Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

How to Register on LPF | LPF Donations

Right driver for dvd-burner diode?

B

bbummi

0
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
8
Points
0
Hey, there may be already thread bout this but I was unable to find it although I used a search. So I'm planning to build my very first laser with diode taken from DVD-burner but there is one little problem: what driver fits best for dvd-burner diode:confused: I browsed this forum for over an hour but I still didn't find good driver for my diode:cryyy: So can you professionals lend a hand for me and steer me in the right direction?
 





Need a bit more info. What kind of diode is it? Where did it come from? How are you going to power your laser?
 
Last edited:
Build your own! Search for DDL driver or LM317 driver and you will find a wealth of information on how to build it.
 
Yeah, saw that DDL thread. Luckily I have all required parts and it looks pretty easy to build. Btw can I put one 5ohm resistor in driver instead of 2x10ohm? Thanks

How I can find out what kind of diode I have because dvd-burner where it's taken from says only that this is very dangerous and so on, but nothing about specs of LD.This may sound stupid but can I use multimeter to test it someway?P.s. Dvd-drive is 32x
 
Last edited:
To your first question, regarding your resistor, yes, you can.

Now, I am afraid that you may actually have a DVD READER diode, because DVD-drives don't go up to 32x - the highest we have is either 20x or 22x. But basically, you can just take it and slowly ramp up the current if you use a pot instead of a resistor for your build.

So I would suggest sticking a pot in series with that 5 Ohm resistor, so your max current would still be whatever you want it to be, but you could start out lower.
 
Ok, thanks. I found 100ohm pot from garage. I read somewhere that noobs shouldn't use the DVD-reader diodes, because they are infrared lasers and can damage eye retina easily. I'll get new drive tomorrow

This is very off-topic but can i refer to objects with "they":p I got really bad blackout when writing this and i'm not very good in english
 
Sure :P

And yes - hook it up with about 50mA and don't look into it at all. If it's a semi-bright red light, then it's a burner, if not, it's a reader.
 
20895790.jpg

I have now question about my pot because compared to others i've seen so far, it won't look same. It looks like the middle pin is moved on the other side of pot so is it Vin or Vout or what? It's little bit confusing and it would be logical that it is Vout so two Vin's would be on the same side but when I watched different pot schematics, the middle pin is always Vin, left one Vout and right Vin again. I attached photo as a support because my text can be incoherent.
 
Pots don't have V-in or V-outs - they are just voltage dividers. Basically, hook up one end of the circuit (doesn't matter whether it's Vni or Vout) to the top pin, then the other end to either one of the other two.
 
I have now build my first driver and got new dvd-drive. I'm pretty sure that it is real red laser that I took from it and casing says: Warning class 3b visible and invisible laser radiation when open. I had to use wires cuz I didn't have any stripboard with copper stripes and then I ran out of red wire so + is particaly blue:scowl: Just gotta find a damn big host now and buy aizix module & 3.6V AA batteries. And please don't laugh
p9030005o.jpg
 
Not half bad for a first driver, mate! +1 on taking the initiative!
 
Last edited:
I have now one last question.. I want to shrink my DDL driver so can I just throw pot out of window? My driver would shrink by half if there would not be that damn huge pot. I just don't want carry a 16 inch maglite with me:D
 
bbummi;

You can get it more compact.

Here is one I did on a ~20mm pc board:

317Driv.JPG


Had to insulate & trim the LM317 a little.

LarryDFW
 
Last edited:
I have already cut of that metal tab from LM317. Does it work as a somekind heatsink? Do I have to replace pot with fixed resistor?
 
kaavio.png

This is my next DDL driver. It's gonna be like 0.40x0.80 inches. I'm gonna also order driver and maybe laser module from DinoDirect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top