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- Jan 7, 2007
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I'm reviewing the GLP-473 "pointer" I got from Glenn's GB#7. It is rated at >5 mW of 473 nM Blue. This is a replacement laser from the GB and Glenn handeled everything very well. The first laser was so temperature sensitive that it barely had power at "pocket temperature". It needed to be COOL to get about 8 mW of Blue. That laser was returned to CNI through Glenn and this review is of the replacement laser. I won't dwell on simple observations here since we all know what lasers look like.
This picture shows the "pointer" with a ruler for scale purposes. It has no pocket clip so be careful when bending over! Mine fell about 2' with no harm.
Unlike the first laser, this laser likes to be kept warm in a shirt pocket. At 65 Degrees, power is a little low but it quickly warms up.
I'm running this on an Ultrafire TR15270 LiIon cell rated at 3 Volts and 800 mA hours. Be sure to use case + when installing the cell. I have measured 520 mA draw from the cell when tested.
I have run two power charts with my "old school" methods. The first one is at shirt pocket temp for about 2 minutes. The second graph is after a 20 minute cool down period. Both graphs show significant power over rating.
Remember that this model has pulsed output for power and heat control. This pulsed output is not normally noticed unless the laser is moved quickly across a close surface but may be a problem for some intending to use this for projection purposes. The PWM rate is ~ 75% on as shown here. This shouldn't be a problem for most users looking simply for color.
For better understanding of the duty cycle, I got a "picture" of the output. It looks to be more like 55% ON PWM. I think the noise is stray pick-up from lights and monitor.
Now to the meat. Divergance.......
I tested the laser outside and found a beam diameter of 0.161" at 25'. Nice looking spot. BUT, at 156' , the beam displayed TEM01 mode and 1.367" Max. Using the calculator here, --- 0.767 mRad which seems overly good.
For color comparison, I add a pix of the 473 nM beside a 160 mW Blu 405 nM. The target is a piece of white styrofoam and the camera is near blinded. I forgot to add this last night.
No it won't POP or Burn :na: But here's a beam shot from 100'.
I'll add more if something comes up. Glenn did a great job getting me a better sample from CNI. A big thanks to Glenn and his GB.
HMike
This picture shows the "pointer" with a ruler for scale purposes. It has no pocket clip so be careful when bending over! Mine fell about 2' with no harm.
Unlike the first laser, this laser likes to be kept warm in a shirt pocket. At 65 Degrees, power is a little low but it quickly warms up.
I'm running this on an Ultrafire TR15270 LiIon cell rated at 3 Volts and 800 mA hours. Be sure to use case + when installing the cell. I have measured 520 mA draw from the cell when tested.
I have run two power charts with my "old school" methods. The first one is at shirt pocket temp for about 2 minutes. The second graph is after a 20 minute cool down period. Both graphs show significant power over rating.
Remember that this model has pulsed output for power and heat control. This pulsed output is not normally noticed unless the laser is moved quickly across a close surface but may be a problem for some intending to use this for projection purposes. The PWM rate is ~ 75% on as shown here. This shouldn't be a problem for most users looking simply for color.
For better understanding of the duty cycle, I got a "picture" of the output. It looks to be more like 55% ON PWM. I think the noise is stray pick-up from lights and monitor.
Now to the meat. Divergance.......
I tested the laser outside and found a beam diameter of 0.161" at 25'. Nice looking spot. BUT, at 156' , the beam displayed TEM01 mode and 1.367" Max. Using the calculator here, --- 0.767 mRad which seems overly good.
For color comparison, I add a pix of the 473 nM beside a 160 mW Blu 405 nM. The target is a piece of white styrofoam and the camera is near blinded. I forgot to add this last night.
No it won't POP or Burn :na: But here's a beam shot from 100'.
I'll add more if something comes up. Glenn did a great job getting me a better sample from CNI. A big thanks to Glenn and his GB.
HMike
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