Help - Actually Hate the P3 Driver...

[andy_con]

um i can bridge them

[DTR]

From what Andrew told me as long as you are under I think 12V you can just run a wire from the V+ to the M+ to wire it for full power all the time with no modulation. Obviously in this case it would not be a permanent solution but It could rule out a problem with that. Also have you tried just powering a single diode to see if you can rule out the problem being in the parallel diodes? Just breaking down where the problem may lie.

[dilbert]

Ok, things to try

1) PSU using for modulation input - make sure its 0V linked to 0V in your 9V PSU!!!!!!! No floating grounds relative to each other.
2) disconnect 1 flexmod from the PSU & mod line & unbolt FET from the base alloy.
3) parallel up a couple of those resistors to use 1.1R.
4) Use a different 12V PSU.

[DTR]

Also how much current is the driver pulling when you have it running and it is only giving you an estimated 250mW per diode?

[norty303]

How many amps is that 9V PSU capable of delivering Andy?
Could it be you're not getting enough current off it?

Also, when you get the red light, what does the green led on the PSU do? Is it brightly lit all the time? I ask because I killed a PSU a few days ago and just beforehand the P3 was giving a red light and the PSU led was dimming and stuttering and only giving 2V (out of a possible 12)

[DTR]

How many amps is that 9V PSU capable of delivering Andy?
Could it be you're not getting enough current off it?

That is kind of what I was thinking as well. If it is say a 2A power supply would that not mean that he can only deliver under 500mA to each diode when four are wired in parallel?

[norty303]

Yeah, I was just comparing it to my Kvant 637 1W which has 6 diodes and uses a 12V 4A supply. Not sure how they are wired internally though.

[dnar]

Andy, measure the modulation input. If you have a 5V SMPSU providing the modulation drive, and no other load on that 5V supply it might not provide the full 5V!

[Solarfire]

Hey Andy, did you miss post #15? With the resistors your using, if they are 2.2 Ohms, the driver may not be able to deliver more than 2.25A @ 9V for your 4 diode setup. Around 500mA per diode or less. Either up the voltage or reduce the balancing resistor to about 1 Ohm.

Driver internal and extenal resistance (diodes and balancing Rs) @ 9V supply, is roughly 3.95 Ohms giving a max posible output current of 2.25A.

Cheers!

[dilbert]

Hey Andy, did you miss post #15? With the resistors your using, if they are 2.2 Ohms, the driver may not be able to deliver more than 2.25A @ 9V for your 4 diode setup. Around 500mA per diode or less. Either up the voltage or reduce the balancing resistor to about 1 Ohm.

Driver internal and extenal resistance (diodes and balancing Rs) @ 9V supply, is roughly 3.95 Ohms giving a max posible output current of 2.25A.

Cheers!

I agree - worked out similar limited number in post 23!