Here's Another Great Blu-Ray Host!

Yeah that little side picture is nice. But their PDF pages are very nice for checking the fine details like sizes and stuff. It's amazing how they keep track of all their inventory and list it like that. Digikey is awesome aren't they? Fast shipping too. The only thing is that $5 dollar handling charge for under a certain amount...
Jay

i really like mouser too and no $5 fee

i have one question if i used a 100ohm 1/2W 5% resistor insted on a pot with the mxdl mod and 3, 3.6v li-ion aaa batteries whould that be good to drive the blu-ray burner laser?

i think it will let about 105ma of current to the diode is that suitable for the 4-6X burner. i know drlava has pushed it to about 130ma but i want it to last a little longer so would that work.

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

i really like mouser too and no $5 fee

i have one question if i used a 100ohm 1/2W 5% resistor insted on a pot with the mxdl mod and 3, 3.6v li-ion aaa batteries whould that be good to drive the blu-ray burner laser?

i think it will let about 105ma of current to the diode is that suitable for the 4-6X burner. i know drlava has pushed it to about 130ma but i want it to last a little longer so would that work.

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

I would recommend the 50 ohm pot for a blu-ray burner, so that you can adjust the current. Because each diode is a little different.

However, if you wanted to get a fixed current DDL driver at 105mA's. You would need to use a 12 ohm resistor:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=12H-ND
That would put you right around 105mA's. And yes, if your diode happened to be just like drlava's and Hemlock Mike's as well, then 105mA would be a good spot to be! I am planning to get one of those HOT diodes in the near future too! And powering it to 100mW's...
Jay

P.S. Even at 43mW's, the 405nm beam is visible in the night sky, even in normal 'city light' conditions. AWESOME!

ok cool

i was thinking of buying one of those pots as well is the 50ohm pot better than say a 100ohm pot. also did you use a regular resistor anywhere in the driver?

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

ok cool

i was thinking of buying one of those pots as well is the 50ohm pot better than say a 100ohm pot. also did you use a regular resistor anywhere in the driver?

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

This 50 ohm pot is better for a DDL style blu-ray driver in my opinion:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=490-2981-ND
That is the one I pictured above. It is a 1/4 watt pot, so it is only for 200mA or less using the LM317. It is a 12 turn pot. So, at low current, it has a fine adjustment. In this blu-ray, DDL style driver, I am using only the 50 ohm pot. No other resistor. If you had room, you could put a resistor in there as well. Say, as a way to limit the amount of current that you would be able to let out. But, not needed if you are careful, and just check the current adjustment before you connect the LD...
Jay

ok so the one on the driver is only 1/4 but the one to the side is greater. ok i have all of the stuff ready to order and i think i am going to use a pot. thanks for all the help.

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

ok so the one on the driver is only 1/4 but the one to the side is greater. ok i have all of the stuff ready to order and i think i am going to use a pot. thanks for all the help.

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

The picture shows an extra pot off to the side. So that you can see it has pins on it, making it easy to solder up. That's the only reason I showed it in the picture next to the driver. If your going to use this MXDL host that I showed here, and want to make it look real nice with a heatsink mount. Make sure you specify which MXDL you want the heatsink for when you get ready to order one. Because there are some slight differences in the measurements...
Jay

oh ok are they the same pots? that pot in the driver looks smaller is that the one you gave me with the digikey link

i am going to do the same mxdl as the one you mounted your blu-rays in the one on this page.

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

oh ok are they the same pots? that pot in the driver looks smaller is that the one you gave me with the digikey link

i am going to do the same mxdl as the one you mounted your blu-rays in the one on this page.

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

The pot in the driver pictured above, is partially hidden under the silicon diode. You can see it if you look closely.
Man, I'm feeling good for you already! Lol. I mean, you will not be disappointed in this host! It is VERY nice. And I'm right mighty proud of myself for finding it! Now I'm happy that somebody else will get one and truly understand. Post back to let me know if you think I was exaggerating! Pay particular attention to this picture (although this is a different pot):

That host has a large flat board that the battery holder contacts (positive end). I found it best, to build the driver on a small piece of PCB material, and then drill a small hole into the MXDL board to push the LM317 pin through, as well as a negative pin. Then just solder the LM317 pin to the center (positive), and the negative pin to the outer ring. (negative) One more tip, use a small piece of electrical tape between the two boards. In case your new driver could contact the center (positive), where you will cut a wire lead off. You will see what I mean...
Jay

jay i am sure i will love it i just want to get the pot right so it isn't too big for the driver i am getting the exact one in the link you gave me so i think i should be good. i completly understand it now i can't wait to get started.

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

jay i am sure i will love it i just want to get the pot right so it isn't too big for the driver i am getting the exact one in the link you gave me so i think i should be good. i completly understand it now i can't wait to get started.

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

Good deal Mitch. Just a friendly reminder in case you didn't read about it. Those blu-ray writer diodes, although having 3 pins that visually look just like the red diodes, connect differently!
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203129030/75#82
Jay

yea i read about that so the one which is the negative pin on the red diode actually has no use on this diode strange. and both the pos and neg have the black ring at the base of the pin. that is very strange indeed. thanks for the heads up. i also read about you worrieing if connecting the negative case to the diode case did it have any affect?

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

yea i read about that so the one which is the negative pin on the red diode actually has no use on this diode strange. and both the pos and neg have the black ring at the base of the pin. that is very strange indeed. thanks for the heads up. i also read about you worrieing if connecting the negative case to the diode case did it have any affect?

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

Safe to connect! I even used my DMM to test and make sure the heatsink was making good contact with the MXDL body before I turned it on! Lol...Yeah, there was that moment, just before I clicked it, with my thumb on the button. 'To be, or not to be'...
Jay

This non negative case/chassis reminds me of the old English MG and old cars in general. Many were actually positive grounded. I wonder if some creative thought in regards to positive ground and reverse battery design might need us to take some head to "old style" electrical grounding designs.

Just seems strange that designs of the old days are emerging again. Maybe there is something to be said for positive grounding in new high tech devices over negative or non grounded circuits.

If I recall, we all think power flow is from + to - but in fact, it flows in reverse, - goes to +.

Strange that not only does the earth flip over the years but design may also.


SN

haha sweet

i have 2 more questions for you (sorry) the first is which one is positive and which is negative in the pic that dr lava has of the diode and the second is how did you remove the heatsink from the diode did you pound the diode out or did you do somthing else?

Thanks,
Mitch

rubberband said:

haha sweet

i have 2 more questions for you (sorry) the first is which one is positive and which is negative in the pic that dr lava has of the diode and the second is how did you remove the heatsink from the diode did you pound the diode out or did you do somthing else?

Thanks,
Mitch

Click to expand...

Mitch, you saw that I got that question answered it the other thread...
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203129030/75#89
Have fun with that build! I think it must be the most awesome thing to do in the land of lasers right now...
Jay