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[REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.2 Watt

JohnTheRipper

JohnTheRipper

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This is a WIP review, and the first one I've made.
Better beamshots and (possibly) a video are coming soon!

Pics were resized to a max of 800x800 for your viewing pleasure.

Product Info
Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt
Copper heatsink, Eagle Pair glasses, tripod and charger/batteries.
Approx $250 with LPF discount from Survival Laser Home​

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This is the SL I 445nm 1.1 Watt handheld/portable laser, or as I like to call it, the portable deathray.

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The laser is very well made, and was super easy to put together. I don't have a pic of the shipping box, but it was all extremely well packed, and all delicate components were well protected by bubble wrap.

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The laser came with these Juice batteries, I charged them up and haven't fully drained them yet (I've been careful and have only used it a bit so far :can:).

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Charger, which is nothing special. Works well.

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Safety is very important with this extremely dangerous class IV laser. Survival Laser included a few safety pamphlets with the laser, which covered the basics of class IV laser safety. As for the glasses, they reduced the dot at close range from "the sun" to "red dot". They appear to reduce it to roughly what my 1mw red pointer's dot looks like. I'm still working on the focusing, as I can't really focus the laser with it on, due to a small focus ring and my largish fingers (I ordered the extended focus ring yesterday to fix that).

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Just a quick shot of the beam, I'll try to shoot some nice ones outside tonight. Inside isn't quite dark enough, and I don't want to burn my stuff!

Pros

- Well made

- Lots of power for the price

- Easy to put together

- Fast shipping in the US

- Very affordable

- Great customer service (Garoq answered all my questions promptly, and the sale was done painlessly through PayPal)

- Very small and portable

- Nice host

Cons

- Stock focus ring is a little short (I'll see how the extended one does)

- No safety features (key, delay, etc). However, it's easy to put batteries, tailcap and body in 3 places, which renders it safe.
​

<<I'll put a video here later when I have some time to shoot one>>

So, I know this was a little short as far as most reviews go, but I'm very happy with this laser.

5 out of 5 stars!​
 
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Kmor2004

Kmor2004

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

I've got one of those kits as well they are nice, but as far as your cons go, they are understandable, however the stock focus ring is beyond stock it's factory stock, since it's the same focus ring included with EVERY aixiz housing, so without a custom on or the extended option thats what you're gonna get, it gets the job done though.

The saftey features...yep they'd be nice but we're talking about a kit designed by an entrepanure hobbyist (Garog is a great guy with great products) for hobbyists so he's trying to make them as inexpensive as posible for him to get parts and rom a hobbyists point of veiw, to purchase, that and if you notice 99% of the lasers made by hobbyists here don't have a delay or key.
 
JohnTheRipper

JohnTheRipper

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Kmor2004 said:
I've got one of those kits as well they are nice, but as far as your cons go, they are understandable, however the stock focus ring is beyond stock it's factory stock, since it's the same focus ring included with EVERY aixiz housing, so without a custom on or the extended option thats what you're gonna get, it gets the job done though.

The saftey features...yep they'd be nice but we're talking about a kit designed by an entrepanure hobbyist (Garog is a great guy with great products) for hobbyists so he's trying to make them as inexpensive as posible for him to get parts and rom a hobbyists point of veiw, to purchase, that and if you notice 99% of the lasers made by hobbyists here don't have a delay or key.
Click to expand...

True, true... I ordered the extended focus ring yesterday, just saying that the stock one is a little short. I was just trying to find anything to put as a con, as there's not much bad about this laser.

Safety-wise, I'm fine with this, but it's a critical point in this day and age with laser injuries on the rise. Again, I was just looking for something to put as a con, I personally feel that it's fine how it is.
 
regalis

regalis

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Nice first review!
If i would search for a con the first thing which would cross my mind would be the address printed on the host ;)
 
A

Anatomy

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Wow that looks quite nice, do you have a lpm to test the output? I might pick one up, as I have yet to buy my first 445nm laser.
 
JohnTheRipper

JohnTheRipper

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

regalis said:
Nice first review!
If i would search for a con the first thing which would cross my mind would be the address printed on the host ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I don't mind the branding, as I think it's fine.


Anatomy said:
Wow that looks quite nice, do you have a lpm to test the output? I might pick one up, as I have yet to buy my first 445nm laser.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't have a LPM, but Garoq claims to test all diodes before packaging to +/-100mw of 1100mw. From using it, I'd estimate that is correct.

It's quite a nice laser!
 
A

Anatomy

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Sweet thanks :drool:
 
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Kmor2004

Kmor2004

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

I'd wager He might be getting the diodes from DTR (not sure) but if it is where he get's his 445's from I can vouche for 1100 +- 10%.
 
A

Anatomy

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Well, I decided to make this one my first 445nm. Just ordered today with extended focus and copper module/heatsink. Soo excited :D Thanks again for the review John :thanks:
 
Garoq

Garoq

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Re: [REVIEW] Survival Lasers I 445nm 1.1 Watt

Kmor2004 said:
I'd wager He might be getting the diodes from DTR (not sure) but if it is where he get's his 445's from I can vouche for 1100 +- 10%.
Click to expand...

Actually we harvest our own. :) Most lately have been metering 1,100-1,200mW, with a few higher. Nothing ships as a standard unit under 1W, and I recently tested a slightly underspec one (~985mW) that I'm thinking of putting on sale.
 
JohnTheRipper

JohnTheRipper

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—UPDATE—

I went to the local university's physics department and metered my lasers with this: http://www.coherent.com/downloads/LMC2009_catalogRevA_2.pdf

It only goes up to 1W, but told me my laser was metering at roughly 900mw. The max it is supposed to show is 999mw, and I was seeing <900mw. Now I am not sure if it's the meter or the laser, but it appears that it **might** be slightly underspec.

I noticed that the "LaserCheck" reflected some of the laser's beam, so that may have caused this problem.

I chatted with Bob (the computer/electronics specialist for the physics department there who was doing this for me), and I mentioned LaserBees to him, and he expressed some interest in them (since the other meters they had were both expensive and/or 1064nm only), and I told him to look here for them.

Anyways, I'm not sure of what exactly this one is putting out, but I do know exactly what my other lasers are emitting, so that's good.

Still very satisfied with this laser and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this.
 
Garoq

Garoq

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Every standard SL-1 unit that goes out the door is metered with a LB II and is guaranteed over 1W with the stock lens and specified fully-charged batteries. I have also cross-checked the accuracy of my meter with another member's LPM.

The one 985mW module I mentioned above was sold at a discount to a member here with full disclosure.

Batteries, lenses and test temperature can affect the measured output power, as well as the accuracy of the power meter and how much of the beam is captured within the sensor area.
 
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JohnTheRipper

JohnTheRipper

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Garoq said:
Every standard SL-1 unit that goes out the door is metered with a LB II and is guaranteed over 1W with the stock lens and specified fully-charged batteries. I have also cross-checked the accuracy of my meter with another member's LPM.

The one 985mW module I mentioned above was sold at a discount to a member here with full disclosure.

Batteries, lenses and test temperature can affect the measured output power, as well as the accuracy of the power meter and how much of the beam is captured within the sensor area.
Click to expand...

Then I'm pretty sure that the LPM is at fault, as it isn't equipped for over 1W and showed problems with that power. Not to mention the reflections.

Thanks!
 
Garoq

Garoq

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JohnTheRipper said:
Then I'm pretty sure that the LPM is at fault, as it isn't equipped for over 1W and showed problems with that power. Not to mention the reflections.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

No problem, I just wanted to clarify for the benefit of new members etc. :)

In speaking with other customers, smoke or soot on the lens can also cause a power loss. :eg:
 
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