red dual wl diode in big host

[cheech226]

a while back i got a few of the dual 650/780 3.8 mm diodes from lazeerer. i've read good things about these diodes, specifically that they produce about the same max output as our 826's do, but with less current. i dug up another atma Tiny linear driver for power. i was unable to set it to the current i wanted - 400mA. right at 350mA it would jump to 480 mA or so - nothing in between. i set it to 350mA using my trusty jufran test load. i used a 3.8mm copper module and was able to press the diode in easily because dtr thoughtfully supplied a 3.8 diode press with my order of 3 modules as a Bonus! how cool is that? dtr is the man! (along with angelos of course)
i only had a large c-4 style side click host empty, and a heat sink from a side clicky host i bought from mrcrouse.

i got lucky and the heat sink fit well and left a lot of room in the head. at first i let the driver just "float" but i soon saw, after testing, that the driver overheated and dropped output. i wound up using arctic silver to bond the driver to the aluminum heat sink and output is now steady for over 4 minutes at 270 mW using a g-1 lens. the spot from this diode has wings but they are much less apparent than those of an 826 diode.

more beam shots after the sun sets.

 

[LtKernelPanic]

Nice. Are you just using the 650 side or the 780 as well? I ordered a couple of those from him after the GB fell through. Can't wait to get them (stupid hurricane!) as I have an interesting idea if I can find a host with the right switch.

 

[DJNY]

Better spot than the 826s? That´s cool.

Angelos and Jordan are great, both never disappointed me.

You have so many great lasers, so get yourself a good cam instead of this webcam :beer:

 

[cheech226]

just running the 650 side now. i bet i'm thinking the same thing LKP! it would be cool to select one or both sides of the diode! with a head this size there's enough room for whatever you want to do.
those were hasty pics i put up. but you get the idea....

 

[DJNY]

Can you manage to get a 826 and Dual WL 660nm side-by-side shot?

 

[cheech226]

the only difference i can see between the diodes is when using a g-1 650 lens. you can't see it in the pix, but the wings are Much fainter in the dual's spot. the two lasers have same output - 250mw and both are using the mini atma adjustable linears. the dual diode is drawing 350mA and the 826 is drawing 480mA. the color seems the same to me.

left is 826 right the dual. this was using half threaded 3 element 650 lens

the 826 on the left same lens

 

[DJNY]

Ok, thanks for your effort! +rep cmn as soon as I´m able to.

 

[cheech226]

i have to give these duals a big thumbs up:beer:
the fact i can get the same output as an lpc-826 with much less current, and a nice single mode 780nm beam in the same package does it for me. to the eye both diode's beam and spot are the same. i'll try to come up with some numbers soon.
i did a 6 minute run with the dual in the big host and the diode/driver's output stayed within 3mW the whole time - that's steady eddy!

edit: i like to fiddle with stuff. once again it cost me a diode and the driver.
lucky me had another dual wl diode handy. so i pressed it into another copper module (thanks again dtr for the press:beer. digging thru my stuff i came up with a fixed linear (jib drive) right close to what i needed - 375mA. a few solder joints, and one other joint, and i had a functioning handheld 650 nm 275mW laser again. i'm not gonna fiddle with it either:angel: