Adjustable Power Driver? (Microboost vs. X-Drive)

Dumbledog · Sep 27, 2013

I have been reading posts for about a year now on this forum and decided its time to start asking questions now that I am gearing up to actually build something. So the question:

I was on DTR's laser store and saw that the diodes sold there come with either a Microboost driver or a X-Drive. I was thinking about using one of the M140 diode modules. Now, I am trying to figure out a way to make this a two for one deal on this laser and end up with a crazy burning monster, but with a power selection switch to turn it down to about 100mw output. Would it be possible to do this? I haven't found any documentation for either driver saying how to set the mA output. (The pdf for the Microboost has suffered link rot) I read about adding a resistor between the driver and diode, but I want to avoid this because its a good way to waste power and I want this to not be a completely ghetto project.

I know the drivers usually have a reference resistor on them. I was thinking that by wiring in a switch I could swap between one resistor value and another to change it from full power to low power. I just want to know what this reference resistor might be for each driver, or if this is even a good idea in the first place. Any help is greatly appreciated. :thanks:

Fiddy · Sep 28, 2013

microboost uses resistors to set the current range, then a pot to set the exact current in-between that range.

see the microboost manual attached.

Dumbledog · Sep 28, 2013

Thanks for the manual. I was trying to find it online but it seems to have been since removed from the original host site. Nice to see someone saves all their crap like I do. :thanks:

Pi R Squared · Sep 28, 2013

Dumbledog said:
I have been reading posts for about a year now on this forum and decided its time to start asking questions now that I am gearing up to actually build something. So the question:

I was on DTR's laser store and saw that the diodes sold there come with either a Microboost driver or a X-Drive. I was thinking about using one of the M140 diode modules. Now, I am trying to figure out a way to make this a two for one deal on this laser and end up with a crazy burning monster, but with a power selection switch to turn it down to about 100mw output. Would it be possible to do this? I haven't found any documentation for either driver saying how to set the mA output. (The pdf for the Microboost has suffered link rot) I read about adding a resistor between the driver and diode, but I want to avoid this because its a good way to waste power and I want this to not be a completely ghetto project.

I know the drivers usually have a reference resistor on them. I was thinking that by wiring in a switch I could swap between one resistor value and another to change it from full power to low power. I just want to know what this reference resistor might be for each driver, or if this is even a good idea in the first place. Any help is greatly appreciated. :thanks:

Hello Dumbledog and welcome. Well I think its a good idea, I have been wanting something like this myself and will do it sometime soon but it will be in a labby not a handheld, I feel like it would be difficult in most handhelds due to space but not impossible. I look forward to seeing if you come up with something. There is one alternative you can consider, there are some hosts that use two 16340's or one 18650, often the lasers that are intended to run off two 16340's will still work on one 18650 but at a lower power due to the 1/2 voltage. I don't know if this will work with the X-Drive or not but will work with some drivers. Maybe DTR would know. Good luck with this.

Alan

Dumbledog · Sep 28, 2013

Pi R Squared said:
Hello Dumbledog and welcome. Well I think its a good idea, I have been wanting something like this myself and will do it sometime soon but it will be in a labby not a handheld, I feel like it would be difficult in most handhelds due to space but not impossible. I look forward to seeing if you come up with something. There is one alternative you can consider, there are some hosts that use two 16340's or one 18650, often the lasers that are intended to run off two 16340's will still work on one 18650 but at a lower power due to the 1/2 voltage. I don't know if this will work with the X-Drive or not but will work with some drivers. Maybe DTR would know. Good luck with this.

Alan

Thanks. If any one has info on the x-drive that would be great. I can see already how I could pretty easily wire in a simple switch to take the place of the jumper set-up on the microboost. :thinking:
I would rather use the x-drive, if possible for this application, simply because I can get more power for the same cost.

Adjustable Power Driver? (Microboost vs. X-Drive)

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