Difference b/w Driver Types

[RyanElectro]

Hello guys,

I'm relatively new to this hobby and I was wondering what was the difference between the driver types available to us: linear vs boost vs flexdrive etc. etc. Because I see a large price disparity b/w many of these drivers.

Essentially, if I wanted to build a laser with a RL-118 host, must I only use a V5 Flexdrive? If so, why only that driver? Can I not use a ghostdrive or this driver which is a lot cheaper?

Btw... I'll be using an A-140 diode to build it.

Please help me out fellow hobbyists :thanks:

Ryan

 

[Ghostchrome]

A lot of it has to do with how much voltage your diode (and driver) require vs how much voltage your host is able to supply (how many batteries it can hold). If you want to do a little build with only enough room for a single li-ion battery, you're going to have to use a boost driver. If your host has more room for batteries, you can use a buck or a linear driver. It really depends on your host.

Here's a good thread that explain the differences.

http://laserpointerforums.com/f67/how-laser-diode-drivers-work-explanatory-thread-71513.html

 

[RyanElectro]

hey that's a great link ghost; thanks so much eh!

 

[Ghostchrome]

np :beer: