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Thanks to DTR for the diode and barnett_unlimited for the SXD driver!!! And my buddy Mike Villanueva who donated the host. Didn't try the car tire tonight but did test it on a hotdog. Downright horrific results. Be safe and smart with yours. Fire is a REAL risk with these diodes.

Nubm44

I did mine with copper. Haven't tried 100 percent duty cycle, but it takes 2 minute cycles. It gets very warm after 2 minutes, and yes, I'm probably reducing the lifespan running at 4.5 amps, but well worth it. Sets fire to cardboard instantly, it will burn holes in my trash can from 10 feet or...

If anyone cares I managed to fix the diode! Tinned tiny wires, laid them on top of the bloody stumps of pins, and ever so lightly touched with the soldering iron tip. Was less than optimistic, but when I wired it up and hit the "go" button I damn near crapped my pants when the room turned blue...

If you REALLY must use it, go to the dollar store, buy a cheapo one dollar laser cat toy and it will fit your flat diode. Might have a hard time fitting a driver in the body of the pointer but at least you gain a way to mount your diode. I agree with aaronnoraa tho, waste of time, it won't ever...

Hey man, Don't knock the battery...

I only use these name brand batteries. You can't be cheap when I comes to your passion.

A lm317 will convert a huge amount of your battery into heat, your laser's worst enemy. I tried for weeks, months, to make a compact driver that would supply the needed current, it is a losing battle. The best thing I have ever done in my years making lasers was buying an x-drive from DTR. It's...

I flat out give up.

Here's a photo of the back of the diode.

I understand I can take a shot in the dark and buy one, but I was hoping to get a little insight on the most efficient, a finned radiator style or just a big block?

It was on long enough to snap the pic and that was it. Just wanted to make sure it was still a good part. Speaking of overheating, from your experience what makes the best heat remover? A solid slab of copper or a radiator of sorts, with airflow over thinner plates?

Here's the very same diode, happy as a clam consuming about 1250 milliamps. Really want to see what one of these will do at 1.8 amps. Still waiting on a new driver from DTR or instructions on what to do next. Really want to thank you folks for welcoming me, being incredibly helpful, and even...

So is the diode junk? I suppose I can try to press it in more...

Well thank you all for the help, I'm still really confused as to why this happened. I'm absolutely positive it wasnt hooked up backwards, I even made the wiring specifically so it couldn't be wired backwards. I'm baffled. Im definitely not going to use those batteries or any of the original...

Yeah, I wanted to show what was going on and avoid showing the handy work on the batteries, but that wouldn't have shown everything. I did an awesome job with the diode, the build was going so well... and yes, I totally agree they are typically rock solid units from what I've read. I'm not sure...

Well the only thing I've seen an x-drive do is smoke... I can't say i share your opinion of them.

Well i got everything soldered up, checked and double, triple, quadruple checked everything, applied power and guess what? The magic smoke came out. $32 bucks in the trash. This is why i was asking about making my own driver. Has anyone else had an x-drive that did nothing but smoked? Less than...