Review of the 5mW 445nm-450nm Blue Laser Pen (2)

The 5mW 445nm-450nm Blue Laser Pen (2) (hereinafter, probably just called a "blue portable laser" or even just a "blue laser") is a royal blue-emitting, directly-injected diode laser. That is, it produces deep blue laser radiation directly, without the need for messy, fragile nonlinear crystals like those green laser pointers and the amberish-yellow and slightly greenish-blue ones as well. It uses a pair of AAA cells to feed its laser diode with.

This laser has a measured power output of 12mW at 446nm in the blue part of the spectrum.

This is the reason I call it a "portable laser" or "laser pen" on this website instead of a "pointer". Lasers designated as "pointers" must -- by US law anyway -- have a power output that does not exceed 5mW.

It comes in a handsome aluminum body with a black matte finish and brushed chrome-colored accents.

SIZE


To get the laser to turn on, first load it with two AAA cells (see directly below), and THEN you can use it.

Aim the laser well-away from your face first. Press & hold the chrome-colored button on the barrel to turn the laser on; release the button to neutralise it (deactivate it).


To change the batteries in your blue laser, unscrew the laser at the halfway point, and set the front portion aside.

Tip the used AAA cells out of the barrel and into your hand, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Insert a pair of new AAA cells into the lower half of the barrel, nipple-end (+) positive first. This is the opposite of how batteries are installed in most flashlights, so please pay attention to polarity here!

Screw the two halves back together, and be done with it.

Unable to measure current (amperage) due to the way this laser was constructed.

The biggest downside to this laser is the fact that while this is clearly a CDRH Class IIIb laser (making it somewhat dangerous!!!), there are no safety features at all that are normally required in Class IIIb lasers; e.g., there is no "emissions" indicator, no startup delay, no interlock of ANY type, and no mechanical beam shutter. This laser behaves like a Class IIIa laser pointer in this regard, which I believe is a rather severe no-no!!!

There is a duty cycle reccomendation for this laser: 45 seconds on and 15 seconds off for cooling.

Does this laser look awfully similar to this one?
Thought that you'd say so.
That's because they're identical, both physically and electrically (except for battery polarity), so I was able to use its evaluation as a template for this one.

TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased on Ebay on 03-22-14 (or "2014 22 Mar." if you prefer) and was received on the afternoon of 04-04-14.


UPDATE: 00-00-00


PROS:
Color is very radiant & unusual for a pen-style handheld laser
The price is right!
Uses batteries that are common and relatively inexpen$ive

NEUTRAL:

CONS:
No laser warning labelling of any type -- that's what nocked ½ star off its rating
No safety features required of a CDRH Class IIIb laser -- this is what lopped another ½ star off



MANUFACTURER: Unknown
PRODUCT TYPE: Blue-emitting diode laser pen
LAMP TYPE: Unknown-type blue (450nm) laser diode
No. OF LAMPS: 1
BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot
SWITCH TYPE: Momentary pushbutton on/off button on barrel
CASE MATERIAL: Aluminum
BEZEL: Metal; laser & lens recessed into a hosel for them
BATTERY: 2x AAA cells
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
WATER-RESISTANT: Light splatter-resistant at maximum
SUBMERSIBLE: No!!!

ACCESSORIES: None
SIZE: 156mm L x 13mm D
WEIGHT: 70.70g (2.50 oz) incl. batteries
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Not stated; but very likely China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

PRODUCT RATING:



Update 04-07-14: In leiu of the beam cross-sectional analysis, I furnished a photograph of the laser's beam terminus with the beam widened by a lens.

good review on the laser! Very detailed,
havent seen the laser pens in 445 myself , but you have exposed one , i bet they will start showing up everywhere now, these will be very good first lasers for some instead of going straight for a 1W-2W for a first 445nm,
CheerZ

+1 Rep

Nice review! I have been thinking of one of these for a while now.

Nice review, however this always gets me:

"CONS: No safety features required of a CDRH Class IIIb laser -- this is what lopped another ½ star off"

There should definitely be safety features in a single-mode 450nm pen for 29.95 with a 12mW peak. (lol)

Ordered one. Nice review!

Nice review! I've never see an 445nm laser on this power at this low price (the cheapest was 86$ at 5mw).

+rep from me

BubonicCronic said:

These jumped to over $50 on their pointer page and to $69 on their ebay page.

I was a day late and a dollar short. :scowl:

Click to expand...

Yes, that one I saw on eBay.

As an avid wavelength collector on a budget, I've been looking for something like this. Unfortunately the price went up, but it's inspired me to look a little harder to see what else is out there in the way of cheap low-power 445s.