Confused...

Hello.
I've been reading a lot on this topic in the last few weeks. Long story short, I had a laser pointer that I purchased 10 years ago. Lost it. Bought a cheap red one at a dollar store. CHEAP POS. Trashed it. Decided to see what's out there, and saw lasers that could burn things, pop balloons...basically, the things you all know they can do from experience.

I'll be purchasing my first real laser in a few weeks. How quickly I do it depends on what I buy.

I'm looking at the Nova Alpha 125, or an Optotronics PPL 125.

Besides battery size, and duty cycle, what's the difference? Will they both pop balloons at reasonable distances? Light matches from several feet? Can an alpha go through 5 or 6 balloons back to back in a short time?

That's another question...I seem to recall seeing a video of someone lighting a match, unaided, from 15 feet or so. Is that possible with a 125mW, or do I need to go up in power?

I've decided against WL, Techlasers, Starphaser, and Dragon. I'm really leaning towards Nova/Laserglow or Optotronics as most of the reviews here and on other sites are outstanding.

The question in a nutshell: of 125mW lasers, will a large, pen style (AA vs AAA) be as satisfying as a handheld portable?

First...Welcome to the Forum!

Both of the lasers you list are awesome pieces....

However, IMHO they are two completely different class of laser.
With sheer size being the largest difference!

The PPL is going to offer longer duty cycles due to the better heatsinking design.

I the Alpha is AA sized...the PPL uses 2 "C" cells...

It sounds like you already know all of that....

The price diff is pretty close...

Optronics offers a 7.5 % discount to LPF memberw with 10 or more posts under their belt...

Nova starts out slightly less than the PPL..and offers a 5% forum discount...

You have a tough decision to make there...
If it were me....I have wanted a Nova Alpha 125 for a while now...so that is most likely what I would get...

I also like "Small"...
The Extra duty cycle of the PPl comes at the cost of size..



But I have to say...that Optotronics laser sure makes me look!!!!

If I were after a 300+ Mw laser....I'd understand that I was not going to be dropping it into my shirt pocket.

At "Only"...(heheheheh) 125mw...the alpha seems about the perfect size given it's power rating.

Just My two cents...

In the end ..both are Awesome lasers from Really good companies...
Wahtever you decide...you will be happy!!!!

LarryQ

Thanks! That's kind of the way I was leaning, but, wasn't sure.
So, the power/capability on these will be basically the same, but, will have shorter duty cycle for the Alpha?

Lol forget my last post comparing the Alpha , I thought you meant the X series, I am tired ;D ;D ;D

Jase

Edit : so confused I just deleted it haha ;D.

Welcome to the forum btw

Tallaxo said:

Lol forget my last post comparing the Alpha , I thought you meant the X series, I am tired  ;D ;D ;D

Jase

Click to expand...

No problem. Figured you had them confused!

HanShotFirst.kc said:

Thanks!  That's kind of the way I was leaning, but, wasn't sure.
So, the power/capability on these will be basically the same, but, will have shorter duty cycle for the Alpha?

Click to expand...

Yes...the PPl will have a longer duty cycle than the alpha...but again size is the price of that duty cycle...

And  as mentioned a 125mw un-aided match light at 15 feet is asking a lot.

Unless either of the 125's were massively over spec..it's going to be tough.

I don't know if even a 200 Mw red would do that at 15 feet...but the reds would have the advantage of being able to focus them at a particular distance.

LarryQ

Yeah...I agree. My record so far with my red labby is 8 feet....a non-sharpied safety match.
This is pushing it with 350mw's. I don't have a power meter yet so.....

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Couple more questions: Red vs. Green...

I know that the green is more visible to our eyes, shorter wavelength, etc. But, are the WL Pulsars even worth it? It sounds like their divergence isn't all that great. And, all the vids I've seen of them generally involve using lenses of some sort, or really close burning distances.


Second, is there a lens out there with a very gradual focus point, which will concentrate the beam to it's smallest point at a distance of meters rather than inches, thereby extending the burning distance?


Thanks again.

IMHO...
You can easily build a better laser than the Pulsar by following one of the many guides here.
From what I have read, the Pulsar only comes to life after perfroming a Focus Mod.
Thusfar, I have used the AixiZ modules to great success to focus at all kinds of distances...
I've made 2 Reds based on designs posted here...and have another awaiting the final decision of the red "Phaser" diodes that Daedal found.



As far as the gradual focus lens...I think that the best way to do this is to have an adjustable lens...a fixed lens will have a fixed focal length and limits what you can do with the laser...

Again IMHO..an adjustable focus length just seems more flexible.

LarryQ