Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

Buy Site Supporter Role (remove some ads) | LPF Donations

Links below open in new window

FrozenGate by Avery

Newport optical power meter

P

Petrovski

0
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
475
Points
0
Today I was discussing my new laser hobby with some colleagues at work. The conversation came to the point of measuring the laser's power with metering equipment. A colleague mentioned a certain department had an optical power meter laying around they barely use. I immediately checked it out, it turned out be a perfect meter for the laser hobbyist:

Newport handheld Optical Power Meter 840-C with 818-ST detector
- will measure wavelengths from 400nm to 1100nm
- wavelength selection in 1 nm steps
- power range from 100pW to 2W
- auto ranging
- attenuator present (slide function)
- calibrated (last calibration 2-apr-2008)

http://www.newport.com/store/genproduct.aspx?id=139600&lang=1033&Section=Spec

As my employer allows employees to use equipment at home as long as it's properly logged, I took it home for the weekend in order to test my 10mw ebayser and my 5mw Optotronics. Results are below, and I might say measuring lasers for fun is nice work.

Measurement parameters
- 2 minute warmup time
- 10cm space between laser aperture and detector
- meter set to 532nm
- attenuator out (not used)

10mw ebayser:
bajkdaabk.jpg


5mw Opto:
bajkeaabk.jpg


As you can see, the ebayser is around 8mw and the Opto around a stunning 20mw! That's about 4 times as much power as specified. Jack, can you confirm this?  8-)

Another good thing about this meter is that it can measure IR. So if (more likely 'when') I'm getting myself a green RPL I can measure IR leakage.  ;)
 





Nice discovery (and new toy)

It's nice to "know" what you've got, isn't it?

Your test also shows the value of dealing with one of the reputable laser dealers . .

eBayser = 20% under

Optotronics = 300% over

That's probably not the right way to say that (Did I mention I hate math?), but the meaning is clear.

You pays your money, you takes your chances . . . . . but there are ways to increase your chances of getting a "good one"

Peace,
dave
 
That 5mW from Jack is really putting out 20?! My old low power green is being modified so I odered the optics kit that includes a 5mW pointer. I need a low power one for driving pets insane and messing around with optics without needing safety glasses.

VillageIdiot said:
HOW MUCH IS IT FOO

I'm not giving away my personal details just to get a quote! WTF?
Click to expand...

Click on the link he posted. Then click on product description and pricing will be listed there. Or you can click on the link I posted in this post. I'll tell you this right now. It ain't cheap. You could buy a nice blue RPL for the same cost.

http://www.newport.com/store/genproduct.aspx?id=139600&lang=1033&Section=Pricing

It cost $1176 alone or $1417 with test data and certificate.
 
Dr. Evil said:
That 5mW from Jack is really putting out 20?! My old low power green is being modified so I odered the optics kit that includes a 5mW pointer. I need a low power one for driving pets insane and messing around with optics without needing safety glasses.
Click to expand...

Yeah looks like it. Actually I bought this 5mw Opto for the same reasons: to play around with it without the need for goggles. But I'm not complaining. 8-)

@ daguin: yeah it's indeed nice to know the actual power output of your lasers. Currently I only have 2 greenies, but that collection is bound to be expanded. ;)
 
Get a true 30. If it sucks it won't be much of a loss. Mine work(ed) fine until I decided to tinker with it...
 
Petrovski said:
I was more thinking about a nice green PPL/RPL...  [smiley=evil.gif]
Click to expand...

Go with the RPL. You know you want too. I had a PPL 125 that had some issues. I sent it back along with some more money for a RPL 200. Jack was really nice though and sent me a RPL 225 instead.
 
Petrovski said:
[quote author=Dr. Evil link=1210960300/0#4 date=1211011376]That 5mW from Jack is really putting out 20?! My old low power green is being modified so I odered the optics kit that includes a 5mW pointer. I need a low power one for driving pets insane and messing around with optics without needing safety glasses.
Click to expand...

Yeah looks like it. Actually I bought this 5mw Opto for the same reasons: to play around with it without the need for goggles. But I'm not complaining.  8-)

@ daguin: yeah it's indeed nice to know the actual power output of your lasers. Currently I only have 2 greenies, but that collection is bound to be expanded.  ;)[/quote]

I got my "5"mW green from Jack today. I have a feeling it is running about 20mW also. The green Leadlight listed in my sig couldn't even smoke stuff using a magnifying glass. This new one smokes stuff using a magnifying glass. It also seems brighter. I would compare them but drlava has the leadlight doing a mod to it. [smiley=grin.gif]
 
I know this is old but it is an update on my Optotronics "5"mW. I checked it with the Laserbee 1 that arrived today. It put out 23mW peak with used batteries. :o
 
I keep getting "Sorry, no results matched your search. You can try to narrow down your search or you can search for products through our category search".
from both links..
 
Dr. Evil said:
I know this is old but it is an update on my Optotronics "5"mW. I checked it with the Laserbee 1 that arrived today. It put out 23mW peak with used batteries. :o
Click to expand...

Hey Dr. Evil,
 glad to see you received your LaserBee I + Thermopile....
I see your using it right away... ;)

I just read this Thread about "Petrovski" using a recently calibrated Newport LPM and getting around
20mW running output from his  "Optotronics 5mW" laser.
I'm curious to know... what your reading was after the 23mW peak... :-?

Jerry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.





Back
Top