Please help, making a driver

[mfo]

Sweet! Thanks for all the great info. Just to be sure, a dvd burner diode runs at about 120mW right?

Depends on which DVD burner you're talking about. We typically use 20x here, and typical currents for those diodes are around the 400mA mark. However, don't just do what I say, you need to know what diode you have.

 

[Bluefan]

bill and kakashi: maybe somewhere between the post some info got mixed. For 120mW of optical output, first determine the current needed through the diode in mA to that output, this may not be equal to 120mA, probably higher. Use this current in the calculation provided.

 

[Kakashi987]

Depends on which DVD burner you're talking about. We typically use 20x here, and typical currents for those diodes are around the 400mA mark. However, don't just do what I say, you need to know what diode you have.

How do I know which diode I have? I looked at the list and none of those are mine.

EDIT: Here it is, how powerful is it?

 

[laserboystuart]

How do I know which diode I have? I looked at the list and none of those are mine.

EDIT: Here it is, how powerful is it?

8x is not very powerful for reds, you wont get much out of that. if i was you id get one of these 650nm 20x DVD Burner Laser Diode in Aixiz Laser Module Housing [650nm SF-AW210 in Aixiz module] - $22.38 : High Tech DealZ, Simplifying the LASER Hobby!

these diodes are capable of 250mW+ @ 420mA

kendall (shop owner) is very reputable and is a very nice person to buy off, i would definately reccommend him first!

thanks for reading my post,
stuart

 

[Kakashi987]

Hey guys, will 4 aaa's be able to power my laser?

btw I decided to get a rkcstr driver.

 

[charliebruce]

4AAAs give enough voltage, so it will work, but I doubt they'd last for very long before running out. 2 Lithium cells, or 4 AA cells would last longer.

 

[Kakashi987]

So would energizer lithium aaa's work better?

 

[photonaholic]

I'd get a nice set of rechargeable AA cells, and be done buying batteries for a few years.

 

[laserboystuart]

id go for the li-ion 18650 batteries, 2 of these can provide ~7.4v and are high capacity for long battery life.

stuart

 

[Kakashi987]

k guys I just got done soldering everything together and when I turn on the laser and try and focus it i can't seem to get a nice dot. Any suggestions?

 

[laserboystuart]

maybe the diode hasn't been pushed into the focusing module enough or it could be a defective aixiz module but which i doubt thats the case.

stuart

 

[Asherz]

id go for the li-ion 18650 batteries, 2 of these can provide ~7.4v and are high capacity for long battery life.

stuart

Correct me if I'm wrong but people have issues with the un-protected versions of these, so it will be worth getting the protected rechargeable version

 

[mfo]

Correct me if I'm wrong but people have issues with the un-protected versions of these, so it will be worth getting the protected rechargeable version

Yeah, I hate all unprotected Li-Ion batteries.

 

[Kakashi987]

I pushed the diode as far as I could into the casing. It's about flush, is that bad?

 

[laserboystuart]

Correct me if I'm wrong but people have issues with the un-protected versions of these, so it will be worth getting the protected rechargeable version

Yeah, I hate all unprotected Li-Ion batteries.

yeah i was talking about the protected ones, some of the unprotected batteries in the past have destroyed some of my sensitive electronic components by short circuiting and for a split-second, pushing a high amperage into them.

stuart

 

[laserboystuart]

I pushed the diode as far as I could into the casing. It's about flush, is that bad?

if you pushed it in too much i think that could also be a problem.

stuart