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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Best to buy or build for Astro use

Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
2
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Hello,

I brought on recommendation two 1mw green laser points from UK source.

I knew they were not going to be a very bright beam (aka light sabre style) but I just wanted a solid stable visible green beam for using them for Star pointing (one attached to my scope and the other for hand use). I need them to be bright enough to be visible in at least twilight. I used them twice and now in one of them the beam is very very dull along with a barley visible green spot. I replaced the duracell batteries and I still get the dull and near invisible green even at the dead of night, the other pointer just glows slightly red when used and produces no green light.

I presumed these are now dead, so I am looking to replace these with something that will work multiple times just like my 6 year old red pointer does.

Rereading, I have since read that I should be at least using up to 50mw for Astro use to get a nice beam.

Could someone recommend a good 50mw pointer from a reputable supplier that will be priced between £30-£60 ( $46-$90)

I have also seem that one can buy modules, it is easy to buy a module and get one working (I can do my own enclosure etc), if so what else apart from a module would I need (driver???)

This might be the better way for me as I can learn as I build. Again a source for decent modules etc would be very helpful.

The reason I ask for recommendations is that the members here will be more knowledgeable than a box shifer company and also I have read that many many lasers out there are not up to the specification they are being advertised for. ie an advertised 10mw is actually a 1mw.
 





Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
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Thank you very much for the reply. Really appreciate it.

The module looks good especially as it can come with wire conductors ready to buiuld into my old finder scope housing.
 

Ash

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Joined
Mar 3, 2009
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That is a decent laser module.
It is the same module that is in these waterproof pointers: link or link
50mW should be good for star pointing, and the rayfoss waterproof host has enough mass to enable the laser to be on for a few minutes without worrying about overheating and killing it. The o-like waterproof has less heat-sinking.
Alternately, you could go with a non-waterproof one that has better heat-sinking, but it will be slightly more expensive. link

or, get that inexpensive module for $25 and get one of these heatsinks for constant duty. link
 
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
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the other pointer just glows slightly red when used and produces no green light.

Never look into that beam. Because of the way green lasers work, that is actually Infrared light that is much more powerful that it appears, more powerful than the green laser was originally.
 




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