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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Review of the Skytech Class IV 520nm Green Portable Diode Laser

Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Performed multiple repeat power output analyses and current usage measurements of this laser.
 





Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Weighed the product in 1x and 2x cell configurations.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
318
Points
28
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

That's all copy-pasta bullshit anyway. The only reliable way to determine thermal characteristics is to test them. :shhh:

The 75% duty cycle they recommend is the same 75% recommendation of a 30mW pointer in the same housing. Odd, don't'cha think?

One thing that bothers me is how well heatsinked are driver components and are their wattage ratings appropriate? You can measure temp rise of the case but it could easily conceal things getting hot that transfer heat to it poorly.

I intend to post a review soon of a 1watt jetlasers PLE in 520nm.The only tools I currently lack are a lab grade variable power supply to check regulation and drop out and a LPM.I also don't have a decent oscilloscope so seeing noise is a no go as well.
But a cheap ir thermometer?Yes.Good DMM...Fluke 87V is on it's way(massive upgrade over the older Tripplett VOM and radio shack DMM. I have wanted a better DMM for years so I am as excited over that as the laser!)

I probably won't get a good variable lab supply.I hardly build things anymore that need it and it is too big a capital outlay to justify for as seldom as I will use it.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
318
Points
28
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

A great review LED!
I have enjoyed your work for a very long time.The LED Museum site has consumed vast quantities of my time...and it was a wonderful way to pass the time too!

Green Laser Diodes....wheee!I am happy to see how far laser diodes have advanced...it is very cool indeed!
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Re-remeasured optical power output in minimum & maximum power configurations.
 
Joined
Jun 6, 2014
Messages
435
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

if thats the tightest beam you can get im pretty sure its defective. could be that the lens cant get into the proper distance from the diode to get a good focal point. or the diode is to deep into the laser. I would get it replaced because thats more like a laser flashlight.
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

if thats the tightest beam you can get im pretty sure its defective. could be that the lens cant get into the proper distance from the diode to get a good focal point. or the diode is to deep into the laser. I would get it replaced because thats more like a laser flashlight.

The beam terminus image bloomed significantly on both of the indoor photographs -- much more so in the second which was made with the laser emitting almost one watt.

Let's see here...white paper...1 watt...cheap camera...you guess what happens next. :undecided:;)

The divergence is still a bit higher than I'd like to see, but nothing nearly as dramatic as those test target pics would seem to indicate.
In fact, I'd better caption them as such! :D
 
Joined
Jun 6, 2014
Messages
435
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

The beam terminus image bloomed significantly on both of the indoor photographs -- much more so in the second which was made with the laser emitting almost one watt.

Let's see here...white paper...1 watt...cheap camera...you guess what happens next. :undecided:;)

The divergence is still a bit higher than I'd like to see, but nothing nearly as dramatic as those test target pics would seem to indicate.
In fact, I'd better caption them as such! :D

i was more so taking about the beamshot up into the sky. It even looks more divergent then the high powered multimode red diode lasers which it should not be. the 1w 520nm diodes are supposed to be the same divergence as the 3w 9mm 445nm diodes. did you have it at its tightest beam possible for the outdoor fog shot?
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

i was more so taking about the beamshot up into the sky. It even looks more divergent then the high powered multimode red diode lasers which it should not be. the 1w 520nm diodes are supposed to be the same divergence as the 3w 9mm 445nm diodes. did you have it at its tightest beam possible for the outdoor fog shot?

Yes, I had the bezel tightened as far as I could without tools; the beam divergence still looked a bit high to me, but nothing to shit myself over. :whistle:
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Performed stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at maximum power output.
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Performed stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at minimum power output.

I'm going to re-run both analyses.

The first because I bumped something and queered the test approx. two minutes in.

The second with a different 18650 cell because the chart that my LPM pooped out looks an awful lot like an alkaline battery discharge curve rather than a nice flat lithium battery curve.
 
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Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Repeated stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at minimum power output using a different cell ("battery").
I'm going to run it a third time using a protected 18650 cell.
 
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Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

BTTT: Performed a third stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at minimum power output; also performed multiple spectrographic analyses of the product below lasing threshold.
 

Pman

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Nov 28, 2012
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Re: Review of the Skytech 520nm Class IV Green Portable Laser

To Cist I own a couple Fluke 87 including the V and even though I have at least another 10 MTM it's my go to for everything. They do make another unit that is almost the same but is about twice the size that can float but I've had my V out in pretty severe weather and have never had an issue.

Pretty impressed by your thorough testing LED.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
549
Points
43
BTTT: Performed a fourth stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at minimum power output.
 




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