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FrozenGate by Avery

DIY Laser Power Meter Interface Module

I have one of Kenom's meters, and I'm interested in being able to interface with computer. Is there still a possability in another order?If so where do I sign up, and how difficult will it be to add or modify my meter.Also I noticed that you can't buy the thermal power head from the ebay link posted previously. Wher can you buy them if I wanted to build another meter?
 





I'm afraid you can't buy another thermopile. It was a very limited supply from the start. Be happy you have the one meter.

Adding the interface means soldering the components to the board, making a hole in the enclosure for the RS232 connector and soldering a few wires from the interface board to the batteries and the original meter output (where the LCD is connected).

Shouldn't be too hard if you built the meter.
 
Thank's for the respons. Kenom built the meter, but I might be willing to try and figure out whats what inside the enclosure. Unless you think it would be to hard, since I did not build it. I have no problem building my own drivers, but I know that this is a lot more complicated than a regulator, pot,resistores,capacitor,and silicone diodes.If you think its worth a try, is there going to be another buy of boards and components? Thank's again!
 
DREW8110 said:
Thank's for the respons. Kenom built the meter, but I might be willing to try and figure out whats what inside the enclosure. Unless you think it would be to hard, since I did not build it. I have no problem building my own drivers, but I know that this is a lot more complicated than a regulator, pot,resistores,capacitor,and silicone diodes.If you think its worth a try, is there going to be another buy of boards and components? Thank's again!
Click to expand...


If you want to try it and let us all now your results, I'll sell you a kit that I saved for myself. Personally, I think it would be a piece of cake to modify one of Kenom's meters. It uses the same output signal and the interface board is compatible with the +/- 12V power supply he uses. It should only be a matter of identifying the signal, ground and power supply wires and tapping into them.

PM me if you're interested...
 
DREW8110 said:
I have no problem building my own drivers, but I know that this is a lot more complicated than a regulator, pot,resistores,capacitor,and silicone diodes.
Click to expand...

When you have a factory made PCB, soldering the components to it is very easy. Much easier, than wirewrapping circuits together.

If you can make a driver, you can solder the components to the PCB and add the few wires. To make sure you wire it to the meter correctly, ask Kenom where the power connections are, the measurement connections go to the same place as the display.
 
Knimrod..

If i want to use the second channel for plotting the current vs. power, i just need to run it through the shunt on the interface board, right? (Sig2 -> Gnd)

Does it matter if the laser is running off a separate power supply?


Guess i need to find place for a socket on the enclosure, for easy access..
 
IgorT said:
Knimrod..

If i want to use the second channel for plotting the current vs. power, i just need to run it through the shunt on the interface board, right? (Sig2 -> Gnd)

Does it matter if the laser is running off a separate power supply?


Guess i need to find place for a socket on the enclosure, for easy access..
Click to expand...


That's pretty much it. You should use a seperate supply but you will need to make the grounds common. The ground for your external supply will need to be connected to the ground of the interface and the ground of the part you're measuring will need to go on top of the shunt.
 
Knimrod, thanks for the offer, I sent you a pm, and thank's for the responses. Kenom, if you read this, will you mind if I call you with some questions? I'd appreciate a heads up on what to look for if I open it up. Or whether you think I shpuld try this?
 
I have all the bits of the kits up and running just fine. The DVM set at 2vdc works a treat , but the P/C interface seems ....well   very jumpy in it's readings. Very sporadic. Cap installed as per instrucutions on the amp....what gives? It does read the output from the meter. I like it a lot if I can figure out what is going crazy besides me....May be a gain adjustment in the software? :-?
 
May have a look at the signal with the scope.....cap may be a tantilum..for the amp ic stability....might need to change out to a mylar or ceramic unit. I built the amp from parts on hand here.
 
Hi Nimrod,
I just got back on to the forum page....
All my messages are gone including my last posts as well as my Login
Name and Password... I had to re-registered.

Before the site went down... you offered to sell me the last Interface Kit
that someone didn't pay for.
I responded by asking where and how to pay you.
I definitely want it... money is ready.
Thanks for the offer.
 
Is it possible to still get one of these interface boards and programmed pics? I've come across a couple of the boards with the thermal power meter heads, along with the sensor amp board. Before I build this, I'd just like to see if I can add the interface board or not.

Thanks!
 
DZ said:
I've come across a couple of the boards with the thermal power meter heads, along with the sensor amp board.
Click to expand...
:o :o :o :o
you may just want to auction off those heads!
(you will be asked to sell them)
;-)
DanQ
 
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