using a broken diode

adcurtin · Feb 3, 2009

I have a PHR diode that has a broken front window ( damaged in shipping ). I haven't used it yet, the window is still in the can. I was wondering if there was a way I can save the diode, like a can opener (but I don't have access to use a genuine diode can opener) or just carefully removing the window. Also, if I just remove the window, part of it is still attached (a small part), should I break that off and remove that too?

Thanks,
Andy

rog8811 · Feb 3, 2009

There are various ways around this.
For the only LD I had with a broken window I used a jewelers screwdriver to pry what was left of the lens (holding it upside down so that shards of glass didn't fall inside) This still left a bit in place that could move across and ruin the beam, I stuck it out of the way using a small amount of superglue on a cocktail stick.
Other have de-canned LD's using a dremel with a cutting disk.
Still others have had success prying the front of the can off with a sharp blade.

None of the above are easy as you are dealing with a very small and fragile part, but it can and has been done

.

Regards rog8811

jander6442 · Feb 4, 2009

rog8811 said:
There are various ways around this.
For the only LD I had with a broken window I used a jewelers screwdriver to pry what was left of the lens (holding it upside down so that shards of glass didn't fall inside) This still left a bit in place that could move across and ruin the beam, I stuck it out of the way using a small amount of superglue on a cocktail stick.
Other have de-canned LD's using a dremel with a cutting disk.
Still others have had success prying the front of the can off with a sharp blade.

None of the above are easy as you are dealing with a very small and fragile part, but it can and has been done .

Regards rog8811

Mmmmm! I wonder what mW #'s could be had with the PHR open can style.

adcurtin · Feb 6, 2009

So this diode is a freak, and I really wish I had an LPM. I cut of the can today, and it is confusing the hell out of me. I used flush cutters and some pliers to cut of the can. Gently squeezing the flush cutters at the base of the can while rotating it with the pliers. It worked great (but you can't squeeze very tight on the flush cutters, or it will deform the little bit of the can that's left on the diode (not so flush cutters I guess). I did this on a dead diode I tried on, but it was fine on this one.

Anyway, what is confusing the hell out of me is this:
First, I planned on using the diode in a weak pointer, running it right above threshold, so I set max current at 125ma (1.25v/10ohms) and put it in series with a 15 turn 1k ohm pot. I was fooling around with it in an AixiZ housing, and all of a sudden it stopped working, no idea why, but I figured it got disconnected and reconnected while the circuit was on. So I figure it's dead, and I want my housing back, so I pop it out of the housing. I wanted to make sure it was dead, so I hooked it up to the circuit not in the AixiZ and gave it 125ma, nothing. I figured, why not try some more, see if one of the wires in the diode fried, so I give it 230ma (1.25v/5ohms, but measured at 230 with a test load). It lit up, but rather dimly. I was really confused, so I measured output current on a test load, and it was close to what I thought. Then I hooked the LD up again, and now it seems to perform like my other PHR. for a second, the unfocused light from it felt hot on my hand at ~2.5inches away (diode wasn't in any housing) so I turn it off and touch the diode can, not even warm. I'm pretty sure this is a freak diode, but it's working now, so I'm happy.

daguin · Feb 6, 2009

adcurtin said:
So this diode is a freak, and I really wish I had an LPM. I cut of the can today, and it is confusing the hell out of me. I used flush cutters and some pliers to cut of the can. Gently squeezing the flush cutters at the base of the can while rotating it with the pliers. It worked great (but you can't squeeze very tight on the flush cutters, or it will deform the little bit of the can that's left on the diode (not so flush cutters I guess). I did this on a dead diode I tried on, but it was fine on this one.

Anyway, what is confusing the hell out of me is this:
First, I planned on using the diode in a weak pointer, running it right above threshold, so I set max current at 125ma (1.25v/10ohms) and put it in series with a 15 turn 1k ohm pot. I was fooling around with it in an AixiZ housing, and all of a sudden it stopped working, no idea why, but I figured it got disconnected and reconnected while the circuit was on. So I figure it's dead, and I want my housing back, so I pop it out of the housing. I wanted to make sure it was dead, so I hooked it up to the circuit not in the AixiZ and gave it 125ma, nothing. I figured, why not try some more, see if one of the wires in the diode fried, so I give it 230ma (1.25v/5ohms, but measured at 230 with a test load). It lit up, but rather dimly. I was really confused, so I measured output current on a test load, and it was close to what I thought. Then I hooked the LD up again, and now it seems to perform like my other PHR. for a second, the unfocused light from it felt hot on my hand at ~2.5inches away (diode wasn't in any housing) so I turn it off and touch the diode can, not even warm. I'm pretty sure this is a freak diode, but it's working now, so I'm happy.

It's what IgorT refers to as a zombie (the undead). If it follows the "normal" pattern for them, it will slowly degrade until COD. I hope it lives as a zombie for you for a long time.

Welcome to the weird world of the PHR

Peace,
dave

ben74 · Feb 7, 2009

I have a "zombie" PHR at 600mA must be putting out 40mW but i turned it down to around 300mA works great at around 30mW.

Post 500!

adcurtin · Feb 9, 2009

Hmm, interesting. I thought I already had COD, maybe I'll just try turning up the current.

using a broken diode

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