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FrozenGate by Avery

The Little Diode That Could

Javalin said:
I'm really glad you asked about the diode. It's been a long year, and not just for the obvious reason...

In November 2020 we experienced a 13 day power outage. The diode was placed in my travel battery bank, the same one I have been using since starting this experiment. It allows me to swap in 18650 batteries without interrupting power. It was a hectic period right when I should have been posting the annual update. This was immediately followed by the birth of our newest laser enthusiast.

So with the passing of another year (or two) that brings the current run time to 66,105 hours!

To answer your questions sowee, I have seen no obvious change in any of the properties. The dot is still easily visible even with lights on or during the day with the windows open.
Click to expand...
That is actually incredible. 7.5 years non stop operation.
 





is the diode still working? I think it’s time for an update
 
Did the power drop or change profile? A semiconductor manufacturer might want to examine that diode to see long term damage modes once it pops
 
kecked said:
Did the power drop or change profile? A semiconductor manufacturer might want to examine that diode to see long term damage modes once it pops
Click to expand...
I can actually see them paying the OP a hefty sum for such a well-recorded specimen too
 
It's that time of year again. And by that time I mean, I have finally decided that is time to update on this little diode.

The photo is too big to upload, but we are still plugging along. 80,592 hours, crazy to think that we are coming up on the 10 year mark!
 
Javalin said:
It's that time of year again. And by that time I mean, I have finally decided that is time to update on this little diode.

The photo is too big to upload, but we are still plugging along. 80,592 hours, crazy to think that we are coming up on the 10 year mark!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update! crazy little diode! any noticeable drop in power?
 
Dang, I would have thought the diode would have died by now. Long live the little diode that could!
;)
 
That is really something, honestly I would have been surprised at anything more than a few months, let alone nearly 10 years.
 
Giannis_TDM said:
Thanks for the update! crazy little diode! any noticeable drop in power?
Click to expand...
It was so little power to begin with that it's hard to really tell. In a daylight lit room, on a wall 15 feet away the dot is still easy to see.

My power meter didn't even register this thing years ago when I tried. Since quantifiable data aren't available, and given the 10 years that it's been, I would say it seems more dim,

Real time edit. I just checked it side by side with the last unused diode from this batch. Power output has reduced significantly.
 
Wow. 80,500+ hours! That’s seriously impressive. Both in the sense of the diode longevity and that fact you are also still recording it.
 
If you keep power levels below what the diode was rated to do it doesn't surprise me that it lasted this long. Looking forward to any updates about its longevity.
 
Try a z80 or num44 at 5a. I bet 30 days to half power.
 
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