445nm DIY 2w laser build problems

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Hello, I recently purchased a 2w 445nm laser along with heat sink, adjustable 2w booster driver circuit, 2 BRC 18650 3.7v batteries, and lens assembly.

This is the first laser I have attempted to put together as a learning experience and am not sure how to test these items. I have the diode installed to the heat sink and soldered to the booster driver circuit, but am not sure where to go from this point.

Ill start with two questions seeing as I don't know the specific item descriptions I will post pictures of what I have so far.

1. Assuming everything is in working condition, should I be able to supply power to the booster circuit to power the laser? So far it remains an open circuit and there is no actuator.
2. Do I need any other items to complete this project?

Thanks, and by the way I do have laser goggles.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Also i have never worked with this kind of circuit connection, so i figured it better safe than sorry to see if i could get some info. The lens has not yet arrived, but if anyone has any pictures of what the battery connection SHOULD look like, feel free to post =) i imagine i would use a parallel case for the 2 batteries and solder + to the inner gold (labeled positive in a diagram that came with it) and negative to the outer gold ring.
thanks!

TheDukeAnumber1 · Jan 11, 2013

You bought this from 423ricktrent4 on ebay didn't you, I recgonize his stuff. Yeah once the lens comes in you technically have what you need to finish a working blue laser. The chip your using like you said is a boost so it will need only one 3.7V battery. Buck drivers are the kind that take 2 - 3.7V batteries.

The center is positive and the ring is negative so at this point you can test it by holding a battery to the positive and holding a wire from the battery negative to the outer negative of the driver. Rick makes some of his sinks to screw into a flashlight host but that particular sink doeasn't have the threads to do that. Now is where you get to be creative making a host for this laser. People use everything from flashlights to altoid boxes. GL!

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Yes I bought the heat sink and lens assembly from him but received the diode in a package deal with goggles and a bare lens.. I tried connecting a battery to the driver as you stated but nothing happened, is there any way to test the driver when it's hooked up to the diode? I should've seen SOMETHING even with no lens, right?

Thanks

TheDukeAnumber1 · Jan 11, 2013

Yeah there should have been a lot of blue light coming out of the diode. If you have a digital multimeter you can set it to the 10amps setting and use it to bridge the battery - driver connection to see if any current is being drawn. Did you solder and wire the diode yourself? If your new to diodes they are pretty sensitive compenents, ESD can kill them. The diode you have is known for being really tough so hoprfully it isn't blown.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Also this may sound insane but I left the pin spacer on the diode, it still tested to have infinite resistance one way and low resistance the other.. But I'm just searching through what things I might of needed to do..
Thanks

TheDukeAnumber1 · Jan 11, 2013

You can leave the spacer on the diode, I've done it without issues and your resistance readings sound right. Keep troubleshooting.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Yes I did solder them myself, but I did a resistance test on the diode and it seems to work.. However I tried checking to see if it was a closed circuit and my volt meter didn't go off when touching the pins on the diode nor when touching the positive and negatives on the driver.. Maybe I checked these wrong, but I am hoping I didn't blow them

Bigpapashooga · Jan 11, 2013

Also, I'm not sure what the driver is set to so I want to be sure to test it out at close to minimum output, would I screw the adjustment screw in or out for less draw?

Thanks, sorry for picking anyones brains too much

Blord · Jan 11, 2013

You will need a testload to set the driver. The driver is set at minimum from the shown picture. Turn clockwise for increasing the current.
But even now you should see some blue light coming from the diode if the driver is connected to the battery. It is a boost driver so use only one 3.7V li-ion cell.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 12, 2013

Excellent news, everything works! Just need the lens, battery holder, and choose my host

thanks for all the help! I'm going to research the setting I want my driver at, I want to push 2w but also want the diode to have a long life. Once again, thanks for all your help!

Bigpapashooga · Jan 14, 2013

I installed the lens assembly, and with the beam having a 4mm diameter it did not have any heat nor was it a fully visible beam, I'm going to do more research on setting the driver adjustment, then ill post some photos.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 16, 2013

Here's an update, no matter how I adjust the driver it does not have any heat nor a fully visible beam, I don't have the correct materials to test the driver but I figure I should have a full beam even at 50% output.

Also the lens assembly is smudged, I know I probably did this even though I wore esd safe non smudge gloves, but im more concerned about the beam. The blue dot I DO get varies widely in diameter depending on range.
I knew I would probably mess something up with this project but I don't mind spending a little extra to learn from it.

Does anyone have any idea on why it has no burning power or a full beam even in the dark? Any ideas would be great. I'm going to purchase what I need to test the driver ASAP.

Thanks

Th3dArKn3o · Jan 16, 2013

You need to measure the current which flows into the LD it should be over 1A for a full beam

TheDukeAnumber1 · Jan 16, 2013

He is correct, you can use your DMM to measure current. Adjust the pot slightly and then measure again, see if it's working.

Bigpapashooga · Jan 17, 2013

So without the correct means of testing the driver I did get it to what my dmm reads as 9.1 at the "200v" with the wavy line over it.. It now has a faintly visible beam in the dark and does have a faint heat index that is not enough to burn paper. I am waiting for the diodes I purchased to correctly test the driver but I think it doesn't have the ma adjustments advertised.

I will update after a good amount of research and once I have the correct tools to test the driver.

Thanks

445nm DIY 2w laser build problems

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