Budget Beams driver

[RedBull]

I have 2 of these drivers and I wanted to know a little bit more about them. I do know it is a linear buck driver and that's about it. If anyone can give me some more info on these I would appreciate it.

 

[Alaskan]

What is that a driver from a LED flashlight?

 

[RedBull]

I bought it from Moh about a year ago from budget Beams website back when it was still up. I really do not know much more about it.

 

[Alaskan]

I guess budget beams says it all, well, a fixed LED driver of some type. What were you planning to use it for?

 

[Encap]

Ask Budget Beams- was a business of member Mohrenberg see: https://laserpointerforums.com/f39/fs-budgetbeams-inventory-95965.html

Nothing past 15 July 2015 is on the face book page and the web site no longer exists So....

Not aware on anyone ever using that driver/contact board

 

[RedBull]

Currently I do not have any projects in mind for them I was organizing all of my laser stuff and came across them. I do not want to even try to use them before knowing what the specs of the drivers are.

 

[RedBull]

Ok, Thanks to you both for replying.

 

[Alaskan]

Unless you know the characteristics of the driver, most members would not recommend using a LED driver for a laser diode.

 

[Encap]

Currently I do not have any projects in mind for them I was organizing all of my laser stuff and came across them. I do not want to even try to use them before knowing what the specs of the drivers are.

Skype message Mohrenberg and PM him as well for the specs.
See: Skype details here https://laserpointerforums.com/members/mohrenberg/

 

[CynicalBrad]

That is a name I haven't seen in a while.
As for the driver, definitely seems to be a linear driver probably using an LM*** variant.
I'd throw it on a test load to check the current but linear drivers are pretty simple and just convert the excess voltage into waste heat.

BudgetBeams is a new one for me, I remember MohGasm from way back when. Still have one of the custom engraved c6's somewhere.
I also recall something about the MohGasm BOOST drivers killing diodes due to spikes in current but nothing about the linear drivers.

Take my advice with a grain of salt. Not an EE or anything (neither was Mohrenberg).

 

[paul1598419]

Yeah, that is not a buck driver. As Brad said, it is at best a linear driver of fixed current. You could put it on a dummy load and measure the current and its ability to hold that current. Other than that, it's difficult to say.

 

[CynicalBrad]

Did some digging. The part number is LM1085.


As for the current this thing should put out, the formula for this one was
1.25 / R = I

In this case
1.25 / 3.2 = I
Should put out ~390mA

Minimal info can be found on these by searching "MohGasm linear driver"

 

[paul1598419]

How did you come up with that number, Brad? Moh obviously sanded the number off the device to keep people from knowing. I see that a lot, though finding a suitable linear LDO regulator isn't that difficult to do.

 

[CynicalBrad]

Unless he changed parts at some point, that was the part number he said he used on his MohGasm ones that look the same aside from the name change to budget beams.

https://laserpointerforums.com/f39/fs-mohgasm-linear-drivers-68378.html POST 8. found it on a few old FS threads aswell.

 

[paul1598419]

I see that from your link, but he didn't bother sanding the numbers off that driver. It could be a 1085, or some other regulator. I would still measure the current rather than take a chance.

 

[RedBull]

I appreciate all of the feedback on this driver. I will just test it on a dummy load and see what it gives. I kinda already made my mind up though that it will not be used for anything but an led. Thanks again.