How to get unkown laser diode to operate

[hakzaw1]

NOT positive you will end up with diodes we now use..
hope you are being careful -poweing that way has its hazards- ESD is a big diode/driver killer.
we need much more from you--
pics always help-- any idea if all the same/ and what were they 'in' at one time?
afaik ==mostly red-- blu-ray has 405 (purple laser)
IMO while I wish you good luck- I think you will learn a lot but not find much you can do with these.
small red lasers with drivers and lens- ready to lase with 3vdc ----5mW-- much less than 1$ each..
yes to use them you wil need a lens--coated if you get lucky and get some power from these. (to prevent the beam from going back into the diode--AR)

MUST warn you-- lasers are highly addictive and most of us at the forum understand.. we really do.
I like to attend LEMs - and w/o I would have only met in person a very members here in TEXAS-

BUt over 7 years I have REALLY met >100 members .family. friends etc. never met a finer group of people.
There has been some laser meets --last I think was in Germany- some happen maybe near you---UKLEM.
Seems like laser folks are also Drone freaks-- helis with landing lasers!--so at most USA LEMs they find a place to use them.

 

[icecruncher]

Nice thread, I've got a huge tray of mixed 9mm diodes, mostly IR 808nm diodes, I think, but there may be a high power red in it somewhere. I've been chicken about going through all these. I've had them almost 10yrs now. I'm glad someone else is trying their old stuff too.

 

[FireMyLaser]

I can give my input if you post your measurements.

 

[icecruncher]

I may do that. I checked a few with a diode tester and figured a few out that way. I'm hoping for a high power red or two that I can use. They came from a grab bag from heruusciences - (9 years ago)

I got a bunch of very good stuff from him back in the day. Including a BLM-100 473nm DPSS for $210 in perfect condition and a 2mw yellow HeNe with power supply for $100. But I picked up about 4 grab bags of diodes that I've never gone through. I wish that somebody did something like this again. I could kick myself for a couple items I didn't bid on that had no bids, including a high power synrad complete that was passed on for $100.

Total liquidation sale of HESC Photonics assets

I agree. I was just giving you a source to estimate delivery charges.

laserpointerforums.com

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi,
If you want a RED 638nm WL heres one for you.
Rich

 

[icecruncher]

OK so I've posted this before but had to share again. try this:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

All class 4 at a roughly a watt or more. RED, GREEN, BLUE. I also have a 405 version, different mech mod, but not in the pic - all with added voltage meter.

EDIT: My wife just grabbed them for me.

Sorry for the tangent - hijacking the thread. -

But anyway good info on checking unknown diodes. Thanks again

 

[AMooMooCow]

I have a variable lab power supply. How do I test pinout exactly?

I like to shine a flashlight into the diode window. The proper bias will give you a small positive voltage, just like a regular photovoltaic. It may take trial and error since you might have a photodiode in there along with the laser diode