12x BR DIODES

[MISTERWILLING]

Hi Franco , here is my entry into the 12x diodes

Plextor 12x diode
480mA
730mw
LarryDFW lens
"Misterwilling host"
Flexdrive v5

Ahah, so thats where my uncoated host went. I have wondered what happened to it as Dave traded it instead of using it. Treasure it as I will never make more, I'm too deep into building scanners and mirror mounts now. A whole lot more money in that than host building.
I'm Glad it got an insane diode, its got the heatsinking for it. Now i have to order me a a couple 12x and upgrade my purple anodized host, I think i killed the 8x in it ( whats that 6 different 8x diodes I have killed? )

 

[Slipstream]

I finally got around to using it

I like the host and its working very well.

Ive killed 2 other 8x's myself.

 

[daguin]

Daguin, I noticed that I am passed that "kink" you talked about before, where you said a diode should stay under that point. I'm interested in knowing what scientific evidence you have discovered that relate these "kinks" in the efficiency curve to diode life.

I'm not the person to talk to for the science of the kink. Maybe Pullbangdead can help.

However, they are well known and understood in the industry.

Peace,
dave

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Exerd ---

Long ago and far way as we got into the high powered reds, we noticed that if you graph the Po vs Ild, it was a straight line. suddenly, there would be a "kink" or knee in the curve. We quickly found that going past that anomaly resulted in short diode life. The Blu diodes don't usually display a kink as pronounced as the reds but we usually find one.

HMike

 

[Slipstream]

talk the talk , now walk the walk .


http://laserpointerforums.com/f38/12x-br-diodes-46798-12.html#post658641

Whew. It has been a long week and I had to disappear for a few days. I'm trying to get a computer shop up and running and it has been hectic this week.

No work tomorrow, and tonight I will finally get back to the shop to play with some lasers!

I'm starting to get a bold feeling inside about running this high-efficiency diode I have. I think I'm going to set it somewhere around 460mA and see how long it lasts. 700mW+ in a hand-held just rubs me the right way.

If it burns up quick, what the hell.

I sold my first 12X BR 18650 build and 307mW @ 420mA 650nm build to a guy locally who drooled over seeing them in person and he handed me $950 cash for both combined! That made me happy.

I plan on buying more and more of these BDR-205s, and I really don't care about burning them up to have my fun. My previous hobby was high-power rocketry, and it was not uncommon to watch a $200 rocket motor burn up in 4 seconds. Now I just attend launches to watch others burn their ammonium perchlorate. Based on that kind of previous expense, I'm sure I'll get my fun out these diodes running hot--even if they don't last more than an hour. Running on the edge never nets reliability. And hey, it's all part of the fun!

 

[Traveller]

...the Remington glasses make the dot look very dim, and seem to be blocking light down to a safe level. I think they are under $10. I'll have to check the percentage they block by shining through a pair onto the meter, but to me it sure looks safe.

:wtf:

Please don't take your vision so lightly. My father has dedicated most of his life to restoring sight, so you can hopefully understand, if not appreciate, my reaction.

Please use real, certified googles. If FrothyChimp was still here...

 

[Exerd]

Slipstream,

Do you want a photo of my laser on the meter? I'm only assuming this because your link takes me to the picture of your meter. I have posted a photo of my diode at 500mA putting out over 750mW in this thread. But, maybe I'm misunderstanding you, which I have been known to do here.

I burned a solid 5+ minutes last night at 470mA. Etching wood, plastic, and I couldn't stop going outside to see how incredibly bright the beam is. The beam is something else.

 

[Exerd]

:wtf:

Please don't take your vision so lightly. My father has dedicated most of his life to restoring sight, so you can hopefully understand, if not appreciate, my reaction.

Please use real, certified googles. If FrothyChimp was still here...

Traveller,

Just because something is certified doesn't mean certain uncertified lenses won't work as well. You just have to look in the right place. I have tried 3 different types of yellow sporting lenses, to see the differences, since they claim to block UV. Winchester yellow lenses do little to nothing. Some other no-name brand yellow lenses from Farm & Fleet do little as well. The Remingtons make the dot look like it is a few mW and barely visible--blockage far above the others. I also have certified goggles, you just haven't followed my post history.

I will admit that it was probably some bad advice to put out there without testing them first. I just thought the $100 pairs out there are sort of raping us in a sense. Could they really cost that much more to manufacture than a $10 pair? I'll leave that question up in the air. But for those reading, yes, stick to certified stuff and disregard my advice. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's mishaps.

 

[daguin]

Traveller,

Just because something is certified doesn't mean certain uncertified lenses won't work as well. You just have to look in the right place. I have tried 3 different types of yellow sporting lenses, to see the differences, since they claim to block UV. Winchester yellow lenses do little to nothing. Some other no-name brand yellow lenses from Farm & Fleet do little as well. The Remingtons make the dot look like it is a few mW and barely visible--blockage far above the others. I also have certified goggles, you just haven't followed my post history.

I will admit that it was probably some bad advice to put out there without testing them first. I just thought the $100 pairs out there are sort of raping us in a sense. Could they really cost that much more to manufacture than a $10 pair? I'll leave that question up in the air. But for those reading, yes, stick to certified stuff and disregard my advice. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's mishaps.

One other thing you have to be aware of with the quality of goggles you choose is how long they will resist the hit. Many less expensive goggles have dyes that "boil off" much too quickly to afford you good enough protection. Less expensive goggles are fine for accidental flashes and a quick hit, but the dye may no longer be effective in the portion struck. Even if no damage to the eye happens that time, there is now a weak point in the goggles. The longer you use them, the more dangerous they become.

Also, if you progress into more extended operation and observation, you risk the beam "boiling through" and causing a direct hit.

I have less expensive goggles to use when my grandson and I "pop caps" with a 100mW laser and high quality goggles for when I am "working" or doing experiments with my high powered stuff.

Peace,
dave

 

[Traveller]

...just because something is certified doesn't mean certain uncertified lenses won't work as well ... you just haven't followed my post history...

Yes, perhaps there are uncertified googles that are effective at said powers and wavelengths, but my guess is that you aren't qualified to make that call (do correct me if I'm wrong, here)... :-/

Neither am I interested in following your post history as I hardly doubt anyone else reading that single post would do so, before running out to the next Wallmart to buy some...


ADDENDUM:

... yes, stick to certified stuff and disregard my advice. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's mishaps.

Thank you for your addendum :beer:

 

[Exerd]

Yes, perhaps there are uncertified googles that are effective at said powers and wavelengths, but my guess is that you aren't qualified to make that call (do correct me if I'm wrong, here)... :-/

Neither am I interested in following your post history as I hardly doubt anyone else reading that single post would do so, before running out to the next Wallmart to buy some...

Geeze,

Sorry to upset you. I was attempting to be helpful when I first posted. I know there are people here who WON'T pay the $100 for lenses. There's kids all over with powerful BR lasers who aren't using eye protection at all, and evidence has shown that (videos, ah hem). My advice may actually cause them to use some kind of protection they can afford, although it is not what you recommend. Would you rather those people continue using no protection at all, until they can afford the $100 pair? Because I will bet you those same people will keep staring at their lasers unprotected, regardless.

 

[daguin]

When considering laser goggles, I would recommend to err on the side of protecting your eyes rather than protecting your wallet.

You can buy another wallet and/or earn more money to re-fill it

Geeze,

Sorry to upset you. I was attempting to be helpful when I first posted. I know there are people here who WON'T pay the $100 for lenses. There's kids all over with powerful BR lasers who aren't using eye protection at all, and evidence has shown that (videos, ah hem). My advice may actually cause them to use some kind of protection they can afford, although it is not what you recommend. Would you rather those people continue using no protection at all, until they can afford the $100 pair? Because I will bet you those same people will keep staring at their lasers unprotected, regardless.

The problem with the advice you gave is mostly that low quality goggles give people a FALSE sense of security. Without the additional warnings that Traveler and I have given, you end up with NooBs thinking that they are protected and doing dumb stuff, like looking down the beam to see how cool it looks or shining their lasers at each other because they are all protected from harm!

Peace,
dave

 

[Exerd]

Daguin,

I fully understand. I will withdraw my NooB ignorance on eye safety from this thread.

It started because I am a rifle shooter, and plenty of yellow sporting glasses land on my reloading bench. I didn't actually go out buying these glasses searching for "the NooBs pair of UV glasses". When I noticed how well the Remingtons worked for UV, I thought it would be a good pair to hand out to people who are in the room when I am shining a BR laser. I can't afford to buy five $100 pairs to hand out. I ALWAYS tell people never to look directly at the dot.

There's nothing more I can say besides that I am sorry for exposing this here.

 

[Traveller]

There's nothing more I can say besides that I am sorry for exposing this here.

Well I realize you were directing that to Big Dave but I already served you a cold one :beersee my last post above)...

so like it's cool, everbody's cool, we're all one big happy :gh:

 

[daguin]

Daguin,

I fully understand. I will withdraw my NooB ignorance on eye safety from this thread.

It started because I am a rifle shooter, and plenty of yellow sporting glasses land on my reloading bench. I didn't actually go out buying these glasses searching for "the NooBs pair of UV glasses". When I noticed how well the Remingtons worked for UV, I thought it would be a good pair to hand out to people who are in the room when I am shining a BR laser. I can't afford to buy five $100 pairs to hand out. I ALWAYS tell people never to look directly at the dot.

There's nothing more I can say besides that I am sorry for exposing this here.

Don't be sorry. I guarantee, that this crosses almost every person's mind at some point. Money is sometimes hard to come by, especially for the younger members of the community. Occasionally having these discussions openly, educate the less experienced among us. As I exposed with my "cap popping", less expensive goggles do have their place. We just need to remind everyone, every once in a while, about their limitations.

We are also a bit more sensitive right now. These 8X and 12X blurays are spreading through the community fairly quickly. 600mW of violet light STILL doesn't "look" all that dangerous. 600mW of green laser light scares people into being more careful. Violet is just so "pretty" that people are not as mindful of it

Peace,
dave

 

[FrancoRob]

"All 12x Owners" datasheet updated with the entrance of pianoman2011, RA pierce and Slipstream!

RA pierce: ok for the diode and the lens, but pls confirm also the host: ok that in the post #264 you spoke of a "Flaminpyro brass heatsink", but for me heatsink and host are different parts of a laser (sorry to be boring...:can: but I spent my last ten years as Quality representative before retiring....)

20/02 Update: No need to go for further researches, thank you, as following the info and movie you posted in the "Multimedia" Section, I have found the host within the DX flashlights pages: it is a A10B Cree (DX SKU 29096). It has been only a matter of patience....