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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Scientech 362 and 360001 Thermopile

daguin

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After I sent my Laserbee LPM to Kenom to be reviewed and "purtyfied" (Thanks Kenom), I thought about what I did and did not like about the unit. My main problems with the unit were the size of the read-out and the size of the "thermopile." I figured with Kenom activating the backlight that the read-out would be OK, but that tiny target for the laser was still going to be a problem for me. So off to eBay I went, looking for a thermopile. ;)

I found an auction for a Scientech 360001 thermopile head and won it (sorry Kenom). :-[ I decided on this one because: 1) The number of thermopiles being offered was VERY limited. 2) The bid amount it was reaching was good compared to the used equipment sites. 3) Scientech has a great reputation. 4) The thermopile was a HUGE 1 inch in diameter! ;D ;D ;D


At the same time I was bidding on a Scientech 365 power meter. This is a great meter, but it is WAY more meter than I need. Since it was really just that it was sexy looking and I was already bidding on a head to go with it, I was unwilling to bid what it was really worth. As a result of that, I lost that auction. :'( I thought, "No biggie", I'll just recalibrate my Laserbee meter to the new thermopile. Then I go an email. :-?


Th email was from the guy who had won the Scientech 365 meter. He said that since he had won the 365 that he now had a Scientech 362 that he would not need anymore. Would I like it for a song and a dance? I sang AND danced. :p The 362 is an analog (needle) type meter, so it isn't as "sexy" looking, but it is just as reputable.


Both of the units arrived yesterday (Serendipity? Is that you?) So here they are:

meter2.jpg

Yes. that's a Kenom Kryton in the picture for scale

meter3.jpg

Here you can see the size of the thermopile (with the Kryton for scale)

I ran all of my lasers through the meter this morning. The greens and the reds read fairly consistent with the readings I got with Scopeguy's Kenometer. They were consistently reading 2-3mW higher with this meter, but that's not a problem. For those of you keeping track, my second Dildalaser (with freshly charged Ultra-fires in the tube) peaked at 240mW and then quickly settled down to 205mW.


There was a significant difference when I measured my blu-rays. My Lasershopuk that measured 11mW on the Kenometer, measured 15mW on the Scientech. The Milos that measured 24mW on the (Kenometer), measured 30mW on the (Scientech). The 6X that measured 95mW (Kenometer), measured 115mW on the Scientech! :eek: At this point, I have no explanation for this difference.


The unit is much more responsive than either the Laserbee or the Kenometer. I am able to easily see the peak wattage and the small variations in power. When I was measuring my 2mW yellow, I could watch the variability in the power of this crystal set. They are a bit unstable ;) With the scale set to 3mW, I had to keep my hands away from the thermopile. It was actually measuring the heat being given off by my hands!! :eek: I am a bit older than many of you. I was reared in an analog world. There is just something more "comforting" in being able to watch the needle swing ;) There is a connection in the back of the unit to hook up an analog recorder to the unit, but I haven't figured that out yet.


All-in-all I am VERY pleased with the outcome of this. Everything is large enough to easily see and/or hit with the laser beam. The unit is very responsive. It will measure from below 1mW to 10W of laser energy! And I got it all for less than $200 (including shipping) ;D ;D ;D

Now I just need to get/make a stand for the thermopile.

Peace,
dave
 





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NICE song and dance, Dave ! I too have a Scientech 360001 Thermopile head - I am glad I did not bid on that 365 auction - I WAS eye-balling it pretty hard :p Glad you got the hook up on it ! I think the main difference between the laserbee and the Scientech you will find to be that the Scientech uses a true thermopile, rather that simply a coated TEC. Now, here is the question of hte day - what types of cables does the head use ? I would like to check it out using a different readout source, but haven't messed with it simply due to no cables :p The sockets look to be simply banana plug types - but I am not 100% sure :) The head is actually sitting RIGHT next to my laptop as I type this :) congrats on your win !
 
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Awesome buy Dave! Serendipity favours the brave... :D

Reminds me of the VU meters on my long-lost Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck... Bordering on SteamPunk n'est-ce pas? [smiley=laugh.gif]
 

daguin

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SenKat_Stonetek said:
Now, here is the question of hte day - what types of cables does the head use ? I would like to check it out using a different readout source, but haven't messed with it simply due to no cables :p The sockets look to be simply banana plug types - but I am not 100% sure :)

The "cable" to connect the head to the meter is "hard wired" from the back of this meter. However, although the plug has both probes in it, they are simply banana type spears. The spears are simply connected to a single wire each in the "cable". There is nothing fancy about it. It is not shielded or grounded. You could easily make this with an extension cord and a couple of banana plugs.

Peace,
dave
 

daguin

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Curiously_Coherent said:
Awesome buy Dave! Serendipity favours the brave... :D

Reminds me of the VU meters on my long-lost Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck... Bordering on SteamPunk n'est-ce pas? [smiley=laugh.gif]


donc vrai :)

It feels like home ;)

Kinda makes me want to push it into the red! :eek:

Peace,
dave
 
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daguin said:
[quote author=SenKat_Stonetek link=1210352574/0#2 date=1210353164]Now, here is the question of hte day - what types of cables does the head use ? I would like to check it out using a different readout source, but haven't messed with it simply due to no cables :p The sockets look to be simply banana plug types - but I am not 100% sure :)

The "cable" to connect the head to the meter is "hard wired" from the back of this meter. However, although the plug has both probes in it, they are simply banana type spears. The spears are simply connected to a single wire each in the "cable". There is nothing fancy about it. It is not shielded or grounded. You could easily make this with an extension cord and a couple of banana plugs.

Peace,
dave
[/quote]

Excellent ! now - on the back of the head there are four connectors...two white ones up top, and a red and black one down below - canya tell me what goes where (without the word, Google" in your answer ! LOL !) please ? :)
 

daguin

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SenKat_Stonetek said:
Excellent ! now - on the back of the head there are four connectors...two white ones up top, and a red and black one down below - canya tell me what goes where (without the word, Google" in your answer ! LOL !) please ? :)

The cable to the meter uses the red and black sockets. Black = ground

I'm not sure what the white ones are for. I got a "manual" with the meter, but not with the thermopile.

Peace,
dave
 

daguin

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SenKat_Stonetek said:
Kewl ! Thanks for indulging my laziness :D

You know that you'll "pay" eventually. I swear that your mother must have been Irish Catholic.

A quick search using some unnamed search engine, makes me think that the white sockets are to a heating element that would be used to control the temperature of the "mass" to limit environmental influence and/or used in calibrating the head itself.

Peace,
dave
 
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The white plugs are for voltage input to an internal heater. Used for calibration.

Mike
 
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Hemlock Mike ! :) Greets, man :) Mine actually has a post on it for mounting on an optical table - now taking donations for an optical table :p LOL !
 
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I welded a 1/4-20 bolt to a steel plate, painted it and mounted it up for a steady base. Mine look nice!

Mike
 




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