Powering 28 50mw lasers how do you do it ?

anselm said:

Jerry don't forget, typical "5mW" lasers without APC are anywhere between 1mW and 30mW.
They all have that same 250-300mW pump diode, and it is not uncommon for them to draw even 300mA, (after a little potmod).

Click to expand...

Yeah... that makes sense about the same IR LD.... some modules
must be more efficient in getting the beam out than others...:beer:

Jerry

You can use a computer PSU, and use the 3.3V line from the ATX connector (google the pinout). Even the weak supplies (~300W) can do at least 15A at that line.

lasersbee said:

Yeah... that makes sense about the same IR LD.... some modules
must be more efficient in getting the beam out than others...:beer:

Jerry

Click to expand...

I think thats the difference indeed - all the 5 to 50 mW dpss modules i've seen roughly draw the same amount of current (200 to 350 mA), there seems to be little relation between output power. I suppose they just bin them for efficiency, or don't bin them at all for the cheapest modules.

The latter could be a problem when you run a number of them side by side, i'm quite sure there would be visible differences in brightness between the beams.

The more powerful modules (100 to 200 mW) have bigger pump diodes that draw 600-700 mA typically.