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How do I know which driver is right?

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Kadeg3

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I've been browsing LPF for days now trying to find a similar thread but haven't found much in the way of something that may help my situation.

I'm using the laser as my first build and using (hopefully) a 515nm green diode. I can fetch the data sheets at request. I'm looking for a driver preferably inline with a button that works with 18650s and will output as low as 50-180mAh.
Are my needs too specific? Do i need to completely change what I'm looking for, or am I just looking in all the wrong places?

Any help is more than welcome and thank you in advance.
 





How many 18650s (In series I'm assuming)? Input voltage will be a determining factor on which drivers you can/can't use.

Also, I think you meant mA not mAh.

 
Ah yes, I only have one 18650 in series. Thanks for calling me out on the misuse of metrics... I wrote the post at 5:00am but that's still no excuse. Thanks for the reply!
 
Kadeg3 said:
Ah yes, I only have one 18650 in series. Thanks for calling me out on the misuse of metrics... I wrote the post at 5:00am but that's still no excuse. Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...


With one 18650 you'll need a boost driver to reach the required output voltage. A boost driver has an output voltage higher than the input voltage.

For a 515 diode you'll need an output voltage of ~7V.

I'm not aware of any quality boost drivers that can have the current set quite that low. Perhaps someone else will have a suggestion.

You can get low quality drivers that will do the job though - and I've used them - they work, I just wouldn't trust them to be all that reliable.

Here's a couple examples:

515nm 520nm 530nm 30~120mW Green Laser Diode LD Driver Power Supply 3v | eBay

Adjustable 515nm 520nm 530nm green Laser Diode Driver Power for 30 ~ 120mW laser | eBay

Both of those look like the same driver.
 
Kadeg3, are you looking for a driver with a power on button?
 
GSS said:
Kadeg3, are you looking for a driver with a power on button?
Click to expand...

Yes, my host has a button just south of the focusing lense that would be nice to use but not necessary.

And thank you diachi for the very helpful info and recommendations.
 
I found one that might be promising, despite the fact that it reeks of chinesium but it seems everything does with lasers? Here it is

Will that work for what I'm trying to do? The one thing I'm scared of is in the description it states that it's a boost driver but doesn't say what it boosts to. Normally these go anywhere from 6-8V and that's right where I want it. Also I don't think the nm rating matters that much does it? just a tag to get search hits right?

Bonus points for the button and the POT adjustment that gets 30-300mA!

Curious about the diode? I'll link it here
 
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AKadeg3, if you don't need the button attached to the driver, you could use a Nano driver like DTR uses on his PLT5-515 diodes, or even a Micro-Flex driver, both are a buck/boost type driver.
I'm pretty sure the Micro-Flex drive can be set as low as you want to go, its default range is 65 - 100mA. :)
 
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BowtieGuy said:
AKadeg3, if you don't need the button attached to the driver, you could use a Nano driver like DTR uses on his PLT5-515 diodes, or even a Micro-Flex driver, both are a buck/boost type driver.
I'm pretty sure the Micro-Flex drive can be set as low as you want to go, its default range is 65 - 100mA. :)
Click to expand...
Bowtie, didn't Pman salvage the drivers from those Fastech 532 modules exactly for this and had some success?
 
Yes, if I remember correctly, he did. He may have even sent me one or two, but not sure of that; I'll have to check after work today.

Edit: These aren't the Fasttech drivers, but here is a -Link- to a thread made by Pman, where he uses a regular 12mm diode/driver module and adds a switch to it for a pen build.

Edit #2: I found the thread that Pman made using those salvaged fasttech modules -Here-, good memory GSS! :D
 
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Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions bowtieguy and GSS.

Pman definitely has some quality guides and builds. Still curious about the driver I found and linked in my last post though. Do you think I'll have any luck with it or I should just go with a more widely known driver?

Just trying to make sure I don't make any rookie mistakes the first time and have to wait another week and a half for shipping from China XD
 
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