hello laser guys

Hey there guys, fairly new to hobbyist level lasers but I've been involved with lasers in the workplace (programming laser engraving machines, etc.)

Got my first one, pretty cheap but I definitely feel like I want to get more power...pretty handy with a soldering iron so I'll probably patch one together for small space, handheld etching.

Anyways, I've already read a few stickies, so I'm not going to board you all with questions...but I do have one.

As a general consensus amongst the group, what would you say the most popular type of battery supply for your higher powered handheld lasers would be?

I myself have a few hobbies that are "battery powered", and I have the convenience of having extremely high quality batteries laying around my house. Looking at most of the laser drivers I'm considering using, voltage input on those is making me consider size of the device, etc, and I'm leaning towards single 18650 high drain 3.7v lithium ion cells, but I also have access to 2 and 3 cell lithium polymer packs, as well as the classic alkaline type batteries.

I am simply weighing out size vs. Overall battery life here, I'm usually one to go against the grain and will probably shove all the component into a project box to accommodate sizes of batteries, and make it a nice stable base that wouldn't roll/tip/etc...this allows me to be flexible with the power supply in question here....and I feel like I'm rambling on the internet, anyways guys, thanks in advance.

I have favored the 18650 for a long time- they are one of the most often used ones and when the older laptop battery packs get weak they are discarded and you can get usable batts (sometimes as many as 12) inside these and PC repair shops often give them away- learning the tricks to get one open takes time & practice to do it right.++++

I have an Opus charger that discharges and shows the internal resistance so i can weed out the poorly performing ones-+
- now if we could somehow convince the USPS to allow them to be mailed-- ATM they are still banned.

they can be sent by FedEx


hak

hakzaw1 said:

I have favored the 18650 for a long time- they are one of the most often used ones and when the older laptop battery packs get weak they are discarded and you can get usable batts (sometimes as many as 12) inside these and PC repair shops often give them away- learning the tricks to get one open takes time & practice to do it right.++++

I have an Opus charger that discharges and shows the internal resistance so i can weed out the poorly performing ones-+
- now if we could somehow convince the USPS to allow them to be mailed-- ATM they are still banned.

they can be sent by FedEx


hak

Click to expand...

I thought for sure USPS shipped batteries....I also favor the 18650 hi drain variant batteries, my preferred ones being Samsung 25r or the LG HE4, I usually order them from illumnand I could have sworn they came priority for the last project I needed (made an electric bike)

I also use a pretty nice charger, the ops you say reads internal resistance? I'll definitely have to check into those, I've been using the xtar VP4 for the longest time, primarily because it can being batteries back from the brink of death and had selectable charge currents.

hakzaw1 said:

- now if we could somehow convince the USPS to allow them to be mailed-- ATM they are still banned.

they can be sent by FedEx


hak

Click to expand...

One of the downfalls of my current location...no FedEx, and no door to door USPS delivery. There is a guy that has contracted to hand deliver all of the UPS packages that make it here, and it looks like their current regs allow them to be sent if you follow certain procedures. http://www.ups.com/media/news/en/shipping_batteries.pdf

elmattias said:

I usually order them from illumnand I could have sworn they came priority for the last project I needed (made an electric bike)

Click to expand...

elmattias, If you have time, would you post a picture of your electric bike to one of the off topic threads? That sounds very cool!

TundraBumpkin said:

One of the downfalls of my current location...no FedEx, and no door to door USPS delivery. There is a guy that has contracted to hand deliver all of the UPS packages that make it here, and it looks like their current regs allow them to be sent if you follow certain procedures. http://www.ups.com/media/news/en/shipping_batteries.pdf



elmattias, If you have time, would you post a picture of your electric bike to one of the off topic threads? That sounds very cool!

Click to expand...

Sure thing man, not tonight though, it's late and I don't think I'll be able to get any good shots

One place I read that Li-ions can be mailed ONLY if they are inside the 'intended device' so cell phone OK- battery NOT in phone- they tell me not allowed-
LightHound store told me they ship all (in & out)via USPS /EMS but have a dedicated shipping agent in China that makes that happen I think they wrap all batteries in plastic and zip bags.

but at all the POs around here- when I hand over a package in person I am asked about li-ions- perfume-explosives - pershable goods- etc AND right there is a bigass poster with a pile of 'not allowed' items and a 18650 is right there- Im not OK with lying to these people- I see them a lot-

I hear of one seller who sends his inside cheap plastic boxes or battery holders.

Fed Ex has a min. charge of ~$7 so for a small order of batts - its a bad deal for all.