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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

I think my old greenie is going to kick the bucket...

mfo

mfo

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Well, I've had this since late 2001/ early 2002. I paid $120 for it back then. It's a 5mW eBay laser. I am still in love with it to this day. Lately however it's been acting strange. It seems the power fluctuates. Sometimes it looks normal, sometimes it looks weak and today when I looked at it (inside) I noticed a red dot. I immediately stopped looking at it and now it seems this thing don't have an IR filter. I'm not worried about damage or anything like that as I know this thing is a weak piece of junk but what could be causing the laser to do this? The button getting corroded over the years? Dying diode? :(
 





Tech_Junkie

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All of the above I would imagine. Take it apart and clean all the contacts. Mine started to die, I cleaned some of the contact points and it works like new.
 
mfo

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Tech_Junkie said:
All of the above I would imagine. Take it apart and clean all the contacts. Mine started to die, I cleaned some of the contact points and it works like new.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how to get it apart. I mean the top looks like it separates from the host some how...but I'm guessing it's super glued on there. Any tips for removing it you can offer? I'm scared to use heat because it may damage the lens.
 
D

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if you see red inside you're seeing the IR. The crystals could have died.

Beware with this, you should already know that a 5mW green laser is using a way higher IR diode to pump the crystals. If it's all going out you could have damaged your eyes already...
 
mfo

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Hallucynogenyc said:
if you see red inside you're seeing the IR. The crystals could have died.

Beware with this, you should already know that a 5mW green laser is using a way higher IR diode to pump the crystals. If it's all going out you could have damaged your eyes already...
Click to expand...

I'm aware of this. Also I didn't look directly into it. You know when you point a laser towards you, but not directly into you how you can see the edge of the brightness where the light is coming from? That's how I observed the red. The crystals aren't dead, as it emits 532 when ever it feels like which is making me think it's a conductivity issue. I need to figure out how to get this thing apart without mangling it. What kind of glue is usually used to keep these things together?
 
D

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If it's the same than the new wish ones, you're f***ed up xD I've tried to take them a part but hell, it's like if they glued it with cyanocrilate...
 
mfo

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Hallucynogenyc said:
If it's the same than the new wish ones, you're f***ed up xD I've tried to take them a part but hell, it's like if they glued it with cyanocrilate...
Click to expand...

Well if it's cyanocrilate then I'm not even going to bother. Perhaps I will attempt to use a pipe cleaner from the battery end or something. I will upload pics later when I am not so lazy.
 
daguin

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It just sounds like dirty contacts. Clean (de-oxidize) ALL of the contacts (spring, threads, rear battery contact). You can glue a small piece of sandpaper on the end of a pencil to get to the "deep" parts.

Also, remove the foam "ring" (if there's one there) to see if the driver board has "flexed" down away from the button. If so, put something (non-conductive) under it to hold it up firmly.

Peace,
dave
 
mfo

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daguin said:
It just sounds like dirty contacts. Clean (de-oxidize) ALL of the contacts (spring, threads, rear battery contact). You can glue a small piece of sandpaper on the end of a pencil to get to the "deep" parts.

Also, remove the foam "ring" (if there's one there) to see if the driver board has "flexed" down away from the button. If so, put something (non-conductive) under it to hold it up firmly.

Peace,
dave
Click to expand...

Will give that a shot later. The button may also be shot. It seems if I push the button down harder, it works better.
 
RA_pierce

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What kind of laser is it? If it's a Newwish type, those are easy to take apart.
It sounds like it may be a contact issue. If you do get it apart, clean the battery contact points, check the diode solder joints, and power it up to see if the switch is working properly. Check for possible shorts, and make sure the driver doesn't bend when the button is pressed. If nothing works, it's most likely a dead pump diode.

Edit: Dave already mentioned it.
If you need to replace the button, you can find switches in many electronic devices. I take them from Wal-Mart LED + laser pointers and broken computer monitors.
 
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daguin

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mfo said:
Will give that a shot later. The button may also be shot. It seems if I push the button down harder, it works better.
Click to expand...

That is a definite symptom of the driver board flexing down away from the button.

Peace,
dave
 
mfo

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daguin said:
That is a definite symptom of the driver board flexing down away from the button.

Peace,
dave
Click to expand...

Thanks once again Dave. Upon looking into the barrel of this laser, the driver board does move down a tad when I push the button. I'd really love to get this thing apart but I don't want to risk breaking it, although I'm at the point where I have nothing to lose with it. I will try to wedge something in there to see if that remedies it. No clue as to what to use though.
 
mfo

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Update: I decided to see how much current was being drawn from this laser when I pushed the button. When I did, it measured about 240mA. When I pushed the button a little harder it shot up to 275~280mA. So I guess either my button is shot, or like Dave said the board is sagging.
 
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