jayrob
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- Joined
- Sep 21, 2007
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This is a review of the laser power meter with Ophir thermopile available from nospin...
And I have to tell you, this is a great meter. I made comparisons with blu-ray, red, green, 473, 593.5, and IR readings side by side with my Coherent PM5200 with PM3 thermal head. And this custom meter build with Ophir thermal sensor was spot on within 1mW or less...
This meter somehow zero's itself... Meaning, it goes to zero in different conditions within a few seconds...
The electronics are housed in a very nice aluminum enclosure that has a wood grain vinyl coating!
I took a peak inside and found that all of the wiring connections were covered in heat shrink. And everything was very clean and orderly. Very professional...
More detailed information and power supply testing below the pictures...
Here's his FS thread:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/sale-ophir-laser-power-meter-nospin-50226.html
Specifications:
From what I was told, if you were to try and buy just the Ophir thermopile sensor equipped with the amplifier, it would cost about $600 bucks! Not counting the meter... (I did not look into this personally, but I know my Coherent PM3 thermal head costs like $900 bucks, so it sounds right)
I don't know his sources, but we all should hope that the supply will last! Because I'm telling you, this is a nice meter and sensor...
Current draw and power options:
I tested the current draw, and true to the specs, it draws only 59mA's...
With this in mind, I made a 12 volt battery pack using AAA alkaline batteries. All I needed to buy was two 4-pack battery holders, and a small project box from Rat Shack, and it was an easy build for a 1250mAh capacity battery pack!
The size of the project box is: 3" X 2" X 1"... Part number 270-1801, and you can see in the pictures that I did just a little modification inside to fit the batteries. (it was easy)
At only 59mA's current draw from the meter, this little battery pack will give about 20 hours of run time with this meter! So this makes it a very portable meter, and I'm sure nospin can include an extra plug adapter for making a battery pack...
I also tested it with a car adapter (cigarette lighter plug) and got the exact same results...
Cons:
For me personally, no cons!
This setup, does not currently have data logging, but I understand that he is working on this as an option for those who want data logging capability. (I have data logging with my Coherent, but never use it)
The resolution is 1mW. My Coherent can adjust to a .1mW resolution, or even a .01mW resolution, but guess what? I never hardly ever use it in that mode! I always have it in the 300mW or 1 Watt setting, and both of those settings have a 1mW resolution...
In conclusion, even though I have a nice accurate meter, I want this little gem!
It's so small, high quality, very nice finish, and portable!
$285 dollars sounds reasonable to me!
So nospin, even though you sent a pre-paid return label, see if you can get it refunded. Because I want to buy this one! :takeit:
Quality workmanship, and great meter! :gj:
And I have to tell you, this is a great meter. I made comparisons with blu-ray, red, green, 473, 593.5, and IR readings side by side with my Coherent PM5200 with PM3 thermal head. And this custom meter build with Ophir thermal sensor was spot on within 1mW or less...
This meter somehow zero's itself... Meaning, it goes to zero in different conditions within a few seconds...
The electronics are housed in a very nice aluminum enclosure that has a wood grain vinyl coating!
I took a peak inside and found that all of the wiring connections were covered in heat shrink. And everything was very clean and orderly. Very professional...
More detailed information and power supply testing below the pictures...
Here's his FS thread:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/sale-ophir-laser-power-meter-nospin-50226.html
Specifications:
From what I was told, if you were to try and buy just the Ophir thermopile sensor equipped with the amplifier, it would cost about $600 bucks! Not counting the meter... (I did not look into this personally, but I know my Coherent PM3 thermal head costs like $900 bucks, so it sounds right)
I don't know his sources, but we all should hope that the supply will last! Because I'm telling you, this is a nice meter and sensor...
Current draw and power options:
I tested the current draw, and true to the specs, it draws only 59mA's...
With this in mind, I made a 12 volt battery pack using AAA alkaline batteries. All I needed to buy was two 4-pack battery holders, and a small project box from Rat Shack, and it was an easy build for a 1250mAh capacity battery pack!
The size of the project box is: 3" X 2" X 1"... Part number 270-1801, and you can see in the pictures that I did just a little modification inside to fit the batteries. (it was easy)
At only 59mA's current draw from the meter, this little battery pack will give about 20 hours of run time with this meter! So this makes it a very portable meter, and I'm sure nospin can include an extra plug adapter for making a battery pack...
I also tested it with a car adapter (cigarette lighter plug) and got the exact same results...
Cons:
For me personally, no cons!
This setup, does not currently have data logging, but I understand that he is working on this as an option for those who want data logging capability. (I have data logging with my Coherent, but never use it)
The resolution is 1mW. My Coherent can adjust to a .1mW resolution, or even a .01mW resolution, but guess what? I never hardly ever use it in that mode! I always have it in the 300mW or 1 Watt setting, and both of those settings have a 1mW resolution...
In conclusion, even though I have a nice accurate meter, I want this little gem!
It's so small, high quality, very nice finish, and portable!
$285 dollars sounds reasonable to me!
So nospin, even though you sent a pre-paid return label, see if you can get it refunded. Because I want to buy this one! :takeit:
Quality workmanship, and great meter! :gj:
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