bryce007
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I got my Kenometer about a week ago, and it is now time for a review. I wanted to post this earlier, but school was crazy this week.
I received my meter last Friday October 23rd. I was anxiously awaiting it's arrival, and every time my dogs barked at the window, I ran out to see if the mailman was here. After about 6 false alarms, the package came!
So here it is!
Has a nice Green LED display.
(from left to right)
Zeroing pot, display selector switch, power switch, connections for data logging)
Ken did some modifications on mine. I already had a DMM with a PC interface, so Ken was nice enough to give me connections on the back so that I could use my DMM and my PC to record graphs. The connections allow for standard banana leads to plug right in, or there is some smaller holes so that the probes can be inserted as well. Also, with the normal LED display, I get 1mW resolution and 1W max. When I use my DMM, I get 0.1mW resolution, and it can handle up to 10W.
Here's my pro's and cons for this meter:
Pro's:
Con's:
Since I got it, I've graphing lasers pretty much non-stop. I actually forgot about a few eBay auctions that were ending that same day, I was too busy with my new meter.
Like I said, Ken is a very busy guy, and I knew I was last on the list for these meters (bought the last one available
). In the meantime, I thought I'd try making my own meter. Mine wasn't very accurate, but it served me well in waiting for the Kenometer. EDIT: No I will not be marketing these, please no more PM's about it
WHAT DO YOU MEAN 0.00mW?????
Maybe it just didn't like 532nm, let's try 650nm:
Needless to say, I'm not very good at building meters, but Ken is!
Here are some lasers that got tested when the Kenometer arrived:
(from bottom to top: Optotronics RPL Blue 473nm, RPL style green 532nm, 1mW HeNe 632.8nm, Mystery PHR in Ehgemus host, LOC at 300mA in Husky host, Silver PHR leadlight at 80mA, True 5mW module in Rayfoss waterproof host, 2 DX true 5mW's, 1mW cheapy red, 50mW Focalprice)
I call that the "Mystery PHR in Ehgemus host", because I got the PHR when I bought that RPL style green laser. The PHR came already soldered to a rkcstr driver, so I just threw it in the host and turned it on. This thing does about 165mW with an aixiz 405 glass lens. This thing is obviously being over driven, and I don't expect it to last long.
Here's a graph of the "Mystery PHR" with fully charged batteries:
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Here's a pic of that laser, the batteries were getting low unfortunately:
^ I knew I'd find a use for that math textbook
I'll be starting a new thread in the experiments section, where I will post tons of graphs including goggles testing and lens testing.
I received my meter last Friday October 23rd. I was anxiously awaiting it's arrival, and every time my dogs barked at the window, I ran out to see if the mailman was here. After about 6 false alarms, the package came!
So here it is!
Has a nice Green LED display.
(from left to right)
Zeroing pot, display selector switch, power switch, connections for data logging)
Ken did some modifications on mine. I already had a DMM with a PC interface, so Ken was nice enough to give me connections on the back so that I could use my DMM and my PC to record graphs. The connections allow for standard banana leads to plug right in, or there is some smaller holes so that the probes can be inserted as well. Also, with the normal LED display, I get 1mW resolution and 1W max. When I use my DMM, I get 0.1mW resolution, and it can handle up to 10W.
Here's my pro's and cons for this meter:
Pro's:
- Great price
- Uses a Coherent Thermopile detector head
- Detector head is a good size, about 1.5" in diamater
- Uses a Coherent power meter board
- Can meter up to 10W
- Has connections for data logging
- Very good accuracy for the price
Con's:
- Took a little while to get here. Ken's a busy guy, and I was fully aware of the wait before I purchased.
- Enclosure is rather simple. I may do some sprucing up a bit. IE, it wasn't offered in pink
Since I got it, I've graphing lasers pretty much non-stop. I actually forgot about a few eBay auctions that were ending that same day, I was too busy with my new meter.
Like I said, Ken is a very busy guy, and I knew I was last on the list for these meters (bought the last one available
). In the meantime, I thought I'd try making my own meter. Mine wasn't very accurate, but it served me well in waiting for the Kenometer. EDIT: No I will not be marketing these, please no more PM's about it
WHAT DO YOU MEAN 0.00mW?????
Maybe it just didn't like 532nm, let's try 650nm:
Needless to say, I'm not very good at building meters, but Ken is!
Here are some lasers that got tested when the Kenometer arrived:
(from bottom to top: Optotronics RPL Blue 473nm, RPL style green 532nm, 1mW HeNe 632.8nm, Mystery PHR in Ehgemus host, LOC at 300mA in Husky host, Silver PHR leadlight at 80mA, True 5mW module in Rayfoss waterproof host, 2 DX true 5mW's, 1mW cheapy red, 50mW Focalprice)
I call that the "Mystery PHR in Ehgemus host", because I got the PHR when I bought that RPL style green laser. The PHR came already soldered to a rkcstr driver, so I just threw it in the host and turned it on. This thing does about 165mW with an aixiz 405 glass lens. This thing is obviously being over driven, and I don't expect it to last long.
Here's a graph of the "Mystery PHR" with fully charged batteries:
CLICK TO ENLARGEHere's a pic of that laser, the batteries were getting low unfortunately:
^ I knew I'd find a use for that math textbook
I'll be starting a new thread in the experiments section, where I will post tons of graphs including goggles testing and lens testing.
Last edited:
