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Below spec 500 mw - will changing battery help?

davidgdg

davidgdg

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Apologies if this is answered elsewhere or is a particuarly stupid question:

I have a 500 mw 532 nm handheld from DX (which is actually a CNI unit). Testing on my LaserBee showed it is below spec at ~ 400 mw (the only laser I have ever bought that has come in below spec).

I am wondering it might be the battery, which is a generic rechargeable SD 18650 3.7v 2400 mAh. However, on looking on DX, I see that they have various 18650 batteries which are all 3.7v but show different currents. They include 2400mAh, 2500, 2600 and 3000.

I have two questions:

1. Does it matter which I get or will it make any difference (good or bad with higher currents)?

2. If the problem is with the laser, will getting a higher current battery compensate? (and if so, how high can I push it?)

(I can't face sending the unit back and anyway it is probably out of warranty)

Many thanks

David
 





lasersbee

lasersbee

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If you check your Laser's Warning Label...
I'm quite sure it reads <500mW... (less than 500mW)

If your Laser is putting out 400mW... I would consider it
in Spec...

Maybe your Laser draws a little too much current...
and your battery is sagging a bit... a higher current battery
could perhaps increase the output a small amount..


Jerry
 
davidgdg

davidgdg

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Thanks Jerry, but the laser is sold by DX as "500 mw" and the internal spec label on the unit itself also has "500 mw" so it is definitely below spec.

I am thinking of trying the 3000 mAh battery, but I am concerned not to blow the diode. Will that be ok? (up from 2,400)
 
davidgdg

davidgdg

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Just tested it again - max 438 and then drops to ~ 400. Some of this will be IR so true green will be less still ;-(
 
john_lawson

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its a viasho not a cni look at the paperwork at bottom of page
you got a 400 mw viasho cheap i would be happy :horse:
 
davidgdg

davidgdg

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Yes I see, though it is identical to the CNI which is a bit odd.

But I don't follow why I be happy to pay for a 500mw and get a 400mw. If I had wanted 400mw then that is what I would have bought!
 
davidgdg

davidgdg

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What I actually need is new glasses. I thought you wrote "cheapo" ;-)


Any thoughts on the battery issue?
 
Gryphon

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If the laser has a proper driver, than increasing the battery capacity wont over drive the laser, but instead probably keep the laser from over drawing the battery.
 
HumanSymphony

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It is typical for DX lasers to be underspec, but what you got is a DEAL, good sir. Regardless of it being underspec, it is still of considerable power (very good for a DX laser anyway). Optotronics 400mW RPL is $1,298. Need I say more? I would not be complaining if I were you.
 
yobresal

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Yeah considering the crap that comes out of DX you did get a nice laser. I am curious though. What is the beam diameter? Is it much larger than that of your pen style lasers or only slightly larger, does your laser light matches instantly or with a bit of a delay?
 
3zuli

3zuli

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it doesn't matter if you have 2400 or 3000mAh - it's only the CAPACITY of battery, not the max current. 2400mAh means it can give 2,4A for 1 hour, or 1,2A for 2 hours, or 4,8A for 30 minutes etc.
 
davidgdg

davidgdg

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yobresal said:
Yeah considering the crap that comes out of DX you did get a nice laser. I am curious though. What is the beam diameter? Is it much larger than that of your pen style lasers or only slightly larger, does your laser light matches instantly or with a bit of a delay?
Click to expand...

To be fair to DX, I've bought three lasers off them and all did what was on the label.

I'll post a full report on the laser once I've got a replacement battery, but a quick check shows a sharp edged 4.5mm slightly oval beam spot, expanding to a more diffuse 13mm spot at 6 metres - giving divergence of ~ 1.5 mrad. No matches right now ...
 
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