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Ignoring the laser drawing 7 amps, all the others were clustered either about
5.5 amps (12 lasers, range 5.2 to 5.8 ) or about 6.0 amps (8 lasers, range 5.9
to 6.4).
Some of you may have guessed our situation: We had a very nice FACScan laser
that lasted well over 4 years. It drew about 5.8 amps of current for over 3
years, at which point it gradually started to creep up above 6 amps and then
died at 7 amps. We have just received a new laser (with a shockingly short 90
day warranty period from BD). This new laser is drawing 6.6-6.8 amps. My
concern is, obviously, that this laser is a dud and will fail after a
relatively short (but happy) life. While I realize that each laser has its own
characteristics and that BD and Spectra Physics are not to blame for this, I
am concerned with having to bear the cost of a laser on the lemonish side of
average. Obviously, I'd have no problems if the laser had a 3 year warranty
or if we had a laser service contract......but these service contracts have
never seemed (in the past!) to be worth the money. My situation with BD at
the moment is that we will wait another few weeks to see if the current creeps
up any more. I'm obviously hoping that it will. Any advice??? Any comments
about whether the laser power supply could actually be causing the problem
(some engineers seem to replace the power supply along with the laser,
although this seems excessive to me).
Alice
Alice L. Givan
Englert Cell Analysis Laboratory
Dartmouth Medical School
Lebanon, New Hampshire
NH 03756 USA
tel 603-650-7661
fax 603-650-6130
e-mail givan@dartmouth.edu
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