laser diode drivers

[Draco]

quick question,
for laser diode drivers that are constant current, is there a difference between the ones used for red diodes vs ones for blue and 405nm, I know the voltage is different but with CC does that matter?

my back up driver exploded and i am not sure what to replace it with on a tight budget. I had used it for different diodes over the last few years, that and i don't remember where i got it from

[buffo]

Some red diode drivers can't handle the higher forward voltage drop of the blues and greens. (Example: The new 520 nm greens need nearly 8 volts across them.) If your red driver is only designed to run on a 5 volt supply, then it won't be able to run a 445 nm blue.

If it runs off a 12 volt supply and can handle the higher current, then it should work.

Adam

[VDX]

... my own drivers runs with 12V, so no difference ... and actually I'm testing an 'industry' driver with 24V - so even more voltage, if needed.

But one of my scavanged 652nm-modules needs >160Volts to run!! ... it was used in a medical device for intravascular treatment and emits up to 20 Watts out of 60 combined 400mW-diodes, which are hooked up serial ...

Viktor

[Draco]

Thank you for the info, That confirms what i thought, one of these days i will have 420 green, i just wish they where not as pricy.