Review of 200mW 532nm Module from Lightscastle

Review of LightsCastle's 200mW 532nm Module!!!

A few weeks ago, Lightscastle contacted me doing a review on one of their products. Having always wanted to do a review like this, I quickly accepted the offer. I took a look through their website, and due to FastTech no longer supplying 532nm modules at higher outputs, I informed LightsCastle that if up to spec, THIS product would be a hot item for hobbyists.


First I would like to discuss shipping time. As this is a chinese based seller, I feel that will be important to everyone here. Here is basically copy paste of what tracking showed...

Shipping Time:
June 11th | Acceptance in Hong Kong
June 13th | Processed through Hong Kong
June 14th | Processed through Burlingame, CA
June 16th | Processed through Austin, TX 78710
June 16th | Departed Austin, TX 78710
June 17th | Arrival at Unit Austin, TX 78729
June 17th | Delivered

So it was 6 days from acceptance. Obviously this was not an actual order, but that gives you an idea of how long it takes once it is out of their hands.

Next I would like to briefly mention the packaging. It was packed very well inside of a brown bubble mailer. The product was wrapped tightly inside of pink bubble wrap.







Now, to all of you who have seen the FastTech 50mW modules which were wildly popular before their removal, these will look very similar. In fact, I would be confident in saying that they are the same circuit board. The parts all have the same markings.









Testing:

Okay, so for testing I used:
The Module (rated 200mW)
1 x 18650 Battery (Panasonic, 3400mAh brand new)
Scientech 365 20W LPM w/ 10W 360001 Calorimeter Sensor

The LPM has a response time of 1-2seconds, so it gave me a very good look into how the laser module is behaving over time. Unfortunately this LPM is not a datalogging LPM, so I used a stopwatch and recorded the maximum and minimum outputs over 1 minute and 15 seconds

Initial output: 87mW
After 30 Seconds: 49mW
After 1 Minute: 15mW
At 1 minute 15 seconds: No measurable output

The module's output dropped at a rate of ~1-1.5mW per second. Wondering why it was so unstable I let it sit for awhile and then reattempted measurements. It was the same thing as before, except this time I kept an eye on the driver and I have a feeling the driver is the cause. It heats up VERY quickly, and I am almost 100% sure that is the cause of the decline.

I looked over the driver board for any signs of soldering errors or shorts, but it looks the same as my working 532nm module. My guess is that maybe the resistor is faulty? Not sure, maybe you lot can jump in on possible causes.

Conclusions:

I believe that were the driver to be in working order, we would see ~80mW from this laser(based on measurements before the driver heats up too much). Of course, we all know that chinese modules can vary widely so mileage may vary, but I think these are the same modules FastTech marketed as 50mW.

Price: The 200mW module is listed for 32 dollars on their site. Were this to be 150mW or more, I would judge this to be a very good deal indeed. I will let the members here decide what they think of this deal.

To wrap up this review, I will leave you with this:






The beamshots were a bit of an afterthought, but I really cannot stand to make a thread without some photons....and it is very relevant....lovely beam

Thanks,
Isaac

PS - If you have anything else you would like to know, shoot me a message and I will get that done for you guys. This was my first review for a company so I tried to give as much detail as possible. Now. I have been holding off on building 4 lasers all day as I have been putting together this review. Now it is time. I will be back shortly to answer any questions

Good honest straight forward review. Thanks Issac :beer: To bad about the output drop

Now build some lasers

~ LB

Isaac

Good review. If you solve the driver stability, imo it is "just in price".

If you're up to, you could desolder the diode from the driver and insert your multimeter in between, and see how much current is being fed into the diode. Maybe it is badly set... or not.
The value should be around... 600mA.

Beware

@wannaburnstuff, GOOD Job.

We do welcome to invite more users here to review our product in professional details to share in LPF like wannaburnstuff.

But only welcome honest reviews here based on the quality of the product, good or bad, it should be honest, based on your experience.

Thanks again, wannaburnstuff, who is the first reviewer for Lightscastle.com in LPF.

Forgot to attach our contact email: marketing@lightscastle.com

What current is it drawing from the cell? Does the current change? If so how much? How hot does it get? What is the current range of the pot? Minimum dropout? Divergence? Beam diameter?

the over heating is because your using to high of voltage! a fully charged 18650 puts out 1.2V higher then these modules need and in return results in heat which kills the output. I know because I had a similar problem with my wallbuy 532nm module, but not as bad, so I dropped my benchtop to 3V and it made a world of difference. http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/mini-review-50mw-green-module-fasttech-80522-13.html#post1197438

what you should do is try a 3V CR123 like a Duracell and see what happens.

also lightscastle.com if you want to send me anything I would be glad to test it out for you and do a in depth review!

I will be back in town tomorrow and I will work on acquiring all the info cyparagon suggested as well as purchasing 3V CR123 batteries and testing them.

I wonder if putting the module in a heat sink would help at all with the output.

If I get it correctly from the pics this module is using a 5.6mm IR pump diode, so this can´t be neither a 200mW nor a 150mW module. All modules above 100mW are generally using 9mm 1W pump diodes. The small 5.6mm diodes are rated 500mW max. so at best efficiency you will get something in the range of 100mW+.

DX was also selling fake 100mW modules labeled as 200mW ones and this seems to be the case here too.

I second what Awillis said. I must own over 50 Fasttech modules by now that I've put in various hosts.
Anyone interested can see a lot of them if you just start going through Nicks labels thread here...
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/holographic-laser-warning-decals-69478.html
I test every one of them and most do not like the extra voltage at all and the output will do exactly what you saw.
Try retesting as Awillis suggests at no more than 3.2V and see what happens. Also. check the IR.
The Fasttech 3V and 5V modules are a steel. I feel like I have to keep reiterating that the 5V modules can "handle" 5V but run the same with the standard voltages that the 3V module does (because I haven't heard of anyone buying them except me but I certainly could be wrong). Think of it as a 3V module that gives you more battery options with no change in output. Fully tested these over and over again with a variable DC power supply so no voltage sag.
Noticed also that I can more easily adjust the pot on the 5V module as it doesn't seem to be so sensitive as the 3V one. I've seen anywhere from 25 to 120mw from either one of them and from about 35 to over 100mw for the single AAA pens that you can easily pull the whole module out of. They have all been < 10% IR and make great builds. Have yet to see anyone elses modules compare for near the price.
They all pretty much use the same basic circuit. Can't beat 5-6 bucks a pop. Don't know if that $32 includes shipping or not and I doubt that they will have anywhere near the customer service. Same money gets you 6 of the Fasttech ones plus free shipping.

Not going to stop saying that I GREATLY apreciate that we are all trying to figure this module business out from differing sources. Good job here Isaac! Got to see if I can rep you again yet.
I got an offer from a company a couple weeks ago I think and didn't respond. Need to take a look at it and see who it is from (I've been really sick guys trying to get my pain meds for my kidneys all figured out and I barely sleep anymore). Got to bear with me a bit as I never feel good now. All those little builds with the modules help me keep distracted from how bad I feel.
Hard to keep my head focused sometimes now but I don't want you all to abandon Fasttech as their 532nm modules are really nice besides for most of the other lasers they offer. The only real difference between the 50mw ones they used to sell and what they have now is the price and the mw range is broader so it's possible to get a week one at 25 or one over 100. Do what I do and buy a bunch and have fun stuffing them in things Even the 25mw one is impressive as the IR is so low the beam looks great
I've bought every single pen one they have but haven't received the green colored one yet. Everyone of them has output just like the modules with one exception so far. The red colored one was the only one that had a lot of IR (somewhere around 40% if I remember correctly). Therefore, I'm expecting the all green one to likely have high IR also. Those 2 different semi-camo looking ones tested at exactly 80 and 100mw and the all silver ones are just like that too.
The only one of the "bigger" units that I have bought were 2 of the 2 AA ones and they were very nice at 75 and 77mw.
Please don't think that I am trying to take over this thread guys! Absolutely not my intent. Just want to help and I don't think I got around to reporting on some of the ones I mentioned.
I did get my Wallbuys module and it put out 121mw installed in the host that is in the last pic on the label thread. Looks like it uses that same board like most of them.
My heads in a fog from almost no sleep and high dose of Fentanyl so grant me some slack if it sounds like I'm rambling....
Thanks again Isaac and let us know anything else you notice or find:wave: Sorry, can't REP you again yet

Pete

K, just looked back in my PM's and the invitation was from the 18th by http://www.budgetgadgets.com/