Recent content by joniverson

It had been over 3 years since working on any lasers, but after reading about the seemingly extraordinary capabilities of these 445 diodes, I decided to build a basic unit. No bells and whistles, just a DX driver (which I tested for voltage and current first), a 445 mounted in Axiz module with...

Sorry guys. I had my math way off. Should have known better, but it's been over 3 years since I worked with this stuff, any electronic stuff for that matter. So even if the input was 4000 mW @ 4V, this would only amount to 1 A (I=P/V). Of course, probably there are more losses within the...

Ok, a little more research on my part today. I hope this is correct. If I am to design a proper regulator based on this information: http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/blu-ray-445-diode-test-current-levels-long-life-44746.html then I need to design for 4.5V @ 1000mA to be "safe" for a 445 1 w...

Thanks, but I wonder what current I should be setting the 445nm 1W blue for? 6 or 9 V input. Ohms law tells me 160 mA or 110 mA depending upon voltage. BTW, I have a couple of the DX 18V 5 W cree drivers on the way, but after reading about your surprising experience with them and your "Blue...

Hi Folks, This certainly is still an active thread after the 3+ years since I've been here. I do have a question though. I am in the process of building a 445 1 watt unit and I'd like a DIY driver. I am wondering if this one will work. I built it for the reds I used to have, but this laser...

Sorry, guys. Lots has happened over the last 4 years, so no time for any experimentation. I will have a short window of opportunity before I disappear again. The cloud chamber here was sold and I eventually built my own which used only air cooling. I don't remember the link now, but Google...

Re: ** IT'S OFFICIAL **  Laser Power Meter GB Quite true, apparently. And be aware of wall converters. I just tried a standard "9 v battery eliminator" wall supply and it pulled the voltage down to 5 volts, so "low battery" displayed on the LPM. Not sure of the current draw, but it must be...

Re: ** IT'S OFFICIAL **  Laser Power Meter GB The Schuler IR-78 IR pass has well known characteristics, which was good and made an ideal candidate for the IR pass filter. It passes about 80% IR at the 800 nm wavelength, so I get a pretty accurate IR readout from the meter with this. The good...

Re: ** IT'S OFFICIAL **  Laser Power Meter GB The packing was great. Good enough in fact that I'll be using the box/ peanuts for another purpose entirely :) I own several IR pass filters, one being a 780 nm IR pass. I'll have to try and track down the review you mentioned for the best...

Re: ** IT'S OFFICIAL **  Laser Power Meter GB Got mine today. Thanks for organizing this. Been a while since I've had time to play with the lasers, but I briefly ran several of the green DX's I have into the meter. I was shocked by the amount of IR at 808nm, even with IR cut filters in place...

Re: thermoelectric cloud chamber video *UPDATE* I have now updated the cloud chamber videos. You can see tracks produced by strictly alpha and beta sources and beta+gamma combined sources: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=sciencegadgetry&p=r The alpha particles produce the heaviest/...

Thanks! The radioactive source is just a small piece of beta/ gamma releasing pitchblend in a plastic bag. At some point, I'll try an alpha only source for different tracks. Jon

Well, I didn't build it so bought it instead. It is a Thermoelectric based cloud chamber that doesn't use dry ice, just cold ice water for cooling the peltier. The dish is about 5" diameter and I filmed a small section when tracks started to form after about 20 minutes of cooling. The tracks...

Nice! I plan on doing some power supply mods to at least one of the dimming DX's I have to see if that will cure the problem. Jon

I have one of the true DX50's on the way. Expect it to arrive this week and will post a short thread about it. If it's anything like the true DX30's I have, I am expecting good performance especially when compared to the non-true models. I haven't had as good of luck with those. HTH, Jon