The Glade 4.0

I won a laser from a contest ran by Wicked Lasers. What I won is a 1.4W 445nm class4 blue laser and the thing is truly an amazing piece of technology to wield.

Assuming no one is familiar with Wicked Lasers and their products, they offer the "Arctic" blue laser in both a 1W and a 1.4W power. I was under the impression that I was to be receiving a 1W model, but upon checking the power graph through their website using the serial number of the device, I see that it is putting out an average of 1554mW, thus seeming to be their more powerful model.

I have read much on laser forums about complaints about WL quality and putting out under-spec product. Of course the power graphs on their site will tell you exactly what you want to hear about the product you own. What I am looking for is how or where one might be able to have a laser metered. I have no need to purchase a Laser Power Meter of my own, but I would like to confirm for myself just what kind of power this thing is putting out. Perhaps a university with an optics department? That is the only thing I can come up with. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

All aside though, this thing is probably the coolest tech gadget I have ever laid my hands on. The beam is stunningly brilliant in the night sky and the amount of charred wood in my back yard is ever increasing. The plan is to light the annual bonfire at Elmo's this year. Last year, he did it with a 'dragon's breath' shotgun round and, though it may not have the same bang, lighting a bonfire with a laser would just be cool as hell.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

from what I remember of laser technology, laser power output in a continuous wave laser increases the longer its powered up.

Yes, I believe that to be the case also and the power graph for my device reflects exactly that. What I am relying on is their word that the graph that is being displayed for my S/N is the actual power measurement taken when it was manufactured, not just something that falsely tells me that the power is as such.

I need to have it metered for myself to be sure of it's avg. output.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

If thats the case the rating of the laser would either be an Input value not an output value (which I doubt, but its conceivable) or after a specific unit of time. (ie. 1000 mW at 10 seconds) or some such.

that...is freakin cool.

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The laser at this link is what I have, the $299 version is what I was expecting, but I believe I received the $399 one.

I am in the process of trying to win the Krypton laser next. Less power @ 100mW, but a brilliant green beam that puts my 5mW green pointer to shame.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Okay, you first have to recognize something about product spec sheets.

1) Spec sheets are used in the design of other products to meet standards. For example, power companies use spec sheets to ensure that National Electric Code requirements are met. Building construction firms use spec sheets to determine that buildings are constructed to code. A company that publishes false data on a spec sheet faces much bigger problems than pissed off consumers. Your dissatisfaction at your laser being underpowered is no big deal compared to a component failure in an expensive device.

2) This is the internet, where you are very hard-pressed to determine if the people complaining about the product being under-powered are performing competent measurements. Essentially, you are taking the word of some chucklehead over people with proper testing equipment.

3) Items on that list convey certain information to engineers who designed the laser or who plan to use the laser, not necessarily to you. For instance, Riov mentions lasers ramping up their power output the longer they run. That power output could, and likely does, converge on a specific value. That means you have to run the laser for a long time to get it warmed up before you measure it. It doesn't just crank out whatever power rating from the moment you flip the switch. This is just an example, mind you, but the point is that the information being conveyed on the spec sheet isn't necessarily what you, the guy who thinks it's cool to have a laser, thinks it means. I think you can see how this exacerbates item #2.

Now, I don't know much about the laser in question. I mean, certain novelty devices are put out precisely because they couldn't meet the standards for industrial use. These lasers could be defects. When I say that, I don't mean the laser doesn't work, but rather that they can't deliver a product with the consistency required for use in, say, research. In research, you can't have a device with a large variance in performance. If you sell me a device that puts out 1W, I can't have some devices producing 0.9W and others producing 1.1W. If that's the range on your 1W devices, I can't use them. It's fine to be putting out 0.9W if I know each laser is doing that. I can't pull out one device and have it be 0.92W, and another one be 1.06W. That's not going to fly. However, it is okay for you **** around in your backyard showing off your laser to your friends. You had a certain rating. What's the margin of error on it? That's the first thing I'd look at.

Next, you're seeing a lot of reports about lasers being underpowered. Well, consider that you ostensibly got the cheaper, weaker laser. You checked the S/N and found out it's the more expensive, stronger laser. The most likely explanation is that there was a mix-up in shipping, or in labeling. This is conjecture, mind you, but I'm betting you really do have the more powerful laser by mistake, and you're not the only one. Guess who got the cheap laser you thought you were winning?

As for testing, there's really no way you can do it using kitchen appliances and tools from your garage that are going to be anywhere near reliable. The procedure isn't terribly difficult. It is, "Shine beam, get number," with a possible calculation or two in there depending on what type of meter you're using.

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