Help if you can

[Mr Siz]

hey guys, laser newb here. just received my "200mW" laser from a fancy looking china based website. after about an hr of entertainment, the bright beam and laser point has turned dim. im not sure how to explain it, but its like the laser isn't "focused" the beam is scattered. there is a top cap that would focus the beam, but when it was working there was still a pronounced point on the wall with visible beam. now the laser wont shine bright on a wall more than 2 feet away from me.

battery is fully charged never had the laser on for more than 20 seconds at a time

this pic was when it was working perfect

this is after it became "unfocused" with the actual focusing cap

top cap removed. when the laser was fine, with this cap off it was like a green flashlight, still had it brightness 30+ feet. now not so much, its all spread out like a big circle and dim

top cap removed inside look

im sending emails to the company I purchased from, but they are already giving me the run around, rather than wait another 25 days for me to return and then another 25days to receive I want to see what you guys think. in the last picture there is some sort of plastic looking cap or lens, could that have partially melted and caused my current problems? is it safe to just remove? any help will be appreciated.

 

[vortish]

I would say that you got burned! What Chinese site did you buy from. If you are going to buy a 200 dollar laser there are more reputable sites out there than those cheap sites

 

[Mr Siz]

I didn't spend $200 on it, not even $35 with shipping. the site is laserpointerpro.com I only went for it bc it was cheap (yea I got what I paid for) I didn't exactly do my homework either when searching for a laser. I have a small budget, is there a way to just fix this? the company asked if I would take a new battery to try it out. I said no I want a new unit or refund. I knew the site was a bit sketchy, great prices with 0 reviews on 99.9% of there products was my 1st red flag, but I gave them a shot. my wife is already nagging that I spent money and it doesn't work, I wish they could send me another and then I can return the broken one in the return package they send, but I know that wont happen. they probly want me to send it back and then they say I broke it from misuse and then ill never hear from them again -_-

 

[Eudaimonium]

I have no idea what could cause this sort of power loss in a green laser, honestly. If they crystals got mis-aligned, you wouldn't be getting any green out. If the lens were to go misaligned, you'd get weird shapes and weird beam focus, but not like this.

If you're up for some DIY and improvisations, you can always try replacing the green module with new one. Or just grab a new greenie if not.

In any event, lately I've been recommending GearBest website, check it out. Nice collection of flashlights, lasers, batteries and modules.

GearBest - Gadgets & Electronics Deals

If you want higher end stuff and are looking to spend some more dollars, you can grab a laser from one of the members here, I recommend Blord, or scope out some websites owned by members here,
BitLasers
Survival Laser International Home

 

[Mr Siz]

im down for some DIY. I am a hands on kind of guy, Automotive Technician by trade, but I like to know what im doing before I start a project. can you point me to a good guide or video for building a laser. like I said im a complete newb.

heres another picture to show how bright it still is

heres some of the circuit's not sure if this helps with what I should do with this

 

[gozert]

Just try another battery like the company said, even if it wouldn't do anything for sure. Then ask for a replacement unit or open a dispute (assuming you bought it using paypal).

 

[Eudaimonium]

Yeah it's really not bright at all.

Hmm, that is some weird green module, never seen anything like that before. Most common are 11mm brass modules, for example:
532nm 50mW Laser Diode Module Green Beam Dot Test Lab | eBay

What's your module's width?

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Good, you're an auto technician with access
to a press. There is an inner brass piece
that will press out of that aluminum
sleeve. The inner guts are the actual
module and hopefully it is a common 11mm
module. You can just get a new module and
press it in there.

 

[Mr Siz]

those are the spec's from the sites webpage


im still messing with it a bit, my cat thinks its fine as is.... but what does she know =P im using my personal vaporizer for some fog and it seems like there is 2 beams coming out at different angles. I was able to take a picture but I don't think it'll be clear enough to see. but about 2 feet from the lens you can clearly see 2 different beams, there's 2 dots on the wall as well but they aren't bright.


I didn't use paypal, I used my credit/debt card for payment and went thru a site called Globebill :yabbem:. the more I think about this whole thing the more it bothers me. I had a green laser years ago that was pretty awesome, but when a friend took the battery out to replace it, he put it in the wrong way. at the time I wasn't so mad, it ran off CR123A's and those things were expensive to replace. I live in NYC I can get a cheap red laser in the city. but I want a nice laser that is really bright with visible beam. it can keep my cat busy when I don't really want to play with her and my son really gets a kick out of it at night

 

[gozert]

those are the spec's from the sites webpage


im still messing with it a bit, my cat thinks its fine as is.... but what does she know =P im using my personal vaporizer for some fog and it seems like there is 2 beams coming out at different angles. I was able to take a picture but I don't think it'll be clear enough to see. but about 2 feet from the lens you can clearly see 2 different beams, there's 2 dots on the wall as well but they aren't bright.


I didn't use paypal, I used my credit/debt card for payment and went thru a site called Globebill :yabbem:. the more I think about this whole thing the more it bothers me. I had a green laser years ago that was pretty awesome, but when a friend took the battery out to replace it, he put it in the wrong way. at the time I wasn't so mad, it ran off CR123A's and those things were expensive to replace. I live in NYC I can get a cheap red laser in the city. but I want a nice laser that is really bright with visible beam. it can keep my cat busy when I don't really want to play with her and my son really gets a kick out of it at night

You should be able to charge your money back if you purchased the laser with a credit card.