Re: Group buy for 16X dvd burner diodes !

Re: Group buy for 16X dvd burner diodes !

Yeah, finally got my laser working-- Just barely got it all to fit in my case, the 4x AAA powerpack from RS was huge!

The pot I have only goes down to 15.6 ohms... Leaves about 120mA going to the diode. I tried for a long time to get a match to like without success, but it melts electrical tape pretty fast. I cant get it to cut, but I can write on it! Oh, and with a sharpied spot... my GOSH that thing freaking hurts! ;D ;D ;D :

Gonna scrounge for something in the 4-7 ohm area soon.

On the upside, I have an infinite duty cycle... ;D

I plan on mounting my next pot on the outside of the laser case, as well as a toggle switch.

I just wanted to say, THANK YOU SENKAT! You done something good for the whole laser community, and made the dreams of a 15 year old... Oh wait, LPF not LC!

Re: Group buy for 16X dvd burner diodes !

Xeno -
Congrats !! Now go carefully. Watch your current and if you heatsink it well, 250 mA will be no problem. I'm guessing you have about 80 mW at 120 mA.
You won't believe 150 to 180 mW ;D

Mike

Reading this thread, i see most people just hook it up to a fixed current source and paint the room red... which probably works and much better then just hooking it up to 2 AAA batteries like shown online here and there.

I was wondering if enyone here as any experience using the built-in photodiode as feedback to control power levels. This option sounds attractive since actually boosting the power output beyond specs will damage the laser diode due to the light produced alone. Of course such circuit would need certain safegards against overdriving, but to me it sounds like a more sophisticated approach to max out your laser diodes...