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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Driver problem - Micro Boost getting really hot. . .

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So I'm trying to set the current on my new Micro Boost. I've got it on a test load, and when I first switch it on, it meters around 450 mA. It also gets really frigging hot. As it heats up, the current it puts out starts to drop.

I (think) I have it configured for 540 - 1000 mA. Also, turning the pot doesn't change anything.

Any ideas on what might be wrong? Did I bridge the wrong pads? Or worse, cook my driver?
 





daguin

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If turning the pot doesn't change the current, something is probably bridged incorrectly.

The only real way for us to tell would be to have quality macro shots (or a scanned image) of both sides of the driver.

Peace,
dave
 

daguin

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Okay, so I cleaned it up and re-did everything. I have noticed that when it is configured for 140 - 280, everything works fine. It meters 20 mA low, but the range is the same. It's when I put down the second jumper that things go wonky. It'll initially meter ~ 465, but it starts to plummet as the driver heats up.

:wtf:

I think I'll configure it for the 390 - 750 range and see what happens.

EDIT - Okay, I tried that. We're back to getting really hot, and it's metering 6 - 14 mA, depending on what mood it's in. The pot doesn't seem to make any difference, but I could be wrong. I'm starting to think I have a bad component on there, somewhere.

Man, this sucks.
 
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You are testing it at 2000m DCV setting right? If you are using the standard dummy load 1mv = 1ma...
 
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Was there ever a time when you ran it (even for a split second) with a short across the output?
 
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Set it with all 3 jupers bridged. I've had greater success that way. Also make sure you do not use the case pin on the diode when connecting to the driver.


Okay, so I cleaned it up and re-did everything. I have noticed that when it is configured for 140 - 280, everything works fine. It meters 20 mA low, but the range is the same. It's when I put down the second jumper that things go wonky. It'll initially meter ~ 465, but it starts to plummet as the driver heats up.

:wtf:

I think I'll configure it for the 390 - 750 range and see what happens.

EDIT - Okay, I tried that. We're back to getting really hot, and it's metering 6 - 14 mA, depending on what mood it's in. The pot doesn't seem to make any difference, but I could be wrong. I'm starting to think I have a bad component on there, somewhere.

Man, this sucks.
 
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Was there ever a time when you ran it (even for a split second) with a short across the output?

Not that I'm aware, and I honestly can't think how I might have. I won't discount the possibility, though.

SpyderFire said:
Set it with all 3 jupers bridged. I've had greater success that way. Also make sure you do not use the case pin on the diode when connecting to the driver.

I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
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Crap. Didn't work :(

Oh, well. I was rather impatient to see that blue, so I set it as high as it would go (263 mA,) and hooked it up. The laser is doing great, putting ot a steady 85 mW after Jayrob lens.

I figure I'll buy another driver, and put this one on a PHR or SF-AW210 and sell it cheap here.

It's not the one watt monster I was hoping for, but this laser rocks! Very very bright, even at this low output.
 




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