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Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Viasho

Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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I purchased this about a month ago from LPF member Dark_Star in his sales thread here. When I first got it, it had a solid beam, although it had an extremely wide beam at the aperture. I don't have a LPM capable of measuring up to 500mW so I assume its a 500mW. Anyway, randomly it just got really dim, and stayed dim, it was about the same brightness as my 50mW green. I pulled the 18650 out and it measured 3.6 volts. So I put in in the charger and took it out at about 4.15 volts. I put it back in the RPL and it was still just as bright as my 50mW green :yabbem: :thinking:. What has happened to my laser??? Is there an explanation? Can this be fixed? Thanks
 
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realista

realista

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

did u get a crap?
 
Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

Did I get a crap? Are you asking if I got a crappy laser?
 
Seoul_lasers

Seoul_lasers

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

Well, do you have any way to take a picture of the output?
Also, I'll assume you used used a on off cycle with the pointer, right? Only other thing I can think of is a blown diode due to overheating??

I had my Olike-200mW pointer die in exactly this fashion.
The pointer's diode was pure garbage and had burn marks inside the lasing area of the diode. Ahh, that's what that metallic smell was coming from, nothing like a good garlicey smell of Arsenic Trioxide !
 
Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

I thought that laser has a continuous duty cycle.

Also, another symptom would be that if I where to let it sit for a day or two, then power it up, it would retain its high power temporary before falling back to the ~50mW range
 
DiRollin

DiRollin

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

I'm having the same problem... I bought a 500mW O-like from someone and its got a decent output but I think it could be way better...It also seems to flicker a tiny amount. The batteries that came with mine were a year old. I have a feeling my problem is battery related, since they only have a couple hundred or so recharge cycles for the best performance... So if I were you I would just spend $20 bucks and buy 2x of THESE... See if that makes a difference. Who knows $20 could solve your problem. Do you know how long hes been using the batteries that it came with?
 
Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

DiRollin said:
I'm having the same problem... I bought a 500mW O-like from someone and its got a decent output but I think it could be way better...It also seems to flicker a tiny amount. The batteries that came with mine were a year old. I have a feeling my problem is battery related, since they only have a couple hundred or so recharge cycles for the best performance... So if I were you I would just spend $20 bucks and buy 2x of THESE... See if that makes a difference. Who knows $20 could solve your problem. Do you know how long hes been using the batteries that it came with?
Click to expand...

'Im using a brand new 3000mAh 18650 battery. I have a tun of them for flashlights.
 
bootleg2go

bootleg2go

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

Antimony Trioxide said:
I purchased this about a month ago from LPF member Dark_Star in his sales thread here. When I first got it, it had a solid beam, although it had an extremely wide beam at the aperture. I don't have a LPM capable of measuring up to 500mW so I assume its a 500mW. Anyway, randomly it just got really dim, and stayed dim, it was about the same brightness as my 50mW green. I pulled the 18650 out and it measured 3.6 volts. So I put in in the charger and took it out at about 4.15 volts. I put it back in the RPL and it was still just as bright as my 50mW green :yabbem: :thinking:. What has happened to my laser??? Is there an explanation? Can this be fixed? Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi Antimony,
Could you please change the title of your post to "Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Viasho"?
Your laser is not an RPL at all and this was made perfectly clear to everyone when the Viasho group buy was conducted.
 
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Laha

Laha

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Have you tried to clean the surface of the tailcap where it connects wit the battery?
Oxidation could be one of the problems...
Hope it helps...
 
Seoul_lasers

Seoul_lasers

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Re: Having problems with my 500mW 532nm Optotronic RPL

Antimony Trioxide said:
I thought that laser has a continuous duty cycle.

Also, another symptom would be that if I where to let it sit for a day or two, then power it up, it would retain its high power temporary before falling back to the ~50mW range
Click to expand...

Sounds like a damaged IR diode to me. As the diode heats it creates resistance and the output falls off to nothing and the case becomes extremely HOT.

This has been exactly my experience. I am NOT a fan of Green laser pointers because of this exact problem. I like the colour of the beam BUT I do not like the fact that they can overheat so easily.

NO green laser pointer realistically has an unlimited duty cycle. Esp, greenies unless they have huge heatsinks. Using an unlimited duty cycle will just shorten their lives.
 
Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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Oh great. So I have a $500 paper weight? What is the normal warranty? Who exactly do I contact for warranty or repairs? I tried going to optronics.com or viasho.com but I seem to have the name wrong or something. Any help here please! Im not a laser expert!
 
kingdave2357

kingdave2357

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products

Opto wont help you if you didnt buy it from them, and while viasho may help you, you will have to pay the repair bill and ship costs...
 
rpaloalto

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You may want to try a diferent 18650 cell. If I recall both CPF and DX members have determined those 3000mA cells to be better suited for low drain devices. You are talking about the red ultrafire 3000mA cells correct.

Clean the battery contacts in the tailcap and try a diferent cell. Let it charge to 4.2v
If your still having issues you can try and get a hold of frank from viasho
http://laserpointerforums.com/members/frank/
It may be under warranty, if not it would still be worth it to have it fixed. I cant imagine it costing too much $.
 
Antimony Trioxide

Antimony Trioxide

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rpaloalto said:
I cant imagine it costing too much $.
Click to expand...

OK, good. I was having nightmares that it was a paperweight.

Tomorrow I'll put my AW 18650's on the charger and test them to make sure they're 4.2. Then clean both contact surfaces. Is there a recommended chemical to clean such a battery contacting surface?
 
bootleg2go

bootleg2go

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Antimony Trioxide said:
OK, good. I was having nightmares that it was a paperweight.

Tomorrow I'll put my AW 18650's on the charger and test them to make sure they're 4.2. Then clean both contact surfaces. Is there a recommended chemical to clean such a battery contacting surface?
Click to expand...
Hi Antimony,
if none of the suggestions work (I don't think they will), then contact Viasho at
products
They will repair it for you, but it won't be under warranty as the warranty period on the Viasho pointers is only 90 days and I think it's beyond that now.
 
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