Do I need a driver if I have a regulated DC power supply?

[scientist]

I've got one of these: Atten APS3003Si DC Power Supply 0-30V / 3A

If I just hook it up to the diode, start from 0V and up the voltage until I have a current of 0.2A or whenever it starts lasing, will that be ok for the diode? Or do i still need a driver?

 

[Bluefan]

It looks like a normal bench power supply. If you are sure it doesn't spike and provides stable regulation in current mode you can use it.
Don't try to drive a diode with a fixed voltage, a tiny change in voltage will be a huge change in current and thus power. This is typical for a diode and could lead to a runaway condition. Set the voltage and current to 0, the raise the voltage above the operating voltage while leaving the current at 0. Then you can use the current adjustment to set it to whatever current you want, and it will stay at that current without running away.

 

[scientist]

Thought so - thanks!

 

[Isoleucine]

Agree. Bench PSU's are great for testing and doing all the sorts of stuff. As bluefan, do be careful of a thermal runaway.

What bluefan means is something sort of like this
Constant Current vs. Constant Voltage in use with Laser Diodes - YouTube

Regulate the current!