DIY: How to build a laser diode driver

[drumstick9000]

how many mW is that good for?

[10chilled91]

what is the pot?

[shroomproduction]

@10chilled91 It is a Potentiometer.

[axel1973w]

Is a 3pin Laser Diode Pinout always the same ?!?

[axel1973w]

What type of laser diode is used in laser printers?? any "visible" or more like IR ?

[patmyer]

If I'm not mistake, you put the two resistors in parallel to get 10 ohms. This is not correct. A series combination of two 5 ohm resistors = 10.

[gfetggggggggggggg]

At the beginning it's said 25 Ohm pot, but at the end (the schematic circuit) it is 100 Ohm. Which one is correct?

[renzowen]

so you don't have 1 dollar to buy one (or did you did this for FUN)

[poop5953]

HEY I NEED HELP WITH THIS I made one and it does not work it will not adjust it will give me 8.88v ?!?!?!?!?

[poop5953]

Will it work with a 9v

[Monty12574]

hey awesome tutorial, really helped me out a lot, but can you tell me the name of the first song?

[LimbagoAeronautics1]

A pot to smoke on during assembly,lol

[mrslig100]

What is a radio shack anyway?

[massivemak]

nice one :)

[t0rtureme]

you know what... im sooo downloading the metroid soundtrack now.. oh yea and nice vid i was looking for a way to make the driver instead of buying it.

[R2Processor]

@umloginqualquer should I get a 10ohm 1/3w resistor or what?

[R2Processor]

What diode should I use that is red and in mW

[umloginqualquer]

This is better than powering your diode directly from a ordinary adjustable voltage source, since the current source feeding the capacitor will limit the amount of current the diode can "eat", because if the diode "eats" too much current, the voltage across it will lower, effectively forcing it to "eat" less current. But in the end, you just have a current source charging the capacitor, which will then act kind of as a voltage source to the diode. I'd take that capacitor out.

[R2Processor]

@umloginqualquer I don't get it having the capacitor will make it like it's just connected to a bat anyways?

[umloginqualquer]

@R2Processor That's exactly what I said. I would take that capacitor out because it ends up acting like a voltage source, once it's charged. But let's say your diode draws 100mA, your current source provides 100mA and your capacitor is charged. If your diode tries to draw more than 100mA, your current source will still provide only 100mA and it will start draining the capacitor until its voltage drops enough to effectively reduce the current back to 100mA. Anyway, the capacitor is unnecessary.

[R2Processor]

@umloginqualquer thx but anything I should add to it?

[dominicantolk]

mad hard to do lol

[TheBlueCreeper1215]

YEAH!!! METROID!!!!

[solidliqs]

WARNING: This is not a properly designed circuit. This is only a simple voltage regulator. As the temperature of the laser diode changes, its current draw will change. The current draw must be properly regulated, or you will burn out your laser diode.

[R2Processor]

@solidliqs how do I do that? send a vid pls or something

[solidliqs]

@R2Processor There are many ways to regulate current in a circuit. One easy way is to use an OP amp to drive the gate of a FET. Have one input to the op amp a reference voltage, and the other the voltage drop across a current measuring resistor. Put this circuit on the low side, and it'll ensure a constant current. Google for "constant current sink" to find something like this. Alternately, you can also google for "constant current source" to find a high side driver circuit.

[iceCOLDkillaxDLoL]

@solidliqs noo you are wrong...it is a current regulator and not voltage regulator

[gartnl]

Actually this is not a driver. It's a voltage regulator.

[sorh]

FUCK THAT ANOYING MUSIC

[kerriechapa210]

@sorh its metroid duh i love metroid

[0MrPromaster0]

I've made the circuit, and I've added a LED in-between the output leads and nothing happens!! any answers??

[MrBudtender]

Will this work for a 808nm 300mw diode? Im having some trouble with finding help building a driver that actually works. I also have a 1w 808nm that i would like to get working.

[Djakkennaia]

Dude, Epic Music. I've always loved the techno/trance/chant vibe of Metroid music.

[Dosalt]

thanks your a nice guy

[raz0racanine]

anyone who knows the circuits in 4 pin diode???

[thepolnw]

i dont understand. i am noob here

u said use 25 ohm and 5ohm resistor

but at the end u said use 100 ohm pot and 4 ohm resistor

i can use either 25 ohm or 100 ohm???????

[BibiiaLynellej327]

hèy_åNÿôñë_wÁññä_chat_wìth_me_­I_fEël_sõ_l0nÉlÿ_tØDAý▼

[matthewgroen]

whats the music?? btw nice vid:)

[Tripp528]

wow. that was an amazing outcome.........

[swcwcc]

heres a tip folks, don't bother cheking if your laser works with a 3volt button cell battery, thnx alot dad! "make sure it works", half an hour later, Damn it!! everything is hoocked up right, why isn't the laser even coming close to 1mw?!

[gundamfranck]

man love the metroi theme songs couldnt get somethig better!!!!!!!

[Valentino319]

Wow! What kinda music do you listen to man? Jeez that song is so fkin trippy!

[gundamfranck]

@Valentino319 thats the metroid(game) theme song love that game.

[forest1252]

cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc­cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc­cccc

[forest1252]

amazing!

[shockwavenl1]

i am trying to make this, but is it a 25 ohm pot or a 25k ohm pot? i cant find a 25 pot (i live in the netherlands and radioshack is gonna take to long..)

so can u help me out xD?

[Ravenpulse]

what is this song, its cool

[TheSuperhack3r]

how many mA can this go up to, what i mean is can i power a 1w laser diode with this driver? Thanks

[shidoink]

@TheSuperhack3r watts is volt times current. so 6v*1amp( the max load) means up to a 6 watt laser.

[toadsEATbugs]

@phazonxl Is this the metroid theme?

[zomgerln]

@toadsEATbugs it's the essence of metroid primes theme

[higoten1993]

you know that you only need to solder the pot 2 times and they have to be side by side.

[hypurbeing]

thanks, now i feel like playing metroid

[DL1RMP]

Thanks a lot.

[asheyblack]

i'm a beginner at this can someone tell me what's the purpose of having a laser? what's the practicallity behind it?

[jaiden270274]

@asheyblack

same reson why u have a sling shot or a ebox FOR FUN!!!

lol

[AMIELrenaissance]

@jaiden270274 be careful though when you are connecting it to a battery,the LED can explode or become toasted,only if it is cheap.

[AMIELrenaissance]

@asheyblack you can use it when you want to hurt someone in the eye,or if you want to make a star wars scene just add some smokes

[szkkteam]

Someone could help me? I built the driver, correctly, but, when i turn low the potentiometer, the diode shining red, but it spreading it's light, and can't focus, more than 2-3 cm. What am i doing wrong?

[phazonxl]

@szkkteam The diode itself will be as a flashlight unless you place it inside a diode housing which has a lens in it. The diode itself is working, great job on the driver. :)

Where did you get the diode from? You'll need a housing for it. Your source might have info on where to get them.

[JohnMinigun]

@phazonxl Can you just connect laser diode on 3V and insert capacitor pararel to diode instead all these ???

[link1478]

@JohnMinigun NOPE

[TheNuclearWatermelon]

@szkkteam you need an Aixiz laser module. You can get them for aroun $3 from HighTechDealz (dot) com

[DL1RMP]

Certainly, I am not a fool, the amps by a LED are urgend, certainly depending from the "VOLT".

[DL1RMP]

Certainly, I am not a fool, the amps by a LED are urgend, c

[DL1RMP]

I know, what you mean . Unfortunatly I have only some opportinities for reaction,Thanks for your reaction. For me is at first intereresting, How I will this bring to interact ?

[phazonxl]

@chilidress If you wanna play it safe, turn the pot until it increases brightness suddenly, stop it at that spot and let it go. If the laser isn't in a module or holder, it may get too hot and that may be the problem. get the laser to run, then plan your next move on the case and lens assembly.

[liqufri]

@marjan44guzik wystarczy znać angielski gdzie napisał że żarówkę podłączył aby się upewnić czy układ jest sprawny. Po co od razu palić diodę

[pwolfe1987]

when you adjust the potentiometer, are you increasing the volts or amps?

[MadManMarkAu]

The solder joint on the second wire going to the pot was a bad join. The wire didn't heat enough to allow the solder to bond to it properly.

[JDster4ever]

can you do this without a breadbox and somthing more... portable? this is good though

[phazonxl]

@JDster4ever You sure can. Though This is mainly an introduction into the circuit that is required. Too many people were taking the easy way of using just batteries. This was intended as a simple and easy step in the right direction.

[spacemonkey716]

I have a couple questions. Will an LED work? Will a 6" breadboard work? Where can i get a laser diode? What power source do i use?

[phazonxl]

@spacemonkey716 And LED will light, but the power settings won't be the same for the diode.

Any size breadboard will work as long as you can fit the components on.

[spacemonkey716]

@phazonxl What power source? ( If its a dumb question then srry cus im new to this stuff)

[klzada]

ey dude i dont findd the 25ohm pot can i use something else?

[phazonxl]

@klzada You can use something of equal or higher value. It just might be a bit sensitive is all.

[klzada]

ey dude i dont findd the 25ohm pot can i use something else?

[uttershock]

What Song is that ?

[uttershock]

Will this work with a 3.7 volt battery?

[phazonxl]

@uttershock Circuit needs 6 volts or more.

[MrkBO8]

Thanks for the video

[Stallnig]

Hi, I have a Laser Diode from my dead X-Box (Drive-Model Nr. VAD6038)

Can somebody tell me with which an how many Batteries (AA if Possible) and what resistors I can make it work as a (burning) Pointer.

Hoping for some good answers. Thx

[phazonxl]

@Stallnig Need to use diodes from burner drives. The diodes in the xbox are to read discs only and don't have the power to create heat.

[MikeIndiana39]

you really put alot of work into that, thanks

[phazonxl]

@TheNuclearWatermelon 0.0 what? amps or volts? Your circuit may not be connected up right. Try and check to make sure the rectifier diode (black diode) isn't backwards. if it is, no harm done. Just reverse it. The voltage will not change when the working circuit is turned on. you have to have a device on the diode side of the circuit. Otherwise, no changes will be seen on your meter.

[TheNuclearWatermelon]

@phazonxl miliamps, but its not a problem anymore. My laser is now working and i am very happy with it. Thanks for the circuit

[livingevilde]

can i use it for infrared lasers diods? whats the output voltage?

[1000000volts]

can i use a 3.2 volt mobile phone battery without using a circuit for a dvd laser

[phazonxl]

Unfortunately no sorry.

[ossuskeeper25]

easy to understand 4 noobs too , you are talented in making tutorilas!

[ak47catpeeler]

thanks for the info this made it very easy for me but how can i set the resistor so i don't overload it but use it's max power ?? so i can use a on/off switch??

love the music and your other videos to !!! keep up the good work love it !!!

[phazonxl]

@ak47catpeeler To use at max power without overloading, you would need to hook up a meter in amp mode and have it connected in between one of the diode power wires and the diode itself. so that the diode power runs through the meter. You'll want 200 miliamps, or 0.20 amps on your meter. start the circuit with the resistor knob on low and increase until it gets to where you want.

If you want a switch, put it on the power supply end and not the diode end.

[Humanityisthedisease]

what alterations would i need to make to use this plan to power a 1w blue laser diode? i dont think my math is right...

[phazonxl]

@Humanityisthedisease The circuit would start to get hot at 500mw diodes. a 1 watt laser diode would need a heatsink on the regulator to keep it from getting too hot.

[mangakid19]

Lazy bums, using breadboards JUST to avoid soldering. If people freak out at the thought, they shouldn't be doing anything in electronics.

[eifersucht2]

@mangakid19 uh.. actually breadboards are great for experimenting with different components/builds and TESTING the circuit before you give it any sort of permanence. It's better than having to solder and remove connections and risking damage to the components (like the transistor) with repeated heating.

[mangakid19]

I was going to ask if the music was from Metroid, then I saw your name. XD

[bbshammo]

I just followed the steps exactly as shown, and I have my first ever diy red laser. Can't express how proud I feel, for a first time ever circuit/electronics attempt.

Now all I need is a module with lens to put it into, and then a host for it all.

Thank you :)

[phazonxl]

@bbshammo no problem man. The video helps with getting started. The first step is learning the circuit. After it works you can find a way to get it in a case and such.

[1000000volts]

hi nice work is there a way of focusing 12 or more diodes through fibre optic or something to make a single dot,12 fibres going into one then focus it,what do you think

[phazonxl]

@1000000volts Thats a very very difficult thing to do. The alignment would take hours and would require a lot of mirrors. Completely out of my field. sorry

[UltraMif71]

what's this song from? showdow the hedgehog? wtf is it?

[phazonxl]

@UltraMif71 Metroid Prime.

[masterpj55]

where do you get your power supplied from?

[DarkMatter93]

Don't you need the resistors to be in in series?

[carlacnncoelho]

@DarkMatter93 If the resistors were in series, the equivalent resistance would b R1+R2, which is 20 ohms. Since he needed 5, he put them in parallel so 1/Req=1/R1+1/R2=5 ohms

[DarkMatter93]

@carlacnncoelho ok, thanks for pointing that out. It make sense now. This can also be done with just one 5 ohm resistor correct?

[phazonxl]

@DarkMatter93 using just 1 5 ohm resistor would work, but it may get really hot. I use 2 for that reason.

[1800Supreme]

woo hoo I did it but it can only control a motor well leds and laser diodes too week Iam using a 7.2volt 650mA for power supply any advice on what diodes I should use : )

[abzosairis]

It would be better if you show a schematic diagram of the connection. Im sure anyone watching this video has knowledge on that, coz if they dont they dont want to watch this video in the first place.

[DjAlmend]

How do you connect the laser diode? There are three connection points but the diagrams only have two.

[Tw1xey]

Very nice job im a electronic hobbyist as well only been doing it for about a year now, so thanks for making this easy to understand

Btw, what kind of music is this, its pretty awesome....

[blinkwolf]

@Tw1xey metroid prime soundtrack :)

[juniortore1]

Hey... As for the end of the video, your method is very bad! Just use the amp reader on your multimeter (goes up to 10 on the basic ones) and put that in series with one of the leads of the diodes, (either one, just that the meter will have a + or - xxx amps)

And turn it up to the maximum ma of your diode (NOT mW... mA!!!)

Example, 250mW red... drive it at 300mA

[thijsco19]

what is the total resistance value that you need to add?

message me

[phazonxl]

@1212fdfd Its no fancy outcome when you don't use a circuit. Its just a flash of red light and lost money is all.

[1212fdfd]

thnx :D

[rat1a1tat1tat]

kinda messy :')

[zker666]

nice tutorial, i will follow in your footsteps

[jamesleehowe10]

does anyone know if this circuit is capable of output of around 1210+mA for a 445nm 1W laser diode, I cant work it out right now, its 2.30 am and I'm exhausted. Somehow... me thinks mine brain died?

[jamesleehowe10]

@jamesleehowe10 by the way, if not what values would I need to change for resistors, pot, diode and capacitor?

[vcp1996]

what is the resistance of the resistor you added at last

[shreyans94]

@vcp1996 10 ohm-they boyh were in parallel so ho got 5 ohms

[DL1RMP]

Very simple, but where I got the LM317 ?

[phazonxl]

@DL1RMP Radio Shack. Also known as part LM317T or LM317T Adjustable

[nhojmabon]

Thanks alot man, you've helped me build a driver for my red and blue lasers that should arrive in the mail soon :)

[WildSharkProductions]

can this still work with a 50ohm pot?

[phazonxl]

@WildSharkProductions Sure can, just be extra careful because it will be more sensitive

[gehtomacgyver]

Hey do I HAVE to use a in4001 could I use a in4005 or something close to the in4001 ?

[phazonxl]

@gehtomacgyver I didn't design this circuit so I don't know for sure if that'd work or not. It needs to be able to take the heat of the battery in case you hook it up wrong. Its a safety feature so you won't destroy the laser on accident

[kaskasxmx159]

@gehtomacgyver he name are not in4001 but 1n4001

[gehtomacgyver]

@kaskasxmx159 well regardless .Could I use it ?

[juniortore1]

its good, just breadboards confuse me.

[JDster4ever]

@juniortore1 cant u use 7:43 as a reference just use wires instead of the breadbox

[juniortore1]

@JDster4ever oooooohhhhh... I feel dumb now xD

Thanks, I missed that part. I will make one of these sometime

[phazonxl]

@juniortore1 In the video, all the holes in each column are connected to others in the column.

[gehtomacgyver]

Hey my diode has 4 prongs .Why?

[juniortore1]

@gehtomacgyver prongs, I have never heard of a such thing. Maybe 2 prongs are for the true diode and the other 2 are for the IR laser? Dont trust what I said though you will probably kill it.

[gehtomacgyver]

@juniortore1 Well the are the wires that are sticking out ... sorry for my terminology.Anyways I found out that it was a DVD player not a DVD burner so that's why it had the 4 wires ,also it is useless for the laser burner project .

[juniortore1]

@gehtomacgyver well I am glad you figured it out. DVD readers are ideal for pointers but they will not burn and are not powerful.

[gehtomacgyver]

@juniortore1 As a side note to that they are very unstable and the voltage *could* heat them up to extreme temps and *could* cause them to exploded this is the same with the burner just not as likely ... I hope I don't have this backwards again .

[juniortore1]

@gehtomacgyver lol, would a good heatsink cool the diode enough?

[gehtomacgyver]

@juniortore1 Maybe I'm just not sure on how to construct one that would work for a laser diode if you could send me some schematics that would help .

[juniortore1]

@gehtomacgyver Well, this might be the same driver as used here, but my friend uses these to power his lasers 250mW - 1 watt. He says they are pretty stable.

I will send you the link in a PM since youtube wont even let me post a website in a comment

[gehtomacgyver]

@juniortore1 Thank you I'm going to radio shack today, I need to know quick so thank you and thank you to your friend as well .

[phazonxl]

@juniortore1 The heatsink you'd use for the diode would be the laser housing that holds it and the lens. Unless you've got extreme diode hardware or drive power, you shouldn't need the extra heatsink hardware beyond the housing of the diode.

[juniortore1]

@phazonxl Ahh, I just know its good to heatsink diodes when driving the diode at its full rated power

[ytertyu]

I wonder how powerful the laser should be to deter wild animals ? there are couple of Rottweilers owned by my asshole neighbor , fearlessly roaming around , bullying other dogs and intimidating people .. our Beagle got bitten several times by these beasts just in front of our house , and this is thailand , shooting neibor's beasts not cool according to these people

[gehtomacgyver]

I have the diode just nothing else.

[zzzSilveRFoXzzz]

cool

[TheMcdog2]

i lost ya on step 1...

[octaviomtzr]

hey dude why do you no connected a led to test the circuit in the protoboard??

hahah nice video men you are really smart. i really like your video

[jhunnjen]

im just thinking if it is possible to transmit data from this laser diode driver...if yes,,pls send me a message...that wud be a pleasure for me.....nice job bro.

[IGetHeadshotsx9]

I want to use a 9v with a led is that going to blew the shit out of my LED

[geoffy0404]

@IGetHeadshotsx9 It did with mine ... but if u turn ur potentiometer low it wont

[DjAlmend]

i tested my circuit with an LED and a 9V, seems okay.

[mcdaniel624]

What kind of batteries am I supposed to use for a power source?

[mcdaniel624]

The giant 6volt lantern battery, or another variation?

[airsoftguy85rocks]

is it easier to solder with a soldering gun or with a soldering iron?

[rbland]

@airsoftguy85rocks Iron, soldering guns have a larger tip (making soldering harder for smaller stuff) and they are really only used for soldering large items such as wire etc.

[kky2kgod]

can you give me the schematic? I could not understand your instructions that well, a schematic is all you need to really provide... thats why there is no guides.

[rbland]

@kky2kgod iyaudioprojects . com / Technical / Voltage-Regulator go down to the bottom of the page. You probably want onlu 100mA which is 0.100Amps for most standard lasers (check laser specs first)

[geoffy0404]

It works just did it, thank you.

[zac856314]

I JUST MADE A PCB