Pesky BenBoost Drivers

[RyanElectro]

Hey guys,

I've been building a couple of 12x S06J builds and realized that already 2 diodes died on me when set only at 480mA (measured with a testload on 5 diodes, though the Ben boost is supposedly set at 498mA). They didn't die immediately. They worked great for the first 5 minutes of total runtime, then immediately out of a sudden LED's. I dissembled and retested the driver with the testload and got 480mA again, no change, the driver is fine. I do discharge the caps on the driver before soldering the diode and always have my anti-static wrist strap on when working.

At only 480mA, are these 12x really this sensitive? I see some people can run them over 500mA and still run fine

I'm in a dilemma if I should use my last 12x S06J in this build or if I should get another ben boost at a lower current instead. 480mA is well within the acceptable range of 450-500mA, that's why I'm thinking something is weird.

Any thoughts?

Ryan

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

There has been some "ripoff" bdr s06j sleds. We think they aren't actually "ripoff" sled, but sleds that are used as the same sled, but with a lower power diode. Request a refund from where you bought them. The way to check is if when you get the sled, if there is 2 or 3 pins soldered.

Good info in the last few pages of this thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/new-12x-laser-sled-gb-bdr-s06j-45-usa-61558-10.html

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

There has been some "ripoff" bdr s06j sleds. We think they aren't actually "ripoff" sled, but sleds that are used as the same sled, but with a lower power diode. Request a refund from where you bought them. The way to check is if when you get the sled, if there is 2 or 3 pins soldered.

Good info in the last few pages of this thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f64/new-12x-laser-sled-gb-bdr-s06j-45-usa-61558-10.html

Thanks Joe, but I've read the info in that thread. I've gotten some fake 12x sleds before from Modwerx with the 3 pin soldered. But these diodes I got from DTR and I'm quite sure they're real. The fakes didn't even lase for me.

Could it be an issue with directly soldering the diode to the board w/o leads? Maybe the diode was too close to the board and is causing a short circuit somewhere? Has that happened to any of you before, 12x diodes dying at only 480mA?

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I've built a couple at a little below 600mA and they still lase strong. Post a picture of you're setup. It could be the driver. Who made it?

Pics would be very helpful.

Thanks Joe, but I've read the info in that thread. I've gotten some fake 12x sleds before from Modwerx with the 3 pin soldered. But these diodes I got from DTR and I'm quite sure they're real. The fakes didn't even lase for me.

Could it be an issue with directly soldering the diode to the board w/o leads? Maybe the diode was too close to the board and is causing a short circuit somewhere? Has that happened to any of you before, 12x diodes dying at only 480mA?

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I've built a couple at a little below 600mA and they still lase strong. Post a picture of you're setup. It could be the driver. Who made it?

Pics would be very helpful.

Oh really? Hmm. Twas a Benboost from cilegray, my setup is already dissembled, unless.. should I solder my last 12x diode to the driver? This is currently my dilemma.... and I'm scared to risk it lool.

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I wouldn't... Have you tested the driver on a test load? If so, how long did you test it for?

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I wouldn't... Have you tested the driver on a test load? If so, how long did you test it for?

Yes the driver is preset to 498mA, but it tests to 480mA on my testload, set at 5 diodes.

I've tested it for around 5-10s on the testload, reading is consistent at 480mA before first diode was connected and after diode was dead.

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

Hmm. Strange. Try testing the driver on a test load for longer and see how it acts. Maybe too much heat when soldering?

Yes the driver is preset to 498mA, but it tests to 480mA on my testload, set at 5 diodes.

I've tested it for around 5-10s on the testload, reading is consistent at 480mA before first diode was connected and after diode was dead.

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

Hmm. Strange. Try testing the driver on a test load for longer and see how it acts. Maybe too much heat when soldering?

Shouldn't be heat, because it worked well after everything was done. When you're testing the Ben boosts, does your reading immediately go to 480mA (or whatever your current is suppose to be at)? Or does it hop a around a bit then settles at 480mA (this happens to me).

Maybe I'm not getting proper negative ground... Can this actually kill a diode though? I'm going to put some blobs of solder on the edge of the battery contact board so it kinda press fits into the heatsink cavity and get good ground to the heatsink and host. And try it again with the other diode. Because I'm quite sure my driver is fine.

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I haven't assembled my Ben Boosts yet, but will be shortly. Does the one you are using have OVP?

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I haven't assembled my Ben Boosts yet, but will be shortly. Does the one you are using have OVP?

Nope, no OVP.

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

Is it possible that It may have lost connection to the load(diode or test load)?

Did you short the outputs before connecting the diode?

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

Is it possible that It may have lost connection to the load(diode or test load)?

Did you short the outputs before connecting the diode?

I highly doubt I lost connection, the pins were soldered solid on the driver. After it died, I inspected the connections again and there were all solid.

And yes I short the outputs b4 connecting the diode.

UPDATE: I just soldered the new diode and it works just like the first, I removed the aluminum chip on top the resistors, to eliminate the potential issue of shorting the driver (though I covered it in thermal paste so it shouldn't have). This better solve the problem grrr. Let's hope this one doesn't die like the last one.

 

[Machinist Joe]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

Batteries? Seems dumb but it could happen...

 

[ENX]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I feel your pain!

I just had the same thing happen. New DTR S06J, new Lava Micro Boost @ 470ma. The diode worked for 10 seconds and died. Everything was soldered well and heatsinked.

It really sucks as theses things aren't cheap, plus the time / work on assembling.

I would say, don't risk the last one. Go for a lower power build.

 

[RyanElectro]

Re: Pesky 12x diodes

I feel your pain!

I just had the same thing happen. New DTR S06J, new Lava Micro Boost @ 470ma. The diode worked for 10 seconds and died. Everything was soldered well and heatsinked.

It really sucks as theses things aren't cheap, plus the time / work on assembling.

I would say, don't risk the last one. Go for a lower power build.

Too late . In the above post, I already soldered the diode. Guess what... yes it failed again after around 2 min runtime. It worked wonderfully while it lasted though, I don't get it. Connections everything was fine, I even resoldered everything to make sure and tested with a testload again. Same reading.

It's interesting you say that u used a Microboost and have the same issue. So it's definitely not my driver, taking into consideration until right now, it's still putting out 480mA.

I'm going to grab some more 12x diodes, sticking to 400mA this time. I still don't get why others can run 600mA+ and we can't run it even 470-480mA. The diodes cannot have such a disparity can they?