driver station?

[Mohrenberg]

i was thinking of making a driver, or test load "station"

basicly a project box, which holds a power supply with a switch for 4.25v or 8.5v, probably in the form of 2x CR123 or 14500 batteries.

then one of rkcstr's test loads, modified a bit to add an extra switch on the project box to change from blu-ray and red.

then then have two sets of 4 metal posts that stick out of the top of the project box, basicly where you'd plug the driver onto the project box (rkcstr or flex drive)

with DMM leads coming out of the box to plug into your DMM.

this seems like a fun project to do, and in the end will make setting drivers quick and simply....plug in the driver, read the results and change the pot accordingly.

 

[phoenix77]

How much would ya charge to make one for me ? I can supply a rkcstr test load. rob

 

[Mohrenberg]

i began working on this.
For now, the first prototype is only going to be compatible with the rkcstr driver.

Right now it's in a project box.
Key switch for on/off
and another switch to red/Blu-Ray load

it has multimeter leads coming out of the box to plug into a DMM
and 4 "spikes" coming out of the top of the box to plug the driver into.
It also has a clip that push down on the driver to hold it onto the "spikes" as they don't actually go through the holes on the driver.

i'll post some pics once it's finished.

 

[Gryphon]

That sounds like a fun project, plus you'll end up with something that will be useful time and time again. Just might make one myself

 

[Mohrenberg]

i haven't played with this lately, i hit a speed bump.....trying to think of something that would make it easy to "plug the driver into"
four spike would work nice, so that it would basicly drop onto them and as the spikes on wider it would lodge in teh thru-holes of the driver... and maybe something spring loaded to hold it down.....

problem is finding something the right size....since those holes are pretty small.

this project will become more important to me when i run out of rkcstr's fixed driver....and have to set the drivers using a DMM...

 

[Dark_Horse]

I have considerd this very thing many times over the last-year. I think you are on the right track, same as I was thinking anyhow.

I was also going to add a dedicated panel-voltmeter, so you wouldn't need a multimeter. This is how I have my power-meter set-up, but I followed someone elses directions. I have an extra Panel-meter, if you want to figure it out, I could really use the help.

Also I wanted to be able to switch from the test-load to an actual-diode for testing. Should be a simple double-throw switch running to a diode-socket. Might be nice to add another 1ohm resistor in parralel with the diode-socket to measure diode-voltage as well. You could set your driver, switch-over to the actual laser-diode and measure the diode-voltage and amperage in real-time. Point it into a LPM and bam, you would have a lot if information on your build almost instantly.

Just my thoughts