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12x BR DIODES

Exerd

Exerd

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jayrob said:
Man dude... That's great that you are showing good information plotting your #2 12X, but if that high efficiency diode was mine, I would not be pushing it to 500mA's!

I would keep that baby happy at maybe 360mA's or even less! Just so it would last...

Nice power supply!
Click to expand...

I had stopped at 460mA, but was dying to see what a quick run at 500mA's would do, so I said :wtf:.

It was for a matter of seconds--enough to heat the sensor and then done. And yes, I know that's all it takes. But, there will be many more BDR-205s in my future. :yh:
 





jayrob

jayrob

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I have a couple of questions about your power supply...

I have never used one of those, but is that voltage reading something that shows up according to what the diode is asking for at what ever current you feed it?

Or do you adjust the voltage too?

And also, it would be interesting to know if your output power using the FlexDrive set at 400mA's is the same (or close) as your output power using the power supply at 400mA's...
 
cmak

cmak

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man if that diode was mine I wouldn't even USE it... I'd coat it in diamonds and carry it around with me in on a necklace for luck

you guys are so spoiled... lol

peace
-cmak
 
Hemlock_Mike

Hemlock_Mike

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Jay ---
Congrats--- That is cookin'. I posted a couple weeks ago about a wireing error and mine read 1.04 WATTS !!! I wasn't measureing current but it did it 3 times for about a second each time. I fixed the burned parts and turned mine down to 620 mW. 750 is right up there. Glad you had it for the moment ! Too bad there's sooo few of us pushing the edge here.

HMike
 
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Exerd

Exerd

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jayrob said:
I have a couple of questions about your power supply...

I have never used one of those, but is that voltage reading something that shows up according to what the diode is asking for at what ever current you feed it?

Or do you adjust the voltage too?

And also, it would be interesting to know if your output power using the FlexDrive set at 400mA's is the same (or close) as your output power using the power supply at 400mA's...
Click to expand...

Jay,

I'll explain the process. I turn the supply on, and first short the leads. This shorting puts the supply into amperage adjustment mode. I now set the max amps I want to run on the test. When I disconnect the leads from each other, now the supply kicks into voltage adjustment mode, and the amperage cannot go past whatever max value you set it to. I always return the voltage knobs to lowest setting before connecting a load again. (The supply will read out what voltage you are attempting to push if the leads are disconnected from any sort of load, and the volt knobs are above a zero setting of course.)

Once I hook the diode up, as I dial the voltage up, the volt readout climbs, and the amperage stays at zero, that is until the diode begins to laze at somewhere around 4+ volts. Once it begins to laze, the amperage loading climbs higher and higher as I dial the voltage higher and higher.

You cannot overvolt the diode if your amps are set to a proper amount for whatever diode you are testing. The diode asks for the voltage it will take at the amperage it is at. Once I hit the maximum amperage and corresponding voltage the diode will ask for, the power supply kicks into current setting mode, the green light shuts off, and the red light turns on. This lets you know the amperage can now be fed a higher amount, and that the diode has peaked on your maximum amp presetting.

I do not adjust amperage while the diode is connected, ever. I always disconnect diode, set max amps by shorting leads, then start test over again, reconnect diode, and laze with voltage knobs turning back up from zero again.

It's neat how it works...

As I said, I need to get a DPM with actual mA reading. Right now I am limited to 1/100A accuracy readout, so I don't know for sure that the Flexdrive and bench supply are set at the EXACT same mA level. So, one could be at 395mA, and the other at 404mA, and I'll just see 0.40A.

Hemlock_Mike said:
Jay ---
Congrats--- That is cookin'. I posted a couple weeks ago about a wireing error and mine read 1.04 WATTS !!! I wasn't measureing current but it did it 3 times for about a second each time. I fixed the burned parts and turned mine down to 620 mW. 750 is right up there. Glad you had it for the moment ! Too bad there's sooo few of us pushing the edge here.

HMike
Click to expand...

HMike, Jay was quoting me, I posted that plot. Yes, I know, it is too bad. These 12x diodes can be amazing things as we see here, yet only a few of us are really getting our feet wet with them. Join in the fun, everyone!

-Matt
 
FrancoRob

FrancoRob

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"All 12x Owners" datasheet updated for Exerd 2, in accordance with posts #236 and #242!
 
C

CTM

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Exerd said:
I had stopped at 460mA, but was dying to see what a quick run at 500mA's would do, so I said :wtf:.

It was for a matter of seconds--enough to heat the sensor and then done. And yes, I know that's all it takes. But, there will be many more BDR-205s in my future. :yh:
Click to expand...

You happened to stop just +13mW above my laser's output.:crackup: Good game Exerd.:D
It was only a matter of time for when I got beat.
 
daguin

daguin

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This is NOT to discourage members like Exerd and CTM from doing experiments. Exerd already thinks that I don't like him. Goddess, I am pleased to see that others have figured out that SOMEBODY has to buy these things and push them for us to learn.

However, the construction of diodes has gotten better. The electrical connections are much stronger now. That means that they don't "blow" as easily as they used to. They generally fail through COD now. Why is that important?

It means that we can run them to very extreme currents for a short time. I commend Exerd and CTM (and some others) for being willing to "push" their diodes. On the other hand, these extreme outputs mean nothing if they cannot be held for any useful amount of time.

Mike had one hit with over 1A. Could it be useful at that current, probably not. It would probably burn out in a short time, but we do NOT know that! Push your diode to a new, higher current. THEN KEEP TRACK OF HOW LONG YOU CAN USE IT BEFORE IT DIES.

I accidentally hooked up a PHR to 420mA once. It was the most beautiful 300mW I had ever seen (at the time) FOR SEVEN WHOLE MINUTES.


Please keep playing with and pushing your diodes, but do it so that there is some science resulting from your work. At least place a disclaimer on your post telling NooBs that if they try this they should be ready and willing to have it fail at these extreme currents.

Have fun, but play responsibly in public

Peace,
dave
 
C

CTM

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Thanks daguin.
I'm up to 30 minutes of burn time now.
It's great to use, and I NEVER go around shining the laser at people.
 
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daguin

daguin

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CTM said:
Thanks daguin.
I'm up to 30 minutes of burn time now.
It's great to use, and I NEVER go around shining the laser at people.
Click to expand...

You're welcome.

Thanks for the number. Please keep (at least rough) track of the use.

Although I certainly commend your laser safety message, I was referring to not scaring the NooB's when I used the term "play responsibly in public." ;)

My personal 12X is running <600mW as well, but I am not nearly ready to recommend that to less experienced hobbyists. It's only got ~20 minutes use on it now. As you can probably imagine, my 60mW violet pointer gets used MUCH MORE around the house than my <600mW laser does ;)

Peace,
dave
 
FrancoRob

FrancoRob

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"All 12x Owners" datasheet updated with the last info coming from Hemlock Mike, Daguin and CTM!
 
C

CTM

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Question:
Do we know if there is a difference between the BDR-205BK vs. the BDR-205BKS since they are both listed on the datasheet?
 
daguin

daguin

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CTM said:
Question:
Do we know if there is a difference between the BDR-205BK vs. the BDR-205BKS since they are both listed on the datasheet?
Click to expand...

The BK just means it has a black faceplate. The S denotes some "inclusion" in the package (like a data disc). They are both BDR-205

Peace,
dave
 
Exerd

Exerd

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CTM said:
You happened to stop just +13mW above my laser's output.:crackup: Good game Exerd.:D
It was only a matter of time for when I got beat.
Click to expand...

There seems to have been a simple misunderstanding. 701mW is just what the diode plotted at ~460mA. I plotted all the way to ~750mW. I am now listed as running my handheld at 701mW, but that is just one number along the way in my plot. :thinking:

CTM, you really need to disassemble your laser, check your amperage before your diode burns up, and don't take your 600mW+ laser to school! WOW. Look what almost happened, and that's while doing nothing irresponsible. It could have happened anywhere with it in your pocket, but I'm sure your mind was set on getting to your class on time while there.

Something is getting bumped on these pots upon assembly. That's my guess. I just re-assembled my laser. The small amount of extra wire is a snug fit, but didn't appear to be entangling or even getting smashed down on the pot. Yet, what I just found tells me that something is very different about the setting. Upon turning the laser on, output climbed towards 700mW!!! Yikes. Off goes the switch on that one and now it comes apart. This is with amperage tested before re-assembly, so something changed upon assembly. I pulled it apart, and cannot see how the extra wire can have turned the pot, but it is my best guess that it somehow touched it.

It's all coming apart, and I'm going to re-test amperage on the flex drive now and see what it is outputting. But I have to build a test load first, as I'm not using my diode as the test load. I'll stop by Radioshack and grab some 1N4001 diodes and assemble one. I'm also going to check the diode for damage, though I turned the unit off as soon as I looked at the meter screen, which was about 4 seconds after the power on.

Daguin, I know what you mean about usage timing. All this means piddly squat to some people without a diode life time. But, I think that having people use their pointers, and then have them attempt to put together all those instances that they pressed the button, and then figure a total time, is about as unscientific as you can get. Sure, it will get an approximation, but I believe the diode kill fund is as good as it will get for a scientific approach to testing this diode. The plotting is useful here just to show some basic variance. It's too bad Igor's died at 420mA. :thinking:

Here's the conundrum. This plotting graph here shows us how different these diodes can be from drive to drive, which also demonstrates how useless a diode kill fund might be, since each is so different.

The way I look at it is, it's a hobby. Set the thing where you want to risk it, and hope your gamble pays off. All the science in the world may not prove a thing about your diode as an individual.

I have to leave right now and make a 2 hour round-trip drive, then I'll mess with everything once I get back to the shop. I will post back with details later tonight about what's going on.
 
daguin

daguin

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Exerd said:
There seems to have been a simple misunderstanding. 701mW is just what the diode plotted at ~460mA. I plotted all the way to ~750mW. I am now listed as running my handheld at 701mW, but that is just one number along the way in my plot. :thinking:

CTM, you really need to disassemble your laser, check your amperage before your diode burns up, and don't take your 600mW+ laser to school! WOW. Look what almost happened, and that's while doing nothing irresponsible. It could have happened anywhere with it in your pocket, but I'm sure your mind was set on getting to your class on time while there.

Something is getting bumped on these pots upon assembly. That's my guess. I just re-assembled my laser. The small amount of extra wire is a snug fit, but didn't appear to be entangling or even getting smashed down on the pot. Yet, what I just found tells me that something is very different about the setting. Upon turning the laser on, output climbed towards 700mW!!! Yikes. Off goes the switch on that one and now it comes apart. This is with amperage tested before re-assembly, so something changed upon assembly. I pulled it apart, and cannot see how the extra wire can have turned the pot, but it is my best guess that it somehow touched it.

It's all coming apart, and I'm going to re-test amperage on the flex drive now and see what it is outputting. But I have to build a test load first, as I'm not using my diode as the test load. I'll stop by Radioshack and grab some 1N4001 diodes and assemble one. I'm also going to check the diode for damage, though I turned the unit off as soon as I looked at the meter screen, which was about 4 seconds after the power on.

Daguin, I know what you mean about usage timing. All this means piddly squat to some people without a diode life time. But, I think that having people use their pointers, and then have them attempt to put together all those instances that they pressed the button, and then figure a total time, is about as unscientific as you can get. Sure, it will get an approximation, but I believe the diode kill fund is as good as it will get for a scientific approach to testing this diode. The plotting is useful here just to show some basic variance. It's too bad Igor's died at 420mA. :thinking:

Here's the conundrum. This plotting graph here shows us how different these diodes can be from drive to drive, which also demonstrates how useless a diode kill fund might be, since each is so different.

The way I look at it is, it's a hobby. Set the thing where you want to risk it, and hope your gamble pays off. All the science in the world may not prove a thing about your diode as an individual.

I have to leave right now and make a 2 hour round-trip drive, then I'll mess with everything once I get back to the shop. I will post back with details later tonight about what's going on.
Click to expand...

This was the only way we used to have to figure out at what current to recommend to people that they run their diodes.

Murder tests don't tell us everything either. We need both. Most people over estimate how much their laser is run, but at least it gives us some idea if a type of diode can run at a particular current.

We had PHR's run for many months at 200mA, but we quickly discovered that they were rare. Only by burning up quite a few diodes did we learn that they needed to be run "not to exceed" 120mA if we wanted them to last.

This is what we will have to do with these diodes as well. Unfortunately, it is hard to find enough people to be willing to risk a $200 diode ;)

Heck! We haven't even really determined if these are different diodes than the 8X LOL!

At what current were you actually running the the laser (or at what current did you originally set it to run)? At what current are you going to re-set it to run now?

Peace,
dave
 
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