You're a cheeky monkey!
Well, as it goes I had some graphs back the other day. Running at 1,800mA, outputting 1,600mW+, (depending on power source), through what may be the pretty cr*ppy 3-element glass lens, it was fine and ran for 13mins. The power dropped steadily during this test to almost no output but I suspect this was a battery issue rather than heat. This would be supported by another test, using a different battery, that bottomed out at 800mW after 2 minutes and then ran stable from there.
The difficulty with this build is that it's not clear just what's going on and how the drivers a reacting to different batteries and whether they are happy in this configuration. Still too many variables I think. I still think these quedstions may become obselete with new drivers coming and certainly I would have preferred to use the Flexdrives as in this thread... -
http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/1-8w-ehgemus-custom-26650-black-host-57160.html
... but for the challenge, the experiment and the proof of host, I am happy with the results.
It is interesting to note that the power was disappointing but... Recent tests, with 405nm admittedly, have shown that the broadband 3 Element Glass Lenses available of late may not be showing any improvement over the standard acrylic lense for the Aixiz. Against a pre-445 Aixiz 3-Element showed the expected 15% gains so it could be that we need to re-evaluate the benefit of these lenses and get some more tests completed. For now though, it could be that if this lens I am using is the same poor quality that the output would actually top the 2W mark with a Jayrob 405-G-1 lens by adding 30%! (This I would be very happy about but I am restraining my whoops until I have proved this.)
There is more to add to this thread hopefully next weekend when I get some finished bits back and take some more pics.
S'all for now...
M