First Build: 2.5w Handheld

Not to sure because Ive never seen that guy before. But it looks like the pill, creates the connection from the batteries to the driver. It looks like that pill used to have a driver setup on it but no longer does or it was never installed to begin with, because where resistors and caps and other IC chips and components arent present but the solder points are. The driver is what takes that power from the batteries and alters the voltage, amps and wattage for the diode to use. Inside the laser module (silver and copper assembled tube) soldered to the diode should be a small pc board. That would be the driver. It will most likely be a purple board. It looks like the pos and neg power input wires have a quick disconnect soldered on them and this pill has the female end of the quick disconnect on it. Thats a + because I have to solder my quick disconnects on. Someone with that host should be able to shed more light on what it is rather then my speculation. Hope that helps!:beer:
EDIT: Looking at the setup better, Im sure that that is in fact the pill. There is a stickied thread on all the different components that make up a laser and its host in the Laser Host forum.

Hi brianpe!

I had in mind just like you, to have a quick connect/disconnect option in my build!

So did you just drill out the part of the driver pill with the 2 holes in it?

And can really both wires be stored inside the tiny space of the driver pill then, when connected?

Cheers brunes01

I completely agree! I love the quick disconnect idea! I have the same set up as him. I am waiting for my pbc board and I will check out and see what it would take to mod it like that. I jsut need to find the quick connect plug

Hi there!

I`m also waiting for the pbc contact board, all other items have arrived!

And I have also exactly the same setup like both of you!

I even have ordered some connections that should arrive soon, but I don`t really know if one of them will fit!


In case they will not fit, there would be the option to make it permanent and directly solder the wires coming out of the module from DTR to the pbc contact board.


PS: Just noticed there is a already drilled driver pill available at Survival Laser. It is drilled through with a .630" (16mm) diameter opening. But I guess that can be done by yourself as well!

Cheers brunes01

I ordered the drilled out pill from Survivallasersusa.com and also their PBC board. Do you I should be getting the pbc board in today. I am not sure however how i will get the PBS board to stay in the drilled out pill. You have any thoughts?

As far as I noticed the pbc board will be hold there with the brass ring that came with the host!

The board will be pressed in the ring, and then the ring itself inside the pill.

That should work with both the drilled out and the original pill!

BTW I was just told that a quick connection could easily kill you diode when it looses connection for just a millisecond!

My intend to have a quick connection was, that I had in mind to use the module either in the host or a labby/bench style heatsink!

Cheers brunes01

Ahhh good to know about the quick disconnect! I will NOT be doing that! So looks like i can build my laser tonight! WOOT WOOT

Hi again!

Latest news.

In this case, to have the quick connection before the driver, is less dangerous for your diode!

ApexProxy told me the driver will safe the diode!

But he also suggested that it`s not a good idea to open and take the modul out frequently!

So I think I will also not go for the quick connection as well!


edit: Hi the following is what DTR himself said about quick connection in my build!

"On quick connects they are fine but probably won't fit in there. As long as the connection between the diode and driver is soldered and secure the connection between the driver and host being a quick connect won't put the driver or diode in danger but it is still not preferable as it can become a bottleneck for the current or you could have connection issues."

Cheers brunes01