Long life is a tough question to answer. And they've actually been driven up to 1.7A or higher.
There are a few things to balance:
- The "high point" in the power curve is at 1A
- The higher the current, the higher the heat and wavelength.
- Higher wavelengths decrease visibility.
- Higher currents also tend to cause the Mits 300s to peak high, and then drop in power (not permanently, just during your use cycle)
I set mine at 1A. Others set theirs at 700 or 800mA. In my mind, it depends largely on your use case.
I tend to use my lasers for very brief periods of time. So my preference with the Mits 300s is for a decent up-front power. If wavelength shifts upwards a tad, and power decreases a bit, by the 1-minute mark, that's cool with me - especially if it means a more visible brighter beam upfront.
If you were using this diode in a projector (if that's even possible), or some sort of longer duty cycle labby, then you'd probably want to go lower on the current.
