Laser Amperage

[Isaak]

Hi. I have recently purchased a chinese HX40A Laser Engraver. It is a 220 Volt Device, and it is supposed to have a 40 Watt Laser. It has a Milliamp meter and a Potentiometer to increase or decrease the Laser Power. If i set the Potentiometer to its maximum, the reading reaches scarcely 15 miliamps. If i multiply 15 Miliamps by 220 Volts, results in only 3.3 Watts. Does that mean the Laser is only working at a fraction of its full Potential?

[zax15uk]

No, because the laser tube isn't running at 220V. I'm not sure what the voltage is for these, but somewhere in the 1.5kV range I would imagine.

That is about as far as the meter will read, you are working ok at the full power (more like 35W on the Chinese 40W rated tubes).

I would not suggest using it at full power as it significantly reduces the life expectancy, 90 or 95% power is best if necessary.

Zax.