RichNH
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/06/05
Posts: 555
Loc: Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
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I have an Orion laser pointer. I used it for some years without a problem, then it started to show signs that the batteries were used up. It takes AAA batteries so I bought new ones and installed them, but the laser hasn't regained its old intensity. It does turn on but only at the level it was at before I swapped the batteries. Basically what I have right now is a green pointer suitable for use in an office presentation.
Any ideas?
Rich
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Meade LXD75 AT Schmidt-Newtonian 10"
Meade DSI Pro with filters, LPI
Celestron 8X56mm Ultima binoculars
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John J
super member
Reged: 11/05/07
Posts: 190
Loc: Sioux Falls SD
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You may have some pocket lint or dirt on the the recessed lens. If you keep it in a pocket it is quite easy for this to happen as it has no cover up there. it can also diffuse the beam making it look dimmer.
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Things are looking up!
http://inskysd.org/gallery/
My Flicker Astro Site
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RichNH
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/06/05
Posts: 555
Loc: Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
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Any ideas on cleaning it out? I tried some Q-tips with plain water, that didn't seem to work.
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Meade LXD75 AT Schmidt-Newtonian 10"
Meade DSI Pro with filters, LPI
Celestron 8X56mm Ultima binoculars
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12732
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Party why I always prefer buying quality. Orion lasers are are "Mass-Produced" with limited quality control. And as with many low cost lasers, the components are usually cheaper than other brands. These parts will tend to burn out quicker.
So, to sum things up, chances are, the laser diode itself is starting to burn out. There is no real fix. Time to replace it.
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Neo... (Jeff)
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10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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John J
super member
Reged: 11/05/07
Posts: 190
Loc: Sioux Falls SD
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I would try some pointy tweezers first to see if there is a lint ball in there. Then lightly soak a q tip in alcohol and rotate it on the lens. Then repeat with a dry q tip. If it is still dim then the pumping diode is failing. Even the best green lasers have a set number of operating hours. I purchased mine from Edmund Scientific as they have a very good return policy.
JJ
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Things are looking up!
http://inskysd.org/gallery/
My Flicker Astro Site
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edwincjones
Postmaster
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 5671
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mine just died ( stopped producing light)
edj
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n w arkansas
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1826
Loc: Central Texas
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Quote:
Party why I always prefer buying quality. Orion lasers are are "Mass-Produced" with limited quality control. And as with many low cost lasers, the components are usually cheaper than other brands.
I just had my Jasper Laser stop working after only 5 minutes of use. Unfortunately I purchased it about 5 months ago, so that it is out of their 180 day return policy. Needless to say, I'm pretty bummed, and wished I had purchased one of the cheaper "mass produced" lasers.
I don't understand Jasper claiming any kind of superior quality, and then backing it with a 3 month warranty.
Generally a company that produces a superior (and more expensive) product has the confidence to back it up with decent warranty. 180 days is pretty pathetic.
Orion backs their lasers with a one year warranty.
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David
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sailor70623
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 944
Loc: Ok.
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I buy the super cheapo ones off of e-bay. Oldest one is now 3 years old and still working fine despite I've been through a few sets of batteries. The cheapys may be hit or miss, but I pay under $19 inc shipping and can buy a few before the price gets up to the brand name ones.
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Corornado PST
LB 16" & 12"
Z 10"
LX50 8"
8" CPC
ETX127
102&90mm MAKs
80mm Richfield APO
70mm refractor
ETX60
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izar187
sage
Reged: 09/02/06
Posts: 248
Loc: 43N
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Yes, I'm burned out from other peoples beams in my ep field in view when showing the public fuzzies at outreach. : )
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4 thru 13 inch scopes.
30 years observing.
You just read this on the internet, so.....
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Tiny
super member
Reged: 05/02/08
Posts: 197
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i'd go for the cheapo ones as well. Quality is great, but in something like this, im sure its one factory in china pumping them out and sending them off to get a brand stamped on them. I dont know about you but $20 for 3+ years of service sounds pretty decent to me.
As stated the true measure of the quality of a product is infact the warranty the manufacturer is willing to give it.
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joner
member
Reged: 05/01/09
Posts: 71
Loc: Sth'E' Ireland.
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I was out on Tuesday night trying to show a farmer and his family around the sky .I reached for my trusty laser and it was dead ,dead ,dead.
When I went home I replaced the batteries and it was still dead.
I went onto this site ( link removed by Moderator as it contains material to lasers over 5mW ) And after reading this link I decided to try another set of batteries (from the TV remote ) and the laser start working .
I had tested the batteries with a multi meter and they had the correct voltage, they just had'nt got the power behind them.
I'm happy now because the laser was getting passed onto my Bro for a prezzy and I'm getting my new 100 next week  .
ps , I do not live near a flight route and always check the sky for no plane's before I use a laser.
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8.75" ,f7.3 truss Dob ,Gso Crayford 10/1,
Hyperion zoom, Uwan 7mm, 32mm Swan ,2x Ultima Barlow and various other Ep's.
Bausch&Lombe 10x50.
1 Missus and 2 Kid's,
....And a ''FRICKEN LAyZZER beam''.
Edited by csa/montana (11/12/09 10:59 AM)
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2704
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I think that these lasers are two stage (one laser pumping the green), and if you use a long duty cycle (over 20 to 40 seconds) it can damage the first laser if the current is not limited properly. This is because the pumping laser diode is working in Infra Red.
I would assume that with either proper heat sync or proper current limiting design, this would not happen, but if the design does not allow a long duty cycle, I would think that the IR laser could burn itself out.
Just guessing, but I had two green lasers many years ago (wrote a review) from the same vendor, and both dimmed badly after being used with 30 or 40 second duty cycles.
Regards.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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