Laser 303 dimming.

[AngelOfDarkness]

Hello LPF, I am new to LPF, this is my first post here.

I've recently got an Laser 303 from ebay with 18650 battery and charger, it was around $9.99. But when I turned it on, I noticed that it is bright for around 0.5 seconds, but then it starts dimming. I was searching on google about this problem and it said it was a heat problem, and if you warm up the laser with your hands, that it will be bright, but it doesn't help for me.

Does anyone know why this is happening? And maybe how to solve this problem?

 

[H2Oxide]

Hello, and welcome to the forum! If you're thinking about staying I'd recommend making a thread in the "Welcome" section.

Laser 303's are DPSS lasers, which means they turn infrared light into different infrared light and then finally to green light. The process for doing this uses 2 crystals, and they can be very touchy when it comes to temperature. Some like it cold, while others like it warm, it really just depends on the one you got. I'd recommend putting it in the fridge for a few seconds and see if that has any effect on brightness, good or bad.

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

Thanks for your quick reply!

But unfortunately putting it in the fridge doesn't have any effect on the brightness of the laser whatsoever.

But I've noticed something diffrent, when I unscrew the front focussing cap and turn it on, what I seemon the wall is a big green dot, but after around 0.5 seconds the dot is like oval shaped.

 

[crazyspaz]

Yes, because it is a mass produced piece of junk from china. If you want quality, you have to pay for quality.

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

A friend bought the same laser from Dealextreme, they say they sell better one's there. But is there any way I can get my money back, because of a faulty product?

 

[H2Oxide]

Thanks for your quick reply!

But unfortunately putting it in the fridge doesn't have any effect on the brightness of the laser whatsoever.

But I've noticed something diffrent, when I unscrew the front focussing cap and turn it on, what I seemon the wall is a big green dot, but after around 0.5 seconds the dot is like oval shaped.

Sounds like mode hopping to me. You can't really avoid this with low quality lasers.

I have a few 532nm pens that will do the exact same thing. I just treat them like they have really tiny duty cycles, 1 second on, 5 seconds off. It's not great, but it keeps them alive.

Higher quality lasers with better heatsinking usually aren't effected as severely, and diode lasers don't really have this problem. So if you really want a solid laser beam it's going to cost a bit more. :undecided:

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

Yeah I know, but reviews on the laser 301/303 are good, they usally are just good lasers for the price, but mine is faulty. I usally got the 2xaaa battery lasers from ebay, they are cheaper, and even working better than this one. But yeah I don't want to spend alot of money on a laser pointer. I think I will just sell this laser for a few bucks, or ask for a refund from paypal or ebay because of a faulty product.
But then, what are the cheapest good green laser pointers? I don't need the best quality, but I just want a laser which run on a rechargeable battery (and burn some stuff), that's why I bought this laser, the 2xaaa battery lasers drain battery so fast, it costs so many aaa batteries.

 

[mortuus]

yeah those 303 are a gamble, either you get good or you get pure shit... but whats your budget for a decent laser then 50$ or ?

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

I have no idea, but $50 is a little much in my opinion, because the 2xaaa lasers are better than I expected they are. So I think I will just buy one from dealextreme, the one you can pot mod (the most one's from ebay can't), I know the life time of the laser will be shorter, but it is a cheaper choice.

 

[H2Oxide]

I have no idea, but $50 is a little much in my opinion, because the 2xaaa lasers are better that I expected they are. So I think I will just buy one from dealextreme, the one you can pot mod (the most one's from ebay can't), I know the life time of the laser will be shorter, but it is a cheaper choice.

I've had more of the 2xAAA greenies than I can count, and at least half of them have been "faulty" in the way you're describing, not to mention the IR leakage.
Any laser <$50 is a gamble, especially from eBay. Sadly, as crazyspaz said, quality comes at a price.

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

You are totally right. And ebay 2xaaa lasers have cheap modules in them and no pot, but the dealextreme 2xaaa laser have solid brass modules in them with a pot. But the one from dealextreme is double the price from the ebay one, but the dealextreme one comes with a gift box, and sometimes even with batteries.

One thing, do you have a link for the cheapest quality burning green laser pointer?

 

[Laserbeamk]

If you want, you could try out survival lasers. Bunch of great quality lasers at low money I suggest you to build a 1W blue laser first for under 70$ then move on to higher.... Speaking of first laser, Its a risk to fail or success. Im even in danger of breaking my 2W first build. Lmfao

Link: survivallaser.com
USA link: survivallaserusa.com

LASER DIODE LINK: https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/445-m140-didoes

YOUTUBE TUTORIALS:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lE3F7vjYx4U
^^THIS IS ALOT HARDER YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE DIODE IN- Danger! Avoid

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BYuvHFiyfoQ
^^A lot easier build anyone can Accomplish.

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

If you want, you could try out survival lasers. Bunch of great quality lasers at low money I suggest you to build a 1W blue laser first for under 70$ then move on to higher.... Speaking of first laser, Its a risk to fail or success. Im even in danger of breaking my 2W first build. Lmfao

Link: survivallaser.com
USA link: survivallaserusa.com

LASER DIODE LINK: https://sites.google.com/site/dtrlpf/home/diodes/445-m140-didoes

YOUTUBE TUTORIALS:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lE3F7vjYx4U
^^THIS IS ALOT HARDER YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE DIODE IN- Danger! Avoid

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BYuvHFiyfoQ
^^A lot easier build anyone can Accomplish.

I think building one isn't an option, it is all a little bit expensive for me, and buying one is even more expensive...

 

[H2Oxide]

I think building one isn't an option, it is all a little bit expensive for me, and buying one is even more expensive...

Then quite honestly you're out of luck. You can take a gamble on another 303 or one of the eBay pens, but if you're not willing to spend at least $50 then there's not much you can do besides that...

 

[AngelOfDarkness]

Then quite honestly you're out of luck. You can take a gamble on another 303 or one of the eBay pens, but if you're not willing to spend at least $50 then there's not much you can do besides that...

I'll just get a Dealextreme pen and try to get a refund on this laser via paypal or ebay.

 

[TaterMay]

I'll just get a Dealextreme pen and try to get a refund on this laser via paypal or ebay.

With the money you're wanting to spend, this is your only option. Open a return request with eBay. Ship it back, and buy another 303 laser. But be prepared for more disappointment. A 303 laser was my very first laser. It runs just fine, but only measures 25 to 30mW, not enough to burn even the blackest of items. Lol. Unfortunately, with your budget, your only option is buying them and returning them until you (hopefully) get lucky and find one that satisfies you.