Joe Beuckman 2011

Supporting a 2W Laser Diode

Submitted by joe on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 08:48
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Left to Right:

  • Monster transformer from Mexico
  • Monster capacitor from Japan
  • Monster rectifier
  • High current 12V power supply (schematic)
  • Classroom style ammeter (YES, 2.3AMPS!!!)
  • Constant-current driver circuit (schematic)
  • 2W laser diode w/TEC on a big heatsink
    • Below that diode: The faint red glow of 808nm love

    Notes:

  • The thicker pair of wires on the transformer are the output - not mains. I found this out by tripping the circuit breaker a couple times. It's so nice having a house!
  • Plugging this thing in caused a spark in the mains connection, which failed after a few seconds making me fear the worst for the laser. Turns out my soldering iron is not hot enough to bond to the heavy steel connectors so I hit them with a hammer to make them touch the cables. Works great.
  • This is the first circuit I've built where the fan really is necessary. The far transistor on the power supply tends to heat up and lose current without the fan.
  • This nice diode has a TEC right in the case, so I am just running that series with the diode from the driver circuit.

    • Big shouts going out to ABC Electronics, Ax-Man and especially heruursciences.

    Next up: 7WATTS.