200mW Green Laser and 2 AAA Batteries

• Apr 10, 2011

• #1

I

Invention

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I recently brought a 200mW green laser and it require two AAA alkaline batteries. My problem is the laser drains the batteries WAY TOO FAST! After about a minute of constant emission, the voltage deceased from 1.58 to about 1.51. After about two minute, my laser starts to lose its output power after few seconds after firing.

My questions is:
1. Is that actually normal?
2. Are there any way to mod the laser so it can provide longer life.

 

• Apr 10, 2011

• #2

rhd

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I bet you could rig up something fancy to allow two parallel 10440s instead of AAAs. That should get you longer life.

 

• Apr 10, 2011

• #3

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anselm

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Hello and welcome to the forum!:wave:
Have you tried Hi quality NiMH rechargeables?
Also I hope you are really really careful with that thing.
200mW (er even 100mW in the likely reality of your pointer) is plenty enough to
mess up your eye for good, should you catch an accidental reflection.
Inside your house are many things that you didn't even know reflected light until
you shine a laser at them, so BE CAREFUL please.

 

• Apr 10, 2011

• #4

RA_pierce

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Go to batteryjunction.com and get these:
Sanyo 1000mah AAA 2-pack NiMH Batteries

Best AAA batteries I have ever used.
They work great in all my pen lasers including my >175mW 532nm pen, no mod required.

 

• Apr 12, 2011

• #5

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Will those NiMH batteries works? For the laser, 2.8V is the trigger voltage and 3.2V is the working voltage. 2 NiMH batteries provide only 2.4V, making me uncertain.

 

• Apr 12, 2011

• #6

Gryphon

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^ yes, the nimhs will have a lower peak voltage but your laser is more current hungry than anything else. Nimhs will do a better job at providing the necessary current while the driver handles the voltage.

 

• Apr 12, 2011

• #7

RA_pierce

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Invention said:

Will those NiMH batteries works? For the laser, 2.8V is the trigger voltage and 3.2V is the working voltage. 2 NiMH batteries provide only 2.4V, making me uncertain.

Click to expand...

Fully charged, my NiMH batteries are around 1.4V each. They are ~1.2V when it is time to recharge.

 

• Apr 12, 2011

• #8

Cyparagon

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^1.2V under load

(from Google images. Ignore "useable limit" line)

 

Last edited: Apr 12, 2011