Editing Pickups
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==Adjustments== | ==Adjustments== | ||
The two 2-kOhms potentiometers on the pickups (one for each, CD and DVD) do | The two 2-kOhms potentiometers on the pickups (one for each, CD and DVD) do not directly adjust laser output power. Laser output power is actually regulated in real time by the drive electronics (APC, automatic power control). Instead, these potentiometers adjust the output level of the monitoring photodiode which the drive electronics uses for monitoring the laser output power. Hence, any weakening of the laser output power over time is already being compensated by the drive electronics. '''This means that adjusting these potentiometers should never be necessary.''' The only way of properly adjusting these potentiometers would be by using a laser power meter, which would however only be necessary in case someone already tinkered with the potentiometers. | ||
What turning these potentiometers actually does is overdriving the laser to higher than specified output power. The reason why this might allow discs to be read again is that it gives the drive higher tolerance to dirt on or inside the pickup's lens/prism system and/or misadjusted drive mechanics (tilt/skew). | What turning these potentiometers actually does is overdriving the laser to higher than specified output power. The reason why this might allow discs to be read again is that it gives the drive higher tolerance to dirt on or inside the pickup's lens/prism system and/or misadjusted drive mechanics (tilt/skew). |