Soldered my LD wrong but it didnt die !?!?....

[si12j12]

to make the story short , i was changing the DDL driver with a different DDL driver i made
and upon reconecting the LD i connected + to - and - to + i turned it on and no light came out.

Upon checking my connection i realised this huge mistake so i though "great i killed it , good going dumb ___"

I desoldered and reconnected it the correctly and turned it on .... very little light came out
so i started turning the 16 turn pot and it started getting brighter and brighter .

Im using :

-lm317t
-100 ohn 16 turn pot
-12 ohm resistor
-n4001 diode
-47uf 16v cap

Conclusion: Although i connected it wrong and my guess is that the pot was turne to its lowest setting
could have killed my diode , it didnt or could have it ?

Im confused , I know LDs are sensitive and people kill them all the time ...or should i say im very lucky and happy its working strong

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

I have hooked up a couple LD's backwards -- Duh !!! I've killed a lot of diodes but never lost one that way.

Mike

 

[Tw15t3r]

I'm guessing that ur driver didn't push the LD past its breakdown voltage. After all, LDs are still diodes hence, they can take a reverse voltage. They just won't conduct.

 

[daguin]

I'm guessing that ur driver didn't push the LD past its breakdown voltage. After all, LDs are still diodes hence, they can take a reverse voltage. They just won't conduct.

IME reverse voltage is MUCH more damaging to the driver than the diode.

Peace,
dave

 

[suiraM]

Funny thing is, reversing the polarity always works in Star Trek.

Or the polarization, depending on the episode.

;P

 

[daguin]

Funny thing is, reversing the polarity always works in Star Trek.

Or the polarization, depending on the episode.

;P

I think that only works if your laser is made with dilithium crystal

Peace,
dave

 

[Tw15t3r]

IME reverse voltage is MUCH more damaging to the driver than the diode.

Peace,
dave

Oh well, guess I'm wrong then. Didn't know that... :-/