red burner diode question

[fartsniffer]

I just built my first laser today (thanks a lot to the great tutorials on this forum) and I hooked it up to a supply of 5 AAA's. I noticed that the beam was very wide so I adjusted the lens and got it to focus properly and although it is very bright, it does not burn or put out any heat. I am using the red diode from stonetek.org ( Sony SLD1239JL-54 16X DVD Burner OEM Diode ) because there was a post in the forum saying it was a burning diode. I also had to turn the knob on the pot to get the laser to be brighter than my 5mw green laser.
Is there something wrong I could be doing that is preventing the laser from burning?
Also the reflection of the light off stuff is VERY bright, should I be concerned with that?

 

[happytomato]

Try focusing it to a pinpoint.

 

[freshert]

Point it at something like a meter away. Then keep twisting the lens until its at the smallest point possible. Then put a match at the pinpoint and see if the laser lights the match.

EDIT: make sure you have goggles on, you don't want a black spot wherever you look at in the future....

 

[SenKat_Stonetek]

I just built my first laser today (thanks a lot to the great tutorials on this forum) and I hooked it up to a supply of 5 AAA's. I noticed that the beam was very wide so I adjusted the lens and got it to focus properly and although it is very bright, it does not burn or put out any heat. I am using the red diode from stonetek.org ( Sony SLD1239JL-54 16X DVD Burner OEM Diode ) because there was a post in the forum saying it was a burning diode. I also had to turn the knob on the pot to get the laser to be brighter than my 5mw green laser.
Is there something wrong I could be doing that is preventing the laser from burning?
Also the reflection of the light off stuff is VERY bright, should I be concerned with that?

What kind of circuit are you using to drive the laser diode ? If you hooked it direct to 5 AAA's and a pot - you probably smoked the diode. Post some pics of your circuit ?? Oh - and describe it, too !

 

[fartsniffer]

I do have a circuit in place to regulate the power. Although it is not very good (thanks in part to not having any tools besides an exacto knife and a very bad soldering iron), it should do its job just fine.
I cannot post links cause my post count isnt high enough, but I'm sure most of you will know what to do with:
h ttp://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3006/pic0024hz0.jpg
That pic shows everything used in the circuit. The tube beside the battery is just a temporary solution untill I can make a real case for the batterys.
Also I have a close up pic of the circuit:
h ttp://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5861/pic0030xk0.jpg
I know some of the wires look like they are not soldered, but they are, and are firmly in place.

 

[fartsniffer]

Ok so I added a on/off switch, or rather a off/on switch since whent he button is pressed in, the circuit breaks.
h ttp://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3640/pic0031iz8.jpg
Also I got a pic of the dot from about 2 meters away.
h ttp://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6868/pic0036uy0.jpg
That pic shows the smallest dot I can make.

EDIT
And using some stuff I found around my desk, I managed to put the laser together into one little package.
h ttp://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5817/pic0038yk0.jpg

 

[SenKat_Stonetek]

Your connections look pretty good I assume the white wire leading to the Aixiz module is the positive wire ? Did you measure the current coming out of it - and if so...how did you do so ?

 

[fartsniffer]

Your connections look pretty good I assume the white wire leading to the Aixiz module is the positive wire ? Did you measure the current coming out of it - and if so...how did you do so ?

Yes the white wire is +.
I did not check the current... will most likely have to wait until monday till I can get my hands on a multi meter.
Could the current be a factor in why this 'burning' laser doesnt burn?

 

[SenKat_Stonetek]

Exactly why The only other reason could be death from too much heat while soldering...make sure to discharge the cap prior to testing the current, or disconnecting anything.

 

[fartsniffer]

Exactly why The only other reason could be death from too much heat while soldering...make sure to discharge the cap prior to testing the current, or disconnecting anything.

Will I be able to discharge the cap by touching it with a screwdriver, or would that be to harmfull to me?
Also what kind of current and I looking for?

 

[caleb]

im planning on buiding a red laser and running at around <75mw. do you think it could be focused into the night sky, focusing the beam. beter for your eyes.

 

[rog8811]

Now you have had some good advice and help I think it is time we discussed......
........ the first spliff laser I have ever seen

Regards rog8811