Driver alternatives?

[Bearded_Galaxy]

I don't like DX, they've pissed me off too much, so I'm using BestOfferBuy, which has had great customer service for me so far. Anywho...

What's to stop someone from using a circuit like one of these:
18V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*5.5mm) [E17071] : BestOfferBuy.com, Buy DVD, Shop for PC accessories, Discount MP3 Players, Bargain Deal for Surveillance Equipment, Cheap R4 for NDS, X-sim Unlock
6V 5W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.8mm*3.1mm) [E17072] : BestOfferBuy.com, Buy DVD, Shop for PC accessories, Discount MP3 Players, Bargain Deal for Surveillance Equipment, Cheap R4 for NDS, X-sim Unlock
2.7V~6V 3W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (15mm*2.7mm) [E17076] : BestOfferBuy.com, Buy DVD, Shop for PC accessories, Discount MP3 Players, Bargain Deal for Surveillance Equipment, Cheap R4 for NDS, X-sim Unlock
1.5V~4.2V 3W Cree Circuit Board for Flashlights (16.7mm*5.6mm) [E17079] : BestOfferBuy.com, Buy DVD, Shop for PC accessories, Discount MP3 Players, Bargain Deal for Surveillance Equipment, Cheap R4 for NDS, X-sim Unlock

to power a casio A130/A140 diode? (Ignoring size issues; assume I'll use one of Jayrob's host builds which could fit something like one of these.) I understand that with the 5W ones, I'd be kind of pushing the edge with the diodes, but the 3W ones seem perfectly reasonable.

 

[millirad]

You might give the 3 watt versions a try. At that price, why not. The only risk is to your $40 laser diode. But sometimes it's worth the risk to be the first to experiment. I remember someone talking about LED drivers as laser drivers, but don't remember if there was a drawback.

 

[Bearded_Galaxy]

I read about someone saying they actually were using the first one with an A130 or A140 diode, and they didn't mention any problems.

 

[yobresal]

Use the top driver. It works gorgeously with an A140 diode. You need more than 1 lithium rechargeable though to stay in regulation.

 

[Bearded_Galaxy]

You need more than 1 lithium rechargeable though to stay in regulation.

That's my concern. I want one that will work with just 1.

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

Anybody ever have any luck with the amc7135? I don't have a scope, so I don't know how safe it drives, but with a single chip it powered my 445 quite nicely. I also use the same single chip design with the reds. If you solder the chip to the leads instead of the leads to the chip's circuit board, you can fit it all insie the aixiz. Red hasn't died yet, blue was just tested, still have some work to do on it.

 

[Bearded_Galaxy]

What's that? The AMC7135?

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

a common linear current sink driver in the flashlight hobby. If you see driver boards with varying numbers of identical chips, these are them.

for each 7135 in parallel, the driver will allow 350mA through. So 2 7135 chips paralleled will let 700mA through, etc.

 

[Bearded_Galaxy]

a common linear current sink driver in the flashlight hobby. If you see driver boards with varying numbers of identical chips, these are them.

for each 7135 in parallel, the driver will allow 350mA through. So 2 7135 chips paralleled will let 700mA through, etc.

Humm. Neat. Are these inexpensive, readily available, and small?

 

[Meatball]

Humm. Neat. Are these inexpensive, readily available, and small?

Oh yeah.. they're cheap too! Heres a board with 4 chips on it!

DealExtreme: $16.58 AMC7135 1050mA Regulated Circuit Board for DIY Flashlights 10-Pack

They are the easiest to use IMO.

 

[Bearded_Galaxy]

Erm, 3 chips. Sounds pretty neat, though. Is the voltage via boost or linear dropout?

They say 3W 1050mA...that wouldn't provide enough voltage for a 445 build.