my driver isnt giving the right current?

[superh90x]

so my driver (Amazon.com: AixiZ 2 pack red and IR laser diode driver 80-500mA w/TTL: Everything Else) is hooked up to the test load and it only shows 180ish mA, I need 340. is this driver broken? I did run power through it for a bit without a load, and I turned the pot probably too high, but I don't know on that one. My father seems to think its because I used a 10W resistor instead of a 1W resistor in the test load, he said something about a conversion? is he onto something or no?

 

[NKO29]

Have you tried turning the POT while measuring current? (variable resistor)>?

 

[Leodahsan]

The resistor power rating (measured in W) has nothing to to with the test load electrical performance. Its just the rating at which the resistor will dissipate heat. The resistance (ohms) and the tolerance (%) are important, the power rating being "over" x Watts, is enough.

Yeah have you checked if the driver work? The testload should give you some numbers if its ok...

 

[superh90x]

I've turned the pot while it was on, I keep turning to the right and the highest it goes is 180ish, then if I keep turning nothing happens

 

[Leodahsan]

How much diodes are on your test load, and how much volts you're feeding the driver?

 

[superh90x]

4 rectifier diodes then the 1ohm 10w resistor, being fed by about 4.7 or 4.8 volts from 3 AAA batteries

 

[Leodahsan]

Well, everything seems ok... :thinking:
You may have damaged the driver? I can't really help troubleshooting it because I never used one like that...

 

[superh90x]

I have a second driver, I'll hook that one up and see what I get. I don't think it could be the switch I have on the wire causing such a loss of current, so I'll swap for the spare and give it a go. If worst comes to worst, I'll make a DDL driver or order something you reccommend

 

[djtomt]

I got these drivers and they fried my red diode. They are just awful. I suggest throwing the other away and don't risk killing your red diode. Go ahead and try it on the test load - see if you can get the current you need, but I wouldn't put your diode at risk, unless you can throw money away. Spend the money and get a blitzbuck from DTR.

https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/flexdrives/blitzbuck

 

[superh90x]

how many volts can the blitzbuck take in?

 

[Kookapeli]

for running your red diode, 3.7 should be fine

 

[AnthoT]

I've got some blitzlinears if you want you would be able to run your diode off of 1 li-ion too. It's stil 20% off LPF so if your interested PM me

 

[superh90x]

okay, I used a 9 volt, I got 340 mA, but then read that the operating voltage is 205, and the max is 340, so..... idk, also the volts across the load is 3.7, again its like the max or above, will it be okay? Also, heat, the driver heats up with about 15 seconds of use

 

[Kookapeli]

Don't use the TTL, run it off 3AAA's and that will work fine

 

[superh90x]

If I didn't use it the output wasn't really showing up

 

[Kookapeli]

don't turn the driver all the way up, back up on the pot a tad then try it, make sure your batteries are fully charged too