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Need to know your lasers power?

NightExplorer96

NightExplorer96

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Recently I've seen what seems like a common occurrence, new members asking what the power of their lasers could be. Most of the time, the links to the laser they purchased link to Alibaba or eBay, hec even some sites many haven't even heard of! I'll update more as I have the time to, or feel free to add some of your own :)

As a way to clean up the forums and offer some help, plus I have some free time here's a way to determine the output of different wavelength of lasers.
(This is just a general rule, please have your laser LPM'ed by a member on the forums to determine accurate output! Below is a link to members who own an LPM.)
(The following list dosen't include potential IR leakage possible with lower quality green lasers. No matter the output of your laser, don't aim it at your/others eyes!! Don't base a lasers power on it's beam, as said this is a general guide please get it LPM'ed!)
Link: http://laserpointerforums.com/f70/map-members-access-laser-power-meters-92373.html


532nm
5mW
  • Beam is visible at night/dark room with no artificial lighting.
  • Cannot smoke any material, or pop balloons(even focused)
15mW
  • Beam is visible in a dim lighted room.
  • Cannot smoke any material/pop balloons(even focused)
35mW
  • Beam visible in light areas/dusk.
  • Can pop balloons(if focused). Can cut holes in very thin, dark colored plastic.
50mW
  • Beam is easily visible at nighttime/dusk & in lit rooms.
  • Easily pops balloons. Depending on focus, may smoke dark colored material.
100mW
  • Beam brightly apparent at night/dusk.
  • Can light matches, smoke dark colored material.
150mW
  • Beam brightly apparent at night/dusk.
  • Can cut through thin dark colored plastic/depending on focus may cut rubber tape. Smoke dark colored material.

^Some of the above info was taken from styropyro's video "What can different Green Lasers Do" along with some information I've read from previous members on the forums. If any information you find is incorrect let me know and I'll update is ASAP as the point is to keep laser hobbyists safe. If this thread is seen as helpful enough, more wavelengths/powers will be added!

-Alex
 
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150,000mW

Beam brightly apparent in direct sunlight and cuts James Bond in half.
It might be a bit heavy and batteries drain rapidly.
Be sure to wear your safety goggles.
BTW you got a good deal at $300.00

Just kidding :D
Nice info LeHap!!
 
Sorry, but this gets a booo from me. There's no way to tell output by just looking at it, and furthermore everyone's eyes are different and may not perceive a lasers brightness the same as someone else.
 
Laser Chick said:
150,000mW

Beam brightly apparent in direct sunlight and cuts James Bond in half.
It might be a bit heavy and batteries drain rapidly.
Be sure to wear your safety goggles.
BTW you got a good deal at $300.00

Just kidding :D
Nice info LeHap!!
Click to expand...

bahahahahahahahahahahah this is great. someone had to say it I guess...
 
LeHap said:
here's a way to determine the output of different wavelength of lasers.
Click to expand...

Wrong. This is ridiculous and misleading. most/all of these parameters depend on ambient humidity, dust content, wavelength, beam diameter, and many other things which cannot be accounted for or easily quantified.

You need to research these things before blindly repeating something you read on the internet. You've been here long enough to know better.

-4
 
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These charts are meant to be ballpark figures to give an idea of a lasers power. The chart uses several objects along with visibility expectations which can be achieved if conditions are met. The mentioning of having your laser tested on a LPM is there so again this is just ballpark figures.

Dragonlasers has a similar chart/page on their site

Burning Laser Pointer : Dragon Lasers


Burning Laser Pointer : Dragon Lasers
 
I agree with crazyspaz on this. A 1W 445nm with a gigantic beam diameter won't appear very bright at all, even though it's a freakin' 1000mW. Dust content makes a huge difference. Try shining you laser in your room at night, then fluff up those pillows and blankets and shine your laser around again. Did your laser just gain 10x more power?
 
hwang21 said:
I agree with crazyspaz on this. A 1W 445nm with a gigantic beam diameter won't appear very bright at all, even though it's a freakin' 1000mW. Dust content makes a huge difference. Try shining you laser in your room at night, then fluff up those pillows and blankets and shine your laser around again. Did your laser just gain 10x more power?
Click to expand...

Agreed, and adding.

Beam size makes a HUGE difference also. Start playing around with Gas lasers and some 1-5mw beams are easily visible.

It's just that they are so pinpoint precise that you can see them and divergence is usually outstanding. They make most diodes look sloppy by comparison.

Get an LPM

Get 2. :)
 
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crazyspaz said:
Sorry, but this gets a booo from me. There's no way to tell output by just looking at it, and furthermore everyone's eyes are different and may not perceive a lasers brightness the same as someone else.
Click to expand...
Agree -- true.

Cyparagon said:
Wrong. This is ridiculous and misleading. most/all of these parameters depend on ambient humidity, dust content, wavelength, beam diameter, and many other things which cannot be accounted for or easily quantified.

You need to research these things before blindly repeating something you read on the internet. You've been here long enough to know better.
-4
Click to expand...

I agree 100%--it is misleading, ridiculous and confused in several ways at the same time--is a lame post. That is what happens when you do not have the direct experience or enough knowledge of what you are attempting to tell others about--is a classic example. Alex should know better by now after 2 years to research more comprehensively so as not to misguide, misinform, or give wrong information and to put together a better more coherent well integrated post.

He doesn't even get the name of styropyro's video correct or give a link to it --- it is "Green Lasers: What Can Certain mW Do?" see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woiTedSKPrk

He misses the biggest and most important point about knowing the output of a laser. As has been said on LPF 1000 times if it has been said once, the ONLY way to know the output of any laser is to LPM it.This should be said at the beginning/outset.

Misleading information or incorrect infomation based on imaginings about what might be the case not only doesn't help anyone comprehend the technical and physical realities, it discourages them learning or exploring or even thinking about the reality of the subject. It just serves create zombies who will repeat the same low level hear/say as if it was gospel-- meaning-- regarded as true and to be implicitly believed.

At the bottom he says " the point is to keep laser hobbyists safe". The post is not about safety at all--there is almost nothing at all about safety in the post other than "your laser, don't aim it at your/others eyes!!"

hwang21 said:
I agree with crazyspaz on this. A 1W 445nm with a gigantic beam diameter won't appear very bright at all, even though it's a freakin' 1000mW. Dust content makes a huge difference. Try shining you laser in your room at night, then fluff up those pillows and blankets and shine your laser around again. Did your laser just gain 10x more power?
Click to expand...

Very true ,hwang.

Alex/LeHap- maybe think about deleting this thread/post entirely or at least doing a serious edit/revision of the initial post and doing a much clearer and better job, if you can. It is not a "way to clean up the forums".
 
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When I read it I understood what you were saying and didn't have one thought of criticism regarding any point myself because I understood they were generalizations for common laser pointers as well as only for 532nm, it says so right from the beginning but maybe you added that later after Cyparagon made a point about wavelength. To make the report less assailable, just preface what you are writing with a simple statement that these are generalizations for common 532nm laser pointers of about 2mm beam diameter with somewhat average humidity or particulates in the air. I don't know what average is though :p

At the moment, I have no idea how to talk about particulates in the air, how do you quantify that to where someone can have any idea how their air environment differs from someone else's? I say that yet at the same time, my environment doesn't change much in that regard unless I purposely do something to change it, such is ruffling a blanket, slapping pillows around etc.

I realize we might see things differently from one person to another, but on average, I don't think we are that different when it comes to green, maybe red or blue there might be more perceptual variation between individuals due to our eyes being only 10% as sensitive at those wavelengths compared to green, but for 532nm that's near the middle of our eyes peak color sensitivity, I'd find it surprising that any of us would notice a few percentages plus or minus in our eyes sensitivity to 532nm green.
 
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Hi LeHap,
Your in California I'm in jersey quite a distance from one another. Well I would be happy to help if you want to send the laser to me or maybe find a closer person to LPM the beam.
If you decide send it priority mail 2to3 days. I just threw that out there but I'd be glad to help. I have the same wavelength in a 700mw diode and mine is over 1W with two Panasonic 18650 cells. The choice is yours glad if I can help you.
 
Lifetime17 said:
Hi LeHap,
Your in California I'm in jersey quite a distance from one another. Well I would be happy to help if you want to send the laser to me or maybe find a closer person to LPM the beam.
If you decide send it priority mail 2to3 days. I just threw that out there but I'd be glad to help. I have the same wavelength in a 700mw diode and mine is over 1W with two Panasonic 18650 cells. The choice is yours glad if I can help you.
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks I appreciate the offer! :) I normally send the lasers I need LPM'ed to ultimatekaiser as he's quite a bit close to me, but it dosen't really make a difference with priority mail the distance anyway. For now I'll just stick with the readings I received from CNI but will let either you or Matt know if I decide to get another power test done.

-Alex
 
I'd like to do something for ultimatekaiser someday, somehow, he offered to help me out with something which was a lot more involved than most would volunteer to help with.
 
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