Laser Power Measurement Devices....overview !

Okay folks - I would like to see some posts in this thread describing what equipment you currently use to measure a laser's output power. A few basic things like,

To start off with, list any and all meters you used to have, how long you had them, and what your impressions of them were.
Then move on to what your current meter is like..... such as the following :

*Manufacturer (if known) <----you BETTER know !
*How old the meter is (approx)
*What type of meter is it (Optical, Thermopile, TEC based, WAG <----wild assed guess..... etc)
*capabilities of the meter
*HOW you use it
*What you measure (strictly yours, using it as a business - measuring other's lasers, etc....)
*WHY you bought the one that you did

I'll reserve the spot right under this one to tell you my long, sordid story regarding power meters Gotta zip out for about 2 hours, but will return.

I kinda figured this would be a good thread to have, not to simply advertise for our favorite companies, or to slam a jackass, but to assist the MANY forum members that do not have a meter - I think a topic such as this may help them make up their minds what type of meter they want to get eventually, or even figure out if someone NEAR them already has a meter, and wouldn't mind measuring their stuff for them !

Reserving for my stuffs

Long and short of it (will flesh out more later)

Coherent lasercheck -
-bought on fleabay fairly cheap
-was one year old
-optical/silicon sensor
-sold to Timelord when I "upgraded" to a new meter...

Andover Holography LPM-1-
-Total disappointment
-used a silicon SOLAR CELL that was damaged by the first laser I measured, due to cheap plastic ND-8 filter being supplied instead of glass.
-not as accurate as the Coherent was (this was the first generation - hopefully they have improved)
-was described as more versatile, and accurate - not up to expectations, but others do like theirs.
-retired when I got my Die4Thing meter

Die4thing power meter
-TEC based
-1.5 years old (traded "stuff" for it !)
-AWESOME meter - dead on accurate, varies maybe 1% with Coherent Fieldmaster meter !
-meter has a zeroing button, and a power button - TEC based, so can be susceptible to outside temperature fluctuations (never had a problem with it, though !)
-sold to Phoenix77 since he needed a reliable meter
-currently being enclosed by me, in a nice rugged container, since it came as bare components - and is powered by 4 AAA batteries

Kenometer
-Coherent Thermopile head
-Matches accuracy of Die4Thing meter to a T !
-Zeros with a potentiometer
-Manufactured in the Kenom central manufacturing facility in Montana
-Gave to Scopeguy20 since his meter was crap (had to say it, bro !) HATED to let it go, but he needed it worse than I did.

Coherent Fieldmaster II-TO with PM3 Thermal smart sensor
- DA BOMB FROM COHERENT !
-Data logging direct to graphs, and all the bells and whistles
-Easy to use, horridly expensive, but damned fun too !
-Replaced all my former meters, and will NOT be sold
-as with all my meters, I use it to measure lasers I review, make myself, or to measure anyone else's lasers that they want measured.

Cool, I'll go first.
Laserbee LPM (just before the datalogging option) http://www.bauer-electron.com/eby/eby1wlpm.htm
It's less than a year old.
It's a thermopile sensor.
It measures my lasers from 405nm-780nm and measures from 7-1000mW. It doesn't give a reading if the lasers too weak and I've only had 240mW max to test on it so far.
When I use it, I make sure I'm not infront of the heater or antyhing, and as much as possible is out of my hands so it's steady on the table for a reliable reading taken about 4 inches away and I focus the beam so it's "infinite" focus, not burning the sensor or anything.
I just measure all my builds, testing current strengths, etc.
I bought this one cos I had my eye on it for a bit after reading about it on here, and then kenom put one in a box and daguin put it for sale. Choice

nvmextc said:

Cool, I'll go first.
Laserbee LPM (just before the datalogging option) http://www.bauer-electron.com/eby/eby1wlpm.htm
It's less than a year old.
It's a thermopile sensor.
It measures my lasers from 405nm-780nm and measures from 7-1000mW. It doesn't give a reading if the lasers too weak and I've only had 240mW max to test on it so far.
When I use it, I make sure I'm not infront of the heater or antyhing, and as much as possible is out of my hands so it's steady on the table for a reliable reading taken about 4 inches away and I focus the beam so it's "infinite" focus, not burning the sensor or anything.
I just measure all my builds, testing current strengths, etc.
I bought this one cos I had my eye on it for a bit after reading about it on here, and then kenom put one in a box and daguin put it for sale. Choice

Click to expand...

Nice ! I have heard some decent things about the Laserbee recently - but it is still a TEC based sensor, regardless of how it is advertised....but then again, so is the Die4Thing - and all of those I have come into contact with are dead-on accurate ! Excellent choice for a "medium" use or heavy use measurement system.... Have you looked into what it would take to make it loggable ?

My meter, same as ^

- LaserBee
- A month, about.
- I'm pretty sure it's thermopile, though people say TEC
- 5mW to 1000mW, 1mW increments. Any wavelength.
- How I use it? Push the on button, shine a laser at the sensor and read the value
- My lasers, just to know the outputs. I'll be using it more when I start DIY.
- Bought it because it's got a decent rep and it's the cheapest around. And I'm very happy with it


I'd highly recommend the LaserBee. I've got mine with the data logging and everything, and at just $210 USD or something like that it is a great price for the hobbyist. If you sell lasers professionally or need to accurately know the power it might not be so good, but as a hobby meter it's perfect at a reasonable price

I have owned a coherent laser check for 16 months. The model is silicon photocell-based, so wavelength must be selected before taking a measurement in order that an internal correction can be made. It will measure 400-1064nm at powers between 0.001 and 999mW (higher with some engineering/optics skills and basic math) at a resolution of three digits. It has no logging capability. One drawback is substantial residual IR greatly skews a reading. a 20mW green with high IR% content may read as 400mW. It only reads a peak value while the button is pressed. if the power rises and falls, you will see the power rise on the readout, but you will not see it fall. It is the size of a pen, and the batteries are said to last for millions upon millions of readings. I have thusfar only measured my lasers.

The biggest reason I chose this particular model is the company. Coherent manufactures world-class products and this was the cheapest of their models. Additionally it is one of the cheapest meters on the market at less than $400

- Newport Optical Power meter 840C with 818-ST silicon detector.
- a couple of years.
- optical.
- the detector has a built in slide OD3 attenuator and will measure light from 400nm to 1100nm. With this detector the power meter can measure powers from 100pW to 2W, with +2% accuracy.
- usage is pretty easy, select the wavelength you want to measure and shine away. You can select mW or dBm.
- I use it to measure my own lasers.
- this is the best part: I didn't buy it, I have direct access to it at my work. Or I can take it home if I want to, as long as I properly register that.

PDF: http://www.datafilehost.com/get.php?file=d5a52df5

where do you work

Scientech 365 w/ a Scientech 360001 caloriemter (calorimeter is calibrated to this unit)
The 360001 is a surface absorbing thermopile

I'd have to pull it out of the shelf to look at the back to see the manufacture date.

1/100 of a milliwatt to 20 watts

I measure my lasers, my builds, and other peoples for them (just so they know and as a middle man)

It was one hell of a deal on eBay ;D

Peace,
dave

I hope to have a die4thing soon, then I'll be able to measure my lasers & anybody else that needs theirs metered phoenix77/rob

jamilm9 said:

where do you work

Click to expand...

I work for a company that manufactures and sells X-ray analytical equipment.

My current one is a... Kenometer.
I'm hoping to get my grubby mitts on an Andover soon, also.

*Manufacturer: Kenom
*How old the meter is: Less than a year
*What type of meter is it: Thermopile
*capabilities of the meter 1-1000mW, wavelength-independent.
*HOW you use it: Flick the switch, and point the laser at the sensor?
*What you measure: A combination of my lasers and ones that people send to me to have measured.
*WHY you bought the one that you did: It was cheap, and it was good. 'Nuff said.

*Laserbee I with datalogging
*A month or two
*TEC
*5-1050 mW
*Turn it on and shine the laser into the sensor.
*To measure my own DIY lasers.
*It had some good reviews and it was cheap.

This is a great little power meter for the price. Very happy with mine.

Update: (8/17/08) I just picked up a Coherent PowerMax 5200 with a PM3 sensor.

I also have an LPM-1 from DDL's last GB. Andover Holography.

I've had the LPM-1 for about 6 or 7 months I guess...

I bought it just to use for this personal hobby. The ND-8 filter is glass.

Many know that this optical meter does not have a 405nm setting. You have to use a multiplier off of the 473nm setting.

There is a great laser meter comparison in progress right now! Who ever wants in, post in the thread. Lasers will be sent from one member to the next, all data recorded. Trying to get accuracy for blu-ray. We're going to test a red as well. Here's the thread: (sorry for the threadjack, but it is related. We would like you in on this Greg!)
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217029972

Anyway, my LPM-1 seems to be pretty consistent with my builds. I have come to expect a certain power reading per build, and it holds true! I can re-test lasers with the same results.

But now that I have the thermal meter, the LPM-1 will probably not get much use...
Jay

Well, I have a couple meters so I'll post the info for both.

First Meter:
*Manufacturer -- Scientech (Model 364)
*How old the meter is -- No idea, I'll have to check the manufacturing date.
*What type of meter is it - Volume absorbing thermal head
*capabilities of the meter -- The ranges are .3W, 1W, 3W, 10W, 30W, 100W
*HOW you use it -- Zero it out, shine the laser 6" from the sensor and watch the needle
*What you measure -- personal lasers, lasers for other members of the forum, lasers I intend to sell.
*WHY you bought the one that you did -- I got an offer that I couldn't refuse!!


Second Meter:
*Manufacturer -- Scientech (Model 362)
*How old the meter is -- No idea, I'll have to check the manufacturing date.
*What type of meter is it - Volume absorbing thermal head
*capabilities of the meter -- The ranges are .001W, .003W, .01W, .03W, .1W, .3W, 1W, 3W, 10W
*HOW you use it -- Zero it out, shine the laser 6" from the sensor and watch the needle
*What you measure -- personal lasers, lasers for other members of the forum, lasers I intend to sell.
*WHY you bought the one that you did -- Got a super good deal on ebay

Third Meter:

Scientech 365.
It's on its way but I don't have it yet! I'll update this post when I get it.

• DIY
• unknown, but previously owned by forum members LarryQ and xarylx
• Coherent thermopile head similar to those in Kenometer
• Zeroing knob (made less sensitive by myself), 1-2000mW setting (original), 0.1-200mW setting and range switch added by myself. Precision is unknown but it's said to be calibrated using a Nova Alpha125 and to be verified with a Nova X-105, 2x 9V batteries, differential amplifier on PCB, green backlit voltmeter module LCD
• Laser focused@infinity, mounted in vice, aimed at center of meter, not moving my body during measurements, preventing heat from my hands entering the sensor, etc.
• Personal use only
• I badly needed a power meter and it was offered to me on this forum.

When I find the time, I want to interface the meter with a digital voltmeter ISA card I have laying around to start datalogging.