I think the 'hit' that the box took in shipping damaged the laser (picture attached)
The laser has a nice beam, but I think its way on power from where it should be. The 'unscientific' black baloon popping test has it performing the same as my 150mW Optotronics 532 pen (no farther than 7 feet). The 150 mW pen heats my thermocouple to about 420F. The RPL-500 only gets it to like 520F. Both are with the laser about 6" from the thermocouple.
I thought it was the batteries needing charged, but they are both at 3.8-3.9V and its performing the same. I cleaned the lens (using my camera lens cleaner) and no change.
I have a post to the board asking if there is someone in NE Ohio with a LPM that could take a reading for me.