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CNI PGL-III 400mW is now 200mW...

aryntha

aryntha

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So, for about a year now, from one of Glenn's CNI GB's, I had a great performing CNI PGL-III-C 532 400mW.

I've used it maybe.. 10 times to do some tests.

This was one of the lasers that would start low but eventually climb up past its 400mW rating and do 650-700mW or so.

Well, today, I turned it on, and, it "kinda" hit 300mW after a little but, and has been settling at 160-190mW since.

I'm guessing, that after such a short life, it's just pretty much done. Which is really unfortunate; (I think this was around $700 a year ago) -- and now it's just a 190-200mW green.

Has anyone seen this happen? Do these tend to just give up after a while? I assume I'm seeing crystal or diode death here.

I've tried new 18650s... To say the least I'm a bit upset about such an expensive (and previously well-performing laser) just dying off without very much usage. And CNI likely won't even want to talk about it, at this point.
 





Don't Laze Me Bro

Don't Laze Me Bro

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ROFL, I have not only seen it happen, I've seen it happen with 4 of my PGLs... The things just don't last... I've had 9 of them fail on me, and trust me.. It has ALL be defects. Some taking a while to show up. In the end I made CNI upgrade me to an MGL-400 for free, best choice ever.
 
aryntha

aryntha

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Was it the same situation? It just losing output like this?

You're lucky you got them to do something for you... I doubt they'll touch mine, it's been a year.
 
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Don't Laze Me Bro

Don't Laze Me Bro

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aryntha said:
Was it the same situation? It just losing output like this?

You're lucky you got them to do something for you... I doubt they'll touch mine, it's been a year.
Click to expand...

Yes, exactly the same. I would predict that it will continue to degrade to either about 10mW or 0... Don't be too sure of that, talk to Ava. I bet they will do something for ya, PM me if you need her email. And it took like 2 years to get my results...... :can:
 
aryntha

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Every time I've tried to talk to Ava she's just stonewalled me... "Send it in and we will see if it is in warranty."

I'll try, I hope they're willing to do something. The only email I have is sales@cnilaser.com.
 
aryntha

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Well, DLMB you were right. It's doing ~20mW now. Probably on its way out.

For $750 I'd really hope this would last more than a year. Really do wonder if they'll just refuse to do anything. Thanks for the support guys; all I can do now is hope that CNI shows some mercy.
 
Don't Laze Me Bro

Don't Laze Me Bro

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aryntha said:
Well, DLMB you were right. It's doing ~20mW now. Probably on its way out.

For $750 I'd really hope this would last more than a year. Really do wonder if they'll just refuse to do anything. Thanks for the support guys; all I can do now is hope that CNI shows some mercy.
Click to expand...

heh, I have watched 9 of them die in various ways, that was the most common.
Good luck Aryntha, I'm sure they will help you some how :)

-D
 
aryntha

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Well I'll let folks here know if they do. Thanks, guys. I tried to be firm but polite in my first email, letting them know i've got 10+ lasers and likely will be buying more, if this works out.

I don't have my hopes up yet; but this being what seems to be a chronic problem with PGL-III-Cs and with CNI knowing we post this on the forum, maybe they will make good on it.
 
Astralist

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400mW goes to 200mW for a years? it's bad :cryyy:

AFAIK almost every manufacturer claims that their diode will life for approximately ~8000 hours. it's 333,333... days, or < 1 year.

this is confusing me, is "8000 hours" is period for "ON" state or accumulative with storing time?? AFAIK it's period for "ON" state.

IMO in your case, 8000 hours is an accumulative period for "ON" state and storing time.

BTW, what did you do with your laser that could possibly cause this?
 
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Don't Laze Me Bro

Don't Laze Me Bro

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astralist said:
400mW goes to 200mW for a years? it's bad :cryyy:

AFAIK almost every manufacturer claims that their diode will life for approximately ~8000 hours. it's 333,333... days, or < 1 year.

this is confusing me, is "8000 hours" is period for "ON" state or accumulative with storing time?? AFAIK it's period for "ON" state.

IMO in your case, 8000 hours is an accumulative period for "ON" state and storing time.

BTW, what did you do with your laser that could possibly cause this?
Click to expand...

You don't have to do anything to cause it, it just happens. The 8000 hours is how long it will last turned on, accumulative.
 
aryntha

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I didn't do anything to it. Ran it maybe 10 times. Some of those, metering it. Lit a match from ~5 feet away maybe twice. Duty cycle ~3min at most. It's never been dropped, and is kept in a plastic case at room temperature in a dry environment, all the time.

I've had it for about a year. "8000 hrs" MTBF does not mean storage time. It means operational time; so long as duty cycles are adhered to.

Last week, it was putting out 640mW. And was, when I turned it off last week.

Today, I turn it on, and it blips at 300mW for a bit, and now is down to ~30-60mW.

.. I think whether or not CNI makes good on this, will make a huge difference as to how many people will buy these lasers in group buys going forward.
 
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Prototype

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Really sorry to hear your laser has gone sour. Kind of an offtopic and random question, but does anyone know the size of the KTP CNI uses in these things?


Edit: And aryntha, if CNI says no to warranty repair, I say you take a hand at repairing it yourself. It's almost assuredly just the pump diode, if something was wrong with the crystals it'd be more obvious, I should think.
 
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DJNY

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I guess the YAG crystal may be broken. I see the same behaviour like with my RPL-425.
 
aryntha

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I wonder if that could have happened during cooldown; basically due to it cooling off on its own the crystal cracked.

I'm having Glenn give a go to talking to CNI; Do you guys have any recommendations to minimize (and make life easier) with shipping to China?

I know last time we were taking $150 each way... Say an estimate of $150 each way for shipping plus $200 for repair; $500 to repair a $750 laser, I'm not quite sure if that's the best way to go.

(Yep, looking at UPS estimates I'm showing $146 each way... damn... $300 just in shipping...)

I know Glenn has returned stuff to CNI before; maybe I can send it to him and pay him to do so...

EDIT: Hmm, USPS says $35. Any reason to not go with USPS vs UPS for international?
 
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Trevor

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These symptoms match what happened to my Viasho lab system.

It was the power supply and not the pump. So, if you take it apart, be sure to check the driver first...

-Trevor
 
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