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FrozenGate by Avery

Help built driver having problems!!!!!!

well the diagram that is in post 1 from rog8811 shows that, I used that 1st and had probs also. Then I re-read the package from my lm317t from radio shack and looked online to see and found this: http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet2/a/0a5g8w9ft4l5px3509xfla6uksyy.pdf and it shows that I wired it right. I have also read that some schematics for this are wrong. I am lost. Please look at that data sheet link and tell me what u think? I wouldnt be suprised if u are right just want to be sure. Thank U
 





Oh man, you are right!!!! How did I do that, I stared at the thing for so long before soldering to make sure. I guess I was so worried, that my head spun. Thank you for pointing that out. Shows how just showing someone a pic of what I did can really help. I am gonna swap them in a few and I will post results.
 
Ok I swapped it. Now I am getting 3.3ish volts and around 280-310ma under load with an imput of 7.5v. so the driver is working correctly it seems (Thanks again) but, the light is very dimm and gets hot VERY fast. I let it cool and tested it again with the same results. So after I let it cool again I tested the diode with a 2AA batty box and nice bright light? What gives? Sorry for so many questions but really appreciate all the help!
 
bluuray said:
if you dont use a cap , you dont have to discharge anything right?
Click to expand...

Think of everything you touch and use as a capacitor of sorts. If charge can build up on one end and not reach the other, it is a capacitor. So it's a good idea to always short the leads, even if just out of practice.
 
I am using a cap. I did discharge ( just hold a piece of metal to it???) and re tried, same results. was hitting about 3.8v and 280 and up mA and the diode go hot after less than 30 sec. How do if I know if its the cap. being the problem? I also tested the laser diode with a 3 AAA pack and was bright as can be. So I think its safe to say the diode is fine. I dont see how the diode can get the power but not output it???
 
I have one made to fit in host, but I am testing without it. I havent drilled the hole to insert the axiz housing, but I have the heatsink pressed in the housing.
 
I am dying!!!! I have my laser set up on my table and I am racking my brain. I cant figure this out, I cant seem to make sense of this............
 
Ok I am gonna try and replace my resistors I have ( 10, 15, 15 to make 4.2ohm) with 10, 10 to get 5ohm and should give me 250mw. It seems like the diode cant handle the load and just taking the current and turning it into heat, is that possible???? I am going crazy.....haha its fun though.
 
Ok so I put the 2 10 ohm resistors in and same problem, even though the mA dropped to about 250-280, and voltage was in the high 3's. So I said at this point something is wrong, i removed the cap., same thing. I removed the rec. diode and same thing. Then when I had it hooked up I thought I shut it down I actually didnt.......Now the housing was severly hot, the plastic part of the axiz housing came apart, I cant get the metal adjuster ring to go on straight, and I retested the diode on a 2AA batty pack and weak right comes out, before it would be very bright. So I dont know maybe the lm317 went bad, I am lost and now screwed with a probably dead diode and back to square 1 with my driver..........FML
 
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