PL-E Pro 4W (focusable) 445nm review

I initially described the 532nm RPL used for brightness comparison as 500mW, but I now believe it is more like 250mW of 532nm. based on some testing, my RPL's output is down, I believe it was also this way when the pics were taken. so sorry If I made anyone think 4W of 445nm was that bright in comparison. I would say it's around (but not exactly, IDK) twice as bright as 1500mW of 445nm. 4W of 445nm is still not impressive in the day, unless it's really foggy or dusty.

the 1W 638nm comparison is valid, so is the 532nm, just apply 250mW, not 500mW.

I updated OP to reflect this

I have one of these in 2W and I love the thing! The only trouble I have with it is that the batteries don't hold a charge for very long with it and then it isn't as powerful. Wish I had the outlet adapter or a second set of batteries and a second charger.

so while trying to adjust the BE, I overtightened the adapter into the front. please dont do this. it got stuck and I had to use a drill to remove it. nearly damaged my pro's head. needed a replacement adapter, emailed grey. he hooked me up fast. he hooked me up with TWO new BE adapters, as well as another small green case and some caps for the BE which don't really stay on that well but were a nice touch, thanks grey. he sent them before I even paid. he asked for only half the sum, $12, bu I insited on giving them at least $28.

I like my BE and hate it at the same time. Since I ordered it and my laser at the same time I figured they would already be adjusted for each other. It was clipping the beam really bad. Then I figured out it is adjustable

So I take it off and use an adjustable spanner wrench to loosen it up so it will move. Put it back on and get it adjusted. Now my spanner wrench is too thick to tighten it up installed on the laser. If they aren't going to send it already adjusted to the laser why don't they include a spanner wrench to loosen and tighten the adjustment ?

Am I doing something wrong ?

I got it adjusted so it wasn't clipping the beam, but no matter what combination of laser/BE focus adjustments I do, it still creates a splash off to one side. Is there some way to adjust that out ?

The tail cap it came with was bad right out of the box, luckily I had a spare that Grey had sent me with a previous purchase. I don't run the extension tube on it because I have the black host and where the extension tube meets the host there is no kind of transition for the two pieces to make a smooth transition, to make matters worse the end of the extension tube is raw aluminum instead of black and stands out.

Since I'm not running the extension tube that leaves me with 18350's or 16340's to power it with. I have a pretty good selection of batteries. 18350's won't even let me screw the tail cap on all the way and it puts dents in every protected 16340 I have tried in it.

What am I doing wrong ? The only combination I have found that works is one unprotected 16340 and one protected 16340. That seems crazy to me.

You can imagine what the runtime is with a 4w running off 2 16340's .

Sorry to hear about the BE, glad Grey got you fixed up !

strange, my extension tube is fine, great. sure you have them in the right order? they are not interchangeable, one must be on the main body and the other screwed into it I believe. pretty sure anyway. look at my pics and see if my knurling matches yours.

what i found useful for centering the BE (it is kind of a PITA) is this. defocus the laser all the way, to get the focal point. then put on the BE. it results in a smaller bar coming out of the BE, which is much easier to center, as it does not fill the BE lens's surface. simply by looking at the BE, at an angle and with safety glasses naturally. I tighten the adapter until I can just barely move it, then do the above, when I have it centered tighten it the rest of the way, just not too much or you'll be where I was. the adapters are difficult to loosen when tight, I needed an oil filter wrench rubber gripper thingy

once the BE is centered (on mine it's over all the way to one side on the adapter), you can remove it and set the PL-E pro to infinity, then replace the BE. worked for me, it's pretty well centered

Nice build. Looks a bit like the arctic. King Kong batteries?

unprotected king kong, yes. the PL-E pro is way bigger than the arctic. I actually think the rifle hosts look more like the arctics

May I ask how much this laser costed you? And are you satisfied with the price?
:thanks:

it was not cheap, around $700 including the expander. the diode is very expensive, or it'd have been less. I love it.

Glad to hear you love it thats a very good laser

Thats a great review...
This Laser looks INSANE :gun:

Just a (maybe dumb question) : In YOUR experience, will a 600mw 532nm laser be still brighter, and go further, than this 4W monster?

I know the graph thing, etc etc.. but i would like to hear your real life experience!

a 532nm 600mW laser would likely have better divergence, and go farther, without diverging as much. every photon travels until it strikes something, so technically they both go the same distance, one is just more divergent. the BE greatly improves divergence on this 445 as my review shows, making it a more even match. naturally a BE on the 532 will help it too, a BE on both and the 532 is the winner again

which is brighter? well, according to this

Beam: (445nm 4000mw) vs. (532nm 600mw)

the 532 is. at these high powers, I call them all "bright as hell"

cooooooooooool...

:lasergun:

I'm updating the OP [IN BRACKETED, BOLD RED LETTERS] to let potential buyers become aware of some new features of the PL-E pros. some of the changes made negate some of the few grievances I had, so I figured I better.

It's almost as if grey read my review, and gave my feedback to the development people, to improve the design. who knows? maybe that's what happened. gotta love evoloution

I'll review the 1W 520 soon