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LPM with Ophir Sensor from nospin - Awesome!

jayrob

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Sep 21, 2007
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This is a review of the laser power meter with Ophir thermopile available from nospin...

And I have to tell you, this is a great meter. I made comparisons with blu-ray, red, green, 473, 593.5, and IR readings side by side with my Coherent PM5200 with PM3 thermal head. And this custom meter build with Ophir thermal sensor was spot on within 1mW or less...

This meter somehow zero's itself... Meaning, it goes to zero in different conditions within a few seconds...

The electronics are housed in a very nice aluminum enclosure that has a wood grain vinyl coating!

I took a peak inside and found that all of the wiring connections were covered in heat shrink. And everything was very clean and orderly. Very professional...

More detailed information and power supply testing below the pictures...

Here's his FS thread:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/sale-ophir-laser-power-meter-nospin-50226.html

meter%202.jpg

meter%203.jpg

meter%204.jpg

meter%205.jpg

meter%206.jpg




Specifications:

meter%201.jpg


From what I was told, if you were to try and buy just the Ophir thermopile sensor equipped with the amplifier, it would cost about $600 bucks! Not counting the meter... (I did not look into this personally, but I know my Coherent PM3 thermal head costs like $900 bucks, so it sounds right)

I don't know his sources, but we all should hope that the supply will last! Because I'm telling you, this is a nice meter and sensor...



Current draw and power options:

I tested the current draw, and true to the specs, it draws only 59mA's...

With this in mind, I made a 12 volt battery pack using AAA alkaline batteries. All I needed to buy was two 4-pack battery holders, and a small project box from Rat Shack, and it was an easy build for a 1250mAh capacity battery pack!

The size of the project box is: 3" X 2" X 1"... Part number 270-1801, and you can see in the pictures that I did just a little modification inside to fit the batteries. (it was easy)

battery pack 1.jpg

battery pack 2.jpg

battery pack 3.jpg

battery pack 4.jpg




At only 59mA's current draw from the meter, this little battery pack will give about 20 hours of run time with this meter! So this makes it a very portable meter, and I'm sure nospin can include an extra plug adapter for making a battery pack...



I also tested it with a car adapter (cigarette lighter plug) and got the exact same results...

car plug.jpg




Cons:

For me personally, no cons!

This setup, does not currently have data logging, but I understand that he is working on this as an option for those who want data logging capability. (I have data logging with my Coherent, but never use it)

The resolution is 1mW. My Coherent can adjust to a .1mW resolution, or even a .01mW resolution, but guess what? I never hardly ever use it in that mode! I always have it in the 300mW or 1 Watt setting, and both of those settings have a 1mW resolution...





In conclusion, even though I have a nice accurate meter, I want this little gem!

It's so small, high quality, very nice finish, and portable! :cool:

meter%207.jpg


$285 dollars sounds reasonable to me!

So nospin, even though you sent a pre-paid return label, see if you can get it refunded. Because I want to buy this one! :takeit:

Quality workmanship, and great meter! :gj:
 
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Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Hey Jay... that LPM looks nice...

I had spoken to OPHIR about 3 month ago and was given a price of $250.00Cnd.
each for their Brand New 20C-A Thermopile heads.

The head you have is the same ones that the Kenometer Lite.. USB and Pro
use.. The display on yours is also the same 4-1/2 digit display as on the Kenometer
Lites.. I know I bought 3 of them...

I would be curious to see the inside to see if it is just a re-packaged Kenometer
Lite or a new design... The Kenometer Lites were selling for $150.00... that's
$100.00 less...


Jerry
 
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Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Great review Jay!

I have always been stand up guy and I have I have a well designed, well built meter, and it only made sense to have the same kind of honest gentleman review it!

Thanks Jay!!!:yh:

To answer one of your Questions about the Zeroing of the meter:
The Ophir thermopile head has a very smart amplifier circuit that measures only the power radiated onto the broadband absorber in relationship to the
conduction cooled heat sink. This means that just like in $2000+ Laser Power
Meters If you hold you hand in front of the absorber you are radiating energy
and that results in a measurement ( usually a few mw's ) and if you cool or warm the Heat sink it does the same effect. Within seconds the thermopile equalizes and your back at zero. Thus no need for a zero adjustment knob!

And about the power consumption on this meter:
the entire design is built around wasting no power in the form of heat
that's all done with switching supplies from the wall adapter which is a
switching transformer less design good for world wide use to the 3 different
voltages derived from that source are all achieved with switching technology. proven by the versatility of Jays potability modifications

Send me a PM if you are interested
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Hey Jay... that LPM looks nice...

I spoken to OPHIR about 3 month ago and was given a rrice of $250.00Cnd.
each for their Brand New 20C-A Thermpile heads.

The head you have is the same ones that the Kenometer Lite.. USB and Pro
use.. The display on yours is also the same 4-1/2 digit display as on the Kenometer
Lites.. I know I bought 3 of them...

I would be curious to see the inside to see if it is just a re-packaged Kenometer
Lite or a new design... The Kenometer Lites were selling for $150.00... that's
$100.00 less...


Jerry



Hmmm... well I never got a chance to check out one of the Kenometers, so I'm just comparing it against my Coherent...

About the thermal head, I did not look into that either, I just wrote what I was told. But it made sense to me, because I know that my Coherent PM3 thermal head costs $900 bucks just for the sensor...
 
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Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Jerry
Yes this is that Ophir head
And this is entirely my design
I too have never seen a Kenometer
Jim
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Hey Jay...
I'm not questioning you or your Review... ;)
and I'm certainly not questioning the accuracy of your meters..
I'm just saying that I know that OPIR 20C-A Sensor Head
and it has some small quirks...
Our shop NewPort Sensor Head cost us near $1000.00 as well...
That's why I thought $250.00 for a New OPHIR Head was cheap...
and when you can get them Surplus they are probably a lot cheaper
still..

BTW... is that a new OPHIR Head or a surplus Head that comes
with your new LPM...:thinking:

[EDIT]

This is the Thermopile from the New Kenometers....

DSC00645.jpg


This is what a Kenometer Lite Looks Like... the small one on top...

Photo_121909_002.jpg



Jerry
 
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Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Jerry

They are not Surplus they are New Ophir heads With built in amplifiers

Jim
 
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Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Everything appears to be brand new.

But I'll let nospin answer that question...

What say Jim?

Edit... Oh I SEE you already responded...
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Hey Jim....

No need to use Caps... I can see just fine...

Don't get mad... Sheesh...
I just asked the question because I know there are New surplus
OPHIR 20C-A heads available and wanted to know if you
were using that source.
Perhaps the small quirk I found is only on the New Surplus Heads..

IMO... you are a bit too touchy... do you respond to your
customers like that as well...:thinking:
I usually buy a new LPM being offered on the Forum to put in
my stable of meters... but I think I'll pass this time...
I'm afraid of the customer service responses...

BTW... Surplus does not mean Used...


Jerry
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

That thing looks killer! Very nice work.. Love the back panel especially. Very clean!

If those Ophir heads are the same one's I think they are, all you need is a voltmeter to accurately read the output. I think it's 1mV per mW.. All you'd need to do to customize it is throw the guts from a multimeter (build it or buy it) in a decent box and you've got yourself an instant power meter.
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Yeah EF... they do require a split supply for the on board OP Amp
though..
But basically the output from the Raw Head is 1mV/1mW... easy to
read...

Jerry
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

Didn't say it was a problem just saying it is not a single supply bus..
DC/DC converters is what the Lites use...:cool:

Jerry
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

No worries Jerry!

Those Ophir Thermopiles are sweet, I just wanted you to know they are new
and very accurate. I got a deep deal on them and using my 40+ years in electronics found a way to let everyone have a chance to enjoy them!

Jim
 
Re: Ophir LPM from nospin - Awesome!

I'm amazed how this zero's itself in different conditions?? I gather it's something to do with this 'built in amplifier'?

Is it something inside the thermal head?

I'm no expert on meters, but if so, then I would take a guess and say that the sensor would need to be outside the electronics box in order for it to zero properly to the same environment that the laser is in.

Just thinking out loud...

I know that you explained it some in your first post, but I would like to know more information on this just for my own education...

So if you have anymore information on this feature, please elaborate! :)

Edit: I found the pdf documentation:
http://www.ophiropt.com/laser/pdf/20C-SH_20C-A_20C-UAU.pdf

So I see that it is a 200mW to 20 Watt sensor. And I think that added information on just briefly how you have wired things to use it as a 1mW to 5 Watt sensor would be of interest... (to me anyway)
 
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