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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Review: Laserlands 520nm 5mw pointer

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Mine just got here, I'm bumping this instead of posting another review because I'm not good at taking pictures and no one likes pictureless reviews ;)

It's well built, has a nice plastic tube inside the host to avoid rattling batteries.

LPMs at 8mW, quite stable.

Wavelength is between the other 520nm I have (which uses a PL520 diode) and a 532nm, confirmed by diffraction grating. It looks like pure green to me, while my other 520nm has a more bluish hue. The difference is clear even to non-laser people. Seems like these diodes have a lot of WL variation.

It's definitely a 3.8mm diode, which excludes the PLT5 510. The manufacturer states it's an Osram diode, which leaves PL520 and PL515 as candidates. If that's correct it should be able to do 30-50mW without issues. The driver has a pot, maybe it's pot-moddable. Not sure how hard it'd be to remove the driver, it's not clear how the "module" is attached to the host. Has anyone tried pot-modding one?
 
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It's definitely a 3.8mm diode, which excludes the PLT5 510. The manufacturer states it's an Osram diode, which leaves PL520 and PL515 as candidates. If that's correct it should be able to do 30-50mW without issues. The driver has a pot, maybe it's pot-moddable. Not sure how hard it'd be to remove the driver, it's not clear how the "module" is attached to the host. Has anyone tried pot-modding one?

I know this thread is 2 months old but I'm curious to see if anyone has tried pot modding one :) I am thinking about buying one and I would like to know if I could increase the power of it. I know pot modding is bad for your laser but it sounds like the diode in it should easily handle high powers. Has anyone tried pot modding theirs?
 
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Just checked with mine, yes you CAN. Very hard to get to the pot though, had to bend a paperclip out straight and then angle the tip to catch the side of the pot to spin it. Visually appears to be putting out ~50-60mW now (too lazy to set my meter up atm) Will set it up later and take some current draw/power readings.
 
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Just checked with mine, yes you CAN. Very hard to get to the pot though, had to bend a paperclip out straight and then angle the tip to catch the side of the pot to spin it. Visually appears to be putting out ~50-60mW now (too lazy to set my meter up atm) Will set it up later and take some current draw/power readings.
Ok thank you! I will definitely be getting one then. I look forward to the LPM reading.
 
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Missed this thread back when it was first posted as I was recuperating from surgery. Thanks for the review Razako.
 
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Ok thank you! I will definitely be getting one then. I look forward to the LPM reading.

I do have to warn, it was a royal pita to turn the pot and not very precise at all. Let me find my Li-Po pack and set up my LPM.


EDIT: Got my LPM set up, it got to 31mW and is holding steady there with no noticeable heat output. And this is why you can't judge laser power by brightness lmao. Still a huge jump up and I may turn the pot a little further and try to get a solid 50mW out of it.

RE-EDIT, I got it to 41mW and that seems to be about it and as far as I am willing to push it. Seems to hold steady there. No promises on longevity though not knowing the diode.
 
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I do have to warn, it was a royal pita to turn the pot and not very precise at all. Let me find my Li-Po pack and set up my LPM.


EDIT: Got my LPM set up, it got to 31mW and is holding steady there with no noticeable heat output. And this is why you can't judge laser power by brightness lmao. Still a huge jump up and I may turn the pot a little further and try to get a solid 50mW out of it.

RE-EDIT, I got it to 41mW and that seems to be about it and as far as I am willing to push it. Seems to hold steady there. No promises on longevity though since it may very well be the PLT-5 510nm diode.

Ok. Thank you for the info :)
 
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Since I found this thread i bid on one of these lasers for auction by Laserlands and just won and paid $17.00 for one. Not a bad deal as they are currently going for $23.00 and change.
 
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Since I found this thread i bid on one of these lasers for auction by Laserland and just won and paid $17.00 for one. Not a bad deal as they are currently going for $23.00 and change.

Really? Dang. I was going to bid during the last 20 seconds but my paypal wasn't linked to my eBay so I couldn't bid... :( I guess I'll have to add a little more money to my paypal to buy one full priced.
 
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Really? Dang. I was going to bid during the last 20 seconds but my paypal wasn't linked to my eBay so I couldn't bid... :( I guess I'll have to add a little more money to my paypal to buy one full priced.

Unless you are just in a hurry to get this laser, you could wait....another auction will start again soon. Let everyone know you are bidding on it so you can reduce the risk of someone here bidding against you. :D
 
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Unless you are just in a hurry to get this laser, you could wait....another auction will start again soon. Let everyone know you are bidding on it so you can reduce the risk of someone here bidding against you. :D

Oh cool. I didn't know that they would put up another auction. Thank you!
 
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i'll try to get one in the auction too,i still dont have a 520nm laser,thanks for all the info on this laser :)
 
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They usually have an auction every few days, so if you miss out winning one, there is most likely another one coming. I got two NDB7576 diodes for about $20.00 each by bidding on auctions and only winning if the price was right. These diodes go for $50.00 each on DTRs website.
 
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They usually have an auction every few days, so if you miss out winning one, there is most likely another one coming. I got two NDB7576 diodes for about $20.00 each by bidding on auctions and only winning if the price was right. These diodes go for $50.00 each on DTRs website.

that was very cheap for this diodes,nice.i guess it was in older times because i remember i saw those diodes in auction and i got one too but i cant remember the price.i still have it sitting w8ting for a build :crackup:
 
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FYI, these lasers have a lot of wavelength variation. A friend of mine also got one and the color is considerably bluer than mine.
 
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FYI, these lasers have a lot of wavelength variation. A friend of mine also got one and the color is considerably bluer than mine.

Very interesting, Atomicrox. I plan on measuring mine with my spectrometer at the low power setting, then again after pot modding.
 




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