Why did my 642nm diode die?

[dave]

As the world has switched over to switching power supplies, it has gotten harder and harder to get clean power. If you have a scope, check your supply voltage for spikes. Many switchers appear to me to need external filtering.

Thats the beauty of the die4drivePRO. The die4drive pro contains a small switching supply, so its not so the diode in theory should be getting a very clean power supply source

[kitatit]

Its a constant current driver - you set the current and the voltage takes care of its self.

Thats the beauty of the die4drivePRO. The die4drive pro contains a small switching supply, so its not so the diode in theory should be getting a very clean power supply source

Hi Dave, I was adjusting the current while it was powered up. I had a chat with Dnar and he thought maybe that could be the problem as some pots can be noisy. I now remember the instructions saying to set the current with the diode output on the driver shorted, then connect diode and power up. With the link I had cut it should only allow 275mA. Could the noisy pot theory have caused a fatal spike under these conditions?

[-bart-]

Could the noisy pot theory have caused a fatal spike under these conditions?

In theory, the way they are implemented in the d4d, noise on the pots should cause the current go briefly zero, not spike up.

[kitatit]

In theory, the way they are implemented in the d4d, noise on the pots should cause the current go briefly zero, not spike up.

Ahh, thanks for that insight Bart. I must have nuked it while handling it.

I've got some red lasorbs on the way.

[badger1666]

Ahh, thanks for that insight Bart. I must have nuked it while handling it.

I've got some red lasorbs on the way.

well dont expect the lasorbs to stop em from going led , i lost two with lasorbs on,
they dont protect from everything

[kitatit]

well dont expect the lasorbs to stop em from going led , i lost two with lasorbs on,
they dont protect from everything

Hi badger, yeah I had my wrist strap on the whole time. The only time the pins of the diode weren't connected was taking the diode out of it's bag, applying arctic silver, fitting to Dave's mount and plugging in a laser bug(minus lasorb) Adam was out or red lasorbs at the time. I hear what you are saying. I just don't want to try another diode without ruling out as many points of failure as I can.

€110 for about 2mins runtime was a bit less than ideal

If my spare diode lives fast and dies young I might have tolook into self harm

[-bart-]

Short the diode as soon as you get it out of the bag !
Better yet, short it in the bag.

Just build a special shorting socket for this purpose.

[kitatit]

Short the diode as soon as you get it out of the bag !
Better yet, short it in the bag.

Just build a special shorting socket for this purpose.

Great idea! I've got a socket I can use.

[dnar]

Great idea! I've got a socket I can use.

Hey kit, if you want to be sure never to kill the diode, short it out AND keep it in the bag forever!

/dnar runs away

[kitatit]

Hey kit, if you want to be sure never to kill the diode, short it out AND keep it in the bag forever!

/dnar runs away

Never! A faint heart never won a fair laser!

Anyway, what am I worried about? I bet the old school guys hoping there beautiful gas laser doesn't get smashed in transit really had something to cry about when things turned pair shaped.