Laser Driver Help. LM317K Regulator.

[Jayden626]

Hello, I am trying to make a laser driver but know very little about electronic circuits. I am trying to build this one Laser driver - It can be done but i accidentally got a 2 pin LM317K Regulator instead of the 3 pin LM317 Regulator. Does anyone know how i can wire this up using the 2 pin LM317K? Or are there any other drivers which use the same components but with the LM317K? Thank you.

 

[Cyparagon]

Just look at the datasheet.

 

[Jayden626]

Just look at the datasheet.

So the whole base of this is an output?
This will interfere on my stripboard won't it?

 

[rhd]

Not any more than a regular LM317. Normally the case metal is a V-Out so you have to isolate it from your host anyway.

 

[Jayden626]

Not any more than a regular LM317. Normally the case metal is a V-Out so you have to isolate it from your host anyway.

So when you say not anything more than an LM317 i'm assuming that an LM317T can't be used?

 

[rhd]

LM317T is what we pretty much ALWAYS use, so no that's not the case. T is fine.

K is fine too.

They're all fine (except the 1A or 0.5A version if you're trying for high current than that). Just isolate the case from the host.

 

[Jayden626]

LM317T is what we pretty much ALWAYS use, so no that's not the case. T is fine.

K is fine too.

They're all fine (except the 1A or 0.5A version if you're trying for high current than that). Just isolate the case from the host.

Thanks. Could i put the LM317K on the underside of the stripboard (having the pins stick up to the sides of the strips and then wire the output to the pot?

 

[rhd]

I'd have to see pictures - but here's the bottom line:

The case of your LM317 can't touch anything else in the circuit, except for one lead from your resistor. That's it - nothing else, including the metal sides of whatever you're building this laser in.

 

[Jufran88]

I'm just wondering... Are you planning on doing a lab style build or a flashlight host type build for this driver?:thinking: Because TO-3 packages are pretty large.

 

[Jayden626]

This is my first laser and time working with circuitry so i just wanna build any driver so i can say that i did and test it out.

 

[Jufran88]

Ah, ok. You should be fine then. Just follow the datasheet or picture cyparagon attached for the pin connections.

 

[Jayden626]

Okay. Thanks everyone i'll attempt this and post if successful