Rgb laser modulation

[conceptcar3]

So I recently ordered both a 1 watt, and a 10 watt Rgb laser both with analog modulation. I have received the 1 watt but am still awaiting my ten watt. I am experimenting on the 1 watt because I don’t want to damage the much more expensive 10 watt Rgb.
So what I have found is that the 1 watt laser has slots to plug in to modulate each color with 0 to 5volts. I have an adapter that lets me apply 5volts to each of these inputs. If no voltage is applied the laser will not even turn on. It included its own 12v ac adapter, but when plugging it in the laser does not power on by default. In order for it to produce light the 12v connector must be plugged in as well as the 5v modulation signal. So I am successfully able to do 7 colors so far, but I have not been able to apply different voltages to each of the modulation inputs yet because I didn’t buy the right equipment. I purchased these led dimmer switches but I didn’t realize they only allow dimming of voltages between 24 and 12. So when hooked up, no voltage comes through the 5v adapter. I did find some alternative adapters on amazon for $14 that have a dial that allow you to go from 3v up to 12v, and the first half of the dial is 3v to 5v, which would give me a little bit of modulation control. One of the reviews said though that it actually starts at a low of 3.6volt, not 3 volt as it claims.

36W Universal AC/DC Adapter Switching Power Supply with 8 Selectable Adapter Tips, Including Micro USB Plug, for 3V to 12V Household Electronics and LED Strip - 3000mA Max https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TPL1WH...abc_STP1B0JPMNK67BKJP0WT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Alternatively I found this voltage controller on amazon that seems to allow increments of 0.01volt. If I use a standard 12v adapter as the input I should be able to apply all voltages from 0.01 to 5.00 to each diode using 3 of these
Let me know what you guys think.

9V Voltage Regulator, DROK DC Buck Converter 5V-23V 12V to 0.01-18V 5V Power Supply Step Down Transformer Module, 3A LCD Volt Stabilizer Circuit Board https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LC4LNTD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_2GTAP23EJ11BZHMPE5VP

 

[FireMyLaser]

I have not ever experimented with an analog laser myself, but I would assume that you only need a potentiometer (maybe 10K) and use it as a potential divider between ground and +5V. And you can probably tap of 5v from some pin already on the circuit board.

 

[RedCowboy]

100 ohm pot might be better so the adjustment range is not all at one end ?

 

[FireMyLaser]

The total resistance of the pot don't matter much when it is used as a potential divider. As long as the thing it controls has a relatively high impedance, the pot can have a high value so to not waste power.

 

[RedCowboy]

For the purpose it shouldn't draw very much current at all but if it did a high value pot could have you doing all your adjustment at the far end of the rotation is what i was thinking.

 

[FireMyLaser]

Then you don't know what a potential divider is or how it works.
5V over 100 ohms will consume 0.25W. Also, 10k pots are very easy to find and will only consume 0.0025W.

 

[FireMyLaser]

In what context have you had this happen before?

 

[RedCowboy]

Yea it's virtually no load so it won't make any difference other than waste heat at the pot.

 

[conceptcar3]

Well I went ahead and bought those $10 voltage controllers with displays, the diodes lowest power settings are 2.02 volt for red, 2.30 for green, and 2.12 for blue. So I can increase power to each diode from there on up to 5.0v in increments of 0.01v. I attached pictures of the arrangement; and some beam shots also! It’s the perfect analog control Rgb. I ordered 1w but the side of the laser says 2000w? I think they may have given me a 2W as the green which is supposed to be 120mW looks much brighter to me (I don’t have a power meter, but I have a 150mW CNI green laser pointer and this green seems substantially brighter than that) So basically inside the box I put a power strip, with the 12v power adapter to the lasers power input, then three more 12v adapters plugged into those 3 voltage controllers input, and the output is then plugged into the Laser inputs.. I attached some pictures so you can see how I did it. I’m greatly looking forward to my 10W laser arriving now!

 

[diachi]

I have not ever experimented with an analog laser myself, but I would assume that you only need a potentiometer (maybe 10K) and use it as a potential divider between ground and +5V. And you can probably tap of 5v from some pin already on the circuit board.

Yeah, 10k pot and a 5VDC source works fine (something as simple as a 7805 is more than enough).

 

[FireMyLaser]

It's good getting confirmation from you that my assumption was correct. I can't say trust a lot of people here these days.

 

[conceptcar3]

Made a YouTube video explaining what I did and how I did it. Enjoy!