Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Oh look, a GLG3030!!!!! :)

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
my god I didnt think I would ever see one of these in ages; but here it is, burned out filimant and all! The poor thing has had a hard life on a brute supply and cooked its filament.

Still it bring back memories.

Sadly I have to post up the photo...

Blown filament, this little beasty brings back some memories. Yes it is making me cry looking at it. If only I had found sams laser faq before I saw one of these!

5102051401_a563ec6496_z.jpg


Damn, that brute force supply is the same way I ran mine. I wish I coulda got to this one beforehand and given it a nice regulated supply! Yep, whoever built it gave it but ONE capactitor. If your gonna brute it, use at least 4! :(

for those not in the know, the 240vac line comes in, is stepped down by the big toroid to around 100 volts, then rectified by the cap (theres a big bridge in there somewhere) then fed to the tube via a big resistor thats on the heatsink on the far right. A blower keeps the resistor cool.

*sniff* what a waste.
 
Last edited:





vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
Actually i digress, I went through 3 iterations of sams supply, building on my improvements, until I blew my 3030. Then I got my hands on a 60X and its supply. :) Still sad to see this fella turn up on my workbench crucified by that brute force supply :(


sorry guys this mess makes me cry. wish I coulda saved it :(

(and yes, it pops its fuse now, doesnt like being run, I wonder why!)

awwww doesnt that look better? :)

5102860158_c04dcf4076_z.jpg


I felt bad hauling the 3030 around the place like it was a piece of junk, but sadly with a blown up filament, its about as good as lead :(

its now 4:51 in the morning. This guy needs some sleep, then I'll do the mains wiring and make this thing work :)

edit: waiting on some bolts, a hole saw and a hot glue gun.
 
Last edited:

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
Will do millirad - we have some proper scanners coming for this assembly to replace the lissojous pattern generator and the space taken by the original brute supply will be occupied by the scanner amps and the rest of the crap that goes with them.

I might keep my argon and retrofit a 445 diode dialed down to low (i.e. safe) power, and avoid the noisy fan and the rest of the care that I know is needed, but the owner may not know. This also gives them the option to upgrade the show later to go full colour / computer control.

When done of course I will shoot video of the thing running :)
 
Last edited:

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
Hey, got any ratings on the transformer? If I can't get this SMPS PSU working it may come in handy for my argon (if I can afford it and oyu still have it/willing to sell :)
 
Last edited:

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
Hey things, the lasers transformer would be perfect for your project, and I havent tossed it out. It has 3v@20A for a filament winding, an 80V winding @ 10A, and is 240V in; rated @ 1KVA. The capacitor may also be of use to you, its a nice big 8800uf 160WV/200VS electro, so the major components of an ion supply. From there you would just need to build a passbank and regulator. I can test these components tomorrow if you like, and put them aside for you; they are probably both in good condition, as how I see it, the constant use of this laser with the arc hitting the same spot on the cathode due to a non centre tapped filament winding killed the laser.

My suggestion is to not use the 3V winding on the transformer, but wind your own on the outside with a centre tap.

The major parts, and majorly heavy. Thankfully your in queensland, so it would not cost an arm and a leg to post (although its still going to be pricey by local mailing standards).

I have put them aside for you Things, just let me know when and if you want them; and how were going to get them to you.
 
Last edited:

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
Thanks mate :)

I have a nice big 350V 3300uF cap here I can use for filtering, but I guess you can never have too much.

How much would you want for it? Shipping shouldn't be too much, <$20 I'd imagine.

Just ran up some postage costs, if you can fit it in a 20x20x10cm box and keep it under 13kg, it'd be about $35 to me regular parcel.

Even if it weighed 20kg it'd only be around $47 :)
 
Last edited:

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
you'd want at least 1000 uf per ampere of current at this frequency (50 hz). Dont need as much as the frequency goes up.

What do you reckon the transformer is worth. I was going to give you the capacitor for nothing to help you with your project.
 

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
Eh, not really sure. You can get pretty cheap stepdown transformers from eBay, maybe $70, though almost all of them are in the US. Transformers are not shipping friendly :)
 

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
hehe no, and no courier/postal worker likes lugging a heavy transformer. $70 sounds fair, I remember paying $150-$200 for a transformer like this years ago, when I built my glg3030. I'll chuck in that cap too, it has no use around here (having said that knowing my luck a project will appear that needs one LOL!), and with 50hz AC rectification, you can use all the uf you can get :)

edit: I remember my setup used two $90 transformers from Altronics, each rated to 500VA. The filament winding was a piece of house wire, wrapped and CT'd around the outside of one of the transformers.
 

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
Yeah, that was my original idea too, 2 500VA transformers, however I can't afford brand new ones, or this shipping from the US. I'll try gather some funds and get back to you.

Cheers,
Dan
 

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
Ok. The only thing that might be an issue is the secondary (80VAC) leads are fairly short, around 6-8 cm, but it shouldn't be a hassle to extend them, as are the primary. At least the guy put the thing together keeping the wires pretty short. It would be a trivial chore with a 40-50watt iron and a "chisel" tip to extend them. If I find time I'll extend them for you.

edit: just checked the secondaries and primary with the multimeter, and they checked out ok. Thought I had a shorted primary then I realised I was checking the filiment pair, which is a few turns of heavy guage wire :)
 
Last edited:

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
Don't worry about it too much, I'm good with a soldering iron and have plenty of heatshrink handy. Can't wait to see some nice blue light from this thing :)
 

Things

0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
7,517
Points
0
BTW, this is the bridge rectifier (Though I guess you've already figured it out lol)

5102051401_a563ec6496_z.jpg


That little thing is rated for around 600V @ 40A :)
 

vk2fro

0
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
1,304
Points
63
Well I have taken out my laserphysics. Also the spyro generator will come out once I test fit the 445 laser I am building, and be replaced with a set of 20kpps scanners from LSP. Running the 445 at 400 milliwatts, it will have a long life, and give me the ability to use the blanking on the LSP laser show board, something thats harder to do with an argon.

Oh and it wont need an entire circuit to itself without the fear of tripping the breaker :p
 




Top