Just wanted to share my very first laser over 5mW 
I just got a diode/module combo order from ebay (i know I know, not the smartest). Surprisingly I received it just fine and it does work, came complete with resistors to help keep me from over loading it, a POT would have been nice but can't have everything.... ;-) Anyway, I took this module and I was trying to figure out where I was going to get a battery housing, and a case for the module itself... hmmm... *gasp* I have an ancient toy star trek:tng phaser light toy!! Crap son, this ought to work like a champ! sure enough, the power output to the diode might be a little low, I used the original phaser circuitry, and am powering the laser with the same leads that powered the original light bulb in the toy. Tiny light so I figured I'd be pretty safe. Everything is wired with resistors already, of what rating I'm not exactly sure I still need to get a new multimeter. a 150mW laser should put a hole through electrical tape right? I can make it smoke pretty good, just thought it would have a bit more power than that. It's also possible it really isn't truely 150mW, its from ebay after all... *sigh* So, I'll shut up now and just show the pics ;-) all in all I'm still pretty happy for a first time higher powered laser, this thing has some distance I'll give it that :-D
I just got a diode/module combo order from ebay (i know I know, not the smartest). Surprisingly I received it just fine and it does work, came complete with resistors to help keep me from over loading it, a POT would have been nice but can't have everything.... ;-) Anyway, I took this module and I was trying to figure out where I was going to get a battery housing, and a case for the module itself... hmmm... *gasp* I have an ancient toy star trek:tng phaser light toy!! Crap son, this ought to work like a champ! sure enough, the power output to the diode might be a little low, I used the original phaser circuitry, and am powering the laser with the same leads that powered the original light bulb in the toy. Tiny light so I figured I'd be pretty safe. Everything is wired with resistors already, of what rating I'm not exactly sure I still need to get a new multimeter. a 150mW laser should put a hole through electrical tape right? I can make it smoke pretty good, just thought it would have a bit more power than that. It's also possible it really isn't truely 150mW, its from ebay after all... *sigh* So, I'll shut up now and just show the pics ;-) all in all I'm still pretty happy for a first time higher powered laser, this thing has some distance I'll give it that :-D
