Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using.

Coherent Light · Jan 23, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

lazeerer I managed to get one of these working somewhat. I don't think it is the driver I ordered based on My findings.

1) with a test load @ 6v I get ~100ma. anything above or below 6v and the current drops off quickly.

2) Without a load hooked directly to DMM @ 6v I get 750ma as with a load anything above or below 6v causes rapid drop in current with voltage increase or decrease.

3) Threshold for operation starts @ ~4.25v

I don't know what I'm going to do with these:undecided:, and I might hook 1 up to a cheap diode and see what happens. If you have any suggestions let me hear them.

murrat · Jan 23, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Montez said:
From what I have seen based on my own tests it regulates both. With 2 primary CR123A's I was getting ~500 mA at ~4.2 V, with 2 3.6v Li-Ion CR123A's I was getting ~1200 mA at ~4.6 volts. This was using a test load. It seems that the more current the driver is passing the diode will draw slightly more voltage. Which I think is normal of any driver. The only modification I made to this driver was the addition of a 10 mf 16 volt cap across the output leads, but as many have said its probably not nessicary. With the primary CR123A's It also seems that brand has alot to do with how much current will pass through the driver, I was using the cheapest ones that digikey sold. Use of a high quality battery such as energizer lithium may give better results, but I have not tested this. IMO Li-Ion rechargeable's are going to give you the best results if you are using this driver. ymmv. Hope this helps. Also to awnser you other question, I think the upper voltage limit of the 445 diode is about 5 volts.

First of all thanks for your answer.
Accidentaly I have the wires broken so I opened tha laser and take that driver out. As I don't have any test load and don't know how to use it I connected 1 then 2 batteries directly to the driver and checked the output voltage. The readings say it gives what it takes

I also connected one 3,6V 16340(CR123) directly to the 445nm diode to understand if it is dead or not. Luckily I didn't connect it to 2 of them cause I could fry it.
I also noticed that at the photo of the driver at DX has a SS24 on that chip but mine has SS34. I don't have any idea about their difference! Can you say anything about it?

lazeerer · Jan 23, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Coherent Light said:
lazeerer I managed to get one of these working somewhat. I don't think it is the driver I ordered based on My findings.

1) with a test load @ 6v I get ~100ma. anything above or below 6v and the current drops off quickly.

2) Without a load hooked directly to DMM @ 6v I get 750ma as with a load anything above or below 6v causes rapid drop in current with voltage increase or decrease.

3) Threshold for operation starts @ ~4.25v

I don't know what I'm going to do with these:undecided:, and I might hook 1 up to a cheap diode and see what happens. If you have any suggestions let me hear them.

I apologize for the late Response, I feel asleep.:yabbem:

I really dont trust this driver the way it sounds. It for sure is not the same driver

.

I will let you know if it think of anything. I dont want to recommend anything because i dont want you too loose a diode.

Its only doing 100mA under load. That bad since its rated for way higher then that.

rhd · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong - just tried this driver with 2x fresh CR123 lithium ions, and only got 500mA output ?

lazeerer · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

How many diodes are you using in your test load.?

Also are your cells 3.0v or 3.6/3.7v cells. Either way it doesn't matter 2x 3.0v will power the driver just fine.

If you are using 6 diodes for your test load Switch to 4 and you will get the correct reading.

Edit:

Also Dont forget to discharge the capacitors on the driver before hooking it up to your diode. The way to do this is rub the 2 +&- leads that go to the diode together 4 to 5 time.

Garoq · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

rhd said:
Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong - just tried this driver with 2x fresh CR123 lithium ions, and only got 500mA output ?

Also, about 15% of these drivers are defective as received, with either diminished or no output regardless of batteries. But the 85% that work, work well.

LarryDFW · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

murrat said:
I also noticed that at the photo of the driver at DX has a SS24 on that chip but mine has SS34. I don't have any idea about their difference! Can you say anything about it?

It is an upgrade.

The SS24 is a 2 amp Schottky diode.

The SS34 is a 3 amp Schottky diode.

It should be more reliable.

LarryDFW

murrat · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

LarryDFW said:
It is an upgrade.

The SS24 is a 2 amp Schottky diode.

The SS34 is a 3 amp Schottky diode.

It should be more reliable.

LarryDFW

Thanks for your answer LarryDFW.
What Schottky diode is used for in that circuit and 3 amp Schottky diode means it is working up to 3 amps so does not fail as easy as 2 amp one?:thinking:
I am lack of knowledge about electronics but willing to learn more

rhd · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Worked - the test load I was using had 6 diodes. Even 5 diodes didn't work. Had to cut it down to 4 diodes before success!

Thanks for all the help guys

scopeguy20 · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

I would like to know, can 2 of these 1amp drivers run a A140 at ~2 amps? I think I may want a blue monster build, or is there a better cheap driver solution for high output... ? -Glenn

rhd · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

I had inquired on another thread as to whether these could be adjusted for different currents. I answered my own question, thanks to another thread here, and just wanted to move the information into this thread for reference (apologies if this is actually already here on one of the 3 pages of replies)

Desperatly looking for driver (updated kennan driver?)

lazeerer · Feb 11, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

scopeguy20 said:
I would like to know, can 2 of these 1amp drivers run a A140 at ~2 amps? I think I may want a blue monster build, or is there a better cheap driver solution for high output... ? -Glenn

Hey, There is no need to use 2x drivers Check out this thread that i posted here:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f67/driver-mod-up-1-8amps-2x-3-7v-3-0v-cells-59336.html

I have modded these drivers to run up to 2A with no issue using a pot and Heatsinking. PM me.

rhd said:
I had inquired on another thread as to whether these could be adjusted for different currents. I answered my own question, thanks to another thread here, and just wanted to move the information into this thread for reference (apologies if this is actually already here on one of the 3 pages of replies)

Desperatly looking for driver (updated kennan driver?)

I have those drivers that i wanted to test. They do not work as good as the Deal Extreme ones. The board are almost 2 times as thick and they are very flimsy.

IMO they are not good. ALso there seem to be a new version out as well. so its a risk of getting a diffrent setup.

nosebleedXD · Feb 12, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

hey how exactly do you even hook these drivers up

i believe they come with positive leads and negative leads that go to the laser diode?

but how do you connect that stuff to the battery

rhd · Feb 12, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Contact pads on the bottom are for the positive and negative battery leads.

Also the negative was continuous in my testing. (correct, right?)

nosebleedXD · Feb 17, 2011

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

sweet

AAlasers · Jun 5, 2011

Hello, my apologies to necro-post, but did you use any sort of capacitor to protect from voltage spikes?

Thanks,

AAlasers

Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using.

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