I killed a micro flexdrive...

[goosesensor]

Hi Guys.

I broke the pot on a micro flexdrive today. I didn't realize it was a single-turn, and I over-rotated because I didn't feel any resistance. The top piece came off. Crap.

Any suggestions about how I could salvage it? If I put pressure to hold it down, it can still be turned to make adjustment, but it falls off again without pressure and reverts to the baseline current.

Also, I couldn't/can't seem to get it past about 1A. The jumpers are set according to the 500mA - 1.5A in this document (far right configuration): http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/MicroFlexDrive_V5_manual.pdf I'm using 6 1n4001 diodes and a 1Ohm 3Watt resister as a test load.

Was I maybe sold a V4 flexdrive?

 

[Bionic-Badger]

I did that once and contacted Dr.Lava about it just to get the part number to buy it myself. The good doctor was gracious enough to send me a replacement pot (yes, that absolutely tiny thing) so I could solder it on. He's really a champ.

I don't know about the 1A limit you have. It might be a problem with the battery. You could post a photo to have someone photo-identify it.

 

[Cyparagon]

Since you'll need to replace it anyway, just desolder it and measure the resistance.
Almost any pot with that resistance will work. They're noncritical components.

 

[cd520]

If your looking for max output you can just jump the pots tabs with solder.

 

[goosesensor]

Woh, thanks for the help/insight guys.

@Badger

a. Is Dr. Lava the dude that makes these things?
b. I'll see if my crappy camera can take a decent enough picture of the little guy.
c. The batt is a new AW 10180 currently putting out just over 4V. However, the charger is a cheapo and I honestly don't know how long to charge the thing until it's full. Can it be overcharged? I think I let it go for about 1-2 hours before testing voltage.

@Cyaragon

Sounds about right. However, I'm not sure how to measure the thing! I know potentiometers adjust resistance from a min to a max, but it has three pins... :thinking: (surprisingly, Google hasn't helped on this one)

@ cd520

I'm thinking of trying to find/buy a larger pot, wire it in with 26/28GA, find the resistance I want, and then replace it with a dedicated resistor instead. But I donno, lots of options. I suppose if I were able to identify/find the original pot, I would have to by hundreds of them at a time!

Thanks

 

[Cyparagon]

Measure between the two pins that are not the wiper. If you're not sure which one is the wiper, measure 1-2, 2-3, and 1-3. The largest value of the three is the one you want.

 

[goosesensor]

Awesome, willdo

 

[Fiddy]

i snapped the wiper of one of my pots on a V5 flexdrive (stupid pots are sooo small), when i tested it with a test load, it was in a good range for a LPC-815 diode