Review of the Violet Purple Blu-ray Laser Pen (3)

The Violet Purple Blu-ray Laser Pen is a violet-emitting, directly-injected laser. That is, it produces violet laser radiation directly, without the need for messy, fragile nonlinear crystals like those green laser pointers and the amberish-yellow and blue ones as well. It uses two AAA cells -- the same power source used in most other "pen-style" laser pointers and laser modules.

It is advertised to output less than 5mW of laser radiation at ~405nm.
It actually measures 53.70mW at 404.65nm!!!

It comes in a handsome brass body with a black finish and chrome colored bezel, tailcap, and pocket clip.


SIZE



To get the laser to turn on, first be certain that there are a pair of AAA cells installed. If there aren't, then install them (see directly below), and THEN you can go irradiate something.

Aim the laser well-away from your face first. Press & hold down the button on the barrel for as long as you want or need the laser spot, and release pressure on the button to turn the laser back off.





To change the batteries in this violet laser, unscrew the laser near the center, and set the front portion aside.

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

Insert two new AAA cells into 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 front portion of the tube back on, and be done with it.

Unable to measure current use due to how this laser was constructed.

***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!***
This laser has a fair amount of {vulgar slang term for male nads} to it (measured at 53.70mW), so you ***DEFINITELY*** do not want to shine it into your eyes, other people's eyes, pets' eyes, for that matter, the eyes of any person or animal you encounter. Eye damage can occur faster than the blink reflex can protect them, regardless of what species' eyes you irradiate with this laser. So just don't do it.
And for Christ sakes (and for heaven sakes and for Pete sakes and for your sakes too) do not shine this laser at any vehicle, whether ground-based like a motorcycle, car, or truck, or air-based like a helicopter, airplane, or jet. And if you shoot it at a person in the dark and he turns out to be a police officer, he may think he's being targeted, unholster (whip out) his gun, and hose you down with it.

From somebody who knows their {vulgar slang term for caca; rhymes with "spit"} about lasers, comes this information:

More on 50-60 mW violet lasers:

The spot is not safe to stare into from close distances. At 60 mW,
assuming a perfectly diffuse-reflecting white wall and fully dilated
pupil, the spot is at borderline between Class I and Class II at a little
over 7 feet. This wavelength also has the extra ill effects of blue and
a bit of the ill effects of UV.

Usually a yellowish dye that naturally exists in the lens of the eye
significantly attenuates deep violet wavelengths. However, this is not
completely reliable. You probably do not want to stare at the violet spot
for more than a couple seconds from distances within a couple feet.

If the spot or your eyes keep moving, then things are OK.



Does this evaluation look an awful lot like the one I made for this laser?
Thought you'd say so.
That's because they're functionally (and virtually physically) identical {apparently differing only in the color of the warning label}, so I was able to use its web page as a template for this one.


TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased on Ebay on 03-20-11 (or "20 Mar 2011" if you prefer), and was received at 3:33pm PST on 03-28-11 ("28 Mar 2011").

I have decided to rate this wonderful little laser four stars!!!
If something happens down the road, I can always derate it if necessary.



UPDATE: 00-00-00




PROS:
Color is very radiant & unusual for a handheld laser
Uses inexpensive and readily available batteries
The price is right!
Color is very radiant an unu...o wait, I said that already!!!



CONS:
Just the usual suspects for laser modules/pointers - nothing that affects rating...actually, there is one little thing: it is advertised as a <5mW laser, but outputs over 53mW of laser radiation.
That's what lopped that last star off.





MANUFACTURER: Unknown; but possibly Melea
PRODUCT TYPE: Violet-emitting laser
LAMP TYPE: Sony Blu-ray laser diode
No. OF LAMPS: 1
BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot
SWITCH TYPE: Momentary on/off button on barrel
CASE MATERIAL: Brass
BEZEL: Metal; laser & lens recessed into its end
BATTERY: 2x AAA cells
CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
WATER- AND URANATION-RESISTANT: Light splatter-resistant at maximum
SUBMERSIBLE: FOR GOD SAKES NOOOOO!!!
ACCESSORIES: None
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

PRODUCT RATING: