I bet he's actually doing something like following the instructions in that article I linked to. Using something like a resistor to regulate current.
You really must use a constant-current supply to run a laser diode. If you don't, you'll fry it. If you use the proper supply, it should run for thousands of hours.
Actually, from his write-up, he's finding them to be very sensitive in the circuit construction phase - he's lost them both to construction problems/errors.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 08:06 pm (UTC)You really must use a constant-current supply to run a laser diode. If you don't, you'll fry it. If you use the proper supply, it should run for thousands of hours.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 08:32 pm (UTC)