Multiple Diodes on one driver

[kovacika]

Hi Guys,

I currently have two 9mm 445 diodes pressed into copper mounts from DTR, and one Flexmod P3. Can I run both diodes off the one driver? Should they be run in series or parallel? Do I need any special resistors?

Thanks in advance,
-Aaron

[-bart-]

Option a) parallel. Driver will need at least 6,5 volts supplyvoltage , You need a 0,5 watt 0,22 ohm resistor in series with each diode. (Draw back: if one diode fails : overload of 2nd diode)

Option b) series. Driver will need at least 12 volts supplyvoltage . No resistors needed. (Draw back: if one diode fails : possible no light at all and minor chance of damage of 2nd diode)

[planters]

Go with the serial drive. When these diodes fail due to the junction they continue to pass current and retain the V drop (going LED). If you so over drive the diode that you blow out the leads on one of the two in series then you will get zero output, but the good diode will not be damaged.

I have run as many as 4 in series when using the 3V LOC red diodes and there was no problem. This reduces wiring needs as well as the driver count.

[-bart-]

As a matter of fact Kasio runs them in strings of 8 in their projectors.

I have run one entire block of 24 diodes on 3 bad-pip channels.

Assuming you chose the 9mm version because of their output-capabilities:
The advantage of the serial drive is you can go upto 3amps(+bias) with the flexmod per diode, as parallel divides 3A into 1,5A(+bias) per diode.
Polished ball had some stable results @ 2.148A
If you are able to copy his results, this will yield ~5W total.