12x BR DIODES

[jaycey]

Anyone combined 2 of these yet for around 800mw-1 watt of 405?

Im seriously considering it.

I want to build a DIY scanner this year and am considering 2 high powered 405,s over a 50-100mw 473.

 

[jkoeller]

The flexdrive CANNOT provide 400mA to these diodes @ <5V VF (voltage to the diode). Drlava is working on a new one now. However, when the voltage begins to approach 6V (like these 12X's do), the flexdrivwe can only actually provide ~300mA. If you want to make a 12X right now, you either have to set it very low or use a Rkcstr or DDL type drive and provide it with at least 6V OVER the voltage drop of the driver. Either that or wait until dlava gets the next generation manufactured.

Peace,
dave

This is more of a general question but can you not just power diodes with a variable voltage and current bench top power supply?

 

[rtyrty100]

Wow, the sale of 12x's is relative to that of the sale of Ps3's. The pattern?

1. At first, No one has one.
2. Then, Everyone has one.

Im seeing alot of interest in 12x's. The chart only had one 12x holder weeks ago, very soon it will have over 10.

Looking forward to getting mine >=)

And daguin we appreciate you pushing your diode for all of us.... REALLY appreciate.

Later.

 

[ff-racer]

Thank you Dave,

That is what I needed to know. I thought the V5 would have worked... Oh well.

I will use Ryan's drive.

Thanks all,
Doug

The flexdrive CANNOT provide 400mA to these diodes @ <5V VF (voltage to the diode). Drlava is working on a new one now. However, when the voltage begins to approach 6V (like these 12X's do), the flexdrivwe can only actually provide ~300mA. If you want to make a 12X right now, you either have to set it very low or use a Rkcstr or DDL type drive and provide it with at least 6V OVER the voltage drop of the driver. Either that or wait until dlava gets the next generation manufactured.

Peace,
dave

 

[daguin]

This is more of a general question but can you not just power diodes with a variable voltage and current bench top power supply?

Laser diodes are VERY vulnerable to "spikes." One of the purposes of the driver is to smooth out the normal spikes and ripples in current/voltage from a power source.

Peace,
dave

 

[pullbangdead]

This is more of a general question but can you not just power diodes with a variable voltage and current bench top power supply?

As Dave alluded to, a bench supply is fine, as long as the output is clean. Like high quality, or checked with o-scope, or both.

As long as the supply is clean with no big spikes or anything like that, a bench voltage source or current source either one will work just fine.

 

[LarryDFW]

This is more of a general question but can you not just power diodes with a variable voltage and current bench top power supply?

Yes, a lab power supply can be used for power to the diodes.

1. Make very secure connections to the diode.

2. Set the maximum current for the test.

3. Slowly ramp the voltage up while watching the current

4. Ramp the voltage down after testing.

I have tested many laser diodes with this procedure.

The only supply failures I have seen were from turn-on transient high currents.

LarryDFW

 

[MISTERWILLING]

Anyone combined 2 of these yet for around 800mw-1 watt of 405?

Im seriously considering it.

I want to build a DIY scanner this year and am considering 2 high powered 405,s over a 50-100mw 473.

I did, not very birght at all. It sounds good but I even did 3 diodes for 1.2 watts. Not impresive and its terrible idea for a scanner.

Blu-ray just has too low of visiblity. It can help in ways with color blending, but the brightness of 405 is just weak compared to 532 640 and 473. It only presents a higher amount of danger( compared to brighter wavelengths) because if the high power and low visibilty. Not to mention blu-ray contains the most energy of all visible wavelengths.

 

[StridAst]

Hmm, So a flexdrive v5 can't actually push a 12x at 400ma? This actually messes up the 12x I was planning =/ I only have room for a single 14500 in my host. I was planning on 400ish current and a flexdrive. Anyone have a clear idea how far I can push the flexdrive with a 12x? What should I get it set at?

 

[RA_pierce]

Hmm, So a flexdrive v5 can't actually push a 12x at 400ma? This actually messes up the 12x I was planning =/ I only have room for a single 14500 in my host. I was planning on 400ish current and a flexdrive. Anyone have a clear idea how far I can push the flexdrive with a 12x? What should I get it set at?

320mA seems to be the max. reliable current a FlexDrive will power a 12X at >5V Vf.

320mA will still give you >400mW and seems to be "conservative" for this diode.

 

[StridAst]

hmm 320ma is much more conservative then I was planning on being. Granted that would give me a very long life with the diode, I was still wanting to break 500mw. Kind of a nice psychological target to shoot for for some reason. I guess I will either have to wait patiently for a v6 flexdrive, or else go conservative. =/

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

This is for Dave and DrLava who, like me, are testing to the limits.
I set up my 12x for use in a Kryton housing using a V4 driver from DrLava set to MAX .
After reading some PM's and posts above, I took it apart and ran more tests to verify what I saw a couple days ago.

The power source is a Voltage and Current regulated bench power supply feeding the driver.
Vin 3.6 Volts
Iin 1.01 Amps
Vld 5.97 Volts
Ild 500 mA
PO 620 mW

When I set this up, I had to turn the pot down to reduce the current. I set to pot for 600+ mW output and then read the current. I wanted into the 600 mW Blu club and nothing would stop me :eg: I admit that I'm keeping short duty cycles for the time being.

HMike

 

[daguin]

This is for Dave and DrLava who, like me, are testing to the limits.
I set up my 12x for use in a Kryton housing using a V4 driver from DrLava set to MAX .
After reading some PM's and posts above, I took it apart and ran more tests to verify what I saw a couple days ago.

The power source is a Voltage and Current regulated bench power supply feeding the driver.
Vin 3.6 Volts
Iin 1.01 Amps
Vld 5.97 Volts
Ild 510 mA
PO 610 mW

When I set this up, I had to turn the pot down to reduce the current. I set to pot for 600+ mW output and then read the current. I wanted into the 600 mW Blu club and nothing would stop me :eg: I admit that I'm keeping short duty cycles for the time being.

HMike

Your certificate is in the mail :wave:

Peace,
dave

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

I must note that the adjustment pot is VERY sensitive at this level. I must have slightly disturbed the setting and had to take it apart to bring it back to the above adjustments. It's real easy to go too high. I don't like to see 800 mW for more than a second. When the $ on the sleds comes down, this one may be set real high --- but not now.
I got it put back now.

HMike

Dave -- I won the dumb ass certificate for taking this apart again. What an honor !!!

Here is my 12x

 

[drlava]

Hey Mike, way to go! This shows clearly that the 310mA limit is not a hard and fast rule, it dpends on your diode. The REAL limit is the output voltage and some 12x diodes can apparently accept over 500mA at 6V. So, the take-away is after you set your FlexDrive at 300mA and connect it to the 12x diode, measure the diode voltage while operating and if it's below 5.9V, you can bump up the current for more power if desired.

Dave, the 'high voltage' boost prototype is on it's way

 

[daguin]

Hey Mike, way to go! This shows clearly that the 310mA limit is not a hard and fast rule, it dpends on your diode. The REAL limit is the output voltage and some 12x diodes can apparently accept over 500mA at 6V. So, the take-away is after you set your FlexDrive at 300mA and connect it to the 12x diode, measure the diode voltage while operating and if it's below 5.9V, you can bump up the current for more power if desired.

Dave, the 'high voltage' boost prototype is on it's way

Nice. Everything else is here waiting.

Peace,
dave