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Al has encouraged me to be more scientific. I put the laser (empty), a set of cheap carbon batteries, and my brand new lithium batteries all into the freezer and did the shopping. On return, the laser plus new warm carbon batteries was dead as a dodo, but gradually came good (from the warmth of my hand and/or the batteries) working feebly in about 10 sec, and up to usual power in a minute or so. Conversely, freezing cold batteries worked first up in a warm laser. Conclusion: the laser itself is by far the worst offender. That means I need a way of putting it back in very exactly the same position each time for use for 3-star alignment. (Thinks: mmm. Have an idea....)
By the way, for people who haven't tried using a laser for alignment, it's (pardon the pun) brilliant! No lying in the mud with a cricked neck, no wondering if you've got Algorab or the one next to it, steering is intuitive, and (except in winter or at star parties) it will put your alignment star in the middle of a 0.5 deg low power field. But the cold thing is a pest. Perhaps I can knit it a tea-cosy.
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