New Member and Laser Recommendation

[Shakenawake]

These are the ones: Gamma Lasers - High Powered Lasers, Laser Kits, and Components I recently got one of their Genesis 2400mW 450nm ones and I am very happy with it. My friend measured the actual output and it was around 2650mW. They are pretty heavy but otherwise no complaints.

ok, jetlaser hosts. they are probably legit, at least the blue ones. the page seem to know what it's talking about. still doubt 1000mW 532nm, even jetlasers' 532 pl-e pro tops out at 800mW, though it's possible one might peak at 1W. I used to have one that peaked at 990mW, so close to 1W.

a while back I was asked if some of my pics from a review could be used, I said yes. now I know what site they ended up on, because a few of the pics on there were of my old PL-E pro.

Back on topic:

Can anyone give me some safety advice that I might not have already gleaned from reading the owner's guide sticky that was posted? I'd feel safer getting some "do's and dont's", and maybe some anecdotal pointers from experienced members. The last thing I need is to flash blind myself or someone else, a 500mW green laser is not even in the same ballpark with what I've personally messed with before.

gleaned is a good word, nice. it's all pretty simple, you do not want to be hit in the eye by the beam, or hit anyone else in the eye. or a reflection. it is dangerous in this regard for thousands of meters, so it can not be shone randomly in urban settings, with impunity, for sure. they are quite conspicuous devices, so landing in trouble could happen fast if the user is not responsible. remember that pilots must report not only being hit by a laser, but also even just seeing one, which I think they still call, "a laser incident"

so if you live anywhere near an airport or major flight path, there's that to consider as well.

if the particular 532 you got is not IR filtered, special safety glasses blocking both green and IR light are much safer than those blocking only green, but if it is IR filtered, ones blocking only green would work

532 is a dpss process, meaning the pump diode will always be stronger rated than the laser's output, keep to short duty cycles to keep your pump IR diode happy

 

[Alaskan]

Even shining at a stop sign and the broad reflection hitting a driver in the face at night can be a problem, so I agree with your caution. Whether a 50 mw or a 500 mw laser, to me the danger isn't that much different if you get hit with a strong enough reflection. That said, here's an interesting graph I found last night that someone had posted earlier:

 

[kestrel452]

Another couple questions if you don't mind:

Does LaserBTB really build their own lasers? Their site describes them as the company that "bought out the now closed SKYLasers". I had always thought they just bought lasers from Sky at wholesale and sold them at a lesser markup than Sky itself does. But, they claim they build their own laser units... The lasers themselves look identical, and Sky's website is clearly working so I have no idea what's going on with the relationship between them... Just a bit of curiosity there.

Also, after reading through the guides again, I'm noticing that IR (which I presume is infra-red radiation) is a "silent killer" and that one should ensure their laser has an IR filter on it. Could someone give a quick rundown of IR, its dangers, and whether LaserBTB's lasers have the filters? I tried looking on their site but can't find anything.

 

[NightExplorer96]

Another couple questions if you don't mind:

Does LaserBTB really build their own lasers? Their site describes them as the company that "bought out the now closed SKYLasers". I had always thought they just bought lasers from Sky at wholesale and sold them at a lesser markup than Sky itself does. But, they claim they build their own laser units... The lasers themselves look identical, and Sky's website is clearly working so I have no idea what's going on with the relationship between them... Just a bit of curiosity there.

Also, after reading through the guides again, I'm noticing that IR (which I presume is infra-red radiation) is a "silent killer" and that one should ensure their laser has an IR filter on it. Could someone give a quick rundown of IR, its dangers, and whether LaserBTB's lasers have the filters? I tried looking on their site but can't find anything.

Laserbtb does include IR filters with their lasers, there should be a box with "include filter" or something of that sort for an extra dollar.

IR light is dangerous since basically this is located out of what humans can see, resulting in our eyes not shutting(when compared to visible light) since nothing is detected. On green lasers, IR light is used & passed through a series of crystals to produce the desired wavelength(532nm).

-Alex

 

[kestrel452]

Laserbtb does include IR filters with their lasers, there should be a box with "include filter" or something of that sort for an extra dollar.

IR light is dangerous since basically this is located out of what humans can see, resulting in our eyes not shutting(when compared to visible light) since nothing is detected. On green lasers, IR light is used & passed through a series of crystals to produce the desired wavelength(532nm).

-Alex

There actually was no box to check to include a filter. I just looked again and indeed there was no option for one. Perhaps they're just building them with the IR filter as a standard addition now? Either way, my Eagle Pair safety glasses are capable of blocking IR, and WickedLasers claim all of their lasers come with a "zero IR" guarantee. So I should be okay either way...

 

[NightExplorer96]

There actually was no box to check to include a filter. I just looked again and indeed there was no option for one. Perhaps they're just building them with the IR filter as a standard addition now? Either way, my Eagle Pair safety glasses are capable of blocking IR, and WickedLasers claim all of their lasers come with a "zero IR" guarantee. So I should be okay either way...

It seems only their pen have that feature, their handheld don't have that indeed.

-Alex

 

[kestrel452]

I emailed LaserBTB and Kevin told me that they do NOT install infrared filters on their higher powered PL lasers unless you specifically tell them to. Having that information pre-purchase would have been nice... Nowhere on their site does it mention IR filtering being optional.

I'm not sure if it matters much though, since one should be wearing safety goggles when using such a laser indoors.

 

[kestrel452]

Is it imperative that I have someone install an IR filter? My glasses will block IR so I'm not sure if it's necessary.

Are there any members here in the continental US that could work on it? I don't know if someone could install a filter and maybe a higher quality lens.

 

[mortuus]

Eh both the PL and HL hosts on laserbtb there is an option to install the IR filter for low cost, what are u talking about? look again. And i would prefer to have the IR filter for high powered laser.

 

[kestrel452]

Eh both the PL and HL hosts on laserbtb there is an option to install the IR filter for low cost, what are u talking about? look again. And i would prefer to have the IR filter for high powered laser.

Right, but that option wasn't even mentioned on the website or during the ordering process. They already shipped the laser so it's too late for them to install it themselves.

 

[mortuus]

Its up to the user they cant decide for each customers who wants an IR filter installed or not, its right there where you buy the laser i dont see the problem here ?

 

[kestrel452]

Its up to the user they cant decide for each customers who wants an IR filter installed or not, its right there where you buy the laser i dont see the problem here ?

I don't know how many times I must say the same thing. As me and Greenlander pointed out, there is NO option listed on their website for an IR filter to be installed on a PL series laser. It made sense though, because one would think that a DPSS laser that powerful would come with an infrared filter standard, especially when it only costs a couple of dollars. I don't want to get too abrasive here, but it seems like a sneaky way to skim a couple bucks of profit, albeit they could've just forgotten to update their product page to include it. Either way, it's on LaserBTB for not making that aspect of their lasers clear to people purchasing.

I don't really want to make a bigger deal out of it than I already have, which is why I kindly asked the forum if there was anyone within the US that could do the install for me.

 

[mortuus]

kestrel452 ok lets see,

go to this link PL 520nm 532nm 100-1000

down the list you will see "IR filter installed 0 Kg $ 1.64"

TADA its there dude

 

[mortuus]

kestrel452 ok lets see,

go to this link PL 520nm 532nm 100-1000

down the list you will see "IR filter installed 0 Kg $ 1.64"

TADA its there dude

 

[BurningLaserGuy]

Double post, mortuus...

 

[kestrel452]

kestrel452 ok lets see,

go to this link PL 520nm 532nm 100-1000

down the list you will see "IR filter installed 0 Kg $ 1.64"

TADA its there dude

Seems like they made a few changes to that page since a few days ago.... Not only do they now explicitly mention that the filters do not come standard, but the purchasing field for it is finally there.