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1000mW 532nm Laser for $320 - Possible?

InfinitusEquitas

InfinitusEquitas

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So was going through various cheap laser sites, tmart, fp, gadgettown and dino.

I came across this laser: 1000mW 1W 532nm High-power Green Laser Pointer Gray for Sale at GadgetTown.com

What I'd like to ask is what are the chances that is is anywhere near 1W? Looks like the same host as what was used by o-like and is still used by rayfoss.

I'm tempted to take a chance because return shipping is to Brooklyn, NY, not china. I've bought from there in the past... but considering the price I am hesitant.

Any thoughts?


P.S. The reason I'm looking is my o-like 400mW torch was near doa and currently on the way back to china for exchange. I'd really like to find a powerful 532nm for $200-300 but unlike 405 and 445s no one seems to build them since they are so temperamental.
 





Tech_Junkie

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Sorry for the double post, but I want all the n00bs to know why these are not 1W 532nm lasers.

Here is a quote from HIMNL9 telling why the identical laser Tmart sells cannot be 1W when it only uses one 18650 battery.

HIMNL9 said:
Tmart, cause you've replied, i give you an advice, for try to help your business.

I'm not trying to bash you, but anyone know that a true 1000mW green module may require AT LEAST 4W (professional labby units) or 5W (handheld using glued crystals) of IR pumping diode, for give you that power of green ..... and this means usually more than 5A (from 5.2 to 5.4A, as far as i remember, for common 5W C-mount 808nm diodes), and a 18650 can't be used for this, for the risk of overheating and explosion.

I can understand that this mistake can be guilty of manufacturers (perhaps they always state too much power, in the tags), and that not all the times a company have available a laser power meter and an IR filter for measure the true powers of their products, but consider that for a good customers service, a true, measured output power indication is a must, especially if you want to run a trusted business in the laser field.

If you don't give precise (or, at least, coherents / congrue) informations, anyone in the laser field, seeing those descriptions, can think that all your items are fake, also if maybe they are not fake ..... so, maybe better invest a little bit in an LPM and some time in measures, thing that can give to your business much more serious look.

;)
Click to expand...
 
InfinitusEquitas

InfinitusEquitas

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@Tech_Junkie

Thanks for the replies. I figured it would be nowhere near spec but at even half spec it would still be a great laser.

Considering that 400mW +-50mW can be had for $222 shippied, over 500mW or even higher does seem possible.

I guess I'm just gonna have to be patient and wait for the replacement on my 400mW torch.

A secondary big reason that I was even considering it, is that I've dealt with this company in the past, and aside from shipping back to them, they do honor returns. Since shipping is to Brooklyn, NY... I thought it might be worth a shot.
 
Tech_Junkie

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If you want a high quality 532nm laser, thats ships from the US, I'd go with Opto. Jack is a great guy, and he backs up what he sells.
 
InfinitusEquitas

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Opto quality is a bit out of my price range for the moment, but I've read numerous reviews on his service, and read through a long thread where he helped a complete jackass of a customer... the company seems above reproach.

I was actually thinking about getting his 150mW+ green pen though. RPLs are just too expensive.
 
swimminsurfer256

swimminsurfer256

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InfinitusEquitas said:
Opto quality is a bit out of my price range for the moment, but I've read numerous reviews on his service, and read through a long thread where he helped a complete jackass of a customer... the company seems above reproach.

I was actually thinking about getting his 150mW+ green pen though. RPLs are just too expensive.
Click to expand...

I happen to know from personal experience that Jack runs some [slightly obscure] GBs (contact him to ask) I got a Viasho handheld for pretty damn cheap ($590) and it outputs around 630mW of pure green. You know it's good whenever you can get more mW of green in a handheld than dollars you paid :p

I as another can vouch for his professionalism and courtesy and overall great business!
 
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Ash

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InfinitusEquitas said:
What I'd like to ask is what are the chances that is is anywhere near 1W? Looks like the same host as what was used by o-like and is still used by rayfoss.
Click to expand...
Looks like the old style focusing (pin-wrench), and I bet it wouldn't peak over 400-500mW (including IR) (they may be stating the pump-power of 1000mW). O-like has the new version of this laser, they QC-check their lasers, and a recent batch was sub-par with bad dots* and angled output. IMO, not worth the time (unless you have nothing better to do). Really with high-powered greens, you will need a big heatsink for stability, and that costs about $0.75-$1/mW for the cheap ones. :bday:

*maybe they all have bad dots: image
 
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InfinitusEquitas

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@swimminsurfer256 $590 for 630mW of pure 532nm! That's awesome:D Still a bit outside my price range this month due to taxes, but GBs take forever anyway. I definitely look into the GB option through opto.

@Ash Unfortunately I was the recipient of a near doa laser from O-Like's new batch. Mine is on the way back. (Attempted delivery yesterday actually:))

Hopefully they send me back an overspec unit like they've done in the past for people with problems.

Part of the problem is also form factor. All of the better (200mW+) lasers have huge heatsinks to provide stability and a decent run time. As a result they aren't very pocket friendly. This is more of a technology problem than anything else though :( hopefully different diodes are developed for green soon.

Edit: Depending on how the replacement performs, I was actually looking at that 450mW unit for 589 :)
 
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rhd

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I disagree with a few points here. First off I DON'T DISAGREE with the fact that this particular laser won't be up to spec. However, I challenge the notion that it's not possible period.

First, you CAN get over 5A (double that) safely from some 18650s, like AW IMRs, or a number of common LiFePo4s. The current isn't (anymore) and issue, even from one cell.

Second, like anything, china will improve value per dollar for 532. If you can get 350mw 532 (not IR) for $130, then 1W for under $400 is at least reasonable in a linear extrapolation sense.

Note that I'm not making a quality judgement here. The 350mw you can get for $130 isn't Viasho/CNI quality, but quality isn't what this conversation has been about. This started as an inquiry as to whether a cheap Chinese gadget site could ever offer 1W at a particular price range.

Finally, 5W C-Mount IRs are available, and under $200 retail (online) if memory serves.

So while there are still lingering issues like heat producing low duty cycles and needing good crystals, I just don't see any fatal impediment to cheap chinese gadget sites being able to offer a cheap (< $400) low quality true 1W 532 at some point soon.
 
InfinitusEquitas

InfinitusEquitas

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@rhd

What 350mW for $130 are you talking about?

To be honest I would consider it a good deal if this laser was halfway up to spec... but I think I'm gonna hold off on any laser purchases until I get my LPM and and the replacement 400mW torch from o-like.

Would be great if some 1W+ 532nms started popping up. Actually kind of disappointing that while there are so many 405, 445, and 650 builds, there are very few 532nms. I really hope they start showing up soon... maybe in time for :san:
 
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rhd

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MY 350mw 532 for $130 ;)

It was one if the dino "power certified" 532s, rated at 300, it's actually over spec and able to hit 350, sometimes almost 400. It was $126, but went up to $160 after I purchased.
 
InfinitusEquitas

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Even for $160... that's a good deal. I have one of the Laserbees on the way, so I'll be able to verify output as well (finally).

Can you give me link to the one you got please?
 
rhd

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I'm on my smartphone, so browsing is kind of tough, but if you search their site for the power certified 532s, there are some good deals in there. YMMV of course.
 
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