Laser not as bright/powerful as it should be?

[Brandoninio]

Hey all, I'm new to this whole laser business and these forums.

I started an Aurora C6 build a few months ago.



Here are the parts that I've used (brackets are where I bought them from):

*Aurora C6 host from DX
(Aurora C6 Cree P4 LED Flashlight (1*18650/2*CR123A) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme)

*LPC-826 Red Laser Diode
(MITSUBISHI/658nm-660nm 300-400mw CW Red Laser Diode/LPC-826 | eBay)

*1.5V 350-400ma driver from DX
(1.5V 350~400mA Constant Current LED Driver Board for DIY Flashlights - Free Shipping - DealExtreme)

*Ultrafire 3.7V batteries from DX
(UltraFire 18650 3.7V "3600mAh" Batteries (Pair) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme)



I was expecting a laser a lot more powerful, since the diode claimed to be 300-400mw but it turns out it is even weaker than a 1mw laser I had back in the day. I also measured the current through a multimeter and I took a reading of .026A.

Here's a picture without the lens:



Could anyone please help me or let me know what's wrong? Whether it's something I'm doing wrong or if a part is broken/faulty/not what I thought it was, please let me know!

Thanks guys.

 

[Cube777]

That current reading you did, are you sure you written it correct, because that equals 26mA, which is why it looks so weak. It should run at around 400mA, which equals 0.4A. Check your driver with a dummy load to see if it's output is correct

 

[qwas789]

Maybe driver is faulty.

 

[Brandoninio]

Thanks for the quick replies! I just measured the current through my multimeter again, and now the current is only 0.006A (6ma). When I change the setting on my multimeter from A to mA, it reads 0.09mA. Real strange.

Which driver could you all recommend?

 

[Blord]

The driver is rated for a 1.5V battery. With your 3.7V li-ion cell you have blown the driver.

See here for drivers, Cajunlasers shop. http://www.cajunlasers.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4&zenid=cpkcki1vitq0ahdom2tqnv5hd7

 

[Brandoninio]

OH, thank you so much Blord! I had always thought that the 1.5V was used from the 3.7V and there was another leftover 2.2V for the diode to run on, which is what the operation voltage was. I guess it made sense in my head.

Off I go to buy a 3.7V driver!

+1 rep

 

[Brandoninio]

Would this be suitable?
Mohgasm 428mA Round linear driver circuit [MOHR428] - $12.99 : Cajunlasers Store

How do I know how much voltage it runs on? (to make sure I don't blow another driver)

Also, when I shined my laser on the wall, the dot was more of a line. Is this normal?

(Sorry about all the questions)

 

[Blord]

You need two 16340 cells to run the Mohgasm driver.

Also, when I shined my laser on the wall, the dot was more of a line. Is this normal?

Pics ?

 

[Cube777]

The "line" is probably the wings that a LPC-826 produces when it has LED'd or when it's being seriously underdriven

 

[Brandoninio]

Here's the picture:


Cheers for all the help. Appreciate it.

 

[Blord]

Strange picture. The LPC826 should be a nice round dot with weak wings on both side when in focus. What lens did you use ?

 

[Cube777]

Yes, that diode does produce such wings, it is perfect normal when it is at such low power. When the driver is fixed at the correct current you will not see them anymore.

 

[Brandoninio]

Thanks Cube777!

Blord, I'm using this lens:
AixiZ Red Laser Glass Lens 635-670nm, AixiZ

 

[Cube777]

Definitely not the lens, just the diode

 

[Blord]

The LPC826 looks like this dot on the right.

 

[Brandoninio]

I think I'm just going to trust Cube777 on this one