First build with SOC diode

[UrbanTurban]

i have this short open can diode(SF-AW210 red) i got for 6$ on ebay and i want to build a lab style laser with it.
i searched for a couple of hours and decided to build what you guys call a DDL driver

Also, does anyone know something about the laser module here i am going to use?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/200650700085?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

My question is, how much current should i drive the diode at for a reasonable lifetime, say around 100 hours

from this graph, i can see that the absolute maximum should be 350mA

 

[Fiddy]

hey man

that module will work but most heat sinks use the common size of 12mm Diameter modules, not 16mm like that one!
heres a 12mm Aixiz module here

A quick search revealed between 300-350mA is a good range and with most things, the lower you set the current the longer life it will have!

~330mA will make ~200mW.

 

[UrbanTurban]

thanks, but do you know if the lens on the laser housing have AR coating on them and does it significantly increase output if they do?

 

[Fiddy]

with the modules, they usually come with uncoated acrylic lenses unless stated otherwise!

According to my testing they have a small increase compared to a 3 element glass lens ~5mW more, probably a bit more than the standard uncoated acrylic lens tho.