S3 KRYPTON GREEN DPSS PORTABLE LASER
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S3 Krypton Green DPSS Portable Laser, retail $299.95 (www.wickedlasers.com...)
Manufactured by Wicked Lasers (www.wickedlasers.com)
Last updated 09-19-13









(In reference to the small package I received from Wicked Lasers at 10:38am PST on 02-09-12):
{sung like the Foreigner song "Feels Like the First Time"}


The S3 Spyder Krypton G2 532nm DPSS portable laser (hereinafter, probably just referred to as the "Krypton") is an extremely powerful self-contained, handheld laser. It has the SmartSwitch™ v2.0 which includes several additional modes that the original Spyder III Arctic did not have.

It is rated to produce up to 0.3W (300mW) of laser radiation at 532nm (spectrographically measured at 531.880nm) in the green part of the spectrum.

It comes in a very sturdy aluminum body that has been hard-anodized, and feeds from a single 18650 Li:ION rechargeable cell (which is included along with the charger).

It also comes with LaserShades laser safety glasses -- which must be used every time you fire up this studly little laser...you don't want to end up like this guy: --->
This may look funny, but I assure you folks, this is no joke!!!

***EXTREME CAUTION!!!***
The USS Lantree is a quarantined vessel by order of Starfleet Command.
Do not board.

...o wait, wrong warning!!!

***EXTREME DANGER!!!***
This laser can produce up to 300mW (0.3 watt) of laser radiation at 532nm (bright green), and can cause instant and permanent eye damage from an accidental reflection or accidental direct exposure!!! You need to know what you're doing and have the appropriate safety precautions for a CDRH Class IIIb laser device in place before you energize this laser!!!

Big Scary “Laser” (the word 'laser' is spoken with “air quotes” like Dr. Evil does in the Austin Powers movies)


 Size of product w/hand to show scale SIZE



To use your shiny new (or corroded old) Krypton, feed it the included 18650 Li:ION cell first (see directly below), and ***THEN*** you can go set fire to the dead wingless legless fly that you found in your box of raisins
*...er...uh...set fire to the side of the Bemis Industries building in south Seattle WA. USA.*

To use the portable laser (it has multiple operational modes thanks to its SmartSwitch™ v2.0), follow these instructions:

1: Press the rubberised tailcap button until it clicks, and then release it.
The first LED on the barrel (a group of three arranged in a line on the opposite side as the SmartSwitch™ button) will begin flashing.

2: Click the SmartSwitch™. After the first click, the first LED will be steady-on and the second one will be flashing.

3: Click the SmartSwitch™ again. The first and second LEDs will be steady-on and the third one will be flashing.

4: Click the SmartSwitch™ a third time. Both the first and second LEDs will be flashing.

5: Hold down the SmartSwitch™ briefly and the second & third LEDs will be flashing.

6: Hold down the SmartSwitch™ briefly again. All three LEDs will flash three times, then go into battery status monitoring mode.

You'll want to start out with the training lens in place; this makes the laser a bit safer to use until you become familiar with its controls.

The SmartSwitch™ prevents accidental and unauthorized activation of the laser by requiring a short sequence of clicks and click-holds to unlock the laser.

Once the laser is unlocked, the default operating mode for the laser is low power, pulse wave, constant on operation. This means the laser operates at 5% of the maximum power output, making it 20 times safer. When used in conjunction with the training lens, output power is further reduced 5 times, making the laser only 1% as hazardous to the human eye or skin than at maximum power.
Once you are ready to experience maximum 100% power, it takes only 2 clicks to change the mode and mere seconds to replace the lens. The SmartSwitch™ is the world's most innovative and safest laser system ever created.

The following modes are available:
  • Low Power (10% of maximum) , Constant Wave, Constant On
  • Low Power (10% of maximum) , Pulse Wave (6Hz / 50%) , Constant On
  • S.O.S. (international distress signal)
  • Beacon mode (laser blinks at 0.20Hz {1 flash every five seconds})
  • Tactical hibernation (laser turns off; can be turned back on instantly in the last mode that was used)
  • Max Power, Constant Wave, Constant On
  • Max Power, Pulse Wave (6Hz / 50%) , Constant On
  • Max Power, S.O.S. (international distress signal)
  • Max Power, Beacon mode (laser blinks at 0.20Hz {1 flash every five seconds})
The laser starts off in low power, blinking.

To change to steady-on mode, click the SmartSwitch™ once.

To change to S.O.S. mode, click the SmartSwitch™ three times in rapid succession within two seconds of entering steady-on mode.

To change to Beacon mode, click the SmartSwitch™ once while you're in S.O.S. mode.

To cycle between full power and low power, give the SmartSwitch™ a short hold.

To activate tactical hibernation,give the SmartSwitch™ a longer hold (~3 seconds). When in this mode, pressing the SmartSwitch™ once turns the laser back on in the same setting you last used it in.

Before firing up this studly little laser, you *MUST* be certain that you have the furnished laser safety glasses on!!!


This is me with the LaserShades on.
I'd have normally used a "Phoam Head Phred" {a styrofoam wig modelling form} for this photograph, but I was forced to dispose of it in mid-October 2008 prior to our moving back to Washington state.

The Krypton has a safety interlock dongle built into the tailcap -- this helps allow it to comply with FDA/CDRH requirements for a Class IIIb laser product.
This dongle (or "safety pin" as some have called it) can be removed by pulling it straight out. Doing so will completely neutralise the laser -- that is, the Krypton cannot be made to function even if a fully charged battery is left in place.

Restoring operation is as simple as pushing the dongle back into the opening in the tailcap for it; pushing in on it until it no longer moves.


*This is Worm Quartet...one guy (Reverend Shoebox) and three worms.
The song "Find The Dead Wingless Legless Fly In Your Box Of Raisins" is from the album "Faster than a Speeding Mullet".





To charge the battery in your Wicked Lasers S3 Spyder Krypton, unscrew and remove the tailcap, throw it into the the dustbin (garbage can), tie off the bin liner (plastic garbage bag), carry it to the outdoor wheelie bin (wheeled garbage can), throw it in, slam the lid down, roll the wheelie bin to the curb, and wait patiently for garbage day so that the dustman (garbage man) empties the wheelie bin into his dust lorry (garbage truck)...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the used 18650 cell out of the barrel and into your hand, and pop it into the included charger.

Insert a freshly-charged 18650 cell into the barrel, flat-end (-) negative first. This is the opposite of how batteries are installed in most flashlights, so please pay attention to polarity here.

Screw the tailcap back on, and be done with it.
Aren't you glad you didn't throw that tailcap into the dustbin now?

Current usage measures 28.330mA (quiescent), 28.001mA (tactical hibernation), 396mA (minimum CW output), and 1,321mA (1.321A) (maximum CW output) on a known-fully charged 18650 cell.





To charge the 18650 cell, place it in the charging cradle, orienting it so its button-end (+) positive is on the same end of the chamber in the charger that has a (+) embossed on its upper surface (in this case, the end of the charger that the power cord goes in).

Plug the charger into any standard (in the United States) two- or three-slot 110 volts to 130 volts AC 60Hz receptacle.

A red light on the charging cradle should now come on; this indicates charging is in progress. When the 18650 cell has reached full charge, the light on the charging cradle will turn from red to green.

At this point, unplug the charger, remove the charged cell from the charging cradle, and install it in the laser as directed above.



This is a portable laser, not a flashlight. So I won't try to drown it in the toliet tank, bash it against a steel rod or against the concrete floor of a front porch in effort to try and expose the bare Metalbeelzemon - er - the bare Metaltrailmon - um that's not it either...the bare Metalhornetmon...er...uh...wait a sec here...THE BARE METAL (guess I've been watching too much Digimon again! - now I'm just making {vulgar term for feces} up!!!), let my mother's big dog's ghostm my kitty cat, or my sister's kitty cats spring a leak (uranate) on it, hose it down with a gun, run over it with a 450lb Celebrity motorised wheelchair, stomp on it, use a medium ball peen hammer in order to bash it open to check it for candiosity, fire it from the cannońata, drop it down the top of Mt. Erupto (I guess I've been watching the TV program "Viva Pińata" too much again - candiosity is usually checked with a laser-type device on a platform with a large readout (located at Pińata Central {aka. "Party Central"}), with a handheld wand that Langston Lickatoad uses, or with a pack-of-cards-sized device that Fergy Fudgehog uses; the cannońata (also located at Pińata Central) is only used to shoot pińatas to pińata parties away from picturesque Pińata Island, and Mt. Erupto is an active volcano on Pińata Island), send it to the Daystrom Institute for additional analysis, or perform other indecencies on it that a flashlight might have to have performed on it. Therefore, this section of the laser's web page will seem a bit more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a flashlight.

***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!***

This laser is a fairly powerful (measured at 412mW) CDRH Class IIIb instrument, and the photons generated by it are much higher in energy than the photons generated by a red laser of equivalent power (not that you'd want to shoot your eye out with a 300mW red laser anyway!!!); so you definitely do not want to shine it into your eyes, other people's eyes, pets' eyes, for that matter, the eyes of any person or animal you encounter. Eye damage can occur faster than the blink reflex can protect them, regardless of what species' eyes you irradiate with this laser. So just don't do it.
And ˇpara los motivos de Cristo (and for heaven sakes and for Pete sakes and your sakes too) do not shine the S3 Spyder Krypton (or any other laser for that matter!) at any vehicle, whether ground-based like a motorcycle, car, or truck, or air-based like a helicopter, airplane, or jet. And if you shoot it at a person in the dark and he turns out to be a police officer, he may think he's being targeted, unholster (pull out) his gun, and hose you down with it!



This is a CDRH Class IIIb laser device. Treat it with respect, and it'll treat you with respect.

This laser is water-resistant but not submersible, so please be careful around sinks, tubs, toilets, fishtanks, pet water bowls, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found. However, you need not worry about using it outdoors when it's raining or snowing.

The case is made from 6061-T6 Aircraft-Grade Aluminum, and is treated with a black HA-III (hard anodized) finish.

The beam has a diameter of 2.00mm when it exits the product.
According to the web page on the S3 Spyder Krypton, it produces a TEM00 (transverse electromagnetic mode 00) beam - that is, it produces a beam with a Gaussian power distribution; circular with a central hotspot and dimmer corona. This is a typical laser mode, and is how many lasers (well, most lasers for consumer use anyway) are designed to operate.
Divergence is stated as 1.50mRad.

The high-power lens ("window" actually) is AR (antireflective) coated on both sides; this helps greatly with minimising loss of intensity due to reflective losses in the window.

Operating temperature range is between 32°F (0°C) and 100°F (38°C).
Using the Krypton beyond this temperature range is a rather severe no-no!!!

The Krypton is equipped with TeslaCool Thermostatic Regulation. It is the first portable laser to contain an internal thermopile detector. When excess heat is detected, the microprocessor gradually lowers operating current to ensure temperature stabilization.









Beam photograph on the test target at 12".



Low power.



High power.

Measures 114mW (low) and 412mW (high).



NIR radiation from the pump diode with the Krypton set to high; measures 22mW.
The amount of visible radiation impinging upon the sensor was very probably no more than 2µW (that's microwatts).



Power output of the Krypton on "low" with the furnished LaserShades between the beam output aperature and the laser power meter's sensor face.
Measures 3mW; however, most of this value is NIR radiation from the pump diode -- the actual green radiation content is estimated at 2 to 3µW (microwatts).


Power output of the Krypton on "high" with the furnished LaserShades between the beam output aperature and the laser power meter's sensor face. Measures 14mW; however, most of this value is NIR radiation from the pump diode -- the actual green radiation content is estimated at 10 to 15µW.

The LaserShades were slightly damaged during this high-power test; however, I was not able to obtain a photograph of this damage -- the melting is visible to the naked eye but fairly minor in the grand scheme of things.



Power output of the Krypton on "high" with the NIR filter from the CNI GLP-473nm Blue Laser Pointer over the output aperture and the furnished LaserShades between the beam output aperature and the laser power meter's sensor face. Measures 0mW. So the NIR filter in the Krypton (and there always is one in Wicked Lasers products!) simply isn't doing the whole job. Most of it perhaps, but not all of it.



Low power.



High power.



All measurements were performed on a LaserBee 2.5W USB Laser Power Meter w/Thermopile.



Beam photograph on a wall at ~8 feet.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; line effect lens used.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; cross-effect lens used.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; galaxy effect (starfield generator) lens used.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; focusing (burning) lens used.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; flashlight effect lens used.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12"; floodlight effect lens used.

All beam images except the lower two bloomed; the beam spot is also not white in the center like these photographs depict.



Photograph of a room taken using the Krypton as the only light source.
The beam was directed (aimed) at the ceiling ~4.50 feet away.
The image actually appeared significantly brighter in the viewfinder and the actual scene looked brighter too.



Photograph of the Krypton directed at a fairly distant (est. ~300 feet {~91.440 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 15.



Photograph of the Krypton's beam terminus (at maximum CW power) directed at a fairly distant (est. ~300 feet {~91.440 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 15. Photograph was taken at 11:28am PST on 02-27-12.
Ambient temperature when this photograph was taken was 28°F (-2.22°C).



"Blow-up" of the above photograph to more clearly show the beam terminus spot.



Photograph of the Krypton's beam terminus (at minimum CW power) directed at a fairly distant (est. ~150 feet {~45.720 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 28. Photograph was taken at 11:48am PDT on 06-28-12.
Camera was set to 6x telephoto.



Photograph of the Krypton's beam terminus (at maximum CW power) directed at a fairly distant (est. ~150 feet {~45.720 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 28. Photograph was taken at 11:49am PDT on 06-28-12.
Camera was set to 6x telephoto.



Photograph of the Krypton's beam terminus (at minimum CW power) directed at a fairly distant (est. ~150 feet {~45.720 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 28. Photograph was taken at 11:37am PDT on 06-28-12.
Camera was set to 24x telephoto.



Photograph of the Krypton's beam terminus (at maximum CW power) directed at a fairly distant (est. ~150 feet {~45.720 meters}) target; the albedo of the target is approx. 28. Photograph was taken at 11:37am PDT on 06-28-12.
Camera was set to 24x telephoto.



Battery discharge analysis: Beacon mode on low power setting.
Runs for 1 day 18 hours 2 minutes (42:02).



Battery discharge analysis: High-power CW mode.
Runs for 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
That "dip" in the chart is very likely due to the TeslaCool circuit kicking in; this helps to greatly extend the life of the laser diode by preventing it from overheating.



Short-term stability analysis of the Krypton, low-power CW mode, 10.5 minutes.


Short-term stability analysis of the Krypton, high-power CW mode, 10.5 minutes.
That droop in power output is again very likely due to the TeslaCool circuit kicking in; this helps to greatly extend the life of the laser diode by preventing it from overheating.



Long-term stability analysis at maximum CW power; operated until the freshly-charged 16850 cell pooped out.

Case temperature was measured with a CEM DT-8810 Noncontact IR Thermometer at 99°F (37.22°C) when the test was 4,090 seconds (~68 minutes 12 seconds) in progress.
Total duration of this test was 5,400 seconds (exactly 90 minutes).


A long-term stability analysis at minimum power output would be here now (02-29-12), however not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES I bumped something I shouldn't have and queered the test...I'm running it again for the third time (as of 10:24am PDT 02-28-12) so I sould have something up here by tomorrow morning.



Long-term stability analysis cum battery discharge analysis at minimum CW power; operated until the freshly-charged 16850 cell pooped out.
Laser temperature was 87°F (30.55°C) at an ambient temperature of 75°F (23.9°C); this temperature measurement was taken 13,515 seconds (225.25 minutes) into the test.

Total duration of this test was 18,700 seconds (311.67 minutes; 5.19 hours).


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 525nm and 545nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 531.880nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 800nm and 830nm to check for NIR emission from the pump diode.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton after almost two hours continuous operation at maximum power (now at minimum power) to check for wavelength drift; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 525nm and 545nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 531.670nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton after almost two hours continuous operation at maximum power (now at maximum power) to check for wavelength drift; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 525nm and 545nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 532.004nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton after almost two hours continuous operation at maximum power (now at minimum power) to check for wavelength drift of the pump diode; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 800nm and 830nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 806.555nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton after almost two hours continuous operation at maximum power (now at maximum power) to check for wavelength drift of the pump diode; spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 800nm and 830nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 810.934nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton on low mode; newer spectrometer software settings used.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton on low mode; newer spectrometer software settings used -- spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 525nm and 545nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 531.655nm.

Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton on high mode, newer spectrometer software settings used.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton on high mode; newer spectrometer software settings used -- spectrometer's response narrowed to a range between 525nm and 545nm to pinpoint wavelength, which is 531.672nm.

The raw spectrometer data (tab-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/43/krypton.txt (this newer file shows that the wavelength is 530.630nm).


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the S3 Krypton on high mode; this allows you to see the NIR emission from the pump diode, who's wavelength is 810.310nm.

The raw spectrometer data (tab-delimited that can be loaded into Excel) is at http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/43/kryppump.txt


Spectral line halfwidth analysis
Spectral line halfwidth analysis (low). Appears to be ~2.700nm.


Spectral line halfwidth analysis
Spectral line halfwidth analysis (high). Appears to be 2.590nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the Krypton's SmartSwitch™.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the Krypton's SmartSwitch™; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 620nm and 670nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 559.271nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED battery gauge on the Krypton.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED battery gauge on the Krypton; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 620nm and 670nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 643.770nm.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the Krypton's battery charger.


Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of the LED in the Krypton's battery charger; spectrometer's response narrowed to a band between 620nm and 670nm to pinpoint peak wavelength, which is 636.371nm.

Although this is a bicolor LED, the yellow-green die is simply too feeble to allow me to take a measurement of it.





Spectrographic analysis
Spectrographic analysis of fluorescence of a spray-painted rock that the utility company here uses to mark telephone wires and such so that they do not become destroyed while they're laying new natural gas service pipe.

USB2000 Spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis (low mode).


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis (high mode); this laser is showing a slight tendency to produce a TEM01 beam, rather than a true TEM00 one.

When directed at a distant target (and set to
maximum candiosity...er...uh...POWER), this laser most definitely
produces a TEM01 beam; consisting of two ovoid
spots seperated by a dark area.

Images made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.





Video on YourTube showing all nine modes of the SmartSwitch™ v2.0 on the Wicked Lasers Krypton DPSS green portable laser.

My voice sounds bad because of the brain surgery I had in 2002.

This video is approximately 31.399956348350 megabytes (31,621,528 bytes) in length; dial-up users please be aware.
It will take no less than one hundred fifty seven minutes to load at 48.0Kbps.




''Cross'' optic for the Wicked Lasers Spyder 3 series shown "malfunctioning" -- it now appears as though this optic was optimised for use on S3 lasers with a larger beam diameter at aperture.

This clip is approximately 2.224356238143 megabytes (2,424,903 bytes) in length; dial-up users please be aware.
It will take no less than fifty minutes to load at 48.0Kbps.





TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by Steve of Wicked Lasers on 01-30-12 (or "30 Jan 2012" if you prefer), and was received at 10:38am PST on 02-09-12 (or "09 Feb 2012" or even Feb. 09, Twenty Stick-Very-Twirly-Stick" if you prefer).



UPDATE: 02-11-12
Took a current usage measurement under quiescent conditions; e.g., not lasing at all.
Measures 28.330mA in this state.


UPDATE: 08-10-12
Took an outdoor beam photograph at 5:14am PDT on 08-08-12.
To wit:





PROS:
EXTREMELY POWERFUL output for such a small, self-contained unit
Powerful enough to burn, destroy, and leave wrinkles everywh...o wait!!! wrong infomercial!!!
Battery it uses is rechargeable; never have to find disposables for it


CONS:
Timing for using the SmartSwitch™ is somewhat critical; if your timing sucks, you can't get this laser to fire off
(This is a crucial safety feature, and can rather easily be overlooked!)



    MANUFACTURER: Wicked Lasers
    PRODUCT TYPE: Portable DPSS green portable laser
    LAMP TYPE: DPSS green laser
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot; it's a laser, remember?
    SWITCH TYPE: Arm/disarm button & interlock dongle on tailcap; pushbutton on/mode change/off on barrel
    CASE MATERIAL: Hard-anodized aluminum
    BEZEL: Metal; has aperture (hole) for laser beam to emerge
    BATTERY: 1x 185650 rechargeable cell; I believe 1,400mAh capacity
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 28.330mA (quiescent), 28.001mA (tactical hibernation), 396mA (minimum CW output) and 1,321mA (1.321A) (maximum CW output)
    WATER- AND URANATION-RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: FOR CHRIST SAKES NOOOOO!!!
    ACCESSORIES: Belt holster, protective "LaserShades" laser eyewear, zippered pouch for them, cleaning cloth for them, training lens, 7 other specialty lenses, lens cleaning pen, "Class IIIb LASER" sticker, 18650 cell, charger
    SIZE: 35.80mm D by 257.70mm L
    WEIGHT: 456.90 grams (w/ battery)
    COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
    WARRANTY: 1 year

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





S3 Krypton Green DPSS Portable Laser * www.wickedlasers.com...







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