The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

Sure, I'd be glad to do the tests. I will also be in the US around Feb-March so I can also get it from there to save on shipping (but won't be able to do tests until I get back home mid-march).

Doesn't make much difference price wise for something this small.

If you pm me your address, I'll ship it off. Many thanks!

 

[djQUAN]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

PM sent! Hopefully I receive it before we go overseas next month so I can test it asap. Any idea how long it usually takes if coming from there? packages from China take too long and they are much closer.

 

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

Quick note -

Using version F7V6 of the Edge Driver, set at 2.85 Amps, I was able to get a 478nm output from a Nichia 462. Built in one of Sinner's hosts, I can get a duty cycle of ~2 minutes before the diode gets too warm.

For reference, at 2.85 Amps and 478nm, the diode is putting out a measly 800 mW of power. It gives you a strong send of how inefficient these diodes become when pushed so far beyond their safe current.

With a datasheet current of 1.7 or 1.8A (I believe) and a "safe current" of around 2.2A (which is roughly where I believe the "power kink" occurs), this push to 2.85 A is very very risky. The "death kink" occurs at around 2.95 Amp typically, so this brings the diode right up to the edge of death. I've been really impressed with this driver, and am curious to see djQUAN's impressions once the tester arrives (though I've made a half dozen revisions since that version!)

This is a completely un-retouched photo of a 2W 450nm on the right, and the 800mW 478nm on the left. It's a cell phone photo, so it's not even an SLR photo, but the color difference is clear and dramatic. It makes the 450 look like a 405!

 

[crazyspaz]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

Wow, that's quite an impressive shift! I'm interested to hear what kind of life that diode has being pushed that hard.

I think you should do a beamshot of all your blues, you have quite extensive assortment of wavelengths

 

[rhd]

Wow, that's quite an impressive shift! I'm interested to hear what kind of life that diode has being pushed that hard.

I think you should do a beamshot of all your blues, you have quite extensive assortment of wavelengths

445, 450, 465, 473, 478, 495 - would be kind of cool!

 

[crazyspaz]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

Heck yea it would be!
I wonder what the effect of this driver would be on say, a 520 or a 405. Obviously they don't shift as much, but I half wonder if you could get a relatively high binned 520 and get it to 530...maybe not worth it with the price, though.

 

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

Wow, that's quite an impressive shift! I'm interested to hear what kind of life that diode has being pushed that hard.

I think you should do a beamshot of all your blues, you have quite extensive assortment of wavelengths

I didn't do the whole range, but I shot a couple of them:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f40/blues-449-460-478-495-a-93399.html#post1356487

 

[djQUAN]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

, and am curious to see djQUAN's impressions once the tester arrives (though I've made a half dozen revisions since that version!)

I'm also excited to be able to test it but sorry to say, it hasn't arrived yet. I also have another package from china that got lost. Hopefully this one arrives soon. :undecided:

 

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for 462s - want to review/test?

I'm also excited to be able to test it but sorry to say, it hasn't arrived yet. I also have another package from china that got lost. Hopefully this one arrives soon. :undecided:

It's okay. At some stage I'll just send a new version. Lots of changes since the version I sent you.

I found another 2x18650 host, so I may take a stab at pushing my last Nichia 462 to 2.9 or maybe 2.925 Amps. It would be amazing if it was possible to actually hit 480nm.

 

[bdgreenb]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

would you be willing to sell one of the old models?

 

[rhd]

would you be willing to sell one of the old models?

Don't have any I'm afraid. I tend to just make a couple drivers at a time

 

[djQUAN]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

The driver has arrived.... after being lost somewhere for 5 months.

I wanted to test the functionality before running more tests later this weekend when I have more time.

Driver board to be tested:

Test setup: Flir E4 to monitor driver temp, Fluke meter (yellow) measures driver output voltage, DC Clamp meter (red) measures driver output current. (Forgot to zero it before the pic but it is zeroed with no current during measurements.)

Bench supply is set to 7.2V for testing purposes. The driver is drawing 2.12A for a power input of 15.2852watts.

Output voltage on the test load (just a bunch of 1N5401 diodes) measured 4.673V and 2.64A for an output power of 12.34Watts.

Efficiency is about 80.7% which isn't too bad.

Driver temp is not getting very hot but does get pretty warm to the touch. Unfortunately, there is a copper heatsink attached so I can't tell where most of the heat is coming from.

The poor diode string is taking a beating

Further testing (ripple, startup etc) with the oscilloscope will be done this weekend.

 

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

Wow, this is cool! I'm excited already! It's so revealing to see the driver on a FLIR!

Can't wait to see how it scopes. That was one of the first few revisions, so my fingers are crossed

 

[djQUAN]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

It would have been more revealing without the heatsink because we could see which device is heating more, the diode, mosfet or driver chip. The inductor is warm to the touch but not as hot as the semiconductors.

I'm not sure if I can remove the heatsink without damage since it is thermal glued to the driver. I'll give it a try after doing the scoping so that incase something bad happens, atleast the important bit of the testing has been done.

 

[rhd]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

It would have been more revealing without the heatsink because we could see which device is heating more, the diode, mosfet or driver chip. The inductor is warm to the touch but not as hot as the semiconductors.

I'm not sure if I can remove the heatsink without damage since it is thermal glued to the driver. I'll give it a try after doing the scoping so that incase something bad happens, atleast the important bit of the testing has been done.

No you can't, you'll damage it. It's thermal epoxy, not just thermal grease / something removable. It's not a big deal though, because I can tell you what generates heat - it's the MOSFET and current sense IC (which isn't actually generating the heat itself, in all likelihood, but just dissipating heat from the sense resistor, because this early version didn't use Kelvin leads).

 

[djQUAN]

Re: The "Clean Edge" Driver - 2.85A driver for pushing 462s (478nm hit so far)

I have successfully removed potting epoxy (the hard black stuff) on driver boards with a hot air tool without having the ICs desolder. I'm still using those drivers until now I can give it a try but would stop if there is no sign of the heatsink coming off.

Either way, the priority is scoping it for the switching performance. I'll post updates as I progress on the testing.