WTB-low power blues

marks47 · Jan 19, 2011

Looking for a low-priced blue pointer... 473 preferred, 445 OK.
5mw 473 would be ideal. I'm looking for a "toy" vs. something I need goggles for. Have they come down in price much over the last couple years?

From what I've read on here, 445nm's don't lase at the lower power levels...? Is that right?

Hoping to spend a bit less than the $300 new prices I've seen for the 473nm blues on places like thinkgeek, etc...
Am I off my rocker?

Thanks.

aryntha · Jan 20, 2011

Unfortuantely, probably, yes. The "floor" for 473 seems to be around $300; There are some 5mW lab units on eBay for $100 but they're hardly pointers, and as usual with ebay, "as-is", "we haven't verified anything", etc.

473 nm Blue Laser, DPSS, B&W Tek BWB-10-OEM - eBay (item 220660063507 end time Jan-22-11 14:47:07 PST)

You won't find low power 445s either, really, because there's no cost savings in running the diodes at a lower output.

And unfortunately the two wavelengths are eating eachother in a way, because as much as I'd love to see 473 go down in price, now that we have 1w of 445 for relatively inexpensive, there's zero drive for that.

(473 was on its way down before 445 hit the scene, but now that's stopped.)

532 with Envy · Jan 20, 2011

You are right that the 445nm diodes don't usually lase a low current....the lowest one I have is running around 145mW.
The 473nm are usually 5-25mW but very expensive and $300 almost seems in-line if not a bit cheap.
Perhaps keep your eye out here, as i'm sure you have, but usually they are pretty expensive!
Good luck :beer:

marks47 · Jan 20, 2011

Bizarre. I was just reading fark, which linked to a story about all the airport incidents over the last year or so, which had an ad that linked to this somehow... Amazon.com: Blue Laser Pointer 5mW @ 445nm: Electronics

I wonder what the story with that is... Envy, I believe you're right, but I'm still curious how they could get it down to 5... but some super-smoked lenses in front of the aperture?

Coherent Light · Jan 20, 2011

Don't quote Me but I think even at threshold a 445nm is well above 5mw.

jakeGT · Jan 20, 2011

a-140 diodes threshold is 250mA

if a 445 at 1A is ~800-1100mW then 250 mA should definitely be higher than 5mW

mod101 · Jan 21, 2011

marks47 said:
Bizarre. I was just reading fark, which linked to a story about all the airport incidents over the last year or so, which had an ad that linked to this somehow... Amazon.com: Blue Laser Pointer 5mW @ 445nm: Electronics

I wonder what the story with that is... Envy, I believe you're right, but I'm still curious how they could get it down to 5... but some super-smoked lenses in front of the aperture?

Seller is CNI so it seems to be legit, and yes as everyone else has been saying, the 445 A140 diode doesn't lase until about 250ma. It probably true that this laser pen isn't an A140 diode and its a lower powered 445 diode similar to the A140 diode.

Prototype · Jan 21, 2011

It's not 5mW. I read a review on one a bit back and they removed the end cap and it was really doing like 20-30mW if memory serves, which is about the threshold power for these, though terrible unstable, and there is an ND filter in the end cap, that's how they get it to ~5mW.

scopeguy20 · Jan 21, 2011

OK, there is much better news to tell, I can attenuate a 445nm diode to both get a far better beam and get almost any mW level you could want, also I can get you a CNI "Pen" for a bit less now in the CNI GB's so please let me know if you prefer the lowest cost, (445nm) or the most pen like size, and where it is to be shipped and I can get it made or ordered for you!

-Glenn

midias · Jan 27, 2011

I built a 445nm pen that runs stable at about 20-30mw.

WTB-low power blues

marks47

0

aryntha

0

532 with Envy

0

marks47

0

Coherent Light

0

jakeGT

0

mod101

0

Prototype

0

scopeguy20

0

midias

0

Online statistics

Forum statistics

Share this page