Laser meters

[Pitts]

Hi all,
Any suggestions on brands , models, prices etc on Laser Power meters.

Given the price reductions and even in the short time I have been here you can see members looking at higher power lasers say in the "up to 2 watt" area.

Are there any traps ?, I know some budget ones seem to be little more than an indicator, which is fine of you are looking for that. At the other end there are the scientific "bust your bank balance" jobs.

What about a good useful meter up to say 2 watts with reasonable accuracy without becoming a lab instrument.

Any thoughts, suggestions etc etc..

Thanks
Ray

[The_Doctor]

A basic standard is the Lasercheck, good to 1 watt with inbuilt wavelength compensation for the silicon sensor. These have a low power density tolerance though, so it's wise to measure far enough downrange to have a diverged beam to spread the load.

Sper Scientific make cheap units, sold on eBay. Not really awesome but the value is ok.

Ophir units, second hand, are good, but you need to be lucky.

Dr Lava posted a thread in the group buy sub-forum that shows a neat meter. Also, Robin Bowden made a D4thing that can be made into various useful tools, and can be used as the foundation of a DIY power meter.

The ideal for wide range and better than 5% accuracy regardless of wavelength is to build a thermopile meter, or buy the sensor head on eBay. They're cheap. Scientech 360001 heads are ideal, you can pick them up for a few tens of dollars and read the output directly on a millivoltmeter. Calibrate to get a conversion constant, to either use in a calculator, or as a factor in a small analog gain stage to send the output to a voltmeter to read 1 volt per watt. You easily get sensitivity to lower than 5 mW this way, and ranges up to 30 watts, all easily read on an autoranging voltmeter. If you want to look more at that way of getting a meter, there's more here.

[Frank]

I wish Viasho can help you.

http://viasho.com/e_jg_9.htm

[QUAZAR]

Hi Frank. What price would the 2W version cost?

[Frank]

Hi Frank. What price would the 2W version cost?

0~2W version is $400.

[mixedgas]

your bank balance" jobs.

What about a good useful meter up to say 2 watts with reasonable accuracy without becoming a lab instrument.

the famous coherent powerpen goes up to a watt, plus a 50/50 beamsplitter,

otherwise coherent 212s go up to 10 watts and sell surplus for ~50$.

Steve

[Pitts]

Thanks guys...

Doc, thanks for the leads and tips in your reply much appreciated.

Cheers
Ray
NZ