" until I buy a professional LPM.
I might build another one at some point with the other board and spare parts I have. But for now I love this thing
The only thing I'd change would be the TEC and Voltmeter display color :thanks: for the help, Jufran88!
Lemme know what you think!
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