FS: 1W 445nm lasers in finned sipik hosts **PRICE DROP**

[Thefoodman52]

Well, after having mine for 2 days now, I can say I definitely love this. The host is definitely worth it, but on a whole it's not bad either. ;D

This has only so far been used outside (still afraid to use it inside. I did it one time and looked 180 away in the direction I shined it), and I can say that I love 445nm. The beam being much thicker than the 532 I got from Infinitus is actually a plus in my book. Much easier to spot, though the 532 isn't hard either.

My glasses don't get here till next week, so unfortunately I'll be holding off until then to have at burning. :/

 

[xXDUNNXx]

anyone know what driver he used in the 1w and 975mw version?

 

[qumefox]

It's no big secret. I talked about them in another thread before. It's this driver with a different current sense resistor.

1.5V~4.2V 3W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.7mm*5.6mm) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

I'll probably go back to flexdrives for future builds though.. People don't really want 'just' 1W.. and 1.1A is about all these drivers will manage into a 445 diode.

 

[xXDUNNXx]

erghhh...I really want a liiiiitle more power...pm sent with an idea....

 

[qumefox]

Well, I'd like to get them up around 1.2W since that's about the most I recommend in this particular host/heatsink combo and still maintain decent run times. running on a test load seemed to show these drivers were capable of around 1.4A, but I think the Vf on my test load was lower than an actual 445 diode, since I've only been able to get around 1.1A out of them into a real 445nm diode.


And only one left by the way, and i'm not sure when, or if, i'll ever build any more. Since proceeds from these have mostly gone to pay bills, plus DX has informed me that these sipik hosts are out of stock and they don't know when they'll get more.

 

[qumefox]

Bumpity.. One left people.. And since DX told me they were out of stock with no ETA when I tried to order more of these flashlights, this might be the last of them.

 

[Thefoodman52]

qumefox. I love this laser still. However, I've had an issue arise here as of yesterday.

Last night, I took the laser outside, as I often do. (pointing in the sky just mesmerizes me. Can't ever get enough of the beam! )
I noticed it was looking more like a flood light at a furter distance. So I hit a wall with it about 200ft away, and noticed it's not focusing right. It's like it's focused closer than it should be when it's at infinity. I looked at the focusing ring, and it's in all the way. Nothing that I can see is in the lens when the battery is out of it.

Haven't ever taken it apart either. Most I've done is unscrew the back to recharge the battery once so far.

Any idea? If something needs to be fixed, I'll gladly pay for the parts. I just don't have the knowledge/experience/tools where I'm at to build/fix things like this. I haven't even made one laser so far..... :/ (want to, but that's a different story)

 

[DTR]

Can you get a picture with the lens completely removed shining on the wall to post up.:beer:

 

[qumefox]

Er. I can but isn't there already pics of that around? Thought you yourself had some heh.

 

[DTR]

Er. I can but isn't there already pics of that around? Thought you yourself had some heh.

He was saying that it would not focus correctly. I was wanting to see if the raw output was normal. If it is then move on to the lens. Process of elimination.:beer:

 

[qumefox]

Oh sorry. I thought you were asking me for some reason. didn't see his post. Getting blind in my old age.

Ok. Sounds like the lens has probably twisted a bit and screwed itself deeper into the focus ring.. I set these to focus to infinity just before the focus ring screws fully against the host. If unscrewing the focus ring a little doesn't make better and only makes it worse.. then it sounds like the lens isn't getting close enough to the diode.. which means I probably didn't use enough teflon tape and the lens has screwed itself deeper into the focus ring.. Luckily an extremely simple fix though.

 

[Thefoodman52]

Alright, sorry that took so long. Been out in town today.


First time I've taken the lens off.... it's rather odd looking without it. Lol.

That's without the lens, if you couldn't tell.



As for slightly adjusting it... that seems to correct it. Seems like the lens is too close, because as I screw it out it re-focuses to infinity, then to a closer point.
Think, maybe just push it back in?

 

[qumefox]

Well It sounds like it's exactly as it should be.. at least how I set it up anyway.. it should be focused to infinity when it's 'almost' screwed all the way in. This is to give you a little leeway with the infinity focus. Plus they're focusable because they'd be hard sales without that ability since most people want to 'burn crap'.

if you want to make it 'perfect' just screw the lens slightly deeper into the focus ring.. The lens will be hard to turn though, since usually, you don't want the lens and the focus ring turning independently.

 

[Thefoodman52]

I just thought something either got burned up, or it had messed the diode up. I could set it to infinity when I got it by screwing it in all the way.


Still new to this. Oh well. Learned something here.

 

[qumefox]

Ah, well if that's the case the lens just turned a bit in the focus ring. Like I said. I apparently didn't use enough teflon tape then. It can be fixed by screwing the lens slightly deeper into the focus ring.

 

[ElektroFreak]

I've got a good friend that said he's interested in a handheld, and these look pretty nice. You've still got one or two left? If so I'll contact my buddy and try to line this purchase up for him.