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Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I be

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ecKsniNe

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How far away should I be able to pop a black wal mart baloon?
My laser was rated by nova at 139mw constant, but I cant pop a baloon farther than 5 feet away. Close up it pops them pretty much instantly, any distance and it struggles. Is this normal?
 





RA_pierce

RA_pierce

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Anything over 50mW can pop a balloon easily, it just depends on divergence.
If the divergence is bad, you wont be able to do many tricks from a significant distance; the beam diameter will be to large to do any damage. There's nothing you really can do about it unless you modify it (not recommended) or contact NOVA for a replacement. Check the divergence yourslef to be sure if that's the problem. Here's a link to a page that will show you how to do it... http://laserglow.com/index.php?lasertesting
 
Razako

Razako

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

It sounds normal to me but you always can try measuring the divergence and if it really is badly under spec you should try to get a replacement from nova.
 
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wooooooolazer

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Check and see if it is mode-hopping too, take a magnifying glass and shine it the laser through it onto awall a few feet away... check and see if that one dot changes into two or more.

...lazer.. ;D ;D ;D
 
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me_too_lazy

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

well divergence has always been mediocre for the alpha cni series
 
E

ecKsniNe

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Ok. I guess ill get out the scale and go buy a magnifying glass. I didnt think i would ever have to use my metric scale for anything besides technical drawings.. The problem is I havent gotten my eye protection in the mail yet, so I dont know how I am going to measure the divergence safely. How long do I have to report my findings to nova in order to get a replacement if indeed there is a problem?
 
Razako

Razako

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Really you shouldn't be using it for burning without eye protection. At 100+mw all it takes is a bad reflection to cause serious eye damage.
 
E

ecKsniNe

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Yeah, you're right. The only thing I cut was a piece of tape, and I didn't look at it. As far as the baloons, I stopped after 3 or 4 for fear of hurting my eyes. The glasses should be here monday. I think ill have to keep things as simple as the night sky untill then.
 
f22warzone

f22warzone

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

ya my divergecnes isnt to good either i have an alpha 125 as seen in my sig and i can only pop sharpied balons up to 5' and after that it really dose strugle.... my divergecne was 1.2 i believe or maby 1.4 it was one of thos and that was measired at 53' and 12'

anways its a really good laser after my warranty runs out i am going to add an extension tube with a diode in it to enable me to fit 3 nimh battries in and get around 3.3 volts witch is what lithiums give you and they work greant in this laser exclent buring power also i might play with the lense to get the divergecne down about but i dont kno i might just be happy with the extension tube : ) besides no need to mess up a perfectly good 400$ laser:p

oh ya.... dont you love how the thing feels in yoru hands?
 
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wooooooolazer

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

Dont forget that ni-mh's freshly out of the charger read 1.4v

...lazer... ;D ;D ;D
 
f22warzone

f22warzone

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

i am going to use a .6 drop down so that sould cover it
 
E

ecKsniNe

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Re: Nova Alpha 125 question. How far away should I

f22warzone said:
ya my divergecnes isnt to good either i have an alpha 125 as seen in my sig and i can only pop sharpied balons up to 5' and after that it really dose strugle.... my divergecne was 1.2 i believe or maby 1.4 it was one of thos and that was measired at 53' and 12'

anways its a really good laser after my warranty runs out i am going to add an extension tube with a diode in it to enable me to fit 3 nimh battries in and get around 3.3 volts witch is what lithiums give you and they work greant in this laser exclent buring power also i might play with the lense to get the divergecne down about but i dont kno i might just be happy with the extension tube : ) besides no need to mess up a perfectly good 400$ laser:p

oh ya.... dont you love how the thing feels in yoru hands?
Click to expand...

Yeah I really like the way its built.
 
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