aixiz lasers do those $12 modules on ebay have driver circuits inside

I just wanted to make sure those sealed modules with the two leads coming out do they have a driver board inside and what voltage do I apply to it.
these are the ones I ordered : 635nm 5mW Laser Module 3 2VDC Adjustable Lens 635 | eBay
terramir

Given that they call it a diode in the description, and provide a diode data sheet I think it is most likely to be just a diode.

If it is just a raw diode you should apply current to it, not voltage.

How kind of Aixiz to give you a completely illegible thumbnail of a datasheet.....

I actually think there might be a driver attached. The tiny/crappy/low resolution datasheet thumbnail appears to state the voltage of the diode as 2.7 V max. Since the title says 3.2VDC, I'm thinking that the difference must be a drop due to linear voltage regulation.

But perhaps you should contact Aixiz and tell them to get their act together. There's no excuse for their lack of clarity here, and Aixiz should know better They're not some fly-by-night overseas drop shipper. They're a US company that has been around for a while and should be offering something more than a 5-word ebay description with a single page datasheet in jpeg format that's too tiny to make out half the numbers.

Aixiz is better than that - I don't know what's going on here

duh!

Plus 3.2VDC(or close) to the RED wire & neg to the black- the drivers are inside and those that AixiZ sells that ARE NOT plug n play its clearly indicated- I used ctrl + and could read the data sheet easily.

I would like anyone to find complaints on AixiZ... I doubt they represent even 1% of the biz.

pretty harsh words for basically NO REASON.

hakzaw1 said:

duh!

Plus 3.2VDC(or close) to the RED wire & neg to the black- the drivers are inside and those that AixiZ sells that ARE NOT plug n play its clearly indicated- I used ctrl + and could read the data sheet easily.

I would like anyone to find complaints on AixiZ... I doubt they represent even 1% of the biz.

pretty harsh words for basically NO REASON.

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Not harsh words. I like Aixiz. But when they've posted an ebay listing with a 5 word description, an illegible datasheet, and that is so unclear that two different members with experience looking at this stuff don't even come to the same conclusion on whether a driver is included - that's just sloppy on their part. I stand by my comment that Aixiz is a lot more professional than this particular listing would suggest.

I've purchased some things from them and the one complaint I have is how long it took them to ship some very simple lenses that were in stock items. Maybe I was just unlucky and they were really busy both times. Ordered some inexpensive (like 2 for $5) drivers from them this morning so I'll see how long this time. It was first class mail but when they take a week to ship to begin with....
This has been my personal experience with them so far and for all I know everyone else gets their stuff quick.

hakzaw1 said:

those that AixiZ sells that ARE NOT plug n play its clearly indicated

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It should clearly indicate when they are plug and play as well.

Based on the description provided I thought it was just a diode.

^ tru that
but I had no probs even with my old eyes reading the spec sheet-

One dead giveaway AixiZ (yeah the Z is a cap) has 3.2V in the title common you guys know you CAN'T put ANY vdc to any diode- of COURSE there is a driver embedded.

The listing indicates the output ...another clue.

lastly-- $12 for module and diode-BUT NO DRIVER>>- kinda steep for AixiZ.. even for 635nm

hakzaw1 said:

^ tru that
but I had no probs even with my old eyes reading the spec sheet-

One dead giveaway AixiZ (yeah the Z is a cap) has 3.2V in the title common you guys know you can put ANY vdc to a diode- of COURSE there is a driver embedded.

The listing indicates the output ...another clue.

lastly-- $12 for module and diode-BUT NO DRIVER>>- kinda steep for AixiZ.. even for 635nm

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I think they've improved the datasheet image, because I can now read it too (or maybe it just didn't display well enough on mobile).

Come on Hak, we all know you're buddies with Aixiz, but even you have to admit that we shouldn't have to look for "clues" when trying to figure out something basic like "does this module come with a driver?".

And I don't follow what you mean when your say that "....you can put ANY vdc to a diode...". No you can't. You can't even put "ANY vdc" to a driver, as even drivers have ranges of available inputs. If you managed to piece the clues together and become somewhat satisfied that this listing included a driver, you'd still have absolutely no idea what that driver's input voltage range was.

My whole point here, which you've missed, is that a 5 word item description is sloppy, and not up to Aixiz' normal standards. If you can't admit / acknowledge that, then it strains your credibility IMO. Defending a bad practice, instead of saying "ya, that's strange, and unlike them... let me see about getting that fixed", is a bad sign. If anything, I'm complementing Aixiz by suggesting that this poor item description is an outlier, an exception, a glitch.... unexpected.

I follow you...

Quote"And I don't follow what you mean when your say that "....you can put ANY vdc to a diode...". That was a typo-- changed it. ty for pointing it out to me..

however had the OP just 'contact(ed) seller' this thread would have not existed.
last night I sent the message via Greedbay- you can check the listing to see how long it takes Chuck to add that info.

I personally know quite a bit about the complaints that Chuck gets as well as the questions about items the buyers are having problems with- these are not often and in many cases the buyer just did not know wjhat they were doing. And it is not the job of AixiZ or me to hold hands and teach all they need to know-

Chuck fwds the questions to me & I help the buyers get to the info needed.
MOST of them never heard of LPF. I urge them to join the forums and in many cases they do. How many new members have all of you brought to the forums??


Please do check the red negs at AixiZ greedbay feedback- almost all were given by idiots..

and even after AixiZ sends another item free EVEN tho it was NOT defective they rarely go back and change the neg feedbacks-
Some get the free replacements only to make the same mistake again.

Not having any clear idea of how much help is needed I tend to NOT try to educate these guys nor do i have the time- I give them the tools , the links etc..--what they do I cannot control-OR they can go back to KipKay if they like.

I never know exactly what to tell them except its not something you learn in a weekend of searches- nobody did much spoonfeeding for me and I managed to learn a little.

Chuck has been a VERY good friend of the forums and myself. AixiZ sponsored TEXLEM and sends the most donated high $$ items to the doorprize pool at the last 5 SELEMs-- like a $595 Quickshow and lab lasers etc-

AixiZ supports Laserpointersafety.com and is a Corp-level sponsor of ILDA.

AixiZ is a sponsor of ThePitMeisters.. my Texas Cook-Off Team. (follow/friend us on FBook)

5 years and still AixiZ has not been able to come down(35miles) to the Cook-Off and enjoy.

I take his family a big sampling of our prize-winning BBQ.

I get paid for my help with the customers with free samples of new items occcasionaly and the bulk of returned items to mess with- use for parts etc. Pretty good deal for both of us. not a lot of items get returned but some are nice and a few worked properly- The customers were wrong about the items.


So I am greatly motivated to have Chuck's back and am proud of that, as he is very deserving .


I am not being unfair or rude to the OP-- He asks what Voltage ?? Its in the title of the listing - not rocket surgery.- and as far as the spec sheet-- that was not a valid complaint..

btw sales for the last two years at AixiZ have been down by ~20%-
Chuck is looking for more new items he can add- he will not raise prices as it has been the aim of AixiZ to offer items to the hobby people and make smaller profit but higher sales numbers.

if anyone wants to suggest items please do- via aixiz.com or me.. I have been asking this for many years and only a few replied.

TY for reading my posts.
V/R
hak

I get ya Hak, and I get the pain of being a seller who sells complicated stuff to regular people. And again, I'm not anti-aixiz.

However, you're challenging the validity of the OP's question, and in this case, I'm going to stand up for the OP. Notwithstanding his low rep / post count here on LPF, his question was a legitimate one. The OP asked (A) whether these contained a driver, and (B) what voltage to apply to it. You said:
"I am not being unfair or rude to the OP-- He asks what Voltage ?? Its in the title of the listing - not rocket surgery.- and as far as the spec sheet-- that was not a valid complaint.. "

Both of the OP's questions were made necessary by Aixiz' poor (almost non-existent) information about the driver inside the module. For posterity, and for anyone reading this thread in the future, here's the entire item description:

635nm laser diode, 5mW 3.2VDC

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Facts: The description calls this a "diode". There is no reference to a driver anywhere in the description or title. The photo doesn't show a driver. The 3.2V voltage is a static figure, which is more typically used to describe diodes than drivers. Drivers typically have input voltage range, not single point static input voltage requirements, so it might still be necessary to ask what input voltage was required even if the OP knew there was a driver, because the description doesn't list one. Even if you knew there was a driver installed, you can't honestly fault the OP for asking what voltage to apply on the basis of a voltage being mentioned in "title of the listing". Can you power this with a 3V CR2? What about a 3.7V 18650? Who knows...

And the best evidence of all...that it's unclear - ARG is really damn smart (smarter than me), and he couldn't tell that this had a driver in it. I lucked out by being a contrarian, and got it right. But clearly, there was a lack of clarity here, because smart people couldn't figure it out.

hakzaw1 said:

however had the OP just 'contact(ed) seller' this thread would have not existed.
last night I sent the message via Greedbay- you can check the listing to see how long it takes Chuck to add that info.

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Conversely, if Aixiz had properly detailed the product they were selling, no question-threads, seller contacting, etc. would have been necessary either. The product is poorly described, and simply posting some datasheet for some sub-component in the absence of a properly described product can provide conflicting data to the buyer.

Is the datasheet for the complete product or the sub-component? Does the user trust the 3.2V the seller claims, or the 2.0V voltage ratings in the datasheet? Does current need to be regulated outside the module too (wiring it to a series diode would require this)?

These questions are not answered in that product description.

Posting the datasheet is not documentation, and only ancillary to the real information that should have been provided: how to use this product. Unless someone is going to dismantle this module for the diode inside, the operation of the module itself is more important than the datasheet.

Given all the superfluous images Aixiz chose to fill the product-gallery with, Chuck or his staff could spend a little more effort on the actual product description.

I personally know quite a bit about the complaints that Chuck gets as well as the questions about items the buyers are having problems with- these are not often and in many cases the buyer just did not know wjhat they were doing. And it is not the job of AixiZ or me to hold hands and teach all they need to know-

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This is not hand-holding. It's about providing proper documentation and description writing for a product that is being sold. This should be expected of any product. Furthermore, if Chuck is receiving this level of complaints, there is a failure to communicate and many of these complaints (and support) could be avoided by providing information up front.

I do think there are stupid questions -- but those are questions for which there are answers that can be looked up. In the case of this product, however, the documentation is lacking and even something like "Driver is pre-wired to laser diode. Simply connect module leads to 3.2V to operate." would be sufficient to describe the operation of this product.

Providing proper documentation is not hard, and save everyone time. It'll also reduce the amount of contact with "idiots" who don't have the necessary information to use your product properly.

Pman said:

I've purchased some things from them and the one complaint I have is how long it took them to ship some very simple lenses that were in stock items. Maybe I was just unlucky and they were really busy both times. Ordered some inexpensive (like 2 for $5) drivers from them this morning so I'll see how long this time. It was first class mail but when they take a week to ship to begin with....
This has been my personal experience with them so far and for all I know everyone else gets their stuff quick.

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I have been there and watched them ship- its never more than a few days EXCEPT when they run out of something like your lenses.

here is how it works- you order at the same time of after a buyer who want all thet have left in stock- aixiZ tries to avoid running out but that can still happen- so SOP is to hope resupply happens fast BUT these item come from China and that takes some time--lately the new 10$ G2 AixiZ lens got sold out VERY fast when it was apparant they where as good or actually better than those costing 3 or 4 X that price- the resupply was taking longer than AixiZ had hoped SO thet sent letters to each waiting buyer with an apoligy and a free 3 element glass AixiZ lens,,

if you have ever seen a listing go from say 10$ to $500 it is just an easy way to avoid any orders while waiting to get more to offer-- this too is SOP for MANY ebay sellers.. once back in stock the price is fixed.


to my buddies ARG- BB and rhd-- while I see the need for us to sometimes play the devils advocate IMO you were making this personal- whatever i did to YOU to deserve this- I do not know--
BTW
I was NOT able to find ANY greedbay seller of modules like these that HAS mention of driver inside-or plug and play.

so if I have offended you guys-- oh well- Im too old to kiss any asses.

I dont expect you to understand this until you reach my age..

I would hope that friends would be happy for my great fortune to become a friend of AixiZ and I srsly doubt that ANY of you would NOT do as I have done..

have a good day sirs.. hk


ps
if you want to reply to this why npt do it in a PM?

hakzaw1 said:

to my buddies ARG- BB and rhd-- while I see the need for us to sometimes play the devils advocate IMO you were making this personal- whatever i did to YOU to deserve this- I do not know--
BTW
I was NOT able to find ANY greedbay seller of modules like these that HAS mention of driver inside-or plug and play.

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Why does it matter what other sellers put in their posts? An accurate post builds trust and confidence in your buyer.

Plus, other sellers didn't put a confusing datasheet in the postings with no explanation. Sometimes more information, without explanation, is worse than the omission of that information. To further complicate things, some of the other AixiZ listings do have information about the presence of drivers. So if one were to compare listings one may assume that the lack of mentioning a driver means there isn't one.

Also there's no need to say there's a driver in there if you put instruction on how to use the laser. Look at these listings:

650nm 3.5mW Red laser dot module.

Compared to the above listing, there's incredibly little information in the AixiZ listing. We expect more of AixiZ. Consistency, accuracy, and detail are very important.

so if I have offended you guys-- oh well- Im too old to kiss any asses.

I dont expect you to understand this until you reach my age..

I would hope that friends would be happy for my great fortune to become a friend of AixiZ and I srsly doubt that ANY of you would NOT do as I have done..

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You haven't offended us, and there is nothing personal here against you or AixiZ. There is just a listing that is poorly detailed and confusing buyers. Just because the listing happens to be from AixiZ, and you happen to know the owner, doesn't change the level scrutiny the product description deserves. Nobody gets a free pass here, especially on something like this.

The very fact that ARG, who is a well-known veteran, believed the laser module to only contain a plain diode from the listing description + datasheet should be a good indicator that the listing is confusing to the point of causing error.

If anything, Chuck should use these observations to improve his eBay listings. Sometimes we forget that some information is not obvious to a user, and need to be reminded about what improve our documentation.

My shipment from them was a few days faster by a few days this time.

CyanNinja said:

Ok so after my brain being frazeled by trying to understand all that you have said.(plus im new to the forums) could you give me a simple yes or no answer, do they come with drivers?

Thank you

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The original listing has ended so doesn't make much difference on that one...

As for their other products the answer is probably - but it's not exactly clear on their listings. Best to contact Aixiz and ask them.