cold laser overheating?

Hi!

I just got a 50 mW green LP [1] and it doesn't lase well when it's cold. Now I got the idea it would be safe to turn it on longer than the recommended duty cycle until it lases well, but after some online searching it rather seems that the cold sensitive part is the KTP frequency doubling crystal while the part prone to overheating and dying is the IR diode. So even if the laser only produces low green laser output when cold the IR diode might still overheat and die. Is that right?

Thanks, Bernhard

[1]
SD-301 Focusable 50mw 532nm Green Laser Pointer with Safety Key Lock (Black)
http://www.lazerpoint.com/p-sd-301-...er-pointer-with-safety-key-lock-black_8816498

Don't worry about that. Green lasers aways perform better when they are warmed-up. The sinks are preventing the crystals being overheated.

I'm sorry for the late reply, but lazerer was down and I wanted to quote from their web site ...

Blord said:

Don't worry about that. Green lasers aways perform better when they are warmed-up. The sinks are preventing the crystals being overheated.

Click to expand...

lazerer.com says some of their thick (18650/16650 battery) 50mW handheld greenies require a duty cycle:

LZCS - 532nm 50mW Focusable Green Laser Pointer
Please strictly follow the duty cycle to prevent the laser from demaging.
Recommended Duty Cycle: 60 seconds on, 30 seconds off

LZSK - 532nm 50mW Focusable Green Laser Pointer
Please strictly follow the duty cycle to prevent the laser from demaging.
Recommended Duty Cycle: 180 seconds on, 60 seconds off

Others do not mention a duty cycle:

LZGN - 532nm 50mW Focusable Green Laser Pointer

There seems to be a pattern. The ones with duty cycle have their specs in table form. The bullet type spec lists don't mention it.

My laser spec did not actually mention a duty cycle, but unless a trusted source tells me it can run continuously, I'll rather be safe than sorry.

Do you think the recommended duty cycle of the lasers that specify it is not neccessary?

Is it the crystal (which) that takes damage at continuous operation? I thought it would be the diode.