I just installed a mA meter on my Chinese laser, but I'm not getting much of a reading from it. It's all explained in the video. If I fire the laser at 20-29%, it'll register up to 5mA, but only when the tube makes this high pitched, faint squealing noise. No noise, no reading. Also, if I fire at 30% and up, no reading. The laser fires and engraves as low as 20%. If I go below 20% on power, it's will fire, but it is extremely faint. I get a movement of the mA meter as low as 13% power. I feel like the issue is the tube itself, but I wanted to get the opinion of you guys who are more familiar with the Chinese machines.
Here's the video - Yes the garage is a mess: