Low power on red (RGB)

[Pitts]

From time to time I feel the need to look at the RGB even if it doesn't need much doing to it as you do..

So it was out with the power meter, a modest but indicative Viasho meter system using a thermal head.

After measuring the various colour outputs post optics I wasnt very happy with the results. They were nothing like what I would have expected.
The green (500mw CNI) was showing like 630mw, One blue (CNI 250mw) was showing 260mw, the red a Kvant 1.2watt was down to around 800mw.... damn !!. So I decided to look at the pre optic levels there were some increases as one would expect.
The red was still a dissapointment. I have had some 'history' with my 640 reds so of course the mind races... not a bloody 'gain.... crap.

But something didn't gell right (with no meter this time) its still "looked" good in terms of power..

After heaps of testing and playing around I found the issue...

Not to turn this into a Sherlock Holmes episode.... got any ideas ??
Want to take a guess ?? Why was red low ?? and yet strangely the others were high (yes all is well again)

The answer may save someone else some time in the future......

Cheers

Ray
NZ

[FourDee]

Your crap dichro's were dumping 1/3 of you power?
Residual IR on the other lasers?

[Pitts]

Nope, my crap dichro's are Edmund's and Semrock's...good try though...

[FourDee]

The lasorbs on you red diodes are leaking current causing the diodes to run under power?

[Pitts]

Nope ..sorry not that..

[FourDee]

You were using the backside of the power detector

[Things]

You had it turned down in the software? :P

[MisterWilling]

The suspense is killing me, what was it?!?

[ElektroFreak]

Me too.. By the time everyone on the forum has guessed we'll have spent more time guessing than we would have figuring it all out first hand.

[MisterWilling]

Its too late for me, I just had a stroke waiting.

I have a question about your color balance. I have a 532 doing about 600mW, a 473 on the way that should do about 200-300mW, and reds of 642 @ 300mW and 658 @ 300mW. Very close to your except my red isn't near as bright. Do you have to scale that green way down to get a decent white? I'm just curious how hard it is blend a setup of that kind.