594nm pen rebuild (Rigel-2) Current Draw + opinions?

[Chicxulub]

Hey guys!

I have a 594nm CNI pen module out of a Laserglow Rigel-2. Eight years ago, the driver broke free from the module, thereby rendering the laser effectively useless. At the time, the module and driver made the rounds of the DIY experts in an attempt to be repaired, but no one at the time could figure out how to reattach the driver. I ended up selling the driver (to my current great chagrin)

Now, here I am eight years later, to find that there are many off-the-shelf driver options available, as well as a whole bunch of options for DIY hosts. Since I was foolish enough to have sold the original driver, I now need to figure out what kind of current these things draw so I can get a new driver.

Secondly, I'd like to request some opinions on what I should do for a host. My first choice as of now is probably the old school black box style build, powered off of a pair of C batteries (or something else, I'm open to options, 18650 maybe?) with both a momentary on button and a contant on option (probably a toggle switch). The early-hobby look still appeals to me.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks all!

 

[NightExplorer96]

Won't be much help with your driver question but I can give you my opinion on the host! I think a clicky would be a good idea, but remember that it may become frustrating since the duty cycle on these things is only about ~30sec./1min on before needing time to cool.

I've never seen a 593.5nm in a user built host so that will be a first indeed. My pick would be to stick to an all silver or black push-button host and forget about the clicky :yh:

-Alex

 

[Encap]

Hey guys!

I have a 594nm CNI pen module out of a Laserglow Rigel-2. Eight years ago, the driver broke free from the module, thereby rendering the laser effectively useless. At the time, the module and driver made the rounds of the DIY experts in an attempt to be repaired, but no one at the time could figure out how to reattach the driver. I ended up selling the driver (to my current great chagrin)

Now, here I am eight years later, to find that there are many off-the-shelf driver options available, as well as a whole bunch of options for DIY hosts. Since I was foolish enough to have sold the original driver, I now need to figure out what kind of current these things draw so I can get a new driver.

Secondly, I'd like to request some opinions on what I should do for a host. My first choice as of now is probably the old school black box style build, powered off of a pair of C batteries (or something else, I'm open to options, 18650 maybe?) with both a momentary on button and a contant on option (probably a toggle switch). The early-hobby look still appeals to me.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks all!

Contact/email CNI and ask if they will sel you the correct replacement driver as a part. They have done similar in the past for people doing repairs.

 

[Chicxulub]

***UPDATE***

The laser has been sent off for a hearty round of diagnostics. It hasn't been operated in almost seven years, so I honestly don't know if it is even still capable of producing 594nm light or not. I don't want to sink money into a futile endeavor, so one of our experts (who shall remain nameless unless he chooses to identify himself) agreed to put it through its paces.

Keep your fingers crossed that the results are positive!

Won't be much help with your driver question but I can give you my opinion on the host! I think a clicky would be a good idea, but remember that it may become frustrating since the duty cycle on these things is only about ~30sec./1min on before needing time to cool.

I've never seen a 593.5nm in a user built host so that will be a first indeed. My pick would be to stick to an all silver or black push-button host and forget about the clicky :yh:

-Alex

It's going into a clicky host! I'm planning to use a Jayrob stainless Aurora green laser kit. These 593.5nm pen modules desperately need some sort of heat sinking, which makes Jay's host absolutely perfect!

Contact/email CNI and ask if they will sel you the correct replacement driver as a part. They have done similar in the past for people doing repairs.

After you suggested it, I tried contacting them. They *say* that they can't provide the part because my module is eight years old, but I don't know if I believe that or not.

 

[Isaac Clarke]

lolz they simply too lazy to do that...

 

[ultimatekaiser]

NO. CNI does not sell replacement parts individually anymore unless they're external ones. (like a spare key) anything internal requires service at the factory sadly.

 

[Isaac Clarke]

-well do you know the voltage and current draw? if you do shoot Mr lazeerer a pm...( he's the creator of the X-drives...

- i can build you driver as well...

 

[Pman]

Looks like you could use a few easy to aquire other wavelengths for your rainbow Chic like 445/450, 462, 515/520, 680nm

 

[H2Oxide]

Isn't your Rigel a custom one?

 

[Chicxulub]

-well do you know the voltage and current draw? if you do shoot Mr lazeerer a pm...( he's the creator of the X-drives...

- i can build you driver as well...

Thanks! The member (who shall remain nameless unless he chooses to identify himself) who tested this thing to see if it works found that the diode itself was burned up in the original incident, thereby killing my plans to put this thing into a new host.

Looks like you could use a few easy to aquire other wavelengths for your rainbow Chic like 445/450, 462, 515/520, 680nm

Yes! Except for 680, none of those wavelengths even existed in the hobby when I was active before. Hell, for that matter, 589 wasn't even in the hobby yet when I stopped participating last time. The six colors in my sig were pretty much all we had at the time! lol

My next one will probably be 515 followed by a 447ish.

Isn't your Rigel a custom one?

I had two Rigels. A Rigel-2 (.5-5mW) and a Rigel-20 (30-40mW). I had the -2 first, bought in June 2008, but it broke. When it broke, that was the impetus to buy the -20 in Spring 2009. This was right when the economy really tanked, and being desperate for money, I ended up selling it (and all my other lasers except two) on eBay at a $600 loss in January 2010.

That was when I walked away from this hobby for almost six years.