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Laserbee 2.5 USB. Readings?

blrock

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Apr 29, 2009
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My laserbee arrived today to my delight. Rushed home to do some power measuring for the first time.

Just got some unexpected readings on all my lasers. I'm I doing something wrong?

500mw 635nm - 205mw on Laserbee
800mw 532nm - 408mw on Laserbee
1000mA A140 445nm - 580mw on Laserbee
1400mA A140 445nm - 778mw on Laserbee
Two times 1400mA 445 through PBS - 1810mw on Laserbee

I follow the steps exactly as per the instructions. These readings just seem a bit low. Any ideas...

THX

B
 





rhd

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I don't mean any disrespect by this question - are you sure the following two lasers are as rated?
500mw 635nm
800mw 532nm

I ask, only because those are relatively rare powers of both (outside labbys - though maybe that's what these are, given your PBS on the 5th)

I have to admit - I'm not convinced that either the Radiant Alpha nor the LaserBee are "accurate". I owned them back-to-back, and my laserbee meters higher than my alpha did. There's probably a 15% variance. I'm wondering if you bought yours new/used ? It strikes me that the slightest difference (damage) in the black thermopile coating, would probably cause differences in metering.

EDIT: 15% was bad math on my part. I've experienced a +/- of ~100mW on 1,500mW lasers between the two LPMs. That's not 15%, that's 100/15, which is really just 6.6% variance - a big difference from saying 15%. My bad.

Having said your two A140s really shouldn't be that low unless they were damaged.
 
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Trevor

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Interesting - but it was calibrated against a Newport LPM if I remember right. How long did you let the reading stabilize? Did you let the LPM thermally stabilize in its environment to ensure reading accuracy?

Jerry should be able to shed some useful light on this - have you emailed or PM'ed him?

-Trevor
 

blrock

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I'll never rule out the possibility that I have bad labbies. The red won't suprise cause I thought it looked a little underpowered. Was expecting a brighter beam. I'll be disappointed if they are so much underrated cause I paid alot for them.

I let the thermopile climatize and had the laser on for several minutes until the reading flat lined on the Laserbee.

I used 4 different 445's. I would have thought I'd get +-1000mW per 1A but it's only around 600mw....this is what got me a little confused as I was expecting much more mW.
I'm using Axises coated glass lense and Flexmod P3 and N2 drivers.

Laserbee is brand new and looks perfect. No scratches etc on thermopile.

I have a 660 laser diode for a 22x DVD writer and 405 from 6x bluray....Maybe if I take readings from them it will help clear things up. I'll run them at 380mA and 200mA respectively. +- what mW should I be getting?

Just thought I'd add that both labbies are commercial products....
 
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Trevor

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That does sound rather low; who made your labbies you measured?

-Trevor
 

rhd

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Run the LOC (660) at 380, and meter the light directly without a lens. I would expect it to hit ~250mW.
 
Joined
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My laserbee arrived today to my delight. Rushed home to do some power measuring for the first time.

Just got some unexpected readings on all my lasers. I'm I doing something wrong?

500mw 635nm - 205mw on Laserbee
800mw 532nm - 408mw on Laserbee
1000mA A140 445nm - 580mw on Laserbee
1400mA A140 445nm - 778mw on Laserbee
Two times 1400mA 445 through PBS - 1810mw on Laserbee

I follow the steps exactly as per the instructions. These readings just seem a bit low. Any ideas...

THX

B

Sorry to hear that you may be having LPM problems..:cryyy:
I didn't get a PM or E-Mail... I just happened upon this Thread...
I'll try to get to the bottom of this with you...

Would it be possible to get a video of you testing 2 Lasers
from start to finish...

Each LaserBee 2.5W USB is tested just before we ship it...
there should be no more than 5% to 10% errors in the worst
scenario...

I could ask dozens of questions that could be answered
in that one video...


Jerry
 
Last edited:
Joined
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Messages
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It is a possibility.... but I'm not ruling out anything yet...

Jerry
 

blrock

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First of all I’d like to apologise to Jerry. I no way intended to say that the Laserbee was faulty in anyway. I just got so many “incorrect” reading I got ahead of myself instead of doing some good laser troubleshooting.

The short answer: The Laserbee works perfectly

The long answer: I tested a 660nm laser @ 380mA and got a reading of 250mW. Then tested a 405nm @ 200mA and got 140mW. That already told me the readings were in spec and the meter was working well.

The 500mW 635nm: Seeing as the laser was out of warranty (1 year old. Although only used for about 3 hours) I broke to warranty seals and measured the current at the diode. 850mA. I knew straight away there was a problem as these diodes need about 1100mA to produce 500mW. After opening the power supply I turned a pot until the current was 1100mA. Result: 485mW after optics. 514mW before optics. I also tweak the optics and GREATLY improved the beam profile. Just killed to birds with one stone. I’m so happy!!

The 445s: I picked up on this problem rather quickly. My high-tech power supply was imbedded into my laser system so I was using another power supply rated 5V 3A. The voltage overhead was too low. I change this to 12V 2A and got 880 @ 1A and 1391 @ 1.7A.

This just leaves to 800mW 532nm. Obviously something wrong but may be a bit difficult to fix. I’m not sure it I want to strip it and play with the pots to increase the current/TECs etc. I may do more damage. Will just have to live with it.

Sorry again Jerry. Hope this clears things up. As a serious laser hobbyist I should have spend much more time troubleshooting.

Regards
 
Last edited:
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
17,622
Points
113
First of all I’d like to apologise to Jerry. I no way intended to say that the Laserbee was faulty in anyway. I just got so many “incorrect” reading I got ahead of myself instead of doing some good laser troubleshooting.

The short answer: The Laserbee works perfectly

The long answer: I tested a 660nm laser @ 380mA and got a reading of 250mW. Then tested a 405nm @ 200mA and got 140mW. That already told me the readings were in spec and the meter was working well.

The 500mW 635nm: Seeing as the laser was out of warranty (1 year old. Although only used for about 3 hours) I broke to warranty seals and measured the current at the diode. 850mA. I knew straight away there was a problem as these diodes need about 1100mA to produce 500mW. After opening the power supply I turned a pot until the current was 1100mA. Result: 485mW after optics. 514mW before optics. I also tweak the optics and GREATLY improved the beam profile. Just killed to birds with one stone. I’m so happy!!

The 445s: I picked up on this problem rather quickly. My high-tech power supply was imbedded into my laser system so I was using another power supply rated 5V 3A. The voltage overhead was too low. I change this to 12V 2A and got 880 @ 1A and 1391 @ 1.7A.

This just leaves to 800mW 532nm. Obviously something wrong but may be a bit difficult to fix. I’m not sure it I want to strip it and play with the pots to increase the current/TECs etc. I may do more damage. Will just have to live with it.

Sorry again Jerry. Hope this clears things up. As a serious laser hobbyist I should have spend much more time troubleshooting.

Regards
Hey blrock...
no apology required....;)

I know it must have been a shock to see that ALL your lasers
seemed to be outputting low... I would have probably come the
same conclusion... I was not sure myself what the problem could
have been with your new LaserBee....

I'm glad you found the problem by going through logical steps
and testing to find the problem... I'm glad you let me know that
your new LaserBee was not at fault...

If you have any other issues or need any help just contact me...:beer:

Jerry
 




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