Mini-review 50mW Green module from Fasttech

Just got 3 of these and they are a joke. Low quality, all three of them have either died or reduced to 5 mw. Touch that pot and youll have a number of problems. 30 bucks down the drain. Max you'll see is most likely under 30 and it isn't going to last long. The 5 dollar Pens I got from them are much better. What was I thinking.

You seem to be the only one with this issue. I imagine you increased the output and reduced the diode to LED. They are probably maxed out when you get them. From some of the other 532 sets I've seen these a really good for the price. You weren't going to squeeze a high powered 532 out of these so why try?

I think the fasttech rush has drained the ore so to speak and we have seen the end. I am just glad I reaped some of the product.

Honestly only one of them did I pot mod because it was noticable lower than the other two. The $5 pen is at least as bright as one of these.. While they worked. Lesson learned. At Least I got a couple nice flashlights and pen lasers that seem in the 50mw range. Not a complete loss. All three modules are in a bag without a single lead attached. Jebus

Well now you have some YVO4 and KTP. I had a dead module I pumped with 6W and melted the crystal

Are those the crystals? I didn't even get a chance to see it without the crystals on it would be infrared no?

Yeah, its an 808 pump. Those modules are nice because they unscrew. I had some cheap pens and had to snap the crystal set off the diode. Was concerned my 808 was not 808 so I put the set in from of it and got 532. What a relief. Cranked up up to see what it could do and had 600mW of 532 on the meter until i saw a drip. Reading jumped to 5 something watts and there was a puddle of epoxy and the crystal face had a melted spot.

hazerkitten said:

Just got 3 of these and they are a joke. Low quality, all three of them have either died or reduced to 5 mw. Touch that pot and youll have a number of problems. 30 bucks down the drain. Max you'll see is most likely under 30 and it isn't going to last long. The 5 dollar Pens I got from them are much better. What was I thinking.

Click to expand...

How far did you push the pot before it failed?

It was very small increments as recommended by blord. They just seemed to cut in and out from 5-30mw.. Even when lowering the pot

I HIGHLY recomend NOT messing with the pot. If you mess with the pot, don't use something conductive. All the ones I've gotten and tried the pot adjustment were allready set to max output and the pot is VERY sensitive and easily adjusted too high. Got lucky with one that I thought had killed and was able to set back. Going to sound stupid but I actually set one to somewhere around 2mw (Ophir isn't accurate at that level) and threw it in a pen host so I can now have a 2mw 532nm pen demonstrate just how bright it is shining it across a very reflective sign that is about 50 feet out my door in full sunlight. Even 2mw of 532 is quite bright and bothers your eyes. It gives me a way to show just how dangerous even low powered lasers can be.
I've purchased an aweful lot of WAY overspec pens and the truth is, it's a scary thought imagining some dad letting their little kids play with what they think is basically harmless.

Have yet to be able to get the 10% code to work on their site but I'm never over $100. End up using the BLF code for 5%.

Did write a quick review on their site on the single aaa pen and requested they sell the black ones (last pic shows that they can come in black). Found that those pens peak higher with a single alkaline than a lithium. Don't seem to apreciate the higher voltage. My 2 units hit 81 and 84mw on start Haven't graphed them out yet or IR tested. They are nasty little units though

Should take a look at what I posted in the Fasttech module voting thread. There's been some "interesting" developments..... also take a look at their site....
Filled in a requested feedback report to them telling them to be careful about potentially switching supliers for the modules we are requesting as the ones they were selling were what we are interested in but would like some higher output modules to also be offered.

Plan on posting a few pics of a couple of the modules I stuck in flashlights I had that I don't use. Have been wondering something for some time now. Is it better to take high resolution shots and then have imageshack convert to a lower resolution or should I just take the lower res. shots to begin with?
In the past, I've just taken pics with my Olympus SP-500UZ when I really should have been using my Canon S3 IS. The Olympus doesn't have any stability/anti-shake setting. However, I also have my Galaxy S3 which is higher resolution but I wouldn't think the optics would be better than the Canon. I'm generally the put it on auto and try to stay steady kind of pic taker. Never really got into figuring it all out which is kind of weird for a guy who reads thru almost every manual for everything he owns... Not trying to derail the flow here. Just looking for a quick uncomplicated answer as easy as possible I realize this could get really complicated for answers. Which camera to use with auto setting and which resolution for it to come out the best for posting purposes (to convert to a lower resolution or not). Much thanks!

Well, here's some pics of what I used for hosts...

This one was from a river rock light. Had to bore it out slightly to get a nice module fit. The tailcap is a momentary press in and constant on when you turn it all the way in. Left the reflector in place. There's no plastic lens in front of it.


This is the one that frankly looks fantastic when on due to the holes in the front all the way around. My pics don't do it justice. It's a heavy host. Drilled a hole exactly over the button. You can see where the hole was for the button for when it was a flashlight. What looks like copper in the hole is copper. Make the module centered and tight with a very thin piece of copper sheet wrapped around the module.



Pic taken just on auto so not a timed exposure.

hazerkitten said:

It was very small increments as recommended by blord. They just seemed to cut in and out from 5-30mw.. Even when lowering the pot

Click to expand...

Did they cut in/out even before the pot was adjusted?

Hazer, I'm sorry you had a lousy time with your modules. I've had success pot modding mine...one super low for my daughter, and a couple super high. I even was sure I killed my pot by turning it several times...but, sure enough, it came back to life!

I'll probably keep messing with them But yeah im down spending Money on China modules. How so companies like laser glow, etc achieve 500mw+ of green?

They arent using chinese low powered modules There is a company that has a really nice one out there that I cant think of at the moment. Maybe someone can chime in with the name.

Big Freakin Modules! I'm not sure what goes into making those things, but I've seen some well over an inch in diameter. DPSS systems are not in my skill set yet.

It's moot for me now, as I am using PL520 diodes!

How much are you getting from your pl520?