Amazing 200mW Green Laser Pointer from Ebay

I bought a 200mW Greenie laser (Pen Host) on Ebay from this guy: http://myworld.ebay.ca/cadeicon

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-200mw-Green...260?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item4aa750c0fc

for about $80.00, Im actually very satisfied, although I dont have an LPM, it seems that it actually performs at spec, as it burns red matches unaided, and w/o paintning them black, instantly. Also, it seems to have an amazing duty cycle as ive used it for 2-3 mins constant duty, and there doesnt seem to ever be a decrease in brightness. No parts move around in the host and seems to be all in all an amazing laser for the price.

The beam is very visible outdoors at night and indoors in dark to moderate lighting conditions. However I have my doubts...the beam diameter must be very small as the beam is extremely thin. Also, the dot is TINY. This may be a contributing factor to its amazing burning power. My question is could this be a lower power laser somehow built into a permanent focus? I'm fairly new to lasers so I don't even know if this is a possibility. :wtf:

Regards,

Sal

And what is your doubt, question, occasion to dispair or wonder? Looks like you got a good pointer! Enjoy with safety.
HMike

Oh I love it lol, just wonderwing why the beam was so thin, my Opto 150 has a much thicker beam, and also cant burn like the cheaper ebay one, although the opto "looks" brighter and prettier at night.

I am guessing the beam is so thin because you got an unusually good laser from ebay (which is rare and pretty much unheard of...) with a great beam divergence, which is the increase of the beam diameter over a certain distance.

We could tell you more about your lasers if they could be measured on a calibrated LPM, but for now as Hemlock_Mike said you got a good pointer, so enjoy it!

The listing for pulled from ebay.

Small beam diameter = higher power density but large divergence.
Some cheaper lasers are manufactured this way since the high power density makes the laser seem more powerful.

If you are happy with it then there is no need to question it, IMO.
Stay safe.

Yeah, I havent measured the divergence, but I really don't think this thing could be outputting 200mW which such an awesome duty cycle in a pen host. Even my Opto 150mW which is overspec to about 177mW gets tired after about 40sec constant duty.

Is it possible that it could be 100mW and still burn a red match in like 1-2 sec flat? lol

Arshus said:

Yeah, I havent measured the divergence, but I really don't think this thing could be outputting 200mW which such an awesome duty cycle in a pen host. Even my Opto 150mW which is overspec to about 177mW gets tired after about 40sec constant duty.

Click to expand...

Sure it is possible to have a decent duty cycle. It just depends on how the crystals perform as they warm up.
The only way to know if it is really outputting 200mW is to test it on a meter with and without an IR filter.
My guess is that it is not really 200mW (of green, at least) since most "eBayzers" do not live up to specs.

Arshus said:

Is it possible that it could be 100mW and still burn a red match in like 1-2 sec flat? lol

Click to expand...

Yes. If the beam diameter is low enough.