Hi all,
I am running a 20ma laser diode directly from pin c.7 of a Picaxe 20x2.
I have measured the current at 18ma.
It works but there is a 1.5V drop at the pin while powering the laser. So the output is 3.5V instead of the expected 5V.
The input to the picaxe is a stable 5V.
Is this within the specifications of the microchip? No other pins on the chip have any load connected to them, so I believe I am within the current draw specifications. I know some people will advise that a transistor or mosfet would be a good solution, which I appreciate, but i'd prefer not to add complexity to a simple circuit if I don't have to.
I am running a 20ma laser diode directly from pin c.7 of a Picaxe 20x2.
I have measured the current at 18ma.
It works but there is a 1.5V drop at the pin while powering the laser. So the output is 3.5V instead of the expected 5V.
The input to the picaxe is a stable 5V.
Is this within the specifications of the microchip? No other pins on the chip have any load connected to them, so I believe I am within the current draw specifications. I know some people will advise that a transistor or mosfet would be a good solution, which I appreciate, but i'd prefer not to add complexity to a simple circuit if I don't have to.