Did I kill it?

[FlightLevel350]

I hooked up a Lite-On 12x diode to a microboost set for 500ma, but all I get is a faint purple light, barely visible. It also seems to flicker a little bit. Im hoping its not dead since this is the second one I've tried to get working. :yabbem:

 

[Leodahsan]

500mA don't seem "HIGH" for that type of diode. I dunno but, doesn't microboosts have SMD caps? And as you said the diode flicker, have you soldered correctly the diode pins and wired the whole thing correctly? Pics / schematics pls.

 

[RA_pierce]

How did you connect the diode to the driver?
What is your power source?

 

[FlightLevel350]

I'm using a 18650 to power it. I have the positive and negative wired up, and the case pin is going to the negative input on the driver (its a case negative host).

When I was harvesting the diode, i soldered the pins together to prevent static damage while pressing the diode into the module. Afterward, I had a hard time getting the solder all off. I checked the continuity between the case and the negative pin and it was open so I'm pretty sure it wasn't shorted there

 

[Leodahsan]

Have you soldered in a diode before? it survived? I've killed many with too much heat... I've send a PM to silvershot with some considerations that should be taken in soldering, if you want I can re-send to you too :beer:

 

[Kookapeli]

Did you use a test load and discharge the caps before soldering ???

 

[RA_pierce]

Check the output of your driver.
If it is normal, your diode is probably dead.

To protect my diodes from ESD in storage, I don't like to solder the pins together since it adds work and introduces another opportunity for damage from heat.
Instead, I fold a little square of aluminum foil in half then push the pins through it and crumple it into a "ball" on the pins to keep it in place.
It's a nice, heat-free alternative to short the pins.

 

[FlightLevel350]

Ok I'll give that a shot. It could of been heat since getting the solder off was tough and I might have heated the pins up too much. I like your idea RA, I think I'll use that in the future.

 

[LtKernelPanic]

I thought I fried my 445 diode last week but to make sure I rigged up a 250ma LM317 based driver to test the diode. Much to my pleasure it lit right up which lead me to check my driver. Turns out I soldered the flexdrive backwards. Wired the driver input side to the diode. If you have the parts and a supply that can power a DDL diver and the diode it's a simple way to make sure your diode isn't fried.

One last tip make sure you use the right resistor too. In my foul mood thinking I fried a $45 diode forgot that 2x10ohm in series is not the same as 2x10ohm in parallel. Glad I tested the output current of the driver because it looked like the diode had went LED.