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RLD90QZW5 alternative: a qualified second source, not an emergency
Status: active · single-sourced · a 25 W 905 nm emitter worth dual-sourcing
The ROHM RLD90QZW5 is not discontinued. It is listed as Active / Buyable on ROHM's product page and is still sold. So this is not an end-of-life page — it is a supply-risk page. If a 25 W 905 nm emitter is on your production line — robot vacuums, AGVs, perimeter security — a single source is the risk; qualifying a second one is the fix.
The short answer
The functional second source for RLD90QZW5 is PLD905-25W-M: a 25 W, 905 nm pulsed laser diode in the same Φ5.6 mm metal TO56 can, from the same 70 × 10 µm emitter. Both deliver 25 W at 905 nm. The header, pinout and exact beam are confirmed against your drawing and on your bench before you commit — which is the part of a second-source qualification nobody should skip.
Status of the original part
RLD90QZW5 is an active ROHM part. The facts that matter for a second-source decision:
- Status: active (Buyable) — not discontinued, not end-of-life. It is listed as Active on ROHM's product page.
- Package: Φ5.6 mm metal CAN (TO56), tray packing (500 / unit), RoHS.
- Rating: 25 W peak optical output (If = 9 A), 905 nm (895–915 nm), 14 V forward voltage (typ, 20 V max), −40 to +85 °C, 50 ns pulse / 0.05–0.1 % duty.
- ROHM's pitch is a 70 × 10 µm emission width — among the narrowest in the 25 W class — with high energy-conversion efficiency and low wavelength temperature drift.
None of that argues for replacing it. What argues for qualifying a second source is that every one of those numbers comes from exactly one supplier.
The two parts, compared
All figures below are from the published datasheets: the ROHM RLD90QZW5 datasheet and the LumeLiDAR PLD905 datasheet.
| Parameter | RLD90QZW5 (ROHM) |
PLD905-25W-M (LumeLiDAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power | 25 W | 25 W |
| Peak wavelength | 905 nm (895–915) | 905 nm ± 10 nm |
| Package | Φ5.6 mm metal CAN (TO56) | Φ5.6 mm metal TO56 can, 3-pin |
| Emitting area | 70 × 10 µm | 70 × 10 µm |
| Beam divergence | 25° ⊥ / 12° // | 28° / 10° bare (FAC 8° / 10° via PLD905-25W-MCL) |
| Forward current | 9 A max | Per drive conditions — confirmed on samples |
| Match type | — | Functional; same can, pinout confirmed against your drawing |
| Supply status | Active (Buyable) | Active — samples from stock |
Beam divergence follows each manufacturer's datasheet convention; the axes are close but not identical (28° / 10° bare against 25° / 12°). A fast-axis-collimated build (PLD905-25W-MCL, 8° / 10°) is offered to close the gap against your receiver optics.
RLD90QZW5 and ROHM are trademarks of ROHM Co., Ltd. They are named on this page solely to identify the device a customer may already be using. Their use is descriptive and does not imply any affiliation with, authorisation by, sponsorship by or endorsement from ROHM Co., Ltd. LumeLiDAR supplies its own parts; it does not supply, repackage or pass off original parts of other manufacturers.
Your options, graded honestly
1. Stay single-sourced — if that is a conscious call
If your volumes are low, your lead times are comfortable, and a single supplier covers your product's life, there is no urgent reason to change. A second source is a project with a cost; only you know whether the risk justifies it.
What we will not do is dress this up as an emergency. It isn't one.
2. Qualify PLD905-25W-M as the second source
The same Φ5.6 TO56 can, 25 W at 905 nm, from the same 70 × 10 µm emitter. The qualification itself is the work: pinout and header confirmed against your drawing, then samples on your bench for spectrum, peak power and rise time.
That is the only part we do, and we do it before you order.
3. If you actually need more power in the same can
Some designs want the 75 W class rather than 25 W. If that is your part, the relevant page is the RLD90QZW3 alternative — PLD905-75W-M carries the same can and qualification story one step up in power.
Same wavelength family, different wattage.
What "functional second source" does and does not mean
Functionally, the two parts are in the same can and the same power class. "Functional" — as opposed to "pin-to-pin" — is the honest grade when the mechanical interface needs a confirm against your drawing first. Specifically:
- The optical and thermal path matches: 905 nm, 25 W, Φ5.6 TO56, 70 × 10 µm emitter
- The header, pinout and can height are confirmed against your mechanical drawing
- The beam is 28° / 10° bare, with a fast-axis-collimated build (PLD905-25W-MCL, 8° / 10°) available
Peak output under your drive conditions is confirmed per unit on your own test bench — the datasheet numbers match; the measurement that counts is yours.
How a second source gets qualified
- You send the part number — RLD90QZW5 — with your annual quantity and drive conditions.
- We confirm the position in writing: functional match, what matches, what needs drawing verification.
- We ship two to five samples so you can measure spectrum, peak power and rise time on your own test bench.
- We quote production volume once your sign-off is in, and hold the agreed lead time.
Not sure which 905 nm configuration?
Peak power, package, beam divergence, drive conditions and temperature drift are the five decisions that pick the right 905 nm emitter. Our 905 nm selection guide walks through each one so you can narrow a 25 W part like PLD905-25W-M down to the exact build your receiver optics want.
Frequently asked
Is PLD905-25W-M pin-to-pin with RLD90QZW5?
Functionally, with one mechanical caveat. Both parts sit in the same Φ5.6 mm metal TO56 can and deliver 25 W at 905 nm from a 70 × 10 µm emitter, so the optical and thermal path is close. What pin-to-pin does not settle is the exact header, pinout and can height — those are confirmed against your mechanical drawing before you order, not assumed. Optical output is then verified per unit on your own bench.
Why look for an alternative if RLD90QZW5 is still sold?
Because it is single-sourced. RLD90QZW5 is listed as Active / Buyable, and it is not discontinued — so this is not an end-of-life story. The reason to qualify a second source is supply-risk diversification, price, and lead time, all of which matter once a 25 W 905 nm emitter sits on a volume production line such as robot vacuums, AGVs and perimeter security.
What is the difference in beam shape?
RLD90QZW5 is specified at 25° (perpendicular) by 12° (parallel). The PLD905-25W-M bare die is 28° by 10°, and the fast-axis-collimated PLD905-25W-MCL is 8° by 10°. The exact far-field match is confirmed on samples against your receiver optics, not on the datasheet headline.
Do you stock PLD905-25W-M?
We ship two to five samples from stock so you can measure spectrum, peak power and rise time on your own bench before any production commitment. Send the part number, your annual quantity and your drive conditions.
Dual-sourcing a 25 W 905 nm emitter? Start with samples.
Send the part number, annual quantity and drive conditions. We confirm the position, ship two to five units, and quote production once your bench says yes.