Left to Right:
- Monster transformer from Mexico
- Monster capacitor from Japan
- Monster rectifier
- High current 12V power supply (schematic)
- Classroom style ammeter (YES, 2.3AMPS!!!)
- Constant-current driver circuit (schematic)
- 2W laser diode w/TEC on a big heatsink Below that diode: The faint red glow of 808nm love
Notes:
- The thicker pair of wires on the transformer are the output - not mains. I found this out by tripping the circuit breaker a couple times. It's so nice having a house!
- Plugging this thing in caused a spark in the mains connection, which failed after a few seconds making me fear the worst for the laser. Turns out my soldering iron is not hot enough to bond to the heavy steel connectors so I hit them with a hammer to make them touch the cables. Works great.
- This is the first circuit I've built where the fan really is necessary. The far transistor on the power supply tends to heat up and lose current without the fan.
- This nice diode has a TEC right in the case, so I am just running that series with the diode from the driver circuit.
Big shouts going out to ABC Electronics, Ax-Man and especially heruursciences.
Next up: 7WATTS.