Safe amps(mA) for different diodes (depending on desired diode life)

[Tabish]

I want to create a chart of safe mA input for different diodes depending on expected diode life.
I will update the chart as people guesstimate the input miliamps.

If you have had a diode die out(or still lasing), PLEASE tell what mA you were using and how long it lasted.

And yes I know there are too many variables. Not all diodes are same.
Diode life also depends on how well you heatsink the diode.
However, I just want to create a general guide.

Also note, as LarryDFW pointed out, 100 hours means couple years for the casual user.

EDIT: Updated, removed most info because there were too many columns.

______________________________________EXPECTED DIODE LIFE_____________

............................DIES FAST........ <100hours.........100 Hours.........LASTS LONG
______________________________________________________________________________

PHR.................................................125mA?............104mA..................83mA
______________________________________________________________________________

4x.......................................................................172mA...................137mA
______________________________________________________________________________

GGW (6x)..............................................................202mA...................162mA
______________________________________________________________________________

SF-AW210 (6x) .....................................................192mA...................154mA
______________________________________________________________________________

8x........................................................................240mA...................192mA
______________________________________________________________________________

12x......................................................................296mA....................237mA
______________________________________________________________________________

450mW.................................................................416mA....................333mA
______________________________________________________________________________

 

[lasersbee]

Good initiative....:yh:

Jerry

 

[ofekgg]

My PHR run on 139 ma with Rkcstr for more than month!
I think that 120ma is safe for PHR and 140-150 Is few months..

 

[jander6442]

This is a great thing for a new member to take on... I think some a your data will
be scrutinized a little, based on the freak diodes of some members and other variables.

also there is to much generalization for it to be a true referencing chart...that is not your bad... just to much data for a project such as this.

Not to say down the road you'll be giving lessons on laser charts and such.

 

[pianoman2011]

Thought this doesn't have to do with mA, the SF-AW210 diodes' leads snap off WAYYY to easily. I have lost 2 to this horrible fate. It left me feeling quite hopeless. You might want to put a not about that or something. And I did have a PHR that died in about a week at 160mA.

-Jakob

 

[Tabish]

Thought this doesn't have to do with mA, the SF-AW210 diodes' leads snap off WAYYY to easily. I have lost 2 to this horrible fate. It left me feeling quite hopeless. You might want to put a not about that or something. And I did have a PHR that died in about a week at 160mA.

-Jakob

Made a note. The phr that died at 160 in a week seems about right considering someone posted a phr lasted about a month at 143.
How long has your aw210 @ 220ma been running ??

 

[pianoman2011]

Well at first I was running it at 280 mA for like a week. Then I decided to save the diodes life for a bit longer and lower it. It has been going for about 2-3 months on 220mA with about a total of maybe 3.5 hours runtime? I only break it out like twice a week for a little bit of recreational burning.

But these SF-AW210 diodes have proved to be very inconsistent regarding lifetime!!! Some have died after a few minutes at 180mA; mine had about an an hour of runtime on 280 mA and is now still living happily on 220. It seems as if some batches are good, and possibly more are bad. So I don't know what you should put for the SF-AW210's lifetime expectancies.

-Jakob

 

[matrixcs]

well for me i have a pen laser pwered by rckstr, by default it has a 120mA current, but i reset it down to 110mA <-- the safest and long life for phr...


im getting 120mW at 110mA (but phrs are unique... sometimes you can even get more..)

 

[iskor12]

Please don't let this thread die...this is a great idea

 

[Deleted member 8382]

I only have experience with the phrs for now, so I can't help

 

[LarryDFW]

Tabish;

I researched all the BR diodes currently purchased ....
found the rated output power & current,
and posted the results in this thread:

Diode Current for Long Life


The current levels should give 100 hours or so of life. That should be a couple of years life for casual users.

LarryDFW

 

[Tabish]

Thanks for the info !!!!

Updated the chart.

Tabish;

I researched all the BR diodes currently purchased ....
found the rated output power & current,
and posted the results in this thread:

Diode Current for Long Life


The current levels should give 100 hours or so of life. That should be a couple of years life for casual users.

LarryDFW