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Why not Button cells?

kruser495

kruser495

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i always hear of people using lithium and 3.7 volt battery's which are expensive when you can be like me and go buy a pack of 100 1.5v button cells from dx for 3 bucks? i bet it fits better and a longer life but the button cells are so cheap i wouldnt ever pass it up even if i had to replace more often.

anyways i bought those batteries and a flashlight for my 405nm. im thinking of making two packs of 7.5v and putting them in parallel for longer life which still should fit easily in the host.
 
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It's because many button cell batteries can't supply the current needed to power anything stronger than a 5mw pointer. Also, a laser would them dry very fast, as button cells don't have a good watt-hour to size ratio.
 
SodaAnt said:
It's because many button cell batteries can't supply the current needed to power anything stronger than a 5mw pointer. Also, a laser would them dry very fast, as button cells don't have a good watt-hour to size ratio.
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would two sets in parrelel be able to power a 200mw red or 125ma driver for a 405?
 
Lasers need good batteries because of the current they draw. You want the best battery you can get. Which is usually a lithium ion cell. Those button batteries are made to power ultra low current draw devices. So its a wast of time, and money to play with those button batteries.
 
Button cells have their uses, but they are only used in low current devices, and for their tiny size.

Examples:
Motherboard clock batteries
Hand held video games of yesteryear (think donkey kong)
Watches
Camera backup and remote controls
pocket universal remotes (used often to turn off TV's at public places)


all of these are low current applications. The most that is called for in these applications is around 15-20ma, in pulses, to drive the LED in a remote control.

The "play with your pet" dollar store lasers also draw a small (relatively to a 125mw pointer) amount, so you do get a reasonable time out of the batteries (usually measured in hours, or for a really poor driver, 10's of minutes).

Lithium ion batteries like the 18650 etc, can source several amps, and keep doing so right through their discharge curve. When they go flat, the laser will go really dim, really quickly, indicating time to change. This is the same reason laptops use these batteries. I get around 4 hours out of my dell on a full charge at minimum brightness in power saver mode. The screen at that level is still amazingly bright!
 
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vk2fro said:
Button cells have their uses, but they are only used in low current devices, and for their tiny size.

Examples:
Motherboard clock batteries
Hand held video games of yesteryear (think donkey kong)
Watches
Camera backup and remote controls
pocket universal remotes (used often to turn off TV's at public places)


all of these are low current applications. The most that is called for in these applications is around 15-20ma, in pulses, to drive the LED in a remote control.

The "play with your pet" dollar store lasers also draw a small (relatively to a 125mw pointer) amount, so you do get a reasonable time out of the batteries (usually measured in hours, or for a really poor driver, 10's of minutes).

Lithium ion batteries like the 18650 etc, can source several amps, and keep doing so right through their discharge curve. When they go flat, the laser will go really dim, really quickly, indicating time to change. This is the same reason laptops use these batteries. I get around 4 hours out of my dell on a full charge at minimum brightness in power saver mode. The screen at that level is still amazingly bright!
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i think two packs of 7.5v in parrellel should be sufficient to power 125ma driver for a 405nm. if that goes well ill see how it works with a 650nm.

it was only 3 bucks so if if it sucks its not a big deal. considering i get 100 to play with and see if they work. but im almost positive it will work with the 405nm.
 
kruser495 said:
i get 100 to play with...
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...and throw in the trash. For an extra $3 you can get a proper battery and save the pollution. Plus your laser will work like it should. Its a no brainer, but I know some people have no brain, so act accordingly.
 
hehe he could chuck them in a campfire - they make a good noise when they pop :P j/k

btw welcome back TJ
 
vk2fro said:
hehe he could chuck them in a campfire - they make a good noise when they pop :P j/k

btw welcome back TJ
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Tanx.

When I was younger I tried to charge one with a 12v car battery charger. It exploded in my face, and completely disintegrated.
 
T. J. That's Brilliant!!! I tossed a 2x2 magnesium block into a lit fireplace when I was 17. BAD IDEA..melted the iron log holder, and cracked the fire brick. I thought the the chimney was gonna go up in flames as well...nearly Sh*t a brick.
 
its to bad because some HAS done it before and HAS worked. kipkay did it with the lighter phr instructable. and he also used a driver.
 
kruser495 said:
its to bad because some HAS done it before and HAS worked. kipkay did it with the lighter phr instructable. and he also used a driver.
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Yeah..Kipkay is considered a moron here. He knows nothing about lasers, or laser safety.

What Kip doent show you is that it only lasts for around 30 seconds. What good is that? You have to rip it apart every 30 seconds to change the batteries. Pretty stupid laser project. Kip uses tactics in order for you to buy his over priced diodes, and other junk. You can check his rep yourself, he is a member here.

http://laserpointerforums.com/members/kipkay/
 
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