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FrozenGate by Avery

LaserBee 120mW Laser Power Sensor

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ElektroFreak

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So my trusty Coherent Lasercheck crapped out on me awhile back, and I needed something really cheap to get me by until I can get something better. I had seen these little things on ebay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/120mW-Calibrate...14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

Upon receipt, I noticed that it is quite well made and very small. The documentation that I downloaded via the link provided by Jerry upon purchase was thorough and extremely helpful. Once I determined that my meter was ready to be used with the sensor, I took my first reading of a laser with a known output. The little sensor was quite accurate, within 10% of my Lasercheck at 532nm. It was also quite accurate at 660nm, this time within 5% which could be caused by some inaccuracy in my DMM. It does not work well at wavelengths below 500nm, however, so no blu-rays..

All told, it was an extremely worthy purchase. I believe everyone should have one of these in their toolboxes just in case you're away from a meter or yours craps out like mine did. Thanks Jerry!!

EDITed (oops).. in a hurry earlier...
 





Thanks for the kind words "ElektroFreak.... *;)
It is an inexpensive alternative to measure Greens to Reds to IRs up to 120mW...
I just wish those optical sensors could reliably see the Blu-Rays.. 8-)


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
Last edited:
and jerry, do those optical sensors just plug into any old dmm? even like the cheapo plastic ones from radioshack?
 
Swordofsalvation said:
and jerry, do those optical sensors just plug into any old dmm? even like the cheapo plastic ones from radioshack?
Click to expand...
Hey Swordofsalvation....
yes... they work with the cheap under $10.00 DMMs...
like the one on our website...here...

http://www.bauer-electron.com/eby/ebayhlpm.htm

or with high end DMMs like Fluke...
If you have a DMM with an RS232 output... you can even data log your readings to a PC..


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
Last edited:
@SwordofSalvation
I don't sell them, but my friend runs a company that makes and distributes filters and optics of all types. The link in my signature will take you to their ebay IR filters. I don't know if they have any of the small 12mm size listed, but I think they have some other sizes. If you don't see the 12mm filters, send them a message and ask them about 12mm BG38.. I'm sure they probably have some more tucked away somewhere.. I also recommend checking out the rest of their listings. They have tons of mirrors, dichros and other optics..
 
thanks...i have two multimeters, one with data port logging and one cheapo one. yeah, i might be interested in a sensor, when i get some funds maybe ill contact you. great deal. elektrofreak: yeah, im looking for an IR filter for some olike modules....
 
One thing from the product listing:

Can check Lasers from 0.1mW to 120mW output power in 0.1mW increments.
With a 50/50 Beam Splitter you could measure up to 240mW.
Click to expand...

Why would you use a beam splitter to reduce power exposure?

I'd think using a ND filter would be both cheaper and more accurate.
 
Benm said:
One thing from the product listing:

Can check Lasers from 0.1mW to 120mW output power in 0.1mW increments.
With a 50/50 Beam Splitter you could measure up to 240mW.
Click to expand...

Why would you use a beam splitter to reduce power exposure?

I'd think using a ND filter would be both cheaper and more accurate.
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100%... haven't updated the listings yet... :-[
Thanks for reminding me.. ;)


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
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Thanks for the review. :) I was considering buying one of these because it was made by Laserbee, and now I definately will. :D
 
I have one of these too. It seems to work very well and it got built into a small black plastic project box.
Can't beat what it does for the price.
 
Thanks for letting the other members know that there IS an alternative to the
higher priced Thermal LPMs...

These little 120mW LPMs got a bad rep from a few members about a year
ago... Granted...they were our first try and were not quite up to snuff... :'(
We had improved them twice since then... and we find that they are close
enough to actual readings (in their rated ranges) to be useful if you are on a
limited budget...

There are a few members here that have one but are afraid to say anything
for fear of getting jumped on... :-/ *Hopefully that will change by your posts... ;)


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
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is there any way to get these to read around 300mW. i am building a laser that i am restimating to be around that (from other members using same or similar parts). i saw laserbee's fitst posting saying to use a 50/50 splitter could i use 2 of them?
 
Actually you could use a ND filter to reduce the laser's beam power...

Let's say.. for example.. that your selected filter reduced your beam power
by 5 times.. A 100mW beam would be seen as a 20mW beam after that
ND Filter by the 120mW LPM Module's sensor.

So... if the maximum allowable Beam Power at the 120mW LPM Module
sensor is 120mW... and you filter reduces your laser's power by 5 times...
then 120mW X 5 = 600mW....

That means that in theory... a maximum of a 600mW beam being filtered
by a factor of 5 times will attain the allowable maximum power of *the
120mW LPM Module...

With that filter... you would need to multiply your reading by 5 and also
multiply the result by the Optical Correction factor on the supplied chart if
not using a red laser...

BTW... the 120mW LPM module has a resolution of 0.1mW as it is...
but with the filter described above... the resolution will drop to
0.5mW... ;)


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
Last edited:
lasersbee said:
Actually you could use a ND filter to reduce the laser's beam power...

Let's say.. for example.. that your selected filter reduced your beam power
by 5 times.. A 100mW beam would be seen as a 20mW beam after that
ND Filter by the 120mW LPM Module's sensor.

So... if the maximum allowable Beam Power at the 120mW LPM Module
sensor is 120mW... and you filter reduces your laser's power by 5 times...
then 120mW X 5 = 600mW....

That means that in theory... a maximum of a 600mW beam being filtered
by a factor of 5 times will attain the allowable maximum power of  the
120mW LPM Module...

With that filter... you would need to multiply your reading by 5 and also
multiply the result by the Optical Correction factor on the supplied chart if
not using a red laser...

BTW... the 120mW LPM module has a resolution of 0.1mW as it is...
but with the filter described above... the resolution will drop to
0.5mW... ;)

Jerry
Click to expand...

If I purchase a 2X neutral density filter would the 2X be enough to get readings on a 200mW laser using the 120mW LPMs?

If not what neutral filter power do you recommend?
 
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