Power Meter Calibration and Comparison

[rkcstr]

Arrrgh!  My order for the parts I needed was shipped Tue via USPS Priority mail, but it wasn't delivered today!  I've always had stuff from them in 2 days via Priority. But, hopefully they'll come tomorrow, but that means my stuff is now delayed by a day  

 

[Kenom]

Yeah it's ok. I'm waiting on a shipment of diodes from greg and a shipment of 803t's. So it's a waiting game.

 

[Kenom]

Didn't pullbangdead have access to a very accurate meter? And he's in California.

WEll one would like to think it's very accurate. However, like someone else said in this thread even university power testing equipment can lose it's calibration if it's not kept up. However the meters from both senkat and pseudo are brand new from the factory and just calibrated. If calibration from those meters could be verified within a year, then I say go with pullbangdeads.

 

[Kenom]

Did you get parts yet rckstr?

 

[rkcstr]

Did you get parts yet rckstr?

Not yet    I'm waiting for the mail person today to see if I get them... but even so, I wouldn't be able to get the PSU finished and packed to ship before the Post Office closes at 1pm (it's noon right now).  So, if the parts come today, should be able to have it in the mail Monday.

EDIT: I did get the parts today (Sat). I'll hopefully get everything assembled tomorrow and ready to ship for Monday.

 

[Zom-B]

You don't have to quote when you answer to the previous post. It is unnecessary and confuses people who abide by this rule.



I was just making my own reference laser (so I can keep my meter accuratre after calibrating). Something I recommend everyone to do who's got the spare parts. Large heat sink for Aixiz head (yes, that's a computer back plate. I tried several solderable items and this one remaind the coolest after identical heating tests). LM317 driver on a separate heat sink (it gets a lot hotter on long runs), lens well inside the box instead of protruding out, and 12V input connector (no switch, you know why already)

The driver is not set for a specific mW power, because I don't have the accuracy yet, but with a simple 8.2 Ohm resistor it drives 156mA to my long open can red. (should be good for about 60mW)

When I was test running it, I got this weird feeling in my stomach. Almost like I did something bad. I realized it was the feeling of starving a pet or something, lol.

 

[IgorT]

Almost like I did something bad. I realized it was the feeling of starving a pet or something, lol.

So you starve your pets when working too?  ;D

Mine goes chewing through cables for revenge..

 

[Zom-B]

I finished my reference laser and it indeed puts out nearly 60 mW (according to my meter).

I also did some 'real' measurements with them as by though measuring with the calibration lasers for real, following my protocol (with a few changes). I noted the results in the google spreadsheet.

I also found that the layout had to be edited to hold all the information. I hope I improved it by doing this.

I'm now letting it lase for 14 hours or so to see if any changes in output occur after very long runs (previously it had been running for like 3-4 minutes in it's entire lifetime, part of which at 420mA)

Any progress on the calibration lasers?

 

[Kenom]

WEll until I get diodes and drivers there's not much I can do. I expect the diodes around monday-wednesday the hosts themselves are already setup and awaiting diode and driver.

 

[IgorT]

'cause I know at least a couple California builders*

*[sup]if you count the to-be-annexed County of Slovenia[/sup] [sub];-)[/sub]

Forget it! Slovenia will never be under the rule of an Austrian again!  

 

[rkcstr]

I'm hoping to get the power supply finished up and mailed tomorrow. I've been out of town since Sat (right after I got the parts) and will be headed back tomorrow morning. I do have work, but I'm going to see if I can duck out for a few hours in the morning or afternoon to get it done ;D

Also, I'll ship it Priority Mail, so long as they don't take their good 'ol time like the did with the parts, you should have the drivers/PSU by Wed.

 

[Kenom]

Sweet so all things going according to plan I should have these lasers done and ready to ship off for verification by friday at the latest. I have my kenometer back and am ready to get these babies going.

 

[pseudonomen137]

Sorry, haven't been keeping up on this post so can someone please fill me in as to what I have to do as far as payment and all? (so I don't have to read back through 16 pages)

As for me, I'm in Richardson, TX and I have yet to come across any lasorz

 

[Kenom]

Well pseudo long story short payment is to be paid directly to me for a whopping $10.30   I was going to ask if you minded me shipping that laser down to you first, so that we can verify the lasers output by a brand new meter first.  Lasorz are what us cool people have.  it's the same thing as a laser only cooler.  Lame people have lasers. (we've gotten verification that SenKat does not want to participate in this)

 

[Zom-B]

Well, believe it or not, the power of the laser seems to have increased (59.3mW -> 60.5.W). I've of course let the laser cool down over a period of 2 hours before measuring them. Because it is still such a small difference, I'm going to repeat the test today at the same time as the time of the initial measurement yesterday. In the mean time, I'll let it run for 8 more hours. Either way, we will have some new information which will affect the calibration procedure. If it measures 59.3mW again, the time of the day is a significant variable, and when the power keeps increasing, then the lasers possibly need to be stabilized by running them for a long time. In the latter case, I'll let it run again for several days, measure them every day, and make a time-power graph.

 

[GooeyGus]

Oh yeah I'm in... I'll send the money out soon... sorry I forgot to check this thread for the last couple days  ;D

and of course I has the laz0ries.  ;D (but I might have missed it somewhere, why is this a requirement again?)