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5W/5000mW IR laser "flashlight"!?

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bp968

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So I'm kind of new to the whole laser thing, and it started when I ordered a 50mW greenie on Amazon before I knew what I was dealing with. Now that I do I can't help but stare wide eyed at auctions like this:

5000mw,5W 808nm Infrared IR Laser Nightvison Flashlight - eBay (item 120512563120 end time Jan-30-10 20:48:45 PST)

a 5W Laser "pointer" "flashlight"?? Am I confused or would this not pose a fire hazard to just about any dark object in your home and also burn exposed skin (ignoring what it would instantly do to your eyes)?! :wtf:
 





Flaminpyro

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The add says focusable so You are correct this could start things on fire !


bp968 said:
So I'm kind of new to the whole laser thing, and it started when I ordered a 50mW greenie on Amazon before I knew what I was dealing with. Now that I do I can't help but stare wide eyed at auctions like this:

5000mw,5W 808nm Infrared IR Laser Nightvison Flashlight - eBay (item 120512563120 end time Jan-30-10 20:48:45 PST)

a 5W Laser "pointer" "flashlight"?? Am I confused or would this not pose a fire hazard to just about any dark object in your home and also burn exposed skin (ignoring what it would instantly do to your eyes)?! :wtf:
Click to expand...
 
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Exerd

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I would be interested to see the effect of viewing that through NV. I own PVS-14s, and just using a lower powered IR illuminator, the illuminator can sometimes drown out what's in the path of the beam due to excessive amplification. That's with only ~50mW, also. 5W would really be something else to see.
 
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Moptsp

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Whats the likely hood it is near 5W though? This is ebay. I hope paying ~$400 it would be of spec and quality, but you never know...

Thanks,
Moptsp
 
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Arayan

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Generally, what you pay for is what you get. If you pay cheap for a laser that should be much more expensive, you are going to get a cheap laser ;)
 
lazyazzz12

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That thing would set fire to a sheet of paper instantly. Just be careful you don't set your house on fire. I would recommend pointing the laser when its on at a cinder block.
 
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bp968

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Drivinfast247 said:
Just so you are aware IR is invisible to our eyes. So be very very careful.

Pete
Click to expand...

Yah, I'm well aware of that which is why I was pointing out the insanity of selling it as a "pointer" or NV flashlight LOL. I just got this image in my head of someone sitting on their couch pointing it at various objects in the room (blissfully unaware of the extreme eye hazard) watching black objects smoke. lol

And to the other poster, a friend of mine has a pvs-14 and we have noticed the same things, even a low power IR emitter will quickly overwhelm everything you point it at at closer ranges.
 
Benm

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Moptsp said:
Whats the likely hood it is near 5W though? This is ebay. I hope paying ~$400 it would be of spec and quality, but you never know...
Click to expand...

I have no experience with the seller, but if it passes the stated 5 amp current through the diode, the output power is likely to be close to 5 watts if the diode is any good - these things are much more straightforward than green DPSS lasers with all their possible flaws in crystals and such.

This is, however, probably a pretty big laser diode with huge emitting area, so do not expect optical performance comparable to a dpss laser or even single-mode red laser (like the dilda). It would be very good for either setting stuff on fire, or provide very long distance illumination for night vision imaging.

Personally i think its a darn dangerous device though - borderline invisible light with enough power to blind you in a milisecond, yet looks like a rather innocent power flashlight... accident waiting to happen.
 
Cyparagon

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Not 5W. A seller by the name of zonestealth used to sell these as 5W as well. A few people here bought them and I think they either do 500mW or 800mW. Can't remember which. The reason it's sold as 5W (as far as I can tell) is that it's not sold as a laser, but as a FLASHLIGHT, and all light sources besides lasers are rated on INPUT power, not output power, which may not be far off if you include driver losses.

edit: Never mind, it explicitly states output power is 5W. I still don't believe them.
 
Xer0

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Arayan said:
Generally, what you pay for is what you get. If you pay cheap for a laser that should be much more expensive, you are going to get a cheap laser ;)
Click to expand...

Not always, see the eBay BR-Pens Thread ;)
 
Exerd

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5 watts of 808nm IR is going to be clearly visible. You will KNOW when it's on. An 808nm dot will be very dim at 50mW when collimated, similar to a ~1/4mW of 660nm as an approximation. But at 5 watts, I can only help but to conclude that it will have a bright red dot. I'm not saying it's any less dangerous, you had BETTER wear goggles, but it is not "invisible" at such high power levels.
 
millirad

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Don't remember who it was that purchased one. He doesn't post in the forum any more. Hmmm.......
 
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