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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Feeler: 4 Mode 445 driver

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i would be interested if the mode selection was different. the clickies i have used wouldn't have a great life expectancy if i had to switch it so much.

michael.
 





DTR

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I have a few questions.

Do you know if it is a constant current or constant voltage driver?

I assuming you are saying it does not have a pot to adjust the peak current?

Can you bridge the case pin and negative pins like the NJG-18 to bypass the modes and go with full power all the time?

I would also be interested to see what the size is.;)
 
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I am looking into giving this memory so you would not need to switch modes very often.

i would be interested if the mode selection was different. the clickies i have used wouldn't have a great life expectancy if i had to switch it so much.

michael.

Constant current I believe.
I do not think it will have a pot, but I can surely ask for you.
I don't believe so, but the object of this driver is for modes, so why wouldnt you use it for modes?
I am waiting on a response from my supplier on the size.
I have a few questions.

Do you know if it is a constant current or constant voltage driver?

I assuming you are saying it does not have a pot to adjust the peak current?

Can you bridge the case pin and negative pins like the NJG-18 to bypass the modes and go with full power all the time?

I would also be interested to see what the size is.;)
 

rhd

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"the object of this driver is for modes, so why wouldnt you use it for modes?"
- Because at 1.7mA, it would also be a better boost driver than pretty much anything else easily available. So a lot of people would just want it as a boost driver.

"Constant current I believe."
- It needs to be.

"I am looking into giving this memory so you would not need to switch modes very often."
- That shouldn't be a problem. Anyone who makes similar drivers is probably making them this way by practice at this point. I haven't seen a non-memory driver on a flashlight in a long time. It's more or less standard for mode drivers on flashlights, so I would imagine that it's trivial to make this one work that way at this point.
 
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Good point. Ill ask him if its possible to use it with bridging the negative and case pin.

Its pretty sure its constant current. I send him all the info on what we now you as drivers and told him I need those but with modes at the set amps.

I think that is what he was suggesting in the beginning but I didn't fully understand him so I told him the cycle thing.

I'll talk with him more about this tonight. If I were to accomplish all of these how well do you think these would sell?

Thanks guys :beer: I would be nowhere without all your help :D
 

rhd

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If they accomplished all of the above, I'm sure they would sell well!

Keep in mind - 1.7A at ~5V with somewhere around 85% efficiency will probably require a single lithium ion capable of over 2.5A. That's going to cut out a lot of options - but certainly is still doable.

At $20, this would get my money over a $23 flexdrive, and over a $15 "aixiz/o-like" 445 dedicated boost driver too.
 
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Thanks rhd, buts its only available at $20 in this GB after that the prices will be higher.

Depending on how many boards I can order for you guys depends on the price.

Im am thinking about asking him about a driver similar to a flex but runs at 1.8A without any need for heatsinking. I have a feeling I can get those pretty cheep.
 
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your driver click set up got me thinking.... so i went to home depot to get that mag light led with the adjustable driver. well they changed the model a little but in a good way... the selector switch feels like a membrane switch. i havent opened it yet. and it operates like this.. high=1click, low=2 quick clicks, strobe= 3 quick clicks.

it starts out in high always. and to get to low or strobe the light needs to be off.

i won't be able to take it apart till monday though. but just food for thought if your pcb isnt designed yet.

michael.
 

DTR

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The constant voltage is the only downside to the NJG-18. But the fact that the modes can be bypassed gives you some options.;)
 

rhd

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Wait - NJG 18 is constant voltage?

I'm obviously not understanding that driver very well then. When we adjust the pot, we're not adjusting current?
 

DTR

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Wait - NJG 18 is constant voltage?

I'm obviously not understanding that driver very well then. When we adjust the pot, we're not adjusting current?

When you adjust the pot you are setting the current based on the voltage you are putting in it at the time. In my case I set them with my bench supply set to 4.1V. As the voltage drops so does the current.:beer:
 
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Lol, I don't understand anything about this stuff. Anyone have any good guides about learning this stuff?
 

rhd

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That's a huge drawback then - and potentially dangerous to set them using anything but the freshest batteries (in the absence of a bench supply).
 
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If these are <$23 AND you have good customer service....
You might be able to basically corner the 445 driver market on anything but a micro build.
Don't get me wrong, lava has a great product but he has pissed a lot of people off with his business practices.
I like everything you have said except for size, that's a pretty important piece of info to nail down ;)
If you could get a flex-like driver up and running @ 1.7A that cost less than $15-$20.... That is what the laser community is looking for (IMO).
 
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I understand that the size is way to big, but we are working on making it smaller.

We are also working on having it have memory. For example if you turn it off and on within 3 seconds the mode will change, but if you turn it off and then wait longer then 3 seconds it will be on the same mode as before.

What's the size?
Not known now but as an approximation will be about 1 in X 2 in. Max. component height is expected to be 0.75 inch.
Will this be a "battery spring on driver" setup? Or a small PCB? Or a flashlight-like circular circuit?
Presently, it is envisaged as a PCB only.
Will this also be a buck driver?
This will be a BOOST driver, since output voltage is higher than battery voltage.
Will it need heatsinking?
If the driver has to work at hight ambient temp. it might be needed. Presntly, it is planned that PCB copper will act as heatsink. However, it is extremely important to ensure that the laser diode should not radiate over this PCB.
 
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