Put a battery in backwards...... :(

Hey guys, i was just showing the neighbors my 445 laser and i took the battery out to show them. It is dark and wasent really paying attention to which end went in 1st. Well i turned it on and it did not come on so i immediatly knew the battery was in backwards and i shut it off as quick as possible. When i put it in correctly the laser turns on but it is about half the power or less than it was before. I happend to have another battery and put it in and the same thing. So i was wondering.... did i fry the driver....or what.

Driver is a microboost.

Thanks,
Jeff

Edit: pic of driver. here http://yfrog.com/bhimg20100828220000j
Or
here http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9738/img20100828220000.jpg
Updated pics.
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/2977/img20100829124042.jpg
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9686/img20100829130817.jpg

Higher res photo of the ic & inductor on the driver:
Both are the same, the top one zooms in less and the bottom one is zoomed in all the way.
http://img842.imageshack.us/i/p8301443.jpg/
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8476/p8301443.jpg

This is a photo of the diode pins. The pins are shrink wrapped. (idk if you guys wanted me to remove the shrink wrap. I dont exactly have any nor a heat gun)
http://yfrog.com/9gp8301442j

These are pictures of the top and bottom of the pill.
top, the white stuff is thermal tape? http://yfrog.com/n4p8301444j
bottom. http://img228.imageshack.us/i/p8301445.jpg/

It looks to me like the component i circled (sorry i dont know my electroics) has blown but i find it strange that i cant find any pieces of it. http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9738/img20100828220000.jpg

What is the driver?
Flex V5 and MicroBoost have reverse polarity protection.

sorry about the 3 posts below the origonal, i will delete those. I have added photos of the driver for all to see.

Did that with the Arctic.

Nothing happened.

I can't see any indication of damage in the picture.

i mistake it all the time, flashlights,laserrs..

It looks like the inductor is chipped. Not an electrical issue, but a mechanical one.
Pressure on the inductor is likely what caused the damage.

RA_pierce said:

It looks like the inductor is chipped. Not an electrical issue, but a mechanical one.
Pressure on the inductor is likely what caused the damage.

Click to expand...

Well then inductor "is" chipped and i managed to find the pieces on the white tape.

But what i still dont know what the problem could be.

What do you recommend me doing?

Either continue to use the laser as it is or replace the driver/inductor.

RA_pierce said:

Either continue to use the laser as it is or replace the driver/inductor.

Click to expand...

My laser did work fine before all this. Would a chipped inductor actually cause it to lose that much power? Im assuming its running @ 100mw right now because it burns very slow.

You may have damages the reverse polarity diode so that it is leaking current unde3r normal operation??
1 watt is alot for a little smd diode to hold back. Damaging one with that much power may be possible.

jeffreythe00 said:

My laser did work fine before all this. Would a chipped inductor actually cause it to lose that much power? Im assuming its running @ 100mw right now because it burns very slow.

Click to expand...

This makes me believe your diode is shorted to the battery, driver not even used at all.

First check your connections inside, wiring and all.

Did you assemble the laser or somebody else?

Eudaimonium said:

This makes me believe your diode is shorted to the battery, driver not even used at all.

First check your connections inside, wiring and all.

Did you assemble the laser or somebody else?

Click to expand...

I traded for it so yes somebody else built it. I have not checked my connections yet so i will do that now. Im not quite sure how it could have shorted to the battery because there is a driver in there and like RA_Pierce said My microboost should have reverse protection.

The connections are definitely fine. I added more closeups of the driver just incase there actually is something wrong with it.

Btw, i really appreciate the help

Your driver is Hosed. You need to replace it, and should be fine after that. The Pot has smoked, and thats the problem.

Coherent Light said:

Your driver is Hosed. You need to replace it, and should be fine after that. The Pot has smoked, and thats the problem.

Click to expand...

I don't see it, But i guess thats why im not an electrician

I suppose i can use this "fail" to get me a new driver @ 1.5A

Before i order another driver, id like to have at least 1 other person confirm thats the problem I do have a flex v5 in my 405 but im not really wanting to disconnect it and hook it up to my 445.

Thanks,
Jeff