Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using.

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

@ lazeerer the led drivers I bought from GoodLuckBuy that are listed the same as the ones from DX are NOT the same. The ones I received are a 2 piece sandwich I'll try to throw up some pictures later.

Really Yes please do take some Pictures. DO you have a link to the drivers you bought.? I got the Finlay 3rd different drivers in for KD from my OP but i still have not tested them. The are slightly larger as well. 17mm rather then 16.8. and they are thicks.

They are the exactly same drive just a different lay out. I have to do further testing to see if there different.

 

[Coherent Light]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

lazeerer here is the link. The price has gone from $1.72 to $3.49, and the picture still shows a single pcb.

18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm) $3.49 FS&H @ GoodLuckBuy.com

 

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

^^ You think maybe they sent you the wrong driver.?:thinking:

Post pictures when you can.

 

[Coherent Light]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Here are some pictures. I would like to think they sent the right one. I did play with 1 the other day, and did not get it to work with My bench PS. I did not spend enough time on it tho.

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[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

I see is there anyway that you can take a picture of the components without damaging the driver.?

I have been try to search to find the driver that you have with no luck

 

[Coherent Light]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Both internal sides of the PCB"s have components, and they are glued and soldered to each other. I would have to rip them apart, and doing that from the way it's setup would most likely destroy some of the components We want to see. Best I can do is spend some time trying to run one with a test load. It's disappointing, but not a big financial loss at 3 for $1.72ea. I'll poke around with one tonight, and get back to you.

 

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Both internal sides of the PCB"s have components, and they are glued and soldered to each other. I would have to rip them apart, and doing that from the way it's setup would most likely destroy some of the components We want to see. Best I can do is spend some time trying to run one with a test load. It's disappointing, but not a big financial loss at 3 for $1.72ea. I'll poke around with one tonight, and get back to you.

Yea, Don't want to see you destroy it,can you actual see the components and do they look the same.? I can only see a few.

> IF you get it work let me know.

 

[steviedezie]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

WARNING LONG POST!!!

hey i purchase this driver here: DealExtreme: $1.99 18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm)

from DX and it looks identical to the one you gave links to and it puts out an even 1.25A when on a test load, and it powers my A140 445nm diode fine except for 1 problem...

...its bright for about 2 seconds... and then it dims out like as if im using 1 18650.

i thought i fried the diode but i turned it off for 10 seconds...turn it back on, and then its bright again for 1-2 seconds and dims out again.

it does this everytime and consistently...even when i havent used it for hours, it just dims after 1-2 seconds. i suspect it is a heat issue but i just cant believe that it overheats that fast...in 1-2 secs??? i mean it supposedly is rated for 5W... im using the aurora c6 host available from DX and the heatsink from survival lasers and powering it with 2X ultrafire 18350 also from DX. i tried recharging the batteries and even tried using a heatsink on the driver. the driver is press fit into the pill with the heatsink is a piece aluminum from a LED emitter board i also got from DX that comes shaped like a star...(makes great heatsinks for drivers in flashlight hosts)

Heres where it gets kinda funny... detached from the diode... with the driver leads going to a test load of 5 1n4007 diodes and a 2W 1ohm resistor, the driver puts out an very stable 1.23-1.24 amps (as in it stays at 1.24 and occassionally moves to 1.23 and then back again to 1.24 every 10-15 seconds...) i tried leaving it on the test load for about 30 seconds...and it still puts out the full 1.24A. im completely stumped ... i wish i could upload pics but i cant find my camera and i lost my phone cable to upload the pics on the phone...will update with pics when i can.

any help would be appreciated... thanks for reading this essay of a post!

 

[Coherent Light]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

lazeerer It's difficult to see accurately, but it appears to have the same components as the single PCB from DX. I'll let You know if I get it working for sure.

 

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

WARNING LONG POST!!!

hey i purchase this driver here:
from DX and it looks identical to the one you gave links to and it puts out an even 1.25A when on a test load, and it powers my A140 445nm diode fine except for 1 problem...

...its bright for about 2 seconds... and then it dims out like as if im using 1 18650.

i thought i fried the diode but i turned it off for 10 seconds...turn it back on, and then its bright again for 1-2 seconds and dims out again.

it does this everytime and consistently...even when i havent used it for hours, it just dims after 1-2 seconds. i suspect it is a heat issue but i just cant believe that it overheats that fast...in 1-2 secs??? i mean it supposedly is rated for 5W... im using the aurora c6 host available from DX and the heatsink from survival lasers and powering it with 2X ultrafire 18350 also from DX. i tried recharging the batteries and even tried using a heatsink on the driver. the driver is press fit into the pill with the heatsink is a piece aluminum from a LED emitter board i also got from DX that comes shaped like a star...(makes great heatsinks for drivers in flashlight hosts)

Heres where it gets kinda funny... detached from the diode... with the driver leads going to a test load of 5 1n4007 diodes and a 2W 1ohm resistor, the driver puts out an very stable 1.23-1.24 amps (as in it stays at 1.24 and occassionally moves to 1.23 and then back again to 1.24 every 10-15 seconds...) i tried leaving it on the test load for about 30 seconds...and it still puts out the full 1.24A. im completely stumped ... i wish i could upload pics but i cant find my camera and i lost my phone cable to upload the pics on the phone...will update with pics when i can.

any help would be appreciated... thanks for reading this essay of a post!

This is a sign of the driver shorting out on something. Please upload pictures of your heatsink mod to the driver.

A few would be best maybe a little more if possible.

I dont think its a bad driver as you say it work fine out side the pill/laser.

Have you tried hooking up the laser to it when its not in the complete form. In other word when you have it taken apart. where the driver is not in the pill and the diode is in its heatsink and then connected to the driver just like how you would have it in the complete forum."MAKE SURE TO DISCHARGE THE CAPACITORS ON THE DRIVER YOU CAN KILL YOUR DIODE IF YOU DONT"

Iam pretty sure you as shorting on something.. once you post some pics i can help further.

lazeerer It's difficult to see accurately, but it appears to have the same components as the single PCB from DX. I'll let You know if I get it working for sure.

I see. OK let me know. Thanks buddy.

 

[Coherent Light]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

As a side note it'll be a bitch to heat sink.:thinking: Shouldn't He have 6 1N4001 instead of 5? Am I missing something?

Oh there is a couple of additions. It has an extra Cap, and 2 diodes. Mayhap it has reverse protection.

 

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

As a side note it'll be a bitch to heat sink.:thinking: Shouldn't He have 6 1N4001 instead of 5? Am I missing something?

Nope i Use 4. That is enough to test for 445nm/405nm.

There is really no need to heatsink this driver at 1.2A.

That hetsink i put i mine are more then enough to keep this driver stable at 1.8A

 

[LarryDFW]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

Steviedezie;

The "switch IC" is probably overheating.

It has built-in thermal shutdown at 140° C,

so it will stop driving the Laser diode when it reaches that point.

Check the temp on the 5-lead IC.

LarryDFW

 

[steviedezie]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

well i wish i could find my camera but thats almost an entirely new project since new years + 3 january birthdays = entire house looks like ground zero... but the crappy pic from my ancient phone shows the set up taken apart.



i am using 2 18650 in series taped together connecting the batteries with the driver via alligator clips and i still get the same deal...

used a ir thermometer and it showing a tad over room temperature 84-88 degrees F its about 77-78 F in my room. the finger test shows absolutely no overheating is occurring. everything feels "warm" at best. im really looking into the "something is shorting out" idea as thats the only reasonable answer... plus i did use a blob of solder to attach the new silicon leads since i was afraid of heating it up too much...

the blobs arent viewable in the pic as i said...i wish i had a camera to help u guys help me but i'd rather spend time figuring this out rather than running around trying to borrow a camera.

that being said... i am currently looking at it with a magnifying glass and it looks like the negative lead L- going to the diode has solder that touches a leg of the 8 pin IC chip. that lead is the one that is at the other end of the r200 sense resistor it appears that the blob of solder i used to attach the lead dripped a little more than i thought and made a nice oval lump of solder which does a good job holding the lead secure but also bonds it with the IC pin... ok looking at the chip close i can conclude that it is pin 1 of the IC, also...the R200 resistor is not straight... but its still connected to the board...just not perfectly straight... i dunno if i caused it or it came like that...just noticed it now

umm i will try to clean up the excess solder but before i do, quick question on how to do it. should i use a solder sucker or some fine copper braid solder wick? thanks for your insight thus far!

 

[lazeerer]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

^^ There is no Need to Pin 1 of the IC is suppose to be connected.

SO what you are saying is the driver now is still not working.? now that it is out of the pill the diode still does the same thing.?

So if you have done this and the diode behaves the same way and you say when you hook the driver up to the test load and it works fine,

Then i think its most likely your diode.

Can you take a picture of the driver it self with your phone.? Up close will be best.

Did your laser work fine and then it strted to do this.

Or this is you first ttempt to get it to turn on.?

 

[steviedezie]

Re: Cheap 1.2 amp driver running off 2x 3.0v lifepo4 cells that iam using. Only $1.99

ok thanks for your help lazeerer...but as you suggested and my greatest fear... apparently i killed the diode when i switched hosts... trying multiple drivers... the diode either does the same thing...or it just flat out is dim from the beginning... sigh

well gotta order another one then. this driver is begging to get hooked up to one. such a stable output for 1.25A and it was only 2 dollars free shipping!! wouldnt have ordered it without your initial tests. thanks much

-steve