Blu-ray with TEC!

[jayrob]

Time for a new project...

Let's see how well these 803T diodes hold up using Thermoelectric cooling. First testing was done after I did some slight modifications to my 'Ice Box' laser.

Using small JST plugs, it is now easy to swap out the ‘Meredith mounted’ diodes! I have the 803T mounted with a Meredith glass lens.

Unplug the 112D open can.
Loosen the set screw and slide out the module.
Adjust the driver current, then slide the Meredith glass 803T blu-ray into place!

The Lipo batteries are 2 X 7.4 volts in parallel. When fully charged, they are 8.4 volts. I thought that this should be enough supply voltage for a blu-ray diode using the DDL style drivers that my Ice Box laser is built with...

First test:
140mA's - measuring a steady 123mW's for 10 minutes. No temperature increase to module. Block was cool to the touch...

2nd test:
After learning that the battery supply is a little low on voltage for higher current (because they power the peltier and the fan as well), I didn't measure current, I just turned the pot on the driver until I got 186mW's reading...

This held steady at 186mW's for 10 minutes. The temperature of the module raised about 3 1/2 degrees. From 82.5 to 86.

Then I swapped out the 7.4 volt batteries and used an 11.1 volt lipo. After a quick normal current range test, I turned up the current to 220mA's. I guess I went a little too high for that diode, which died instantly at 220mA's.

Conclusions...

This just made me want to build a completely new 'Ice Box Blu-Ray' laser!
I have already ordered all of the parts. The new one will be using the same battery set up, with 7805 regulators to drop voltage to 5 volts for the FlexDrive drivers!

I will show pictures of the new build as it progresses...

Here's some inside pictures of the Open can Ice Box:

Video: Here's a match light video at 20' in less than 3 seconds! This is when it was turned down to only 416mA's. I've got it at a comfortable 450mA's now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2fKd6rWulQ
Jay

 

[Switch]

I remember when you first posted the thread about this build Wow, this is awesome, must turn out to be one heck of a laser! It is an ingenious and complicated build. How does the LiPo alarm work? And is that what gives off the cool blue-greenish light that makes it look like a pimped laser? ;D

I think that when you finish it, it deserves a 6x with an AR coated lens :

 

[brtaman]

Awesome Jayrob, I am speechless! Great use of parts and ingenuity (really wish I had more than my HNNC machine :-/)


Hmmm, JST plugs, Thunderpower lipo's 2C and 3C, and also what looks like an RC lipo protection device...also is that a deans micro connector I see? if I were a betting man I would say that you are into micro heli's or lightweight park flying airplanes....am I close?


brtaman

 

[thesk8nmidget]

VERY NICE

you should have it be powered by a flexmod1 and have it plug in power.

but being portable is also a VERY nice feature!

i was thinking of doing something similar for my lab style 405nm i build for myself

 

[lasersbee]

Nice tight professional looking build

 

[disma]

Man, I really like the way you built this, I am impressed, I am inspired now to build a tec cooled laser. I wonder how long it would have lasted at 185ma being tec cooled. :

 

[JLSE]

Now that is a kick-a$$ build! Very clean

 

[Switch]

Well, I can't wait to see how this turns and what insane performance you'll get out of it

Btw, here's the original thread for the ice box build guys: http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1197272621/0

 

[jayrob]

I remember when you first posted the thread about this build Wow, this is awesome, must turn out to be one heck of a laser! It is an ingenious and complicated build. How does the LiPo alarm work? And is that what gives off the cool blue-greenish light that makes it look like a pimped laser? ;D

I think that when you finish it, it deserves a 6x with an AR coated lens :

You know that the 6X idea has crossed my mind! It will definitely have one in the future. When I get the new blu-ray model up and running, I'll start with an 803T diode at 180mA's checking temperature and stability.

Yes, the LiPo alarm is the blue light. It shines bright blue when it senses full charge, Cyan - very good, Green - good, Yellow/Amber - low warning, and Red - Batteries Low (70%)...

Awesome Jayrob, I am speechless! Great use of parts and ingenuity (really wish I had more than my HNNC machine :-/)


Hmmm, JST plugs, Thunderpower lipo's 2C and 3C, and also what looks like an RC lipo protection device...also is that a deans micro connector I see? if I were a betting man I would say that you are into micro heli's or lightweight park flying airplanes....am I close?  


brtaman

Yes! You are correct. I have a couple of T-rex's. My 450 doesn't get much attention anymore, because I like the 600 so much better. 53" blade span! Here's a link to a short video from about 4 months ago... some inverted hovering, I was just learning pyro flips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xt82GSi7dM


Thanks to everybody for the great complements! As you can see from the pictures, there is a bit of time that goes into such a project. And it feels good when people notice...

I'm really anxious to get the new Blu-ray Ice Box going now, so we can get some better examples of the 803T diode with cooling! I'm going to leave the Open can/DDL driver Ice Box for the red diode...
Jay

 

[thesk8nmidget]

what peltier did you use? do you have a link?

also im not that knowledgeable in that area so can you explain how you run them?

just need a driver of some sort and it powers the peltier and then the peltier gets cold? and in return whatever it is touching of course gets cold as well?

 

[jayrob]

Here's the link for the Peltiers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Chip-Chillers-P...goryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Great deal! 5 for $10 bucks. They come with a heatsink attached, which I detached with an X-acto knife, and used the peltier heatsinks as a base for my Ice Box build!

The peltiers get cold on one side, and hot on the other. So you need a heatsink and fan so they can keep working correctly...
Jay

P.S. I don't know that much about them either. Gazoo told me to run them at no more than 500mA's. He said they will draw about 1.7 volts. (less than a red diode)

 

[thesk8nmidget]

sweet i just bought some! i didnt know thay they got hot on one side! thats all news to me! now it makes sense why you have that hole in the bottom! good thinking!

 

[jayrob]

Yeah... I got lots of advice when I built it. (mostly from Gazoo) I had the plan of trying to have it all in one small package, and for it to be portable as well. That's when I had the idea of putting the heatsink out the bottom!

I learned a lot about building lasers from that one project. You will definitely need a finned heatsink with a fan to cool the 'hot side' of the peltier. Here are some links for you!

Peltiers: http://cgi.ebay.com/Chip-Chillers-P...goryZ294QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Fan: http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CF-250/40MM-5VDC-CENTRIFUGAL-BLOWER/-/1.html (this fan fits inside the Peltier heatsink with very little modification)!

Heatsink: http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/HS-144/HEATSINK-1.33-X-1.14-X-0.37-/1.html

Meredith page: http://www.mi-lasers.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&keywords=diode_optics

Box: http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=HM151-ND

Batteries: http://grandrc.com/inc/sdetail/36557

LiPo Alarm: http://grandrc.com/inc/sdetail/88857

It's not cheap, I figure on spending over $300 dollars for my new blu-ray model, because I am going to use FlexDrives.

But I can tell you that it is the most awesome and rewarding laser build that I have done! And I know that you would enjoy a project like this...
Jay

 

[Switch]

sweet i just bought some! i didnt know thay they got hot on one side! thats all news to me! now it makes sense why you have that hole in the bottom! good thinking!

Hey, where was all that heat gonna go huh? ;D It doesn't just get cold, it just kinda transfers heat from one side to the other(and probably adds a little more due to imperfect efficiency) so it's like a super-fast heat transferer.

 

[jayrob]

Starting the Blu-ray Ice Box now and I will show some pictures if anybody ever wants to follow this project...

The heatsinks that came with the peltiers, will be used as a 'base' for the Ice Box build.

Overview of box and base parts with fan and heatsink.

Heatsink fins through the bottom... I put some holes in the box, as well as the lid. I figure that some ventilation couldn't hurt right?

The fan fits nicely inside the peltier heatsink/base piece with very little modification! Just use some double sided tape...

The other base piece will house the switch and main wiring harness. As well as the LiPo alarm.

It's great how the base pieces are such a nice fit for the box!

More to come...
Jay

 

[nvmextc]

Wow, that's looks awesome, I would love to build one of these sometime. I especially like the light down the bottom. Looks like this next one will be a great build also Very solid and clever design. I might have a go at making 1 when I have the spare money, looks fun