my laser doesent quite work right

[Blackwolf]

I recently purchased all the materials to make my first blue laser. I've diy'd several greens but here is the problem I get it all put together with a full battery and I was surprised. I was getting mW's not like 750 or even 200 I'm talking less than 200maybe even less than 50. My light was out shining it. here are the specs

diode: 1 5 2W 445 Blue Laser Diode in Module w Leads | eBay

the host is a survival laser S4
the lens is a survival laser 445 AR
the driver is a survival laser 1.25A driver
the battery is 1 protected 18650
right now I am charging my other 18650 to see if increasing the voltage will help. I wanted to under drive this diode a bit to make it last longer but as of now it can't even outshine a store bought red pointer. I'm thinking about getting a drive that outputs more current. Any thoughts?

 

[Speedy78]

Did you short the leads of your driver prior to soldering them to the diode? Sounds to me like an LED laser diode.

 

[Blackwolf]

Did you short the leads of your driver prior to soldering them to the diode? Sounds to me like an LED laser diode.

yes, I did that. It's a m140 diode I think I found a problem I was in a rush when I made it and I seemed to have soldered the case pin directly to the ground on the driver. I'll fix it when I get home on Sunday.

 

[cheech226]

You need 2 batteries bro with that driver. Try 2 18350's. You will see the light!

 

[DTR]

Yep your driver is out of regulation. You probably are only getting a faint light out of the diode. You need to switch two two Li-ions in series or switch to a boost driver to continue to use an 18650.:beer: