bobhaha
0
- Joined
- May 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,239
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Hey guys,
I get a lot of questions about dummy loads, common examples are "How much do they cost?" "How do you make them?" "How do you use them?", so I decided once and for all to make a VERY in depth video tutorial explaining what you need, what it is used for and how to use it.
First off... I changed the design halfway through the tutorial and forgot to mention it.... the anode and cathode direction of the diodes were swapped due to poor PCB layout planning on my part.
This is a DIY super cheap, laser driver selectable dummy load. Each diode has its own dropout voltage of about 0.75v which makes this a total of 5.25v max dropout voltage.
Components used
1 x 1ohm, 1watt resistor
16x gold plated header pins
7x 1n4004 diodes, 400v 1A max
Protoboard with separate copper pads for each hole.
Total cost ~$13
Can be used for any laser diode available, from IR to blue laser diodes.
Finally here is the video...
I made a crappy diagram of how its meant to be wired up.... in case, for some reason you didn't understand from the video...
And here are some close ups of the finished product...
Hope this helps!!
-Adrian
I get a lot of questions about dummy loads, common examples are "How much do they cost?" "How do you make them?" "How do you use them?", so I decided once and for all to make a VERY in depth video tutorial explaining what you need, what it is used for and how to use it.
First off... I changed the design halfway through the tutorial and forgot to mention it.... the anode and cathode direction of the diodes were swapped due to poor PCB layout planning on my part.
This is a DIY super cheap, laser driver selectable dummy load. Each diode has its own dropout voltage of about 0.75v which makes this a total of 5.25v max dropout voltage.
Components used
1 x 1ohm, 1watt resistor
16x gold plated header pins
7x 1n4004 diodes, 400v 1A max
Protoboard with separate copper pads for each hole.
Total cost ~$13
Can be used for any laser diode available, from IR to blue laser diodes.
Finally here is the video...
I made a crappy diagram of how its meant to be wired up.... in case, for some reason you didn't understand from the video...
![DummyLoad.jpg](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14298539/DummyLoad.jpg)
And here are some close ups of the finished product...
![IMAG0481.jpg](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14298539/IMAG0481.jpg)
![IMAG0482.jpg](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14298539/IMAG0482.jpg)
Hope this helps!!
-Adrian
Last edited: