maxkillz said:
[quote author=ElektroFreak link=1228016015/0#8 date=1228031191]I think daguin's hit the nail on the head here. The problem was the bad connection to the diode. You had said that the diode came disconnected, which left it vulnerable to a lot of things. If it disconnected while powered up, that kills diodes instantly. You're best bet is to double- and triple-check your connections for strength and soundness. Make sure that nothing will exert too much strain on the connections during assembly. Your diode didn't blow for no reason, there was a clear reason..
EDIT: Also I think it should be stated that PHR diodes are NOT rated to run at the currents most people run them at. 60mW is their maximum rated output, anything above that and anything could happen..
it might have came loose when I set it on the desk thus why it didn't put out any light at all. the strange thing is, even with all the diodes I've killed none have produced the "led effect" I have yet to see that in person. maybe when I flipped the switch to on it reconnected and fried, who knows
BTW it was set at 97mA so not too far above what it was rated for[/quote]
maxkillz,
We've all been there (or at least most of us). The PHRs are easy to overload and the open-can reds are easy to murder during extraction. I myself have killed-
2- short open-can reds by overdriving
2- long open-can reds extracting
1- long open-can red overdriving
2- PHR803Ts overheated trying to desolder the ribbon connector. (Both times the positive pin fell out of the diode after the insulation melted.)
2- PHR803Ts overdriven, both died on cold start up after running the current warm no-prob.
1- PHR803T with a bad connection to the driver. (The same thing you just experienced)
As for the 'LED effect' That only happens when the diode is overdriven mildly. If you bomb it with current the leads from the pins to the semiconductor melt and it goes totally black. But if you only pump 200mA into it the leads are fine but COD kills the laser, turning it into an LED...
At any rate, don't give up. Most of the diodes I've killed were during a 4 week period right when I was starting to build lasers. Honestly I've built 8 in a row now without killling one diode,
knock on wood.
What I learned from all of that was-
1. Never force anything! If the diode won't com out of it's heatsink, get a file not a hammer. If it won't go in, get a c-clamp, not a hammer. In fact when it comes to lasers, hammer==BAD.
2. Solder carefully and use flux. Bad solder joints kill diodes.
3. Double check
everything. Diodes are expensive. It sucks to replace one because of an obvious mistake.
4. Only solder your diode ONCE.
5. Never disassemble a working laser just to ***K with it.
6. When frustrated, take a break, walk away, whatever. This is when mistakes happen. Problems that seem huge when you're tired or angry can become trivial when viewed with calmer eyes...
Hope this helps.
cheers,
kernelpanic
While applying power, shake it around and see if it reconnects...
