Homemade Laser Flashlight

[ak74u2]

how much ma driver do u use plz some1 help me

[Dandeman321]

@ak74u2 Don't I say in the video somewhere? I thought I did....

[kimandcramer]

Green lasers look cooler

[nathan82206]

another great way to stop voltage spikes is to get a bi-lead, or bicolor led. its two leds that one is +- and the other is -+, i kept burning out my laser for my laser communicator. i look up the schematics and it had one, so im guess a bi color led will work just fine for this too.

[vincent154451]

Mind sharing with me where you bought the laser diode and flashlight housing?

It would be much appreciated!

[Dandeman321]

For some reason I can't post anything... StoneTek for the diodes and ebay for the 650nm 5mW laser module.3.2V 12x30mm kip kay project

[andretodopoderoso7]

Could you use any type of capacitor?

[Dandeman321]

I would stick with an electrolytic.

[andretodopoderoso7]

What´s the difference between a normal and a electrolytic cap??

Could I use a 47uf 25v cap and a 100ohms pot as a driver to my 250mw red laser?

Thanks

[Dandeman321]

Well electrolytic capacitors have polarities, a + and a - pin. I think you would need to add some sort of voltage regulator as well.

[andretodopoderoso7]

Oh ok :) When I ask you if you could use any type of cap, I was talking about those..

So I should use a lm317 ( volt regu )

[Dandeman321]

Ah ok. Um yeah you could probably use that. If you search for laserpointforums they have a lot of good driver circuits.

[bazengao]

can i use a cd laser our cd laser burner? cuz im not spending 50$ on dvd laser burner!

[Dandeman321]

You could but it would just make a laser pointer. CD burner's lasers are not strong enough.

[bazengao]

thnks :3

[andretodopoderoso7]

if you have any experience with soldering then go to ebay " 300mw red laser " 1º

[bazengao]

obrigado pa

[andretodopoderoso7]

Ou se preferires o "150 mw blu-ray laser". Eu comprei-o à uns meses mas o cabrao queimou-se xD. Mas fazia tudo o que eu tava à espera..

[bazengao]

mas usas-te que tipo de bateria??9V?

[andretodopoderoso7]

Ya. ve o meu video.. Mas para que te dure mais junta duas em paralelo

[Dandeman321]

I don't remember, sorry.

[strapwood]

can you tell me exactly wat kind of dorcy flashlight this is?Or tell me wat the model number is?thank you

[Kamyarashi]

nice ^^

[BloodBonesLordman]

Hey dude you are soo awasome!!!! can you make a tutorial please? t would mean so much to me!!!!

[Dandeman321]

Sorry... I haven't worked with this stuff in a long time and it would take a lot of effort to dig all the stuff up and remember how to do it.

[BloodBonesLordman]

too bad ! But if you remember or anything pleasre make a tutorial! bye!

[Dandeman321]

Mini Dorcy

[BOOHER6]

what kind a flashlight brand did u use

[thdahi]

dude can u make a tut? :-)

[Dandeman321]

You need a diode from a Dual Layer burner, not just a DVD burner. Do you have a housing for the diode?? That has a lens that can be screwed in and out to focus the beam.

[cwcorcos]

i tried to do a video response but i'm not sure if it worked.. but basically i tried to do the same thing you just made using a 16x dvd burner diode but i didnt get the same results.. I took the diode from an LG 16x dvd burner but it doesnt look the same at all or fit into the laser housing. also the light isnt even focused into a beam. its just a red flashlight... you seem to know what youre talking about when you were talkin in the video. can you help me out with this?

[nussen22]

lol

[TheBigFatMeanie]

wow...

thats better than a lighter!!!

[Dandeman321]

You just put the positive wire of an electrolytic capacitor on the positive pin of the laser, and the negative wire of the capacitor on the negative pin of the laser.

[californiadreamerkid]

could you make another video explaining where you would hook up the capacitor to the circuit board?

[salopy0]

good work mate

not doing the maglite mod

[Dilliboy63]

Will it light my joint

[DiggleMyth]

ahahaa

i was wondering th e same

it would be very cool tho.. no more lighters!

[Ibhien]

how to make it...??

[Dandeman321]

I would but the only thing holding me back would be the liabilities. These lasers could really damage your eyes and blind you and burn stuff.

[yannis5]

would you ever make one for someone and sell it?

[salopy0]

what voltage capacitor or does it not matter

also what resister if i wnat burning and long life

[Dandeman321]

16 Volt electrolytic. I think I have all the parts I used in the comments here somewhere.

[yrrebesoog54345]

How fast will the diode burn out if you use the mag lite version without a driver circuit?

[sk8ndogy]

i got a BIG question :]

plz answer or message me

im trieng to build a laser myself and im using a AA minimag.

i have my diode, but its still in the dvd burner.

i was wondering how i get the diode inside of the slot of the bulb, and if to get it into the bulb slot, id have to use some type of device :P.

thanks

[sk8ndogy]

ohh and what would that device be :D

thanks

[Dandeman321]

well you have to get the diode out of the burner. You'll have to de-solder it. Then you can figure out which pins are which and stick them into your maglite. The only problem with that is that you need to figure out which slot is negative and which is positive. Also, the maglite doesn't have a regulating circuit on it so it will burn your diode up fairly quickly.

[sk8ndogy]

ohh alrite.

i can get some connection thing to make it last longer though rite?

and yeah idk which one is - or +.

thanks :D

[Dandeman321]

Yea, a driver circuit.

[gummyworm999]

type in the username kipkay in the search bar and watch his video about the laser flashlight hack it has all the details about how to make a mini mag flashlight laser :)

[sk8ndogy]

i have :D, but he doesnt go into alot of detail. this guy actually answers ur questions too :]

thanks though

[gummyworm999]

true i thought about doing the kipkay thing and when i started i had no idea wat to do so anyway see ya

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Nevermind about that I will just use a 2.7 ohm resistor and just add a bigger heatsink in the dorcy Jr. Thanks anyway.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

would a 5 ohm 10 watt power resistor work and how big is it?

[Dandeman321]

Work as in how? And how big is what?

[StephenisSpiderman]

so green is more power full? is the blue more power full than the green? and where do i order them? idk which website and what kind woul i use to make a laser like yoru .... i mean what kind of diode

[Dandeman321]

No I just meant price wise. A burning blue laser would could a whole hell of a lot more than a burning red laser. I used a 16X dual layer DVD burner diode to make a burning red laser pointer.

[Dandeman321]

Red would be the cheapest.

[StephenisSpiderman]

are different color lasers stronger than others? .... as in there burning ability.

[Dandeman321]

Yes. Red lasers are cheaper and more powerful whereas green is more expensive to get a burning one and blue is VERY expensive.

[hydrogenman15]

Yes, but green lasers are around 10 to 20 times as bright to humans.

[Dandeman321]

Sure

[cbrian4]

Well certain colors don't burn better than others. A mW is a mW so a 100mW green won't burn any better than a 100mW blue (excluding focusing). Green will however pop red balloons better than any other color because of the properties of color absorption. Different wavelengths will burn certain color surfaces better than others, but when it comes down to it, they burn equally.

[Dandeman321]

Yea that's true.

[gonepishing]

but if cant see blue as well as green, I dont see how that makes blue lasers a must have super pricey item =/

Im ordering a small red laser, cheap and burnable!

[sk8terdp]

hey guys if any is selling1 like his im intristed in buying 1 so pls respond. thanks

remember it has to be a homemade 1 with good quality high powere diode fully put together for kinda cheap.

[honse246]

cool i need to make 1 of those

[kasjv]

cool let me no whin u get the vid done

[kasjv]

u should do a red driver to

[Dandeman321]

The driver is universal. You crank a potentiometer in order to control the current that is delivered to the diode. Depending on what diode you have, green red or blue, the driver can be changed to suite.

[kasjv]

cool that would help alot of people out

[kasjv]

cool thanks for responding

[Dandeman321]

Yea no problem. I'm actually making a video about how to make your own laser driver and using it to power a blue laser. I'm going on spring break here in a day so I'm going to try and get that edited and posted.

[Dandeman321]

Yea no problem. I'm actually making a video about how to make your own laser driver and using it to power a blue laser. I'm going on spring break here in a day so I'm going to try and get that edited and posted.

[kasjv]

what resistor did u use im makine a mini dorcy and i need to find out what resistor to use

[Dandeman321]

I didn't use a resistor. Apparently those flashlights only have a resistor for their driver circuit :/ but who knows, still works.

[allforjesus1008]

could you give me a list of instructions for that

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Hey, like I said I put the diode into the dorcy Jr. with the capacitor and only use it about 15min altogether. I made sure it didn't get warm, but it still died, please tell me what happened.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

If I keep it on 10 to 15 sec is that to long for it?

[Dandeman321]

No it shouldn't be. If I remember correctly it was around 30 seconds max.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Thanks for all the help. I put it into a dorcy Jr. with a 47 uf capacitor. It works great. Is there any way it can die, other than the heat, from keeping it on to long?

[Dandeman321]

Yea if you keep it on too long it will eventually fry. It will also just die after a lot of use, not because you did anything wrong, just because it got old and broke.

[sidewalk4004]

Ya, the longer its on, the hotter it gets. And the hotter it gets, the lower its resistance is and more current goes to the diode.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

When you solder the capacitor to the diode do you solder negative to negative and positive to positive and then just solder the wires on?

[Dandeman321]

yes, the same polarities you would with the diode.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Does target have sticky tack?

[Dandeman321]

They should.

[Cr3ater]

what i cant understand is, your light does it use AA or AAA? If you are using AAA which is around 3.6-4.0 volts, thats too much power.

[Dandeman321]

The flashlight itself has a circuit in it to regulate the voltage. Apparently it's just a resistor. I'm working on a new project, for a blue laser, that will regulate the source voltage using a driver circuit that I am constructing.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Where can I buy some sticky tack?

[Dandeman321]

Many stores.

[MayaCarter]

The driver configuration i use (depending on input voltage/current) is very similar to this one here:

ww . laser pointer forums . com / forum data / yabb files / Attachments / LD _ Driver _ Schematic . JPG

good luck to all DIY'ers out there!!!!!

[MayaCarter]

Are you using the AMC7135 (which is just a current regulator) or LM317T (which is just a voltage regulator)? Or something else entirely? I would like to know for future drivers I'm making. Because If there is "a special voltage/ohm regulator component" as an all-in-one unit I really want to know! Thanks!

[Dandeman321]

LM317T. I still need to check what it needs to be set at and stuff for my blu-ray though.

[sidewalk4004]

After my dorct regulator failed I got a small 5 pin voltage and amperage regulator component. Then I add a zener diode to protect in case the component failed. So its just those 2 components between the batteries and the laser diode. Even running at 2.49 volts and around 93-100 ohms, it burns as good as it did before my other one blew out. I'll try to remember what the name of the component I used is.

[sidewalk4004]

A few corrections: dorcy regulator* and 93-100 milliamps*

[sidewalk4004]

I just got a special voltage/ohm regulator component. It keeps it at the perfect opperating range for the diode. I also added a few more fail-safe components.

[MayaCarter]

ORIGINAL "DRIVER" ww . laser community . com / album _ showpage . php ? pic _ id = 9814

PARTS NEEDED (same as above)... id = 9815

MODIFIED DRIVER (TOP) (same as above)... id = 9818 (same as above)... id = 9821

MODIFIED DRIVER (BOTTOM) (same as above)... id = 9817

[MayaCarter]

IF ANYONE WANTS A FULL DIY BREAKDOWN OF THIS LASER MOD GO TO THIS WEBSITE:

ww . candle power forums . com / vb / show thread . php ? t = 162202

(with no spaces of course)

[MayaCarter]

(continued)

5. (272-1027) (1x) 47uF electrolytic capacitor

6. (278-1610) (optional) Multicolor Heat-Shrink Tubing (12-Pack)

7. (278-1221) (1x) 90-Ft. UL-Recognized Hookup Wire (22AWG)

8. (64-013) (1x) High-Tech Rosin Core Silver-Bearing Solder (1.5 Oz.)

9. (?) (1x) 100 Ohm Pot (potentiometer)

[MayaCarter]

Frying the diode is INCREDIBLY easy to do, i suggest you buy/mod/make a true regulated laser driver with the following parts (with RadioShack part #):

1. (276-148) (1x) PC board (to make the driver on)

2. (276-1778) (1x) LM317T-Positive Adjustable Voltage Regulator

3. (271-1301) (2x) 10 Ohm Resistor, 1/4 watt

4. (276-1102) (1x) 1N4003 Micromini Silicon Diode

(...to be continued)

[Cr3ater]

Is that your mini driver from the forums?

[MayaCarter]

I don't know what mini driver you are referring too but I'm sure you can find this one and MANY more like it on any of the laser enthusiast forums out there. good luck!

[SeanTuckerBrett]

If I don't use a 47 uf capacitor and put it in the Dorcy Jr. will fry the diode?

[Dandeman321]

No. The capacitor is just in there to protect from voltage spikes. They can happen but I don't know how often. They're also very short so a diode can take a couple hits without anything happening. Just being in there helps lengthen the life of the diode.

[MayaCarter]

Frying the diode is INCREDIBLY easy to do, i suggest you buy/mod/make a true regulated laser driver with the following parts (with RadioShack part #):

1. (276-148) (1x) PC board (to make the driver on)

2. (276-1778) (1x) LM317T-Positive Adjustable Voltage Regulator

3. (271-1301) (2x) 10 Ohm Resistor, 1/4 watt

4. (276-1102) (1x) 1N4003 Micromini Silicon Diode

(...to be continued)

[MayaCarter]

This mod in nicely done, but you still lack a REAL voltage regulator such as LM317T from RadioShack

[Dandeman321]

There's one inside the flashlight. How do you think the voltage to the bulb is exactly 3.00 volts?

[MayaCarter]

actually the only thing between the batteries and the LED in the Dorcy Metal Gear 1W Flashlight is a 1 Ohm Resistor with 5% tollerance I GUARANTEE IT!!! So unlike other high-powered LED flashlights this light does NOT regulate voltage (the difference can be seen by it's gradual output decline as batteries die, vs other lights with a steady output with an immediate drop off when the battery cannot output sufficient power for the LED!

[MayaCarter]

the Unmodified "circuit" can be seen here:

ww [dot] laser community [dot] com/ album [underscore] showpage [dot] php ? pic [underscore] id = 9814

(with NO spaces of course)

[Dandeman321]

hrmm I see. I am working on another laser, blue instead of red, right now and I am making a regulator for that.

[MayaCarter]

Awsome! i don't really know much about blue laser drivers except that they use more voltage. are you harvesting your blue diode from a PS3? because if you haven't already gotten one yet i know where to get one for the CHEAPEST online!

just 30 bucks!!!! good luck with you blue laser and post some vids when you are finished with it! thanks!

ww [dot] psxboy [dot] com / 349 _ PS3 - KES - 400A - Laser - lens . html

Good Luck!!!!

[MayaCarter]

if you don't want to get the BlueRay laser from that site you can get it on from ebay for $45 shipped. the item # is 250208348785

[Dandeman321]

Yea I got one from that psxboy site. I'm just waiting for my flashlight to come in the mail and I'm going to strip everything out of it and try to stuff a driver into it.

[Cr3ater]

Dorcy Metal Gear 1 Watt Luxeon LED Flashlight Detailed Description Specifications Features of Dorcy Metal Gear LED Flashlight: 1 watt Luxeon® LED with over 10,000 hour lifetime no need for replacement bulbs aluminum alloy construction projects up to 100 ft beam polycarbonate lens clickable tailcap switch for constant on/off tactical design with handy metal belt clip includes batteries and integrated belt clip

[Dandeman321]

Thank you.

[kasjv]

and also how many voilts is the light befor adding the cap and what is the voilts with the cap ? so i no what to look for when i add my cap?

[Dandeman321]

I believe it was a 32 volt rated cap. And the light gave a regulated 3 volts. Adding a cap doesn't affect it.

[kasjv]

do u have a pic of the driver

[Dandeman321]

No, it was internal to the flashlight. It was just a circular circuit board with a few small parts on it.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Depends on what?

[SeanTuckerBrett]

If I solder too AA's strait to it with a 47 uf capacitor will is work for a long time?

[Dandeman321]

depends.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Depends on what? And thanks for all the help.

[Dandeman321]

No that won't do anything for you. The voltage can still vary.

[sidewalk4004]

I saw the data sheet for my 16x sony diode and it says its rated at 2.5 volts and 140 milliamps.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Is it .47 uf capacitor or 47. uf capacitor?

[Dandeman321]

47 uF

[SeanTuckerBrett]

Does the Dorcy Jr have a driver. And if it does, Will it work for the 16x mod?

[Dandeman321]

I believe it does, and I have heard of people doing it. To make sure, use a multimeter to test the leads of the light that's in it.

[Cr3ater]

ok, question time.... you installed the 47uf cap., please send a drawing of how you hooked everything up with this mod.

[Dandeman321]

Well, there's a light in the flashlight. When you remove that you hook the laser diode up to the same polarities, as well as the capacitor to the same terminals.

[SeanTuckerBrett]

if you use 1.2V batts in the Maglight it won't blow the diode.

[Dandeman321]

Yup. It could. When batteries are off for a long period of time, and you turn the device on, there can be a voltage spike created that will exceed the diode's rating, thus blowing the diode.

[sidewalk4004]

I have a dorcy that uses 3 AAA bateries. Would this be ok to use?

[sidewalk4004]

Nevermind I'm done with mine.

[31080411b]

dude you have goggles...right?

please say yes

[Dandeman321]

nopers. I'm too cheap to shell out for goggles.

[31080411b]

£20 is cheap for the price of ur eyes.

[sonicb00m165]

which is why u dont point it at ur eyes lol..

[31080411b]

just the reflection can mess you up, you may not notice it now but in later life. and IF you do point it at ur eyes there is NO hope :)

[sonicb00m165]

goggles only help you from the light and not the ir radiation.. and its the ir that hurts your eyes, you cant even see the ir so you have no idea if you are looking at, the only way to avoid it is to have an ir filter on youre laser pointer

[31080411b]

any type of radiation can mess ur eyes up depending on the intensity

[kasjv]

can any one make me one like that at my expence

[tvard667]

where did you get your axis module i have one but its way to big and that one looks smaller

[Jack4Suellen]

Ugh, well I just want one that actually burns shit.. So if I want a reallt basic crappy looking one, I just need a battery pack, a switch and a diode (All inside a case) and thats a dodgy burning laser? Also, how powerfull of a diode do I need to be able to burn shit? (I bought an 85mw Red laser btw)

[stackemtotheheavens1]

no, NEVER connect a diode directly to batteries, it may die instantly or a few minutes if you're lucky. you need a driver circuit, found on laserpointerforums dot com

[tvard667]

where can you find a 200mw laser diode I cant find one without ordering 200 other ones in bulk

[Jack4Suellen]

Wow, I have watched lots of video's about these ultr-powerfull lasers that burn stuff and I want one! I bought a 85 mw laser (red) off E-Bay for like $2. If you can help me out on how I can modify mine, please get back to me on jack_loves_chix_91@hotmail dot com. Thanks.

[Dandeman321]

You bought a 85 mw laser diode or actual laser? The diode that I have in mine is around 200 mw. If you want to burn stuff and pop balloons you will need a higher power.

[electronicevilgenius]

Is that 47 micro cap soldered in series or parallel to the diode. Probably parallel right :)

[Dandeman321]

Yes, in parallel.

[mrkiky]

how long did the last diode last?I'm playng with mine for 3 weeks , I am killing my second set of AAA's now :) and seems to work fine without a driver.

[Dandeman321]

My unregulated one worked for awhile, not sure the exact hours but it burnt out when I put it in the maglite mod that Kipkay did on metacafe.... This design uses a flashlight that has a circuit, extending the life greatly.

[mrkiky]

So the circuit consists of what exactly? Besides the 47 uF capacitor?

[Iceymice]

just use 1.2 volt rechargeable AA batteries and youl be fine

[mrkiky]

I got those...still working fine for more than 6 weeks now...I still think two 1.2V rechargeables give more current than needed...besides there's that energy spike when you turn it on if it's unregulated.

[AJDual]

Probably the nicest thing about that Dorcy Metal Gear body is that it's got the room for that 47uf capacitor.

I'm doing my build with the Docry mini body and there's no room left over whatsoever. I might Dremel out a slot in the extra hearsink a LPF'er machined for me to fit a 47uf 16V cap in there or see if I can somehow origami/stuff it into the remains of the Aixiz housing...

[chronoslayer]

Hey, I have that flashlight!!! It rocks!!! Pretty kewl vid BTW.

[Dandeman321]

Yea it's pretty bright. I was kinda sad I had to rip it apart :(

[Angdvl089]

Wow that lit fast.

[Dandeman321]

It basically lights instantly, I had a bit of trouble finding the actual beam so it took a couple seconds.

[robthevip]

damn that metal gear is a monster, if I make a 3rd flashlight-laser this will be the one...