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This is a long post with at least 28 images on it; dial-up users please allow for plenty of load time.
"WHITE LIGHT" (RGB)400mW LASER
Retail $135.00
Manufactured by (Unknown) for Techhood (http://stores.ebay.com/techhood
Last updated 09-10-13
"WHITE LIGHT" (RGB)400mW LASER
Retail $135.00
Manufactured by (Unknown) for Techhood (http://stores.ebay.com/techhood
Last updated 09-10-13
The "White Light" (RGB) 400mW Laser is a very small portable laser that does much the same as a $300,000.00 RGB plasma laser like I saw at the California State Fair in 1982; that laser system used argon-ion and krypton-ion lasers that were so large that the installation took up the better part of a small room (such as a bathroom), required active water cooling, and used enough power to run a house.
This laser uses directly-injected laser diodes for the red & blue, and a DPSS (Diode-Pumped Solid State) laser for the green.
The connectors that feed the red, green, and blue lasers in this unit can be unplugged, so that you can isolate various colors (like red, green, blue, purple, cyan, and yellow).
This laser has power outputs of 155mW (red), 82mW (green),190mW (blue) and 465mW (white --all three lasers on simultaneously.
The wavelengths were spectrographically measured at 660.660nm (red), 532.010nm (green), and 454.700nm (blue).
To use your spiffy new "White Light" (RGB) 400mW Laser, take the included wire & connector combo (the one with red & black wires), and plug it into the shielded male receptacle on the corner nearest that large 1000µF electrolytic capacitor (the tallest component on the board; a large cylindrical (pop can-shaped) thing).
If the connector on the free end doesn't fit any 7.5 to 12 volt DC power supply you have, take a pair of dikes (the wirecutters, not the other kind!
Connect the wire with the black stripe on it to the negative (-) terminal of a power source that delivers +7.5 to +12 volt DC and can comfortably sink at least 1,000mA (1 amp), and connect the red wire (without a black stripe on it or black anywhere on it for that matter) to the positive (+) terminal. In my case, I used a pair of 18650 lithium ion cells in series to get ~7.6 volts.
As soon as the power supply is energised, the laser will fire up. Be certain that the laser is not directed to your eyes (or to the eyes of any person or animal in the vicinity) and/or directed toward any flammable materials before you apply power to it.
Current usage measures a rather modest 961mA when powered with two series 18650 cells; my bench power supply simply doesn't have the balls to sink this amount of current at +12 volts as this module is supposedly rated for its input voltage.
The three beams do coalesce into a single white spot (both right at the laser aperture and farther away) quite well -- better than I was expecting actually...but additional testing has revealed that the beams seperate quite noticeably when the laser is directed at a target ~200 feet distant.
The biggest downside to this laser is the fact that while this is clearly a CDRH Class IIIb laser (making it somewhat dangerous!!!), there are no safety features at all that are normally required in Class IIIb lasers; e.g., there is no "emissions" indicator, no startup delay, no interlock of ANY type, and no mechanical beam shutter. This laser behaves like a Class IIIa laser pointer in this regard, which I believe is a rather severe no-no!!!
Beam terminus photograph on the test target at 12".
Beam image bloomed ***SIGNIFIGANTLY*** even though photoflash was used to help mitigate that!!!
Beam terminus photograph on a wall at ~8 feet.
Beam image also bloomed somewhat even though photoflash was used.
Photograph of the laser's actual beam.
Another photograph of the laser's actual beam.
Yet another photograph of the laser's actual beam.
Note that in this photo, you can see the green beam seperate from the other two.
Yet another photograph of the laser's actual beam.
Note that in this photo (as well as the above one), you can see the green beam seperate from the other two.
Photograph of the laser's actual beam outdoors in fog.
Photo was taken at 5:29am PDT on 09-09-13 in Federal Way WA. USA.
Beam photograph on a wall at ~55 feet to show that the laser's beams are not perfectly aligned.
Spectrographic analysis of this laser (all on).
Spectrographic analysis of this laser (red), spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 645nm and 655nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 660.660nm.
Spectrographic analysis of this laser (green), spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 528nm and 538nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 532.010nm.
Spectrographic analysis of this laser (blue), spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 450nm and 460nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 454.700nm.
The raw spectrometer data (comma-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/42/rgbw.txt
USB2000 Spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.
Beam cross-sectional analysis (fast axis {X-axis}).
Beam cross-sectional analysis (slow axis {Y-axis}).
Those spots in the beams in both analyses are artifacts from the lens used to diverge the beams.
Images made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.
Power output (red lasers only) peaks at 155mW.
Power output (green laser only) peaks at 82mW.
Power output (blue laser only) peaks at 190mW.
(All lasers on {RGB}): Power output peaks at 449mW.
Power output (all lasers on) peaks at 450mW -- known freshly charged batteries were used for this test.
The laser was allowed to warm up for 205 seconds.
Power output (all lasers on) peaks at 461mW -- again, known freshly charged batteries were used for this test.
The laser was allowed to warm up for 230 seconds.
Power output (all lasers on) peaks at 465mW -- again, known freshly charged batteries were used for this test.
This measurement was conducted on 09-09-13.
Short-term (600 seconds {10 minutes}) stability analysis.
All tests were conducted on a LaserBee 2.5W USB Laser Power Meter w/Thermopile.
Test unit was purchased on Ebay on 04-09-13 and was received at 11:32am PST on 04-22-13
UPDATE: 04-24-13
I took it outside for a little distance test...the results aren't good folks!
At approx. 200 feet, the beams were very clearly seperated -- I did not at all expect to see this considering how well the beams stayed coalesced into a white spot at indoor distances.
As a result, a star is coming off its rating.
PROS:
Compact size & shape
Operates from low voltage DC
NEUTRAL:
CONS:
No safety features required of a CDRH Class IIIb laser -- that took out one star
"White" (all three beams combined) beam comes apart with distance -- that's what nocked that last star off
MANUFACTURER: Unknown
PRODUCT TYPE: RGB ("white light") laser
LAMP TYPE: Laser diodes (R & B directly injected; G is DPSS)
No. OF LAMPS: 3
BEAM TYPE: Extremely narrow spot
SWITCH TYPE: N/A
CASE MATERIAL: Metal & fiberglass
BEZEL: Metal; lasers recessed into a hosel for them
BATTERY: N/A
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 961mA when powered with two series 18650 cells
WATER-RESISTANT: No
SUBMERSIBLE: For heaven sakes NO!
ACCESSORIES: Two small cords terminated in two-pin female connectors
SIZE: 80mm L x 41mm W x 81mm H
WEIGHT: 521.00g (18.380 oz.)
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Unknown/not stated; possibly China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated
PRODUCT RATING:
Update 04-25-13: Added two photographs.
Update 04-27-13: Performed another power output analysis using freshly charged batteries.
Update 04-30-13: Performed a third power output analysis using freshly charged batteries; also did a short-term stability analysis.
Update 09-10-13: Added several beam (not beam terminus) photos & performed another power output analysis using freshly charged batteries.
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