Is this a good price for a HeNe laser

I was just looking on ebay and came across this JDS Uniphase HeNe Laser 9.7mW 1145P-3494 - eBay (item 200559113208 end time Jan-03-11 18:57:14 PST) Now I pretty much know nothing about HeNe lasers but thought it would be cool to own one. So my question is, is this worth buying and whats the most I should bid. Also I would probably have to hook it up to a special power source right. I couldn't just plug it into a outlet right?

Edit: I also came across this http://cgi.ebay.com/Spectra-Physics-NeHe-Gas-Laser-Tube-076-5-/180606496867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0cfc7063 What do you think :thinking:

hey buckeye

I think i have that one- its a biggie- sunnking is a great seller I have gotten many lasers from them- no you cannot just plug it into the wall ..........lol

you should try to find a PS that is 115 vac- otherwise you will need a PS for the PS.

you can find which one you need at Sam's laser FAQ. it is listed there/

the spe. phy. would be a good one for a lamp project- as the plasma shows-

a PS for it should be cheaper and at Sams you can find how to build one. be sure that there is an alden plug on the PS for the JDSU.

As for the bidding, I would not bid at all- use a sniper and set the max at around 25$ at 6 or 7 seconds and watch the bids. you may want to modify and bump up a few $$ but w/o PS its not worth much more- it would be if it were new. IIRC it prolly needs 2400 vdc at 6.5 A but look at sams--its there.

PM me if you want alink to a good sniper- the first three are free.

sometimes I do the opening bid only--no higher- that way you get an email when ur outbid-

I would not pay more than 20$ for the SP.

hope this helps

len


ps always post your ebay finds here and note if you ARE or ARE NOT bidding- we have an unwritten rule that once posted by another member we will not bid against you. Common courtesy...let us know how you do.

sniping programs are pointless. Just bid the max your willing to pay initially up front then forget about it. If you get outbid, oh well. There are lots more HeNe's out there.. Unless your dealing with a 612nm one. Then I think there are 4 left on the planet. heh

I disagree- ebay bumps your bid every time it goes up--a snipe service does not-- just at the end-- at a real auction it all happens quick- on line it takes days- bidding anytime before the end is bidding against your self--sniper costs only 1 %- and you do not have to be at ebay when the auction is ending. Worst case -use the three free snipes then dont after that. I have given links to many friends and they all like it.

and yea I get three free every time I recruit a new user-- that is no secret. I save my freebies for big ticket items. have saved a lot of $$ that way.

You don't really save anything. Bid what your willing to pay and ebay will proxy up to that. Sniping doesn't matter if there's still a higher proxy bid.

If you want something and are willing to pay $50.. and you enter a $50 bid but the bidding is currently only at $10, $10 is what your bid is.. If somebody snipes at the last second for $40, they still lose because the proxy bids are instant. You'll with at $41 or whatever the next increment up is.

So you could say.. Ebay has built in sniping.. Snipers always think they're saving money but in actuality it only saves people money if they have a 'win at all costs' personality and end up in bid wars that raise prices of stuff far higher than the worth.

Fortunately I don't have such a personality. I'll bid the highest i'm willing to pay in the beginning.. If someone outbids me.. well, they just wanted it more than me. More power to them, and I go bid on the next identical auction, since very few things on ebay are 'one of a kind'

I think the issue is you putting in $50.12 and getting outbid at $50.20.

I think if there was some kind of gradient that went up as far as increments go, it'd end the sniping thing.

Often I get outbid by a dollar.

As far as Sunnking and those 1145's go, usually after they warm up ............... they don't do 9.7 or whatever anymore.

You see I have a "2mw" 1145 that tops out at.. 29mW.

Yeah.

If I get outbid, I usually try not to even look at that auction anymore since it doesn't matter. Like you say, it only serves to piss you off heh.

IF one has not used a snipe service a lot, as I have, you may not understand my explanation of why a use one and how well it has worked. I have neither the time nor desire to argue with anyone. It is true that ebay changed the bid system but it is their own interest to garner he highest bid possible. I am glad more dont snipe -it makes it easier for me to win and I never pay a dime more than I want/have to pay.

[ignorant / off-topic Q here - Mods delete if offensive] Is the point of the snipe service that it does not generate bids in the first place, and so does not draw attention to "watched" auctions until it is too late for people without snipers? After all, with no activity, no one "notices" that it went for cheap ... ?

On topic- easy to find nice little cheap red HeNes here and on eekbay. Right now you can pick up a small brick PS for 14$(on FeePay)- then find a 10$ tube- add 5vdc and you have a nice start on a laser lamp project. lumia, spiro , etc.

good luck and read Sam's Laser

trever22 said:

I was just looking on ebay and came across this JDS Uniphase HeNe Laser 9.7mW 1145P-3494 - eBay (item 200559113208 end time Jan-03-11 18:57:14 PST)

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You guys recommend him getting this tube?!?!?! :thinking:

Its broke, and he has no experience with HeNes, duh.

Trever skip those. There are working, cheap, cool HeNes popping up all the time. Just wait for it. I got a small tube, with the majority of the plasma tube exposed, with PS for $25. They are out there, just keep looking. You want a tube were you can see the plasma. Then work up from there. Dont waste your time on broken crap.

Not sure why you say it's broken. The description says it was tested as outputting 9.7mW. As far as the auction being listed as 'for parts' that's pretty much just to say' being sold as is, no warranty, i believe.

Condition: For parts or not working: An item that does not function as intended and is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components.

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Sounds broke to me.

BTW Snipping is only good for stopping the seller from padding the bid with a ghost account. No matter how, or why you bid, you will always get out bid by a dollar if someone goes over your max bid. If you are prepared to pay an extra dollar to snipe then your original max bid should reflect that. In any event, the person who wins is the person who has the max bid regardless if you snipe or not.

It is missing a component, the power supply. Therefor it's not functional as is and is listed as such. It's listed as exactly what it is. A part. Not a complete working laser.

After you sell a bunch of junk on ebay.. it doesn't take you long to learn you do everything in your power to keep buyers from screwing you over due to their own stupidity and/or maliciousness.. and thanks to ebay/paypal's policies.. it's all too easy sellers to lose money due to abusive buyers.

Would the missing PS look like one of these?


Bare PS - upper right

qumefox said:

It is missing a component, the power supply. Therefor it's not functional as is and is listed as such. It's listed as exactly what it is. A part. Not a complete working laser.

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It doesnt say that. HeNes are sold all the time without PS, and say they are fully functional.

This is a silly argument. Like I said there are plenty more better deals out there for a n00b. Why take a chance on a non-DOA guaranteed tube? Not very smart IMO.