did i kill my diode?

[RadioactiveRetard]

I have an lpc-826 and everytime I turn it on it flashes brightly for half a second and then goes dim
Everything else is working fine its just the diode the amps are under control and everything
Did I kill it?

 

[Photonz]

what are you using to regulate the current?

 

[RadioactiveRetard]

This driver


Constant current power driver 80-500MA
Size :10*20mm
TTL modulation 0-5VDC
2.5v laser on
Max Output: 2.5v, 500ma +/-
(808nm 250mw LD)
660nm 150mw LD
80-500mA
Input Voltage: 5V

 

[Zeebit]

Tell us more about your setup. How are we supposed to help if all you you say it's not working?

 

[RadioactiveRetard]

Well I'm new at this
So all I got is that driver set at 250mA
2*18650 in parallel
And my lpc-826

 

[Zeebit]

Tell us about your whole setup not just part of it.

The driver you mentioned requires a 5v input. A Li-ion cell is 3.7V nominal and 4.2V when fully charged. This could be the problem. You need to feed the driver with 5V.

 

[RadioactiveRetard]

That is basiclly my whole setup
Right now its just a bunch of dangling cables that I'm going to put inside a little box with a battery holder and a switch

 

[Zeebit]

Did you press the diode into a module? Do you have a heatsink for the module?

 

[Photonz]

It sounds like you are getting an initial spike of current that may be causing damage to the diode. However, this is only a speculation/guess.

 

[RadioactiveRetard]

Yes I do have a module I got from aixis
But no heatsink

 

[Photonz]

You need a heatsink. You can get one at survivallaser/survivallaserusa that will fit the 12mm aixis module

 

[Zeebit]

A heatsink is a needed otherwise the diode will overheat. That is likely the cause of the blinking problem.

 

[Deleted member 13229]

The good news is that the diode isn't dead yet if you are still getting an initial bright spike of light. Try giving the driver the 5V it needs to see if it runs.

Also, pictures of your setup along with a link to the driver you bought would be helpful!

 

[RadioactiveRetard]

I'm pretty sure I killed it now cause the light spike isn't there anymore
Soo yeah

 

[Photonz]

it's all good, it happens. Pretty sure it just happened to me...

 

[Blarg King]

Its all part of building a laser. If you never burned a few diodes in the process then you wouldn't learn now would you? Just keep at it and someday you'll be confidently building lasers in your sleep!