Leadlight reincarnation

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diz

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Jan 10, 2005
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Hello everyone,

I received a 532nm leadlight over the weekend and immediately had a play. (I already have another 532nm laser pointer which I have 'pot' modified but I wanted to really experiment with this new one).

However, I rushed the job and it all went wrong. First I busted the pot (just kept spinning round) and then I shorted the diode. Now I have a very low powered greenie. Ah well.

I guess I've killed the diode (though I dunno why it still works a bit). So thought I'd replace the diode then strip everything out and place in a larger package with bigger batteries etc. Anyone done this? I am looking for a 500mw 808nm diode to replace the one that was there. Sound about right or will this burn out the crystals?

Thanks for any info,


Darren.
 
depends - the 500mw diodes I have access to *and VERY reasonably priced I might add* their threshold is 100mA - that's probably going to give you about 10-20mw output depending on the crystals. If you crank it up, it's more than likely going to fracture the crystal yes.. But again it depends on how good your rocks are, the heat dissipation you're using, etc..
Just throwing a 500mw diode into a leadlight would NOT be good. *would work but not for long*

I'm working a few designs, e-mail me if you're interested and we can try and make your leadlight work again.

[email protected]
 
This is a discussion forum and not a forum about e-mail and pm-notifications gentlemen /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
While a remark about an e-mail or PM being sent is acceptable, a lenghly disussion about reoccuring events isn't.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
bernhard
 
I have a leadlight that i think the diode is fryed. I have it apart and after a few seconds of having it on it gets warm like theres current running through the board but no green light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif any suggestions on swapping it with a 500mW?
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif SUPERMAN, Do NOT look into the barrel, sounds like this Leadlight is still emitting nearly 200mw of IR light. That amount concentrated by the optics is very dangerous and whilst the IR filter may help it is only designed to 'clean' up the output.

Try looking at the laser through the LCD of a camera or camera/phone etc. something that gives you a 'live' viewfinder on the screen.

The IR in theses is the most dangerous... I have run into MCA problems and thought the diode was at fault. IR is not te be messed with. I first discovered I had been exposed to it by a slight sting in my eyes for 30mins afterwards - you know the kind when you have been out in bright sun...or when it has been raining and you get the bright glare off the road surface.

It sounds to me like the MCA has either been un-fused/ fried or has become loose inside the barrel.
 
What your talking about has happened to me before but i fixed it and im nearly postitive its not the MCA because its not in the barrel. Its apart all over my counter /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. The mca fell out so I took it apart and re glued it with a special super glue against better judgement and it worked fine untill one of my friends dropped it. The top of the pot, the IR filter (which i fixed before I even tried to turn it on) and the switch. I lost the switch so i solderd 2 wires to where the prongs would have gone then twisted them together so its a solid connection then I hooked it up to a power supply and nothing but a little heat on the board.
 
yeah, best to test with a digicam or similar. I too suspect its the MCA. Did you mod this pointer? if so, how heavily and how many mW's was it producing after the mod?
 
In the states, Radio Shack sells an IR detector card for a very nominal cost. It's tuned for 900nm remote controls, but it should indicate the presence of 808nm nicely also. I'd checkj it with one of those if a digital camera isn't available. Be careful though as the card is laminated with a highly reflective plastic.
 
A freind of mine is running a modified leadlight at about 450ma. that's with ni. mh. rechargeable cells. when running on normal alkaline batteries i draws about 600ma from the batteries, and is even brighter /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Normaly hes running on those chargeable cells, so i dont know how long it will last consuming 600ma..

Anyways, i have two dead leadlight that died when i tried to modify them. One died during the pot mod, and the other during the repositioning mod that includes loosening the doide and rotating it for max beam power.

Both diodes does produce some red light and ir.. (yes, i know about the danger..)

How doo i know if the diodes are "dead"?
And what is the "MCA"?
 
Take them apart and check if the MCA, the cyrstal assambly, came unglued. I had one one for a while and it dropped and the glue melted and all that needed to be done was reglue it and now its about 30mW. I think when i reglued the cyrstals i actually aligned them better so now its even better
 
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I have been experimenting a lot with my green leadlight, trying to get some green light..

When i connect the leadlight to an adjustable powersupply, and slowly increase the current (constant voltage of 3 volts) i get green light at a certain point. This is somewhere between 200 and 300mA. This green beam is bearly visible when projected at a white wall in a dark room.

Increeased or reduced current result in no light at all (exept for that IR shining out from behind the IR filter).


I can post pics or even videos if that might be of any help..



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