first 650nm laser

[daawood123]

sorry, dont mean to threadjack, but if in a project box you want indicator LED's, how would you regulate the current to the single LED?

 

[awillis2589]

sorry, dont mean to threadjack, but if in a project box you want indicator LED's, how would you regulate the current to the single LED?

No good question.

 

[Fretwrecker94]

sorry, dont mean to threadjack, but if in a project box you want indicator LED's, how would you regulate the current to the single LED?

I don't regulate them. I just use a resistor to drop the voltage. Mostly I just use a 1k ohm resistor to cover the possible input voltages. 5mm LEDs and similar really only need voltage limiting in my opinion.

I don't worry about current with are ones that are roughly $0.10 a piece :crackup:

 

[AnthoT]

Lol for LED's I usually use any resistor between 50ohm & 500ohm in my project box I got one running of a 67ohm resistor & it's running fine

 

[Fretwrecker94]

cool now i better understand how you get to your desired mA, when i parallel two 10 ohm resistors makes 5 ohms and thats how you get the max output of 250mA. so when you throw a pot on your DDL 250mA will still be your max and the pot will allow adjustment only up to 250mA. sweet.

As long as you wire the pot in series with the paralleled resistors then yes it will. It's maximum output will be 250mA but its lowest output is dependent on the value of the potentiometer

 

[Fretwrecker94]

This is how I would build it if I were doing your set up.

Although to me it sounds like you're building yours on some Perfboard. I usually free hand mine so I can heatsink the driver.

 

[awillis2589]

Great diagram. So nothing connects to the left post on the pot? Also I've been reading about take great care when connecting the laser diode to the DDL and make sure I short the capacitor say after running my test load or it will blow my laser diode. Also my girlfriend called to tell me everything that I need to start building my laser came besides my potentiometer of course.

 

[AnthoT]

Great diagram. So nothing connects to the left post on the pot? Also I've been reading about take great care when connecting the laser diode to the DDL and make sure I short the capacitor say after running my test load or it will blow my laser diode. Also my girlfriend called to tell me everything that I need to start building my laser came besides my potentiometer of course.

You shouldn't have to connect the 3rd pin, although ive had these odd pots that needed all 3 hooked up, in that case just connect the left wire to the middle & left pin but you shouldn't have to.

Enjoy your laser

 

[awillis2589]

well i just got out of work and opened up some of my goodies and know i've got an issue. first the glass lens is much longer then the standard one that comes in the aixiz module. it don't quite screw down completly, and i'm not sure if its going to hit the diode seeing as though i havent put the diode in yet. and second the battery which i though would be the size of a standard AA is not standard at all. its huge. guess i should have done a little more research on these things. do they even make battery holders for 18650'S or should i try and return them for something the size of a standard AA?

 

[AnthoT]

The glass lens being longer is fine

Yup 18650's are quite larger then AA's. You will need a special charger for them if not they will explode

Here's a case for the 18650 for .96$
Plastic Battery Storage Case Box Holder For 18650 with wire leads | eBay

 

[awillis2589]

Thanks the 18650's came with a charger. I've ordered a 2 x 18650 battery holder and upgraded to a bigger project box because the box I had before was barely big enough for the 2 battery's.

 

[AnthoT]

Thanks the 18650's came with a charger. I've ordered a 2 x 18650 battery holder and upgraded to a bigger project box because the box I had before was barely big enough for the 2 battery's.

Great

I thought 18650 were smaller too when I first got one I was shocked.

 

[AnthoT]

Thanks the 18650's came with a charger. I've ordered a 2 x 18650 battery holder and upgraded to a bigger project box because the box I had before was barely big enough for the 2 battery's.

Great

I thought 18650 were smaller too when I first got one I was shocked.
If you want AA sized get 14500 I believe

 

[awillis2589]

right i was like dang these are AA's on steroids. i was going to get the 14500 but i would have had to buy the charger separately so i seen the 18650's and charger for a little cheaper so i got those. low and behold there huge battery's, now i have to make adjustments to my project to accommodate them. but i suppose i'll get some great battery life out of them, and now my project box is large enough for my heatsink to fit with little to no modification.

 

[AnthoT]

right i was like dang these are AA's on steroids. i was going to get the 14500 but i would have had to buy the charger separately so i seen the 18650's and charger for a little cheaper so i got those. low and behold there huge battery's, now i have to make adjustments to my project to accommodate them. but i suppose i'll get some great battery life out of them, and now my project box is large enough for my heatsink to fit with little to no modification.

Yup 18650's have amazing battery life I dont want to disappoint you but those 18650's are one of the lowest power capacity 18650's there are :cryyy: it would still give you good battery life but there are better ones

 

[awillis2589]

Yup 18650's have amazing battery life I dont want to disappoint you but those 18650's are one of the lowest power capacity 18650's there are :cryyy: it would still give you good battery life but there are better ones

well this is my first build so it will do. but thats for the info any info about better ones for future reference would be helpful. because now i've got the charger and batterys for this project all i'll have to do is pick up more batterys.