Heatsinking my test load

[Cenobite9]

While setting and testing the currents of my dual driver 445 build, I noticed the test load I purchased from Modwerx got extremely hot and even produced some smoke at really high currents. Fortunately the load wasn't damaged so I decided better safe than sorry and applied a massive heatsink to it. I used a heatsink from my old AMD 3400+ CPU to do the job (it's a massive chunk of aluminum). First I had to shim the 1ohm resistor since it had a lower profile than the diodes with a piece of aluminum I cut off an extra motherboard slot cover. After that was done, I applied strips of thermal adhesive tape to the diodes and the shimmed resistor and then just stuck the whole thing to the old AMD heatsink. Normally I wouldn't document such trivial things but I'm trying to get used to the idea of pulling out my camera and taking pics of my work since I have a bad habit of forgetting to do that with my laser builds.

 

[Pontiacg5]

Thats pretty cool!

You might want to check your resistor though, their resistance changes sometimes when they overheat. If it's resistance has changed it could give you a wrong reading. That might mess up a few non 445 builds

 

[Coherent Light]

Cenobite9 WTG! another fine example of LPF'ers creativity.

 

[lazeerer]

I made a thread on this a little wial ago:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f67/t...erheating-dummy-test-loads-try-mod-59105.html



It runs continues no problem. Its a great mod.

 

[Bogart]

Shameless plug:

FS: Heavy Duty test load kit 3000mA $10
No heatsinking needed with these. Well, maybe when we start seeing 5A LDs... :drool:

 

[lazeerer]

Shameless plug:

FS: Heavy Duty test load kit 3000mA $10
No heatsinking needed with these. Well, maybe when we start seeing 5A LDs... :drool:

I just made one with that exact set up and maybe you dont have to use a heatsink but they sure get super hot.

 

[Benm]

I suppose just getting the 54xx diodes is easy enough, but i do like the creative heatsinking solution in the opening post