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View Full Version : Laser heads - pitted



angrypenguin
05-02-2017, 08:18 PM
I remember reading on here that as the laser heads get pitted because of rocks and stuff and wear and tear that it doesn't negatively impact performance of the ALP.

Is this so? Doesn't this seem counterintuitive?

E.g. you pelt my glasses with rocks and stuff, and at some point my vision will deteriorate, as will your ability to see me rolling my eyes as I speed past you, no? :p

RedRocket
05-03-2017, 07:45 AM
I remember reading on here that as the laser heads get pitted because of rocks and stuff and wear and tear that it doesn't negatively impact performance of the ALP.

Is this so? Doesn't this seem counterintuitive?

E.g. you pelt my glasses with rocks and stuff, and at some point my vision will deteriorate, as will your ability to see me rolling my eyes as I speed past you, no? :pI've looked at 2 cars w/ my IR camera over the last couple of years & found no significant effect on the IR pattern output. What I have found that has major impact on performance is accumulation of a film of road grime (& especially road salt in Winter time) that really attenuates the IR output. In the Winter, I grab a handful of fresh snow everyday & wipe off each of my Transponders w/ it...sometimesmore than 2 or 3 times if I'm putting the miles on.

Usually, LEOs don't do much enforcement w/ Lidar in the cold w/ their window rolled down but I have seen it done around me.

Tman
05-03-2017, 09:56 AM
As RR stated , I compare pitted lens to a frosted windows : you cant
see details but you can perceive the light.
Ir pierces through black garbage bag ,
multiple layers of black tape.

The power of infrared.

angrypenguin
05-03-2017, 12:18 PM
Thanks gentlemen!

I assume replacing the plastic part of the lens is something that ALP does not do though, right? (yes, I now understand it's no big deal, but thought I'd ask).

Thanks!

BestRadarDetectors
05-03-2017, 03:21 PM
Thanks gentlemen!

I assume replacing the plastic part of the lens is something that ALP does not do though, right? (yes, I now understand it's no big deal, but thought I'd ask).

Thanks!

No, They do not replace lenses.

radargeek
05-04-2017, 08:01 AM
It's more an appearance thing than a performance thing. My LI heads were quite "frosted over" from many years on the front of my car but they still worked well. It might diffuse the beam very slightly but not enough to impact performance.

After a year and a half my front ALP heads still look shiny though, but I'm not driving as much as I used to either.

System
05-26-2017, 01:52 PM
When I had LSP's they had a few 1/8"+ rock chips off of them and they still provided me with a save time and time again. I've seen this exact same situation with the ALP. I haven't personally ran ALP's with significant damage, but the plastic lens is thick so I don't think it would deter the light output much