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FrozenGate by Avery

Newbie needs help replacing a laser diode

Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

Destroying the driver in the process is probably fine, since your IR replacement will have differrent current requirement and voltage drop anyways. The key is to preserve the optical and mechanical parts here.

The 5.6mm is good news, since this is a fairy standard size for laser diodes, and you should be able to find numerous IR diodes that fit the slot as it is.
 





Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

also what kind of power are you looking for.... standard consumer use laser stuff is 5mw? so you need to be carful with your ir diode. you must get safety goggles rated for ir.

michael
 
Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

I preserved the lense and housing. The diode and driver, not so much. Most IR lasers in use for tactical applications are in the .5-5mw range. Longer range are up to 5mw. I will not ever be looking at the laser other than pointing it. For this application (pistol) a 1-2.5mw laser would suffice, for a rifle probably 10-20mw.

I am guessing 850nm is the best as all the lasers t&e military uses are very close to that. Will that laser from digikey work?

Also it looks like that driver will not fit my housing. The housing ID is 5.6mm. Am I missing something?
 
Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

You may need to build an external driver for this, considering how small the module is to begin with.
 
Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

There is enough room outside of the module for the board, just wanted to make sure I was looking at the correct one.

So, just to verify, that diode from digikey paired with the MicroFlexDrive v5 will work?

On the microflexdrive it says if used with CR123s that I must have another diode inline. Will I need that for this application. My thought is no.

Thanks again.
 
Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

so the driver that you have was inside the same cavity as your diode? if so, i can not recommend a driver that small. then you need to get custom mounting for that.

michael
 
Re: Newboe needs help replacing a laser diode

It was, but both the diode and driver are trash. The new driver does not need to fit in the cavity, there is plenty of space in the void behind the module. My only question now is whether the diode from digikey and the microflexdrive v5 will work together from a 3v power source. And how to program when I get it.

Thanks for all the help. I will be ordering the stuff tomorrow unless there is a better choice, but those two things look like what I need.
 
the lava driver will work with the digikey diode. although 32bucks is a bit steep. but to be honest i haven't seen an 850nm around here... if you can live with 808nm you can pick up some from senkat for about 10 bucks. he is having a buy 2 get 1 free sell iirc....

NEVER APPLY POWER THE THE LAVA DRIVER WITH OUT A LOAD BEING CONNECTED!!!
michael
 
Thanks again for all the help. I am going to order that stuff today. I will let you know how it works out.

Does the Lava driver come with setup instructions? Can I hook up the driver to the power source, hook out the diode, and then turn it on and adjust the power that way, or is there a more refined way of doing it?
 
Another question, looking at the datasheet for the Laser Diode, it looks like the operating voltage for the laser is 2.1v. I am guessing the Lava Board reduces the voltage to what is required. It also states the current is 25ma. If I get the Lavaboard preset to 25ma, can I just solder and go with it?
 
i read that the digikey diode is 65ma.... also lava makes a few different drivers. make sure to get one that is buck/boost.


edit.... i personally do not have experience with ir diodes or lava drives.... before you purchase please verify my suggestions with a more knowledgable member.

michael
 
You are correct. I was looking at the 808nm datasheet. I do believe this setup will work. I PM'ed DrLava to confirm. Thanks!
 
well now that you are for the most part set up..... good luck man and please post some friggin pix.....


michael
 
Haha, thanks for the help. Once I hear back from DrLava I am going to order everything. I will most certainly post up some pictures when done. Next I am going to try and take apart my Laser Devices OTAL and see how hard it will be to replace the red laser with an IR.
 
After a lot of frustration, I finally replaced the diode with the Groove2 board and got everything working again. Now to function test it over a few thousand rounds. it looks great through NV though. I will post a picture once I get some time.

Thanks to everyone for the help!
 
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