Help needed!!!

[marcuspeh]

I just bought a 445nm 500mv laser diode and it housing from ebay. Instead of buying a driver, i am thinking of making one myself. But i have a few questions. What compoments is used in the driver? How much current and voltage should the laser diode be receiving? And how should the driver be made? Thanks in advance

 

[vortish]

First off safety first get some ir rated safety glasses. second and proably should be first have you posted in the welcome section if not please do so..

1st question why did you buy 808 nm are you crazy! I have been on the forum 9 months and I do not have the expertise to mess with 808nm you need to go to 405, 445, 473,520,532,632.8,650,660 wavelengths get some experiance in those before going the ir route.

2nd question if you bought it because they are cheap well you can get a 405, 445 nm diodes that will burn for under twenty. I have a 175mw 405 that I paid 5 bucks for. for any blue any thing over 120 will burn. the green spectrum it is over 150 about the same for red.

3rd. Have you read the stickies yet? If not please do so. The will increase your knowledge quite a bit! I know that it did for me.. Use the search function before you ask a question because more than likely it has been asked before..


Know that is out of the way. If your looking for lasers try the forum pro shop or the b/s/t section. Better deals, Better prices, And most important you are furthering the section for us hobbyist. Please do you diligence and read the stickies, welcome thread, and safety.. And for pete sake do a wavelength that you can see. Ir is invisible and you may not know it when you catch a bounce and get blinded. You have only two seeing balls do not waste them..

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

I'm not going to help or tell you much at
all until you post a picture of yourself
wearing your infrared laser safety goggles
and a link to where you got them. You
apparently have no knowledge of electronics
or anything remotely laser related.

Is this your first laser? Bad news if it
is because this thing is potentially
hazardous beyond your wildest nightmares.

At the same time it is fragile as a baby
bird and will break if you so much as look
at it the wrong way. (Well not really, but
laser diodes are finicky and can fail for
all kinds of wacky reasons.) We can help
with that too, but only if you are willing
to help us help you.

Go down to Mal-Wart or PetSChoppe and pick
up a laser cat/dog toy if you don't already
have one. These are mostly safe unless you
stare directly into it for tens of seconds
on end. It is nearly the same thing as the
500mW infrared diode you ordered, but you
will be able to see the output. Play
around with it to get an idea of how lasers
can reflect off everyday shiny objects
(even gloss black) into your eyes.

If you want to know a good pair of safety
glasses, get these. They are what myself
and a lot of others here use. They are the
least expensive good quality glasses out
there. Don't even think of firing that
thing up without them. If you do, you are
a fool, and there will be consequences.

Eagle Pair® 190-540nm & 800-2000nm Laser Safety Goggles