Optotronics

Aloha all...

Well, after VERY CAREFUL research (thanks to all your posts here which helped) I am now the proud owner of a PL-165 from Optotronics.com.

I had pretty much narrowed it down to ether LaserGlow or Optotronics (from the original bad-four of LaserGlow, Wicked, Dragon, and Optotronics) - mainly because it has all the safety features required by US law (unlike Dragon and Wicked).  I narrowed it to Optotronics also due to the least amount of disgruntled users (unlike Wicked, etc).

Jack, the owner of Optotronics, was very responsive.  I purchased the unit on Wednesday and received it on Saturday - amazing considering that mail to Hawai'i is very very iffy.

The unit uses 2 C cells - and I am waiting for delivery on the style of rechargeables that Jack says works best.  Currently I am using E2 Enegizers which I suspect are not providing quite the best kick.

The certificate that came with the unit stated the output power was at 182mw (using the recommend batteries).  Once my batteries arrive I wlil verify that with our companies laser power unit.

However, with just the E2 Energizers the unit can pop ballons, light matches, and knock a hole in most thin dark materials.

It has a 10-position clickable endcap that allows you to adjust the output power of the beam - and 3 safety systems (required by US law).

Another desireable feature is the divergence which is a stunning 1.2 mrad - making for a beam that does not increase with distance as much as other lasers I have owned and used.

All in all - very happy!  Will post more when the rechargeable batteries arrive.

Fantastic ! Sounds like you got an awesome beast ! Post some pictures when you get a chance ! so - it has FOCUSABLE optics ? Or is that just selecting the output power ?

The power adjustment changes the CURRENT supplied to the diode - thus decreasing the output power. It is part of the endcap safety switch - a 10 position switch - off at 0, full power at 9.

Jack (from Optotronics) said that when using the rechargeable batteries I might find the beam more powerful at 6, 7, or 8, than at 9 - something I will try to verify once I get the rechargeable batteries.

As per focus - it is prefocused and not changeable (internally) - however, that said, with a 1.2 mrad divergence - focusing is not something I am thinking about (it is one tight beam). The holes it punches in black (thin) plastic are smaller than what you would produce by sticking a pin into the plastic.

Gotta get goggles for this thing - even the spot itself is almost too bright to look at.

Another thing I forgot to mention about my decision to purchase from Optotronics....

He has an upgrade program which is pretty nifty... he allows you to trade in older lasers for a newer laser etc. Currently his "Bargin Basement" shows a 200mw for just $599 (FDA Complient) which isn't too bad.

Also, had to chuckle at the owners name... "Jack O'Neill". Being an avid StarGate fan - something about buying my 'frigg'n laser beam' from "Jack O'Neill" was especially entertaining (and I did a google check and it does appear to be his real name).

Now if he only carried staff weapons and zat guns

I think you are going to be more than pleased with your purchase! It seems like a lot of raw laser power to have in your hand doesn't it?

Post some pics!!!

I e-mailed Jack a few times and I can confirm that he seems to be a very nice guy and is very responsive.

KaneHau said:

He has an upgrade program which is pretty nifty... he allows you to trade in older lasers for a newer laser etc.  Currently his "Bargin Basement" shows a 200mw for just $599 (FDA Complient) which isn't too bad.  

Click to expand...

Just FYI, the RPL and PPL laser are not really FDA compliant.

Re: Optotrics

Could you expand on your comment?

I was under the impression for Class IIIb that you needed the following:

  1)  Some type of keyed turn-on switch
  2)  3 second delay between pushing the button and the beam coming out
  3)  Manual or electronic shutter on the beam end
4) Appropriate warning stickers

The unit I purchased had all the above (manual shutter) - what is missing to make it FDA compliant? (and methinks it is at least more compliant/safer than the units without those features).

Are you a lucent fan?????

I believe in addition to all those you listed, it has to have a power interrupt dongle if I am not mistaken.

you mean like a deadmans switch? - this does not have that, you are correct.

I am not sure if that is the final piece of the puzzle - the Laserglow Aries I have has all that - and the dongle IS a little bit of a "pain" but I just leave it in all the time - I WAS pulling it out all the time, but the casing slid off of the "plug" itself - so I leave it alone now !

I also was considering Optotronics, but have emailed them 3 times without response. They lost my business. I received a quick response from LaserGlow..they got my business.

Ok... I got my rechargeable batteries (Accupower 6000). What a world of difference it makes.

With Energizer E2 batteries... the laser WILL in fact pop ballons and light matches and put a hole in most dark materials in the first 15 to 20 seconds of being turned on. Then power drops too much for it to put out. Turn it off for 30 seconds, and again you get about 15 to 20 seconds of burning power.

With the Accupower 6000's... it just wants to kick ass for a very long time. Matches instantly burst into flame and I can actually cut shapes out of paper (by moving the paper slowly in the beam). Wonderful.

As per the comment above that the Optotronics lasers are not 'really' to FDA requirements - I've gone onto the FDA site and researched it a bit. From as far as I can tell, the Optotronics lasers do meet the minimim requirements for Class IIIb lasers (the comment above was that it didn't have a 'deadmans dongle' - which is actually not a requirement under the guidelines posted on the FDA website).

I am reluctant to turn the laser on much more, until I get proper eye protection (and no, I will NOT be buying the WL goggles - the CD rating of 2-3 is too low to provide proper protection). Still trying to find a good source of CD4 532nm CHEAP goggles - if anyone knows of a source OTHER THAN WL - please let me know.

Some of the confusion may be your use of what your terming as E2's...... I'm assuming your talking about Lithium Energizer e2's?...

I don't believe they make those in C size:
http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium/sizes.aspx

That would tell me your really using "alkaline" instead of lithium which respond as you indicate.. they cannot sustain and maintain a voltage well under load like lithium or the rechargable NiMh's.

If you were talking about the E2 "titanium".. they are glorified alkalines I believe.. still not lithium, nor can they compare
http://www.energizer.com/products/titanium/faqs.aspx#1
I don't even see those in C size on thier page.

When someone recommends E2's to someone,.. they need to specify whether they are talking about lithium or titanium series.

For absolute maximum output... the lithium e2's would be what you want.. but they don't have them in C size.. so your using the next best thing..

Another question.. I know the RPL's have a very limited runtime of around 2.5 minutes... what are you finding for your PPL?.. does it have literature or can you say by experience yet?

Where did you get the Acupower 6000 batteries ? I would like to try those out in my Aries ! Good find on the FDA requirements - I was not sure on the exact details - so now we know ! *Thumbs up !*

Thanks for the info...