3 Watt IR Portable Laser for night vision

I'm considering buying a 3W Infrared laser and fitting it in a head strap where a normal flashlight would be held. I'm wondering what type of viewing apparatus you all recommend that would fit like goggles (or glasses?).

I know I could look through a camera and in front of me would be bright as day with a wide beam. I'm just wondering if there is anything I can put on my face that is attached to a camera-type lens in goggles that isn't going to cost over $100? I know, I'm asking for a lot here. Just wondering if anybody has any experience doing this?! 3W infrared would be insanely awesome for night vision while roaming around in the woods, or even for a line-of-sight project aiming at night (or in the day even with a beam that bright) I'm sure.

Your thoughts? :thanks:

My thoughts, bad idea.

First of all, why do you need an IR laser, especially one that powerful, mounted on your head RIGHT ABOVE YOUR EYES anyway? Regardless of the use, you shouldn't need 3W of power for it to be visible in some way. Let me give you a little scenario...

You're walking along and you happen to hit your head. That bump on the head is enough to knock the laser loose and it shines directly in your eye. Now because you can't see IR you have no blink reflex, meaning the laser could shine in your eye or a longer time period doing more damage. Basically even a flash of IR at that power would at the very least mess your vision up for life.

If you like your ability to see, please don't strap a powerfull laser on your head.

That's not even taking into account anyone else that may cross paths with the laser getting an eyefull of blinding invisible light.

Please don't take any of this post as an insult, I deffinately do not mean it as such, but it is an incredibly bad idea.

I must say though that the first thing that came to mind after reading this post was "sharks with frikkin lasers on their frikkin heads" haha

In all seriousness though, please don't...

Agreed. 3W IR laser is very dangerous.
You mention a wide beam, IR LEDs are available in 3W on Dealextreme, safer then a laser tho still hazardous. They have single high power emitters & illuminator arrays.
Also most 3W IR lasers that you will be able to locate (that aren't Very costly) will be visible to the naked eye as a deep red. There isn't a clear cut off for vision concerning high power IR.
Lasers of those powers would need special optics & skill to select & align them to produce any kind of decent beam. Without a decent beam you might as well go LED.

I agree completely, believe me i had one >3 Watt IR Portable Laser for night vision several years ago that i purchased on ebay,...

http://cgi.ebay.com/5000mw-5W-808nm-Infrared-IR-Laser-Nightvison-Flashlight-/110576724435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bee2e9d3