Sanwu Spiker Series lasers: 1 Watt 520nm and 638nm

[paul1598419]

I took off the tailcap and completed the circuit with the meter. Just checked again with a different meter and got around .5 amps again. Soft start at around .3 amps and gradually ramps up to .5 after a few seconds.

This will give you the current the driver is pulling, but not the current that the diode is pulling. They are two different animals.

 

[Razako]

This will give you the current the driver is pulling, but not the current that the diode is pulling. They are two different animals.

All true. I was simply using the current pulled by the driver to determine how many watts the laser pulls from the batteries. 2 4.2V 18650's in series=(8.4V)(.5amps)=4.2 watts total. The laser is supposed to put out 1 Watt worth of light and that leaves a little over 3 watts of waste heat to be dissipated by both the diode and the driver. Idk the exact proportions.

 

[Pman]

A magnet would work fine. I'm sure the 520nm would appreciate the better cells. They voltage won't sag as much besides the obvious longer run time since you really like your on cycle.
I'm curious as to what you do with it on that long? Are you trying burning experiments or something?
Hmm, never thought of my lasers as outputting " " W worth of "light". Sounds odd to me.

 

[Isaac Clarke]

Dear sir ....

Your laser is dangerous even when it is off.....please don't swing the Spiker around in door or at anyone with in arm reach..:crackup:

 

[ElectricPlasma]

Those are really nice looking and you don't see many units being sold with an unlimited duty cycle. I'm way beyond cautious when I t comes to duty cycle. I've never ran any of my lasers long enough to even come close to its cycle limit. Kind of paranoid about it I suppose but unless i'm taking a picture I've never had the need to keep one on long
I would HIGHLY suggest you buy much better batteries for them. Does Sanwu ship with those? Everything I've seen from Sanwu has appeared to be top quality. I've been tempted everytime I look at their stuff. Has anyone bought that Saber attachment piece yet? I did buy a couple of their lenses and a tripod.
What lens came with the ones you bought? Can you easily change them to a 3-element?

Sanwu claims an unlimited duty cycle, which I believe is just temperature regulation. Sanwu does not ship with batteries, as a customs dodge. Much, MUCH less likely to get seized by customs w/o batteries.

I ordered their 3x BE, 3W silver w/G2 lens, and the Saber piece. Received a defective laser from them, but they are happily sending out a replacement for me after I sent them the defective unit. The BE is very high quality, simple, and to quote Apple: "It just works".:crackup: Love the Saber attachment too, looks VERY bright when attached to a 1W+ laser of any wavelength. For 10$, what a bargain

I'll be covering everything I ordered in detail in a review once I end up getting the replacement... Podo hasn't shipped it out yet.

 

[Razako]

A magnet would work fine. I'm sure the 520nm would appreciate the better cells. They voltage won't sag as much besides the obvious longer run time since you really like your on cycle.
I'm curious as to what you do with it on that long? Are you trying burning experiments or something?
Hmm, never thought of my lasers as outputting " " W worth of "light". Sounds odd to me.

The 520nm has quality Efest 26650 cells. It's the 638 that's using the crappy trustfire cells.

Honestly I was just testing the duty cycle of the 638nm. Don't really have a practical application for that long of a runtime, but it's nice not needing to really worry about the duty cycle. I suppose you could use it for extended sessions of wood burning or as a portable lab laser.

 

[Geeker]

Very impressive host. Thanks for reviewing.

 

[Razako]

Slight update. I modified the tailcap on the 638 so it can use the shorter unprotected 18650's now. Other than that slight complaint I'm very happy with these lasers.

 

[Cel]

Nice lasers! :beer:

I really like the 2x26650 host design!

 

[Razako]

Nice lasers! :beer:

I really like the 2x26650 host design!

Yes indeed. I've since bought one of the 3W 445nm spikers in that design. Works great as usual.