So are 1mW 405nm overpowered? Lets find out!

magmabeam · Apr 19, 2012

So I keep reading that 405nm's were regularly overpowered. After purchasing a 50mW from lazerer, this would make sense, as this wavelength isn't very visible compared to other ones like green/red. So I imagined any real 1-5mW 405nm would be barely visible.

So I took a gamble and searched around for one advertised as '1mW'.

After looking one of a big retail site I found one with raving reviews for under <$16. Reviews by buyers described it as 'really strong' and has a 'visible beam at night' and you could feel the heat of it.

A prime candidate...

Remember, this product is clearly advertised in it's title and description as '1mW', onto the pictures...

The dot seemed equally bright to my lazerer 50mW, if not brighter, and left a faint after image when looking at it.

The sticker, saying it's 1mW.

beamshot.. 10 sec exp

The laser has pretty bad divergence similar to the lazerer version. Measured at 5mm across at 2 meters.

Idea of scale with AAA batteries and ballpoint pen.

Now I was expecting it to be overpowered, maybe somewhere between 50-20mW.

And the LPM reading...

.
.
.
.

Yep, an 89mW. I could probably get it past 100mW with better batteries and longer measuring time. If the divergence was any good this would be very dangerous. The beam is visible in the dark.

Back to the buyer reviews which were very worrying. They say children can safely use it, their pets like it, and is suitable for any purpose just like a red 1mW. All clueless. And yes, holding it to your skin you can feel the heat after about 10 seconds.

Shipping time: 10/10 as this probably came from a nearby warehouse.
Price: 10/10 due to being more than what is advertised...
Feel/build quality: 6/10 threading feels a bit gritty, poor divergence, batteries fit great, but is sturdy & feels heavy.
Safety/instructions etc: 1/10 obvious reasons..

MrMcChicken · Apr 19, 2012

Wow, nice laser for this price! Never thought a laser would be 8900% over spec

(or am I wrong?)
But you're right, there isn't any safety at all :/

Stix62 · Apr 19, 2012

I agree with the safety aspect of it, but 8800% overspec is great ( I think you're 100% out MrMcChicken?)

I've got 4 cheapies rated at 5mW due (2 x 405, 2 x 532 - all 4 for $27.38). I'm not ecpecting much from the 532's, but I'll be well pleased if the 405's get close to your reading

PersonGuyDude · Apr 19, 2012

Seems like a perfect candidate for import into Australia.
Did you not post a link to the product on purpose? I would love to snag one of those

magmabeam · Apr 19, 2012

i did not post link to it, as i am not the 'laser police' which will likely cause the product to be removed, pm me if u want link though (no new members)

Seoul_lasers · Apr 20, 2012

magmabeam said:
So I keep reading that 405nm's were regularly overpowered. After purchasing a 50mW from lazerer, this would make sense, as this wavelength isn't very visible compared to other ones like green/red. So I imagined any real 1-5mW 405nm would be barely visible.

So I took a gamble and searched around for one advertised as '1mW'.

After looking one of a big retail site I found one with raving reviews for under <$16. Reviews by buyers described it as 'really strong' and has a 'visible beam at night' and you could feel the heat of it.

A prime candidate...

Remember, this product is clearly advertised in it's title and description as '1mW', onto the pictures...

The dot seemed equally bright to my lazerer 50mW, if not brighter, and left a faint after image when looking at it.

The sticker, saying it's 1mW.

beamshot.. 10 sec exp

The laser has pretty bad divergence similar to the lazerer version. Measured at 5mm across at 2 meters.

Idea of scale with AAA batteries and ballpoint pen.

Now I was expecting it to be overpowered, maybe somewhere between 50-20mW.

And the LPM reading...

.
.
.
.

Yep, an 89mW. I could probably get it past 100mW with better batteries and longer measuring time. If the divergence was any good this would be very dangerous. The beam is visible in the dark.

Back to the buyer reviews which were very worrying. They say children can safely use it, their pets like it, and is suitable for any purpose just like a red 1mW. All clueless. And yes, holding it to your skin you can feel the heat after about 10 seconds.

Shipping time: 10/10 as this probably came from a nearby warehouse.
Price: 10/10 due to being more than what is advertised...
Feel/build quality: 6/10 threading feels a bit gritty, poor divergence, batteries fit great, but is sturdy & feels heavy.
Safety/instructions etc: 1/10 obvious reasons..

That looks about the same as the Olike-100mW 405nm blu-ray pen output. PHR diode?
This is a great example of why companies such as this making our hobby increasingly under attack by safety and law enforcement. No child should ever play with a laser period. Class II
(under 5mW) can still cause non-permanent issues. This example, especially 405nm can cause damage to the retina and a host of other photochemical effects.
Good review. But wow, is this ever worrying.

The_LED_Museum · Apr 20, 2012

Every (and I do mean ***EVERY!!!***) sub-405nm laser "pointer" that I've acquired has been waaaaaaaayyyy overpowered...but you have me beat with a laser "pointer" of this wavelength range and being sold as "1mW" laser measuring 89mW!!! :can::shhh::eg::shhh::eg::can:

TacoHerder · Apr 20, 2012

wow, this is scary. WL charges you more for under spec crap, yet these cheap lasers come overpowered for pennies on the dollar.

Seoul_lasers · Apr 20, 2012

Which is why if these companies are not stopped from doing this, laserbuilding as a hobby will cease to continue.

ElectroMagneticFreak · Apr 20, 2012

I think I have read that "5mW 405nm's" are sold deliberately at higher mW's to make up for the lesser visibility and brightness of the dot from a 405nm violet wavelength laser.

What they are really trying to do is make a "pointer" with the same brightness of the dot as a 5mW 650nm red or 5mW 532nm green and to do so it requires much higher mW and definitely >5mW and therefore not eye safe. However it might appear to be in the same range of brightness of other colored 5mW pointers to the unknowing laser purchaser.

I suspect this with my 405nm newwish style 10mW pointer, so I treat it as if it were 100mW.

Tech_Junkie · Apr 20, 2012

Its funny.

People complain about underpowered lasers.

People complain about overpowered lasers.

The fact is you get what you pay for. The majority of retail pointers are cheaply made. It should not surprise anyone these laser are off spec. If you want true power, then you have to pay the prices of CNI, ect. Or have one custom built for you.

If you honestly expect a $5 laser to be at the power it is advertized, then you need to do more research.

Seoul_lasers · Apr 20, 2012

Tech_Junkie said:
Its funny.

People complain about underpowered lasers.

People complain about overpowered lasers.

The fact is you get what you pay for. The majority of retail pointers are cheaply made. It should not surprise anyone these laser are off spec. If you want true power, then you have to pay the prices of CNI, ect. Or have one custom built for you.

If you honestly expect a $5 laser to be at the power it is advertized, then you need to do more research.

Yes, in this case the legal ramifications can hurt everyone engaged in making home built lasers.
There is a potential for serious eye injuries at these kinds of powers, that's obvious.
I'm not complaining about over/under spec, it's that fact they were labeled as 5mW and sold as eyesafe toys.
Do you remember the health Canada nonsense a month ago? These Are the kind of vendors who have help justify legislation of "emissions by devices."

bweasel78 · Apr 20, 2012

im glad someone with a lpm has tested one of those! i bought six a couple of months ago and was sure they were very overspec but had no lpm to test it.. i just used comparison... iv stripped one and put the diode and driver in a 18650 sdlaser focusing host and it really rather good. well worth the 5gbp i paid for it on fleabay. ill put some pics up when i get time..... later today probably

in the pictures the far right beam is one of those <1mw 405nm off fleabay, in a 18650 focasable host with semi decent coated lens..:-D

Tech_Junkie · Apr 20, 2012

Seoul_lasers said:
Yes, in this case the legal ramifications can hurt everyone engaged in making home built lasers.

It can only hurt sales. Everyone else is free to make their own lasers, and there are plenty of options to get "kits" that are so easy to put together a 10 year old can do it.

Fretwrecker94 · Apr 20, 2012

Tech_Junkie said:
It can only hurt sales. Everyone else is free to make their own lasers, and there are plenty of options to get "kits" that are so easy to put together a 10 year old can do it.

Case and point

Tech_Junkie · Apr 20, 2012

Is that the 11y that was lurking here?

My heart just skipped a beat.

And people are worried about over powered pens. That video kinda puts things in better priority.

So are 1mW 405nm overpowered? Lets find out!

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