| Author |
Message |
staminanerd
Fusion Laser
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 270
Movie(s): 3
Location: Monte Carlo
|
 Posted: 4/16/08, 5:31 AM Post subject: Using a la |
 |
|
Well maybe I'm wrong, but on my battery charger, it is said to recharge the batteries if they are completely used, for better performance in the total number of charges (number of times I can rerecharge it). So I'm thinking of using a laser which drains a lot of current to discharge some batteries over-night to recharge them when they are empty. My question is : does the laser diode still lases with low current/voltage ? If so, is there a risk of overheating the laser and damaging it ?
Thanks
_________________
Always look on the bright side of lasers... WAIT DONT ! 
MY WICKED LASERS CONTEST : video 1,video 2
95mW Infiniti User divergence : 2.462859639760849mRad   review
125mW pulsar userdivergence : +0.93mRad review
They both burn nice !!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Athoul
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 7544
Location: Canada
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CrazyKenny
Elite Laser
Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 146
Picture(s): 3
Movie(s): 1
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: 4/16/08, 1:37 PM Post subject: |
|
|
thats right, it will not lase... but it consumes power.
But you should not discharge your batteries too long (I don't know the english word... deep discharge?, it destroys your batteries.
_________________
green 3~8mw ebay laser
green 50mw ebay laser (mounted on telescope)
homemade DVD-Burner Laser (~120mW, divergence: 0.05 !)
RGY laserscanner (130mW red 60mW green) 
300mW green Laser module from ebay 
money spent on lasers: ~1800 $ (some are broken...) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HumanSymphony
Fusion Laser
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 320
Location: Bellingham, WA
|
| Posted: 4/16/08, 7:55 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| Athoul wrote: |
| Nope the laser diode needs around 1.8-2V to lase, once the voltage drops below that (give or take) the diode will no longer lase. |
rechargable batteries don't lose voltage like alkalines though so it would work to an extent. of course if you have a powerful laser then it's gonna overheat so you can't do that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WDPaladin
Elite Laser
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 218
Location: DeKalb, Illinois
|
| Posted: 4/16/08, 8:30 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| CrazyKenny wrote: |
thats right, it will not lase... but it consumes power.
But you should not discharge your batteries too long (I don't know the english word... deep discharge?, it destroys your batteries. |
Really? I always heard to discharge rechargables as much as possible before recharging. Not necessarily in anything involving lasers, but just in general. Any links on that? Not crabbing at all, I'm just curious as this may save me a headache when I eventually get some rechargables.
Thanks
EDIT- Ok then! I just did some Googling and yep, to my surprise, found info on NOT discharging all the way. Thanks!
_________________
Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway!
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
staminanerd
Fusion Laser
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 270
Movie(s): 3
Location: Monte Carlo
|
| Posted: 4/17/08, 5:00 AM Post subject: |
|
|
So the driver board in the laser can drain some batteries, right ?
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-21.htm
| this site ^ wrote: |
-do run the battery fully down once every 3 months. Over-cycling is not advised.
-Do not leave battery in charger for more than 2 days because of memory.
-Avoid getting battery too hot during charge.
Charge methods:
Constant current, followed by trickle charge when full. Slow charge not recommended.
Battery will get warm towards full charge.
Rapid charge = 3h
Fast charge = 1h+
DISCHARGING
Avoid too many full cycles because of wear. Use 80% depth-of-discharge.
NiMH has higher energy density than NiCd at the expense of shorter cycle life.
Service needs
Discharge to 1V/cell every 3 months to prevent memory.
Do not discharge before each charge
|
Thanks for your help guys I googled it too !
_________________
Always look on the bright side of lasers... WAIT DONT !
MY WICKED LASERS CONTEST : video 1,video 2
95mW Infiniti User divergence : 2.462859639760849mRad review
125mW pulsar userdivergence : +0.93mRad review
They both burn nice !!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Athoul
Wicked Lasers God
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 7544
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: 4/17/08, 7:44 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| HumanSymphony wrote: |
| Athoul wrote: |
| Nope the laser diode needs around 1.8-2V to lase, once the voltage drops below that (give or take) the diode will no longer lase. |
rechargable batteries don't lose voltage like alkalines though so it would work to an extent. of course if you have a powerful laser then it's gonna overheat so you can't do that. |
It would work, just the diode will not lase below the voltage mentioned. It's a diode and will allow current to flow. Heat can be an issue though as you said.
Some chargers have a drain feature, that's probably the best option...or use something else other then the laser to drain your batteries.
A note (my or may not be relevent to anyone) I've used my current set of rechargable batteries for a few years now, never have let them totally depleat and they still hold a charge similar to when I first purchased them (or at least it's not such a reduction in performance that I notice it). When I use them in a laser and I notice that the output has reduced I pop them in the charger, even when in use in other devices I just charge them again at the first sign of reduced performance. 3 years is not bad, so if my bad habbits with batteries still give me that kind of use... I doubt you need to worry. 
_________________
Cheers,
Sean.
Visit My Laser Gallery for images, video's, comparisons and more. http://www.pulsed.ca
Some videos I have submitted:
http://www.lasercommunity.com/movi_page.php?movis_id=78
http://www.lasercommunity.com/movi_page.php?movis_id=77
http://www.lasercommunity.com/movi_page.php?movis_id=76
http://www.lasercommunity.com/movi_page.php?movis_id=84
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Optyx
55mW Advanced Wicked Laser
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 61
Location: Ontario, near Ottawa
|
| Posted: 6/25/08, 2:23 PM Post subject: |
|
|
Something to consider is to make sure you don't burn out the laser diode from having it running too long without a chance to cool off. That would probably ruin your day.
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bluefan
Fusion Laser
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 299
Movie(s): 1
|
| Posted: 6/25/08, 2:30 PM Post subject: |
|
|
| why use a laser? it will only shorten the diode's lifetime. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
