Another diode goes to the graveyard

[Gazoo]

Yes, it's true. My open can diode which I was running with 600ma's, and was putting out a beautiful 350mw's died.
I knew it was coming as that is a lot of current to run into these things... ;D I have another one I need to harvest. I will be limiting current to 400ma's on it or I might even just run it of the AMC7135, but will still use a TEC.

 

[DJEEPER]

dayyyyuuummm...

600mA?! is that a senkat diode?

 

[Gazoo]

No...it was an open can diode harvested from a Pioneer 112D.

 

[a_pyro_is]

Gazoo, I'm sorry to hear that. :'(
About how many hours did you have on that diode? And at about what temp was it running?
I hope you get the new one up and running without any trouble.

 

[Gazoo]

Really it is difficult to tell how many hours. I did limit the current to it when I first hooked it up to 400ma's. Then I got "greedy" and wanted more power...so I limited the current to 600ma's. I doubt I had an hour on it while running at 600ma's but it was close. For the most part I always ran it a bit cooler than room temp. I did put a couple of long duty cycles on it between yesterday and today...I ran it as least 5 minutes at a time. It did not go "poof" while it was running. It went "poof" when I applied power to it the last time. And that line we all talk about from the laser did get longer...maybe it was a warning.lol.

I have already tried running an open can directly off the AMC7135. I achieved a ~220mw output with no TEC cooling but it was mounted in a Meredith module with the cube. And that was with an acrylic lens. I believe with a TEC and glass lens I should be able to get closer to 250mw's and it will last a good while longer.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

GAzoo --

I got a 112 from Newegg a couple days ago -- I harvested the diodes for future use. This is a key piece of info for us here -- Thanks and sorry for your dead LD :'(

Mike

 

[wooooooolazer]

350mw That was putting out alot of power, was the diode easy to harvest from the dvd burner?

Man i would be mad if i had one and it broke, 350mw of pure power, i bet you could see the beam on that pretty good

....lazer.... ;D ;D ;D

 

[Gazoo]

Mike-
That is where I have been getting my 112D's from...Newegg is awesome..and I bet they love us too.

woolazer,
For an open can the 112D is the easiest to harvest that I have run across. But you must be very careful when harvesting them since they are open cans. I seldom get mad anymore when I burn up a diode...it is all a learning experience. I would probably be a little upset if I did not have another drive sitting here saying "come an get me".. ;D

 

[DJEEPER]

how visible was the beam of the laser at 350mW?

i would love to have a red laser that had a visible bearm like that!

 

[Gazoo]

Well my X105 which runs at a peak of ~130mw's still put it to shame. It was not much more visible than my SenTorch which puts out ~200mw's. As far as burning it goes without saying..lol. I could burn a hole through a floppy in 4 seconds.

I am going to redo the whole thing and run the laser and TEC off of the AMC7135's. I also got a small fan for my TEC. The whole thing will run off of 3 nimh batteries and like I said I will be very happy with ~250mw's. I have had my fun burning up diodes and I need to settle down a bit... ;D At least until something better comes along.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Gazoo --

350 mW at 600 mA ?? I hope you give that diode a proper burial with good words. ;D Your info on this over its life has been good knowledge. My open can never got that high.
Now you're giving up ?? 250 mW ??? NNNoooooo ---- 400 mW or bust ;D

Mike

 

[Gazoo]

Mike,
I know you love to tempt me... ;D I was actually thinking of taking it up to 700ma's before it blew...I am sure it would have been close to 400mw's. But naw...for now I am very happy as I just finished another 112D successful harvest. I am running the diode and the TEC with AMC7135's. Maximum output is 245mw's...close enough for now..

I would love to get 400mw's but I need to get a couple more 112D's before I attempt it. Ever since Vathink did it I have wanted to...but remember he did not have the ND on his LPM-1 when he measured it...but still I am sure he got very close to 400mw's..lol.

PS...yes the other diode did get a proper burial with good words...straight to the round file.. ;D

 

[jayrob]

Ouch! Sorry about your LD Gazoo...Hey, how about some pics...after you get that monster up and running again?
Jay

 

[Zarniwoop]

My condolences Gazoo  :'(
I just did the same thing.   :'( :'(
I was building myself a TEC labby with an open-can, had run it up to 600ma, then backed it off to 550.  Like yours it died when applying power.
Up till then it had resisted all my best efforts to kill it.

I'm using an LM317 with a bench supply, but I noticed that at I couldn't get past about 500mA to the LD, until I cranked the input supply up to about 8.5V.  It was sourcing about 750mA into the (heatsinked) regulator.  Since the supply should be able to go up to 1A, I'm not sure why I was getting that sag.  I was about to investigate when it died.
I'm also wondering if I was overdoing it with the TEC and maybe condensation had something to do with it.

Newegg you say...?
I've been eyeing the sales at Fry's - 18x Pioneer for $24 after rebate.

 

[Gazoo]

If your TEC had condensation on it then it very may well have been the reason. Did you notice moisture anywhere?

My condolences go out to you too.. :'(

 

[knimrod]

I'm using an LM317 with a bench supply, but I noticed that at I couldn't get past about 500mA to the LD, until I cranked the input supply up to about 8.5V.  It was sourcing about 750mA into the (heatsinked) regulator.  Since the supply should be able to go up to 1A, I'm not sure why I was getting that sag.  I was about to investigate when it died.
I'm also wondering if I was overdoing it with the TEC and maybe condensation had something to do with it.

If you were using the LM317 in the typical series current regulator circuit and saw 750mA into the regulator, wouldn't that be 750mA through the LD also? The current is always the same through any component in a series circuit.