Any one tried this cheap driver?

[Sak0ya]

445-450nm 1.6W-2W Laser Diode Driver/1.8A Boost Circuit | eBay

445nm 1.8 boost driver

Has anyone tried using this driver?

 

[94Z28]

I haven't tried this specific one but the other driver from existotem is good; I have some of his 750ma.. they have a nice IC and when heats inked can go up over 1.5A and solder quality looks better than this driver.

What are you looking to push with the drive?

 

[CaliKirk]

I dont have the exact one but have a driver very similar to the one listed in the OP, same PCB and layout. The one I have is also a boost driver but for 520 diodes (this one) and surprisingly its been very reliable and even has a soft start.

The only thing I didn't take into account when buying was the overall size of the driver itself. I built a laser66 pen where size parameters are a big issue and had to do a little trimming and crossing the fingers while stuffing it all in, but it fit snug and is solid.

You also gotta take the price into account for what type of quality you will be getting. Cheap price will more than likely mean a cheap driver but at the same time we are limited on boost driver options and have to get what we can!

I found a couple cheap boost drivers for 445s on Odicforce. Pretty fast shipping too.

 

[diachi]

I dont have the exact one but have a driver very similar to the one listed in the OP, same PCB and layout. The one I have is also a boost driver but for 520 diodes (this one) and surprisingly its been very reliable and even has a soft start.

The only thing I didn't take into account when buying was the overall size of the driver itself. I built a laser66 pen where size parameters are a big issue and had to do a little trimming and crossing the fingers while stuffing it all in, but it fit snug and is solid.

You also gotta take the price into account for what type of quality you will be getting. Cheap price will more than likely mean a cheap driver but at the same time we are limited on boost driver options and have to get what we can!

I found a couple cheap boost drivers for 445s on Odicforce. Pretty fast shipping too.

Also have one for 520, seems to work just fine. My pen build died, but that's a result of my thrown together construction and a bad contact somewhere, probably at the button I used.

 

[Sak0ya]

I haven't tried this specific one but the other driver from existotem is good; I have some of his 750ma.. they have a nice IC and when heats inked can go up over 1.5A and solder quality looks better than this driver.

What are you looking to push with the drive?

I just thought it would be a cheap option. I got it up to 1.9A.

 

[Euphonious Nonsense]

I just thought it would be a cheap option. I got it up to 1.9A.

Not too shabby considering it's a cheapy.

 

[Chrisbee]

Good to know that you got the power up that high! Because a lot of those round 445-450 boost drivers on eb@y that claim the same 2w max output, don't go that high. I was barely able to get 1.5a out of it. Enough for an A140 though.

 

[Benm]

Well, it's not -that- cheap. But for anyone that actually got this driver: what chip is it using? Seems impossible to tell from the pictures, perhaps it's been removed from the actual units as well. There seem to be no transistors/fets driving the inductor, so the IC spec should tell all.

 

[Sak0ya]

Good to know that you got the power up that high! Because a lot of those round 445-450 boost drivers on eb@y that claim the same 2w max output, don't go that high. I was barely able to get 1.5a out of it. Enough for an A140 though.

Maybe I measure wrong?
I tried the method where I take the tailcap off and check from there with the two leads from the multimeter set on the Amps.

 

[CaliKirk]

Maybe I measure wrong?
I tried the method where I take the tailcap off and check from there with the two leads from the multimeter set on the Amps.

To test the drivers output going to the diode, you would need a test load to simulate the equivalent voltage drop of the diode being used. It sounds like the way you measured was measuring the drivers input current.

 

[Enchilada]

Got one of those, but aint got any diodetestload, to see how it performs..

Rookie on this field, and sofare try and error trying to get familiar with amp adjustment (w,out-diodes, as fare as i can) and get familiar with the diferent laserdiodes ideel voltage & current..

actually just blew, that diode on the right with diode attached here tonight, was of the impression that particaly 445/450LD could handle 1.8amp from the 1.4A is was fitted with, nahh it couldnt but also little unsure of the driver on that since it delivering full 2xjuice to diode and if its the driver that went haywire. (was an cheap 445/450 diode from a 45US Gatlin style 2x3.7-laserpointer purchased back in late 2014, but unsure what diode these cheap china-lasers actually are packing, did around 1.4w>/5.6mm)
//likely something down this line of an mistake I made, on the above incident (link ref explenation post4) http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/trying-adjust-output-help-80908.html#post1162498
where i with an breadboard and wires to driver was measuring current & voltage on multimeters..
but an adjustable power supply is a must, when dealing with driver and laser-diodes, gotta get one in house' with voltage and current-

acttached some close-up shot of the other driver ref topic and chips..

//



(these single drivers, is all cheap ebay-drivers, to around 2 to 5US shipped each, purchased a year or two ago, all from china for simply try and error purpose, from an rookie standpoint..)

 

[Shmackitup]

I have a few of those drivers. I couldn't get it to go over 1W with a single cell LiPo battery. I accidently hooked it up to my 2 cell rig and it actually worked pretty well. I didn't leave it on very long though.

 

[Sak0ya]

Anyone tried this buck driver
1W 1.6W 3W 445nm 447nm Laser Diode Drive Circuit Board Blue Drive | eBay

 

[Shmackitup]

Anyone tried this buck driver
1W 1.6W 3W 445nm 447nm Laser Diode Drive Circuit Board Blue Drive | eBay

See my post here