Rayfoss 532nm <150mW Green Laser Torch Review

[erns]

I just received my 532nm <150mW Green Laser Torch from Rayfoss.

From ordering to receiving the Laser took 14 days to Southern California.

Faona was very helpful in answering my emails. The replies were fast.

Cost of the Laser was $98.00 + $6.00 (shipping) = $104.00

The package came shipped in 2 cardboard boxes in a padded envelope.

A rechargeable RCR1213 sized battery came with the laser.

A charger is included.

When the battery is first installed there is an indicator light, it turns red then fully charged the light goes to green. The battery charged to 3.56V fully charged.

The 532nm <150mW Green Laser Torch comes apart in 3 pieces.

Not foucusable.

The rear switch is a reverse clickie.

The +ve anode of the rechargeable battery faces toward the tailcap.

Instructions are included.

I got this reading with my Kenometer.

Burns black electrical tape.

________________________________________


Cons

Not focusable


Pros

Comes with a rechargeable battery and charger.

 

[Jimmymcjimthejim]

Nice review! It's good to see that it's (nearly) up to spec. Have you checked for IR? Your 125mW could be contaminated with a few mW's of IR.

 

[ideas]

nice review, thanx!
great pictures by the way!

 

[phoenix77]

Hey man, nice review. Purty pics, too..........rob

 

[Benm]

Looks nice!

How long does it keep up that power - is it still around 125 mW after 1 or 5 minutes, or does it warm up and decline quickly?

 

[Ash]

Is this one waterproof? I just got a 100mW (similar build) from focalprice.
http://www.focalprice.com/100mW_532nm_Green_Laser_Pointer_Silver_LP084S_8091.html
And, I know mine is water-resistant, and I think it's submersible, but I am a bit hesitant to try it even though it's got o-ring seals.

 

[Kueller]

I ordered a very similar one (<150mW green laser torch #1425) from rayfoss on may 15th that just arrived today.

11 days from clicking submit to my door, but it might've been quicker if I hadn't ordered after they closed on a friday, delaying shipment until monday the 18th. According to the tracking info it was actually in town here in Columbus for sorting on the 23rd, but delivery was delayed to the 26th due to memorial day. With good timing you might be able to get one in about a week. It arrived in a single bubble-wrap envelope, with the charger in it's own box and the laser + goggles in a hard shelled black zip-up glasses case.

Before ordering I'd asked Faona a bit about their 150's via email (power, IR, ect.) and was told that the output would be 135-150mW and they weren't IR filtered. Faona was also kind enough to offer to include a set of goggles free of charge which was great for me since I didn't have any and I've kind of gotten used to not being blind.


A quick disclaimer, the only other green laser I have is an LEDshoppe 50mW, so I'm not an expert by any means ("haha noob" is probably a better description).

I'll start with the host: ****1/2
Matte grey, good heft, threads are smooth, threads and o-rings are lubricated. Rear click-button feels solid, though only time will tell.
The one nit-pick I have is that despite having flat ground spots around the front, and scallops at the rear, the edges that touch a flat surface are completely circular, and it very nearly rolled off my desk the first time I put it down.

On to the optics and beam: ***
The front end-cap lens leaves something to be desired, mine creates a halo of diffuse dots around the main dot as well as a single smaller circle next to the main dot. Luckily the front end-cap is easily removed at which point the extraneous artifacts disappear. For a more permanent solution, remove the front end-cap, turn it over, so you're looking through it in the same direction the beam would shine, and you should see a brass ring. This ring secures the front glass lens, pressed against an O-ring. Simply get a firm hold of the brass ring (forceps worked well for me, you might be able to get by with tweezers, depending on how well-tightened yours is) and turn counter-clockwise to unscrew the brass ring, at which point you can remove the lens (or if you're feeling fancy, put in an IR filter). I just took out the lens and put the brass ring back in place with the Oring still in there in case I ever do decide to put in an IR filter.

Compared to my LEDshoppe 50mW, the Rayfoss beam when it leaves the aperture is smaller in diameter, but by about 70cm away they are equal in diameter and from there the rayfoss dot quickly expands. I'd say Rayfoss's specification of an 18mm dot at 10m is just about right. It seems to be focused for up close burning. And burn it does, trash bags and electrical tape are easily cut. I don't have any balloons or matches on hand unfortunately.

Power: TBD
Hopefully I'll be able to talk someone into taking it over to OSU and putting it in front of an LPM so I have a power estimate better than "damn that's really bright" as my friend put it. Instructions state continuous use should not exceed 30sec. No specific cool down time listed.

Service: *****
Questions were answered quickly, and shipping was faster than I would've expected given the timing of my order.

Value: ****
For $92 (88+4 shipping) I'm very pleased with everything I received.

Edit: Upon further inspection, I find it actually breaks down into 4 parts, with the battery tube separating and giving easy access to the circuit board, and pot.

 

[erns]

Looks nice!

How long does it keep up that power - is it still around 125 mW after 1 or 5 minutes, or does it warm up and decline quickly?

The instructions say do not leave the laser on longer than 1 minute. I didn't leave the laser on very long when I took the Kenometer reading.

 

[erns]

Here are some laser beam shots.

 

[tacomanmcjab]

Is this one waterproof? I just got a 100mW (similar build) from focalprice.
http://www.focalprice.com/100mW_532nm_Green_Laser_Pointer_Silver_LP084S_8091.html
And, I know mine is water-resistant, and I think it's submersible, but I am a bit hesitant to try it even though it's got o-ring seals.

Would you say that it is about 100mw(up to spec)?

 

[nikokapo]

Finally a great review on this laser, have you tried it underwater yet?

I'd like to know the readings with an IR filter in front of it too if you have one, please.


Keep the awesome reviews coming!

 

[erns]

Sorry I don't have an IR filter.

Do you know where I can purchase one?

 

[Ash]

Would you say that it is about 100mw(up to spec)?

I don't have a power meter, but it is definitely brighter than my 50mW, and smokes electrical tape pretty fast.
Here is a video of it under running water:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=treVikuONG8

 

[Benm]

At least its splash proof then, always good for accidents.

What i'm wondering: is the laser module thermally (and electrically) connected to the host, or is it isolated? Very difficult to tell from the pictures, though it seems sub-optimal at best.

 

[nikokapo]

Sorry I don't have an IR filter.

Do you know where I can purchase one?

I think novalasers and optotronics sells them individually for $1.00

 

[Deleted member 8382]

Ask some members here for one. I know some of them will give you one