Lasers/LED's in series/parallel circuit

[KTurner13]

Is it possible to hook up a few lasers lasers with a few LED's in a series parallel circuit? The LED calculator online doesn't seem to have a function to include other light sources outside of LED's. Any help would be amazing.

 

[anselm]

It sure is possible.
What kind of LEDs (Vf), how many?
What kind of laser diodes, how many?

What kind of config did you have in mind?

 

[Cyparagon]

You have to be more specific, but in general, the rules of thumb are:

Series is only possible if the two have identical current requirements.
Parallel is only possible if the two have identical voltage requirements.

 

[KTurner13]

It's for a custom lighting fixture that i am trying to build. I want to start out small to test the waters. I will be using one 3 volt 30mw laser module, and 4 3v LED's with a 20ma.

 

[anselm]

OK, so the laser already has its driver, right? 'Cause you said "module"...
In that case, since they all have the same voltage requierement, I would hook up
all of your four light sources in parallel to the 3V power source, each LED with an individual
current limiting resistor.

 

[FireMyLaser]

If the LEDs and power source are truly 3V he wont be needing any resistors.

 

[KTurner13]

I am thinking I can just get a 15 volt transformer and wire them in either series or parallel.

 

[123splat]

transformer will give you a.c. LEDs and LD's like D.C.
Likely to glow in the positive half cycle and blow in the negative half cycle.
You'll need a bridge rectifier and sone filter capacitor(s) to turn that transformer's output into D.C. And , you will need some resistors to balance the current in the LED legs.

Why, on earth, a 30mW laser in a 'Lighting fixture'??

 

[KTurner13]

transformer will give you a.c. LEDs and LD's like D.C.
Likely to glow in the positive half cycle and blow in the negative half cycle.
You'll need a bridge rectifier and sone filter capacitor(s) to turn that transformer's output into D.C. And , you will need some resistors to balance the current in the LED legs.

Why, on earth, a 30mW laser in a 'Lighting fixture'??

well I just built this lamp...

YouTube - 166 0829

Now imagine in each hole there was a transmission matrix diffraction grating covering each hole with a laser shining through. With the lights off it would look amazing. I think the question you should ask yourself is not "why"....but "why not?!"

Also your response kind of went over my head a bit =P

 

[Cyparagon]

"why not?!"

Safety hazard?

Just run each on its own driver.

 

[KTurner13]

Safety hazard?

Just run each on its own driver.

should i used a 15mw laser? can you point me in the right direction on information about "drivers" for lasers?