Green vs Red laser driver circuitry??? Help!!

[420Electric]

Greetings,

I am new here. if these are old or repeating questions, please simply (gently tell me where to go . . .

1) I can open a red laser pointer and attach the laser diode to a modulated driver circuit. The laser runs fine (the duty cycle is about 20%). When I try the same thing on a green laser, I fry the laser (#1) when I bypass a current limiting resister and I think I fried or otherwise rendered it "smoke-free" attaching in other locations (pointers #2 & #3).

So . . . can anyone direct me to a "typical" schematic for a green laser pointer? Is there already a modulating driver built in?

2) If I try the same thing with a 50 mw red laser, will I be able to drive it as easily, or will it operate differently than a 5 mw diode?


3) Also, what is the (mysterious) third wire on a green diode that seems to be missing on a red?

Finally, are these questions already answered somewhere? I don't know what I don't know, so I haven't had luck searching.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Regards - Baran