How do I power a 5mW laser?
October 27, 2010 10:42 PM Subscribe
I have a 5mW laser module. What do I need to attach it to to power it?
Is it something simple like hooking it straight to a AA, or will I need to do more like run it in series with a resistor or I'll fry it?
Is it something simple like hooking it straight to a AA, or will I need to do more like run it in series with a resistor or I'll fry it?
Without knowing more, there's no way for us to help you. Is it a semiconductor laser, or a gas laser?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:47 PM on October 27, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:47 PM on October 27, 2010
Best answer: And is it just the laser head, or does it include the drive electronics?
(Veerrry generically: a bare laser diode will have 3 or 4 connecting wires, a module including driver will have 2 connecting wires. But that's very generic info; you can get bare diode modules without the feedback photodiode [meaning 2 wires instead of 3 or 4], and you can get complete modules with control inputs or beam-split detectors [meaning 3 or 4 wires instead of 2]. Something similar also goes for gas laser modules.)
posted by Pinback at 12:08 AM on October 28, 2010
(Veerrry generically: a bare laser diode will have 3 or 4 connecting wires, a module including driver will have 2 connecting wires. But that's very generic info; you can get bare diode modules without the feedback photodiode [meaning 2 wires instead of 3 or 4], and you can get complete modules with control inputs or beam-split detectors [meaning 3 or 4 wires instead of 2]. Something similar also goes for gas laser modules.)
posted by Pinback at 12:08 AM on October 28, 2010
Response by poster: It's a cheap $5 thing, probably the same as you'd get in a laser pointer. It has two wires coming out of it. I have it to try out the David 3D Scanner software, so I bought one that's supposed to be a focusable line, rather than a point.
It says on the side:
Max Power: 5mW
Wavelength: Wavelength 650nm
Model: HLM1230
Class IIIa Laser Product
posted by RobotHero at 7:34 AM on October 28, 2010
It says on the side:
Max Power: 5mW
Wavelength: Wavelength 650nm
Model: HLM1230
Class IIIa Laser Product
posted by RobotHero at 7:34 AM on October 28, 2010
Best answer: Try a couple of AA batteries. This and this seem rather helpful.
posted by Marky at 8:54 AM on October 28, 2010
posted by Marky at 8:54 AM on October 28, 2010
Response by poster: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/laserdps.htm#dpsadl0
Okay, so if I'm understanding this right, it's probably a diode laser module, based on it's got two wires, and built-in optics. (line focus) According to Sam's laser FAQ, that means "much reduced risk of blowout" which is good.
That it's got two wires is why it's so tempting to just stick each wire to either end of a AA, but I want to be more certain that I'm not going to just break it if I try that.
posted by RobotHero at 8:55 AM on October 28, 2010
Okay, so if I'm understanding this right, it's probably a diode laser module, based on it's got two wires, and built-in optics. (line focus) According to Sam's laser FAQ, that means "much reduced risk of blowout" which is good.
That it's got two wires is why it's so tempting to just stick each wire to either end of a AA, but I want to be more certain that I'm not going to just break it if I try that.
posted by RobotHero at 8:55 AM on October 28, 2010
Response by poster: On non-preview, Marky has two promising links, one says 2.5-3.7V DC the other says 2.6-5.0V DC.
A AA battery produces about 1.5 V so two batteries in series should be in the right range?
posted by RobotHero at 9:03 AM on October 28, 2010
A AA battery produces about 1.5 V so two batteries in series should be in the right range?
posted by RobotHero at 9:03 AM on October 28, 2010
Response by poster: Okay, I went ahead and tried it with two AA batteries and it works and doesn't fry it, so I got a switch and a battery housing and wired them all together.
posted by RobotHero at 1:32 PM on November 27, 2010
posted by RobotHero at 1:32 PM on November 27, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zachlipton at 10:58 PM on October 27, 2010