dangers of a 5mw greenie

So as stated in another thread I foolishly tried to pot mod a 5mw green pointer pen and broke it.

I decided that for educational purposes I would tear it down and see what makes it tick.

The question I have is, now that I have removed all focusing lenses does it still present a danger to look into the end of it if I press the button?

something in there still lights up but Im afraid to look directly into it for fear there is some crazy IR or something that will crew up my eyes.

thanks for any answers

Yes it is still dangerous.

The 5mW limit is the limit where not being stupid, and natural blink reflex will protect your retina from VISIBLE ONLY light.

The IR diode there may be 250mW, which will blow a hole in your retina without you seeing or feeling it. Unfortunately most 5mW pointers have the IR filter just after the collimation lens, so probably that got removed as well.

Thank you for the response, Ill just toss the thing in the trash and be done with it. Sounds like ti was a good thing I was wary of it.

Only 4 post and leaning quick. Good for you!!!

laser diodes at the edges of vision still frighten me. I have a nice 808nm (near IR) that I have played with a bit, I've powered it up to ~100mA or so, and saw a faint red dot on the wall..

As a test, I looked at it through my little point-and-shoot canon camera, and HOLY JEEBUS, theres a *LOT* of light coming out of that thing that I can't see..

So, yeah.. Until I get my laser legs under me, I'm safely stowing away that 808.. Far too easy to damage vision, and not even realise you're doing it.

Good call on tossing the whole thing.. Perhaps for educational purposes, you could buy a LPC-826 diode (modwerks, amongst others sell them) they're canless, and you can see the micro wires attached to the semiconductor, and everything.. I wouldn't suggest looking into one while its fired up at any appreciable level, but for $10 you can see the inner workings..

Just a thought..

Alright so I grabbed to thing to scrap it and figured that I would go ahead and tear it all the way down. I tossed the old diode but kept the driver board and all the brass bits as well as the pen tube.

Would this make an okay host down the line or since I dont have the lens from the end would that present a problem?

It would probably be useable for a host if you can fit an Aixiz module in it, if not then toss it!