Green Laser Pointers...Power limit??? - Page 2

smenkhare · #21 22-04-2007, 11:27 AM

i believe in NSW it's 5mw for a laser pointer. Those high powered ones however are laser modules which allows them to get past that limitation.

if you are interested in one. DON'T buy off ebay as most of those don't have ir filters.

http://www.wickedlasers.com/

these guys are the most reputable and will give you your money back if the laser doesn't get past customs.

Ingo · #22 23-04-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smenkhare

i believe in NSW it's 5mw for a laser pointer. Those high powered ones however are laser modules which allows them to get past that limitation.

if you are interested in one. DON'T buy off ebay as most of those don't have ir filters.

http://www.wickedlasers.com/

these guys are the most reputable and will give you your money back if the laser doesn't get past customs.

I would not recommend buying from Wicked Lasers. These guys are well known scam artists, that make a ton of money. I've been around them a long time, I was once their official photographer. Nobody ever receives their lasers up to spec and they released their new Evolution series about a month ago. ONE person has received a laser that was up to spec.

Also, wicked laser type pointers are overpriced, and there's a duty cycle unless you feel like spending $2000 on an overpriced laser that wont even be up to spec, and will most likely be USED before you receive it.

I'd recommend lasers from http://www.lucentoptics.com, http://www.optotronics.com, and http://www.laserglow.com/.

All of those sites test their lasers for output before going out, unlike WickedLasers.

ving (David) · #23 23-04-2007, 09:39 AM

interesting ingo! thanks for the headsup on that!

DJVege · #24 23-04-2007, 09:57 AM

Thanks for the info guys. Firstly, once I get my ebay laser, I'll pull it apart and look for the IR filter. I'll let you know my findings. If it's crap, I'll get a 5 or 10mW laser from one of the websites mentioned above.

Thanks again.

...DJVege...

smenkhare · #25 23-04-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingo

I would not recommend buying from Wicked Lasers. These guys are well known scam artists,

Really?
I've never had a problem having bought a pulsar and nexus from them.

Ingo · #26 24-04-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smenkhare

Really?
I've never had a problem having bought a pulsar and nexus from them.

When did you buy your pulsar? Their old ones are good, but their new ones are severely mis-designed and underpowered.

The nexus, I doubt it's outputting more than 75mW.

astroron (Ron) · #27 24-04-2007, 02:19 PM

People have been turning up at Cambroon with 20mw laser pointers, I have a 5mw one and there is very little or no difference, so buy a 5mw and save your money.
In my opinion there is no value in higher power.
Just my two bobs worth.

xstream (John) · #28 24-04-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

People have been turning up at Cambroon with 20mw laser pointers, I have a 5mw one and there is very little or no difference, so buy a 5mw and save your money.
In my opinion there is no value in higher power.
Just my two bobs worth.

I have to agree with Ron, There is no real benefit in getting a higher power laser. 5mw is more than bright enough.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #29 24-04-2007, 09:23 PM

Yep, Ron's right.
We were dueling lasers the other night, and his 5mW was as strong as my 20mW.
I could have saved myself $40.

Ingo · #30 24-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Yep, Ron's right.
We were dueling lasers the other night, and his 5mW was as strong as my 20mW.
I could have saved myself $40.

You need 2x the power, for 1x the visible brightness. So 20mW should've looked slightly brighter. If not, your 5mW is not 20mW.

Often cheapies aren't real power.

astroron (Ron) · #31 24-04-2007, 10:10 PM

So is the SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER WORTH THE MONEY?
Ingo, I think you meant to say your 20mw is 5mw, is that correct?

Ingo · #32 25-04-2007, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astroron

So is the SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER WORTH THE MONEY?
Ingo, I think you meant to say your 20mw is 5mw, is that correct?

Yes, thanks for the correction.

Brighter may not be worth that much more money for astronomers as they can be distracting and make other astronomers angry. Laser enthusiasts will want more power to burn stuff, which also comes out to be a lot brighter.

smenkhare · #33 25-04-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingo

When did you buy your pulsar? Their old ones are good, but their new ones are severely mis-designed and underpowered.

The nexus, I doubt it's outputting more than 75mW.

it was a couple of years ago.

I've since sold both and bought a HeNe gas laser.

unfortunately argons are too expensive for me.

DJVege · #34 25-04-2007, 11:15 PM

Ok guys. I got the laser pointer from ebay today. Here are my initial findings:

1) This definitely ISN'T a REAL 240mW laser, as it doesn't burn anything. However, it is VERY bright!! There is no heat coming from it, either.
2) I don't know how to take it apart to look for this IR filter. I tried looking down the barrel of it, but I can't make out anything. Any ideas on how to take this thing apart?

...DJVege...

Ingo · #35 26-04-2007, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJVege

Ok guys. I got the laser pointer from ebay today. Here are my initial findings:

1) This definitely ISN'T a REAL 240mW laser, as it doesn't burn anything. However, it is VERY bright!! There is no heat coming from it, either.
2) I don't know how to take it apart to look for this IR filter. I tried looking down the barrel of it, but I can't make out anything. Any ideas on how to take this thing apart?

...DJVege...

240mW should burn your hand in an instant, no matter what color you are. My 130mW does instantly. So I'm guessing you're getting maybe 10mW of green light, and 240mW of unfocused, very harmful 808nm or 1064nm invisible light. Usually they're 250mW pump diodes and they put 240mW there because they're unfiltered and actually do give out that much light, but it isn't all visible.

If you'd like to keep your eyesight, I recommend buying a IR filter off of eBay that'll fit over the aperture of the laser to protect your vision as not even a second at 240mW will damage your eyes forever.

Ingo · #36 26-04-2007, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smenkhare

it was a couple of years ago.

I've since sold both and bought a HeNe gas laser.

unfortunately argons are too expensive for me.

Yeah, that was when they were a great trustworthy company with great products, but now they have gone bad and scammish.

ving (David) · #37 26-04-2007, 10:53 AM

of course ingo, you dont sugest trying to burn yourself to see if a 240mw is what it says it is

I have a 10mw, its plenty.

Ingo · #38 26-04-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

of course ingo, you dont sugest trying to burn yourself to see if a 240mw is what it says it is

I have a 10mw, its plenty.

Well, it's a slight sting. It doesn't permanently burn

DJVege · #39 26-04-2007, 11:54 AM

If I look down the barrel, there SEEMS to be a bluish colour....

I can't take it apart, though. How would I get an IR filter in it, if it needs one?

Ingo · #40 26-04-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJVege

If I look down the barrel, there SEEMS to be a bluish colour....

I can't take it apart, though. How would I get an IR filter in it, if it needs one?

That could just be lens coatings. If you want, just glue a IR filter, or you can try to manufacture something that'll go over the end, and hold the IR filter.

I think it's a lot better than losing your eyesight permanently .