Dragon Lasers 1W Spartan

@Apex007, USPS sucks about updating when its a foreign package, last week i had a shipment come in and USPS didn't update it until after it had been delivered to my house.

Gixxer331 said:

@Spartan X, since you just got yours today, what do you think of it so far? how is the beam diameter and divergence?

Edit: given the post above your last one i thought you ordered a 400mW version, but then i saw your tag and realized its a 1W. I'm more curious about the 400mW since no one has posted anything about it yet but still, what do you think of your 1W?

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The divergence is nothing to wright home about. When your pointing at obejcts at about 100 yards away, the "dot" is not going to be a rectangle or a dot at all but rather a line that is about 2-3 feet long. Shine it at a building that is 405 meters away and you got a 8 foot line...additionally if you shine it into the clouds, your not going to see it hit the clouds, its going to just "fade out" like a lower power 532nm will.

The laser is a rectangle when your using it to burn things, thats about it. And burn it does

I bought this laser simply for the beam and shear awesomeness power. I'll have a 130mW 532nm to compare it to soon.

Thanks Spartan, that's exactly what i wanted to know, i was afraid it would be like that. I have an Arctic order and i'm going to keep it and wait for it, but was debating spartan too, but since it was smaller thought about maybe taking it places to shine at far away objects, but that won't happen with this laser. Thinking about the 400mW with corrective optics. I have a high power green but would like a blue too that i can shine at distance.

Gixxer331 said:

Thanks Spartan, that's exactly what i wanted to know, i was afraid it would be like that. I have an Arctic order and i'm going to keep it and wait for it, but was debating spartan too, but since it was smaller thought about maybe taking it places to shine at far away objects, but that won't happen with this laser. Thinking about the 400mW with corrective optics. I have a high power green but would like a blue too that i can shine at distance.

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Be careful, no one has confirmed that the 400mW Spartan even uses corrective optics to my knowledge. For all we know it would have a circular beam because it running at a lower power, not because of the optics used. It's all speculation as DL has not posted much more info then whats on the website. (which is very little)

denodan said:

I also looked at the LiFePO4 Batteries at DealExtreme also, but notice they only have a cpacity of 350mAh. But found these instead, the recommended batteries, which will also last longer then the ones from Deal Extreme

go for this one

2 RCR123A 3.0V 750mAh Rechargeable LiFePO4 Li-Ion Batteries with AC/DC Smart Charger

Also got 4 spare batteries, but the charger comes with 2.

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thanks for link. ordered 1. on sale too. will also use this on my surefire light.

use code: cpf2009 for 5% off

1 2 RCR123A
3.0V 750mAh
Rechargeable
LiFePO4
Li-Ion
Batteries
with AC/DC
Smart Charger

* Extra Batteries : None
* Plug Adapter : None

$16.95
Subtotal: $16.95
Shipping: $7.68
Tax: $0.00
5% savings: -$0.85
Total: $23.78

Spartan X said:

Be careful, no one has confirmed that the 400mW Spartan even uses corrective optics to my knowledge. For all we know it would have a circular beam because it running at a lower power, not because of the optics used. It's all speculation as DL has not posted much more info then whats on the website. (which is very little)

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To get to a round dot running in low power, you have to run it <50mW and it needs to be TEC cooled. It either uses optics or a spatial filter. My money (and hopes) are on the optics.

All right, the Spartan shipped straight to Pearson Airport right near here, and Canada Post has it marked as out for delivery. I'll pick up some alkaline CR123A's on the way home because my rechargeables haven't arrived yet, and hopefully do a preliminary review later tonight.

jedirock said:

All right, the Spartan shipped straight to Pearson Airport right near here, and Canada Post has it marked as out for delivery. I'll pick up some alkaline CR123A's on the way home because my rechargeables haven't arrived yet, and hopefully do a preliminary review later tonight.

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When you get ur spartan and ur 400mw cni green maybe you could do a beam visibility kind of test too Waiting to see your review about the spartan 400mW hopefully mine (1W) will be shipped tomorrow

WOuld this be safe/ work with the spartan? NEW Hi-current Protected R123s - CPFMarketPlace I already have AW's R123a batteries and was wondering if this would be fine or even better than the tenergy

themandalorian said:

WOuld this be safe/ work with the spartan? NEW Hi-current Protected R123s - CPFMarketPlace I already have AW's R123a batteries and was wondering if this would be fine or even better than the tenergy

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Seeing as they have a power output of - 3.7V nominal each, I don't think it would be a good idea to use them. The driver on the Spartan is only meant to take in 6 volts.

WOW!!!!!!!!! Got my Spartan 1 watt. Compared to my Arctic (that I am returning, got RMA number), my Spartan burns much better then the Arctic, this would be due to having more power then the Arctic. Till I get my 3.2 rechargables and Charger, will have to use standard 123's.

This is where I am getting my Batteries:

2 RCR123A 3.0V 750mAh Rechargeable LiFePO4 Li-Ion Batteries with AC/DC Smart Charger

I was quite supprised, my Arctic had a slightly tighter beam than my Spartan at 20 feet, but is a cleaner beam, no artifacts like the Arctic has.

The Spartan burns much better and easlly lite a match almost 15 feet away, but think it will light one a bit further. Did not light it instantly, but still lite it easlly. The beam maybe slightly larger on the Spartan at the same distant, but because it is cleaner, burns at much further distant the my Arctic did. I notice the Spartan still has some weight, it is quite heavy for it's size, but do like the Arctic host much much better.

The host for the Spartan is simple, but does the job nicely. I like it very much and like the fact it's the much better burner.

ok, just ordered 1. hope this experience wont be as frustrating as wl.

NoBama said:

ok, just ordered 1. hope this experience wont be as frustrating as wl.

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Not frustrating at all, a great company, also answers all emails and i had my Spartan in around 2 weeks after ordering it.

denodan said:

Not frustrating at all, a great company, also answers all emails and i had my Spartan in around 2 weeks after ordering it.

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thanks, can't wait. still have the wl on order. hope it wont be too late to cancel order. give them a little more time then may have to cancel wl.

@denodan, Was there something wrong with your Arctic? I doubt they'd let you return it without something being broken or not right with the unit.

I'm really surprised that it can light farther away since it has higher divergence, that was actually the deciding factor for me on why i kept my Arctic order rather than switching to the Spartan. Then i was just going to buy both, or more so the 400mw Spartan to be different, but ended up getting a WL E2 Evolution 130mW Green instead. I placed the order on Sunday and got it on Tuesday! Truly amazing to get it in 2 business days!!! Although i'm still waiting for my Arctic and my Sonar i ordered well over a month ago.

Gixxer331 said:

@denodan, Was there something wrong with your Arctic? I doubt they'd let you return it without something being broken or not right with the unit.

I'm really surprised that it can light farther away since it has higher divergence, that was actually the deciding factor for me on why i kept my Arctic order rather than switching to the Spartan. Then i was just going to buy both, or more so the 400mw Spartan to be different, but ended up getting a WL E2 Evolution 130mW Green instead. I placed the order on Sunday and got it on Tuesday! Truly amazing to get it in 2 business days!!! Although i'm still waiting for my Arctic and my Sonar i ordered well over a month ago.

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My Arctic went for 4 days and was amazing, now only a faint blue dot, so sending it back Friday, will just send the Arctic back, did not tell me to send the lot back. Anyway the Spartan in this review, did go just over 1 watt, and stays above it, so if mine is also 1 watt or over, it's going to burn better. The beam itself is a lot cleaner, whereas the Arctic seems more scattered. I notice even though the Spartan may not be quite as tight a beam as my Arctic was, it's more narrow and cleaner, so also helps with burning.

It is defantly the far batter burner. If I where you, I would cancel your Sonar. The only reason I am getting mine replaced is mine came, so since it is defective would rather have the replacment as I love the host.

The Spartan has more power then the Arctic that's for sure. As for getting my faulty Arctic replaced, took 6 emails to get any reponse. Maybe I was lucky, as I think many never get a reponse, so if your Arctic comes faulty, good luck in getting a replacement.

Why I say cancel your Sonar, is like the Arctic will be rushed, so QC will be very poor and since WL don't answer many emails, if you have problems it's a risk if WL will replace them, so I cancelled my Sonar, will be a very rushed laser and very poor quality.

I went with the O-Like 200 watt blueray, you can focus it, and are a good company from what I hear, so likely get a replacment if it's faulty, unlike WL, just luck if you get emails.
Dragon Lases are very good to deal with and know if my Spartan becomes faulty, will get an email promptly and a replacment.

Mind you with the Arctic, they are going to replace it with the G2 model, so at least getting the slightly better model, but as to how long it will take to get a replacment I do not know, but not too worried I have my Spartan.

But the Spartan beam is better then the Arctic, Arctics seem to get light scatter and splatter, which will also go somewhat to a lower beam quality. The Spartan has none of these problems.

As far as devergance goes, I think there is very little difference between them. My Arctic was a good one, when it went, and many Arctics have far worse devergance then the Spartan. With the Arctic I think it's hit or miss with beam devergance many seem to be different, so there is no gaureentee you will get one with a really good devergance anyway, but they are improving, but no so problems with the Spartan a much more reliable laser I think, so far have not heard on here of people getting faulty or QC problems with their Spartans, but tons of compliants with the Arctic.