"Pico Sniper Shot" - Tiny 780nm DIY

First and foremost, the 780nm wavelength (IR) is not a wavelength to be playing around with carelessly. It took me a long time to get up the courage to tackle one of these builds, and I don't want the creative title of this creation to give anyone the wrong impression. IR is dangerous largely because your vision doesn't accurately relay the true strength of the laser you're playing with. What appears to be a dim red dot, is actually an incredibly powerful, while largely invisible beam. Don't recreate this, and never ever use IR diodes without protective glasses rated for IR.

That said, here is my latest "Pico" build. It uses the 780nm diode from a LOC sled, running at 250mA with a tiny LM1117 arctic silvered to the outside of the Aixiz module. Inside the module I've hidden the two current setting resistors. I'm using two 47uF electrolytic caps instead of the usual 10uF ceramic caps I tend to use with LDO regulators. This substitution was absolutely crucial to this particular build, because without the bigger beefy electrolytic caps, it wouldn't look nearly as cool

The picture is interesting, but it's really the (unlisted and generically titled - I don't want to otherwise attract anyone to IR) youtube video the shows off the "neat" factor. No visible beam.... yet..... well, you'll see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhNh7nWF5X4

ive got some of these diodes in my laser box but like you said I am hesitant to put it in anything. Another impressive small build though!

I like your open style circuitry. It makes this little labby very tiny!

I love IR balloon pops.

People are like "What the **** was that?"

LOL, thats quite creative. goodjob ^yep IR popping a ballon is truly awesome, plus matches light up randomly while just standing there

well thats one use for the IR diode in a lpc sled

Does anyone have a link to a power vs. current chart of these diodes? I'm guessing you don't have a LPM on hand rhd, or do you?

Alexizupinhea said:

Does anyone have a link to a power vs. current chart of these diodes? I'm guessing you don't have a LPM on hand rhd, or do you?

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I dont think one has been made for these. Im sure there is one on its spec sheet but it will only show the lower ranges it is rated at. The charts you see for the other diodes are made by members here to see what happens when the diode is driven beyond its rating. People tend to be less interested in IR so theres quite a bit less known about these diodes.

250 tends to be semi safe, 300 tends to kill them

at 780 can you see a beam or dot at all?

^^ unless you can see infra red , no.

You may see a small "glow" on the target" but the human eye isnt sensitive to this wavelength , but it can blind you as you have no blink reflex.

ped said:

^^ unless you can see infra red , no.

You may see a small "glow" on the target" but the human eye isnt sensitive to this wavelength , but it can blind you as you have no blink reflex.

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Yea I know humans cannot see IR but this is near IR and I have heard of people seeing a pink dot from 808nm at at a slightly lower wavelength I am guessing there will be some kind of dot but was not sure. But no I cannot see IR only near IR.

what battery do you use? where did you get it?
very cool build! :gj:

You CAN see the dot - at least well enough to focus it. It is not very bright though, and from across the room it is pretty hard to make out. Shows up well on cell phone cameras though.

The battery is a Lipo. I think they're primarily used (at least in this size range) for RC helicopters.

where did you buy it?

Probably eBay - I'm not entirely sure - but these little Lipos are all over eBay cheaply

3zuli said:

where did you buy it?

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Sky Mini Lipo has a lot of them

I buy from them too, love it