1000mW 532nm laser pointer

[njstar]

whoa! thanks guys for so many replies in such a short time!

I'll be back home in a week and then I will read into all of this some more. I think I will bring this laser to the laser optics department of my University and see if they will measure its real power for me.

I was indeed quite skeptical about the <1000mW sign for a hand-held battery powered laser for just 40$, so I guess my first set of experiments will be about finding its properties..

 

[firelaser]

here are just some of the things you can do with a laser
most of these are blue lasers but with yours, even if is only 100mw it should be able to kill balloons and light matches

1600mw laser 445nm blue laser vs balloons - YouTube

High power 1100 mw Blue and 100 mw green lasers in fog - YouTube

1600mw (1.6W) 445nm blue laser ignites newspaper - YouTube

1100mw blue laser lights matches - YouTube

Glow in the Dark Laser - YouTube

 

[njstar]

aah, maybe I should stop reading this forum and get back to work, but I need to get this off my chest now that it's popped into my mind...

So; when the selling lady was demonstrating the laser she shone it on some plastic less than 1 meter away, and I looked at the spot and the scattered light from it. (So did the lady who sold me the laser and I think she does it all the time, but then again she probably doesn't know anything about laser safety as she also shone it on some apartment buildings around to show how far it could reach -_-) Now; if this is a 1000mW laser (which I think it isn't, but still) even the scattered light could be damaging right? So.. what do I do now?

I tried the Amsler grid test and I can see perfectly fine with both eyes, I don't think I have any other symptoms like headache or blurry vision or.. well, not anything at all, except for paranoia.

I will be back home (in The Netherlands) on Monday, and I have my own eye-docter there (I had some eye tests before I started working with lasers for work about 2 years ago - just to confirm that my eyes were perfect before I started working, something to do with insurance), and I would MUCH rather visit him than try to find a doctor here in Hong Kong.

 

[tonyt]

So; when the selling lady was demonstrating the laser she shone it on some plastic less than 1 meter away, and I looked at the spot and the scattered light from it. (So did the lady who sold me the laser and I think she does it all the time, but then again she probably doesn't know anything about laser safety as she also shone it on some apartment buildings around to show how far it could reach -_-) Now; if this is a 1000mW laser (which I think it isn't, but still) even the scattered light could be damaging right? So.. what do I do now?

I wouldn't be overly worried about it for now, just wait until you can see your eye doctor at home. Even at 10mW a laser can do damage so even if yours was 100mW i would still use safety goggles when using it..

I am having a Group Buy at the moment for some of the best professional goggles you can buy
http://laserpointerforums.com/f55/uvex-laser-goggles-83464.html<-Click Here
So if you want to be protected 100% grab a pair..

 

[EpicHam]

aah, maybe I should stop reading this forum and get back to work, but I need to get this off my chest now that it's popped into my mind...

So; when the selling lady was demonstrating the laser she shone it on some plastic less than 1 meter away, and I looked at the spot and the scattered light from it. (So did the lady who sold me the laser and I think she does it all the time, but then again she probably doesn't know anything about laser safety as she also shone it on some apartment buildings around to show how far it could reach -_-) Now; if this is a 1000mW laser (which I think it isn't, but still) even the scattered light could be damaging right? So.. what do I do now?

I tried the Amsler grid test and I can see perfectly fine with both eyes, I don't think I have any other symptoms like headache or blurry vision or.. well, not anything at all, except for paranoia.

I will be back home (in The Netherlands) on Monday, and I have my own eye-docter there (I had some eye tests before I started working with lasers for work about 2 years ago - just to confirm that my eyes were perfect before I started working, something to do with insurance), and I would MUCH rather visit him than try to find a doctor here in Hong Kong.

Now, we don't know how much the diode is outputting or the reflectivity of the plastic surface. Was it glossy? Was it matte? What's the paint made of ?
So we can't give you an accurate suggestion.
But assuming its outputting at least 100-150mW. (Another assumption from its price range, assuming you weren't ripped off)
You probably have some temporary Scotoma and possible retinal damage.

Now ,the good news is.
Since it was presumably day time at the time of the incident , and you didn't stare into the spot . Your pupils should be contracted well enough and the diffusion shouldn't cause any problems.
However, if you did.....
The brain can usually compensate for the damaged retinal cells by filling in the deadzones.
So unless the damage is widespread . Your everyday life would be largely unaffected.
If you still see a purple spot every time you blink 3 days after the incident.

SEE AN OPTOMETRIST ASAP!!!
There are possible chance of widespread hemorrhaging and you risk permanent vision lost from the gelified blood obstructing blood flow to the healthy retina.
What our eyes can't see, the brain fills in


The bad news is .
IF there is retinal damage.
There is relatively little we can do to cure it . We can limit the spread by applying a dosage of anti-inflammatory medicine , but once the damage is done. The only way to remedy it is for your brain to adapt or perhaps stem cell treatment.



On a side note.
The test isn't really accurate , since under the placebo effect. Your brain will make you see what you want to see.
If you think you have eye damage, you'll see eye damage. If you think you don't , you won't see it even if there are.

The rule of thumb is , when in doubt.
Give the doctor a call.



PS:
When operating any laser beyond the class 1 (x>5mW)
WEAR GOGGLES!

Best of luck matie




EDIT:
I guess you bought the laser from Apliu Street Flea Market did ya?

 

[njstar]

I will visit my doctor when I get home, just to be sure, but I read so much about damage getting worse over time and that there can still be damage even if you don't notice anything, and I'm not a biologist or doctor so I have no idea how the whole damage thing works.

aah, I would like to have these safety goggles, but they are way above my budget.. (I know there is no price for your eyes, but I just can't afford this kind of protection) I will just not use my laser outside the optics lab until I can buy myself a good pair of glasses..

A question about safety glasses though.. They protect your eyes by not letting the laser light through, right? But then; how can you enjoy the pretty laser when you can't see it's light? I know you can see the dot with most glasses, but still the beam should be invisible with good safety glasses, and personally I find the beam more fascinating than the dot. I guess I need to buy some 5mW laser for the pretty shows and use this powerful one just for physics experiments.

 

[firelaser]

aah, maybe I should stop reading this forum and get back to work, but I need to get this off my chest now that it's popped into my mind...

So; when the selling lady was demonstrating the laser she shone it on some plastic less than 1 meter away, and I looked at the spot and the scattered light from it. (So did the lady who sold me the laser and I think she does it all the time, but then again she probably doesn't know anything about laser safety as she also shone it on some apartment buildings around to show how far it could reach -_-) Now; if this is a 1000mW laser (which I think it isn't, but still) even the scattered light could be damaging right? So.. what do I do now?

I tried the Amsler grid test and I can see perfectly fine with both eyes, I don't think I have any other symptoms like headache or blurry vision or.. well, not anything at all, except for paranoia.

I will be back home (in The Netherlands) on Monday, and I have my own eye-docter there (I had some eye tests before I started working with lasers for work about 2 years ago - just to confirm that my eyes were perfect before I started working, something to do with insurance), and I would MUCH rather visit him than try to find a doctor here in Hong Kong.

i wouldnt be too worried ,, depending on the material it shouldn't have reflected too much light back at you. if it was like glass and a laser beam came back to you it would be bad but just a bright glare shouldnt be very damaging .
i actually thought of an experiment for this and someone tested it

http://laserpointerforums.com/f53/laser-reflections-measured-lpm-83409.html

so depending on the material i think your good.

at least you now know laser safety


also

I will visit my doctor when I get home, just to be sure, but I read so much about damage getting worse over time and that there can still be damage even if you don't notice anything, and I'm not a biologist or doctor so I have no idea how the whole damage thing works.

aah, I would like to have these safety goggles, but they are way above my budget.. (I know there is no price for your eyes, but I just can't afford this kind of protection) I will just not use my laser outside the optics lab until I can buy myself a good pair of glasses..

A question about safety glasses though.. They protect your eyes by not letting the laser light through, right? But then; how can you enjoy the pretty laser when you can't see it's light? I know you can see the dot with most glasses, but still the beam should be invisible with good safety glasses, and personally I find the beam more fascinating than the dot. I guess I need to buy some 5mW laser for the pretty shows and use this powerful one just for physics experiments.

you can enjoy it,, i actually enjoy my 1W+ laser without goggles all the time, however this is usually outside, pointing in the sky, or distant trees, walls, clouds ect where no harm can come.. not inside near glass or mirrors

also for the diffraction caps, lets say a 1 W laser was equipped with a star cap that made 100 to 1000 laser dots... this would mean there would be 100 0r 1000, 10mw to 1 mw laser dots ,, not very harmful,, but still use with caution

the beam poses no danger to you, however if it bounces back is when it is deadly,,, so beaming outside is fine

still i would get the 5mw laser and "train" with it until you know exactly what is reflective,, where you point it and how to be careful

i started out with a 5mw green and had several accidents.. now i have the 1600mw blue and have never had a accident with it. because i know where to aim it and when to wear goggles

lastly im sure you know this but when beaming outside never aim directly at people or vehicles it is a felony to hit them, especially planes

 

[EpicHam]

I will visit my doctor when I get home, just to be sure, but I read so much about damage getting worse over time and that there can still be damage even if you don't notice anything, and I'm not a biologist or doctor so I have no idea how the whole damage thing works.

aah, I would like to have these safety goggles, but they are way above my budget.. (I know there is no price for your eyes, but I just can't afford this kind of protection) I will just not use my laser outside the optics lab until I can buy myself a good pair of glasses..

A question about safety glasses though.. They protect your eyes by not letting the laser light through, right? But then; how can you enjoy the pretty laser when you can't see it's light? I know you can see the dot with most glasses, but still the beam should be invisible with good safety glasses, and personally I find the beam more fascinating than the dot. I guess I need to buy some 5mW laser for the pretty shows and use this powerful one just for physics experiments.

I'm sure your lab would have some CE certified goggles PERFECT for your experiments.

As for enjoying the lasers.
Well... as you know lasers goggles are measured in Optical Density.
So... you'll be losing some brightness when you view your laser behind the shielding (FOR YOUR PROTECTION).
The beam isn't that dangerous so as long as you can't see the aperture and the spot generated.
Since lasers are diffraction limited collimated and focused , the beam should be relatively safe and shouldn't require goggles if you simply want to see the beam.


Nah, for show you can use whatever power you want.
For outdoor use , you can even go as far as 3000mW .
Since there are less hazards of accidental reflection.
Indoor however, below 100mW would be a good benchmark.

 

[njstar]

@EpicHam; actually it was night time, and I did look at the spot for a few seconds to see what she was doing, but obviously I did not look directly into the laser. The pasyic was just a black plastic bag, so I guess I was glossy... And I know about this placebo effect and the brain correcting vision however I desire. I just don't feel like going to a Hong Kong doctor, but then again, it's my eyes we're talking about.
I don't see a purple spot when I blink, but I will look out for it. I wasn't flash blinded or anything. I wasn't even worried until I started reading this forum.

I know about laser safety and I wouldn't even think about using it indoors without safety glasses, but for some reason all that skipped my mind when she was handeling it so casually.

And no it was not in Apliu Street, it was in Mong Kok, somewhere, probably Tung Choi Street. Why? Are there any especially bad stories about Aplui Street? (I guess they would also apply to Mong Kok, and I think I did not get the 1W laser that they said it was, but I don't care, it was cheap even for a 100mW laser, and if it's not even that.. then, well, I still have a laser of some kind XD)

 

[EpicHam]

@EpicHam; actually it was night time, and I did look at the spot for a few seconds to see what she was doing, but obviously I did not look directly into the laser. The pasyic was just a black plastic bag, so I guess I was glossy... And I know about this placebo effect and the brain correcting vision however I desire. I just don't feel like going to a Hong Kong doctor, but then again, it's my eyes we're talking about.
I don't see a purple spot when I blink, but I will look out for it. I wasn't flash blinded or anything. I wasn't even worried until I started reading this forum.

I know about laser safety and I wouldn't even think about using it indoors without safety glasses, but for some reason all that skipped my mind when she was handeling it so casually.

And no it was not in Apliu Street, it was in Mong Kok, somewhere, probably Tung Choi Street. Why? Are there any especially bad stories about Aplui Street? (I guess they would also apply to Mong Kok, and I think I did not get the 1W laser that they said it was, but I don't care, it was cheap even for a 100mW laser, and if it's not even that.. then, well, I still have a laser of some kind XD)

Well if its a black plastic bag , then its alright !
At 100mW or so ,the plastic bag is eating photon for snacks :crackup:

I guess ,lesson learnt eh.


PS: Ah well... even locals such as myself have to be careful about buying anything at the markets.
There are nice deals everywhere, but also traps.
Fake Rubycon capacitors , fake iPhones, fake Ophir heads, fake goggles , fake 5mW green laser that are actually outputting 50mW with 30mW of IR , SQNY rechargeable cells that are actually carbon cells.

You can find everything but nothing here. Both good and bad I guess.

 

[firelaser]

@EpicHam; actually it was night time, and I did look at the spot for a few seconds to see what she was doing, but obviously I did not look directly into the laser. The pasyic was just a black plastic bag, so I guess I was glossy... And I know about this placebo effect and the brain correcting vision however I desire. I just don't feel like going to a Hong Kong doctor, but then again, it's my eyes we're talking about.
I don't see a purple spot when I blink, but I will look out for it. I wasn't flash blinded or anything. I wasn't even worried until I started reading this forum.

I know about laser safety and I wouldn't even think about using it indoors without safety glasses, but for some reason all that skipped my mind when she was handeling it so casually.

And no it was not in Apliu Street, it was in Mong Kok, somewhere, probably Tung Choi Street. Why? Are there any especially bad stories about Aplui Street? (I guess they would also apply to Mong Kok, and I think I did not get the 1W laser that they said it was, but I don't care, it was cheap even for a 100mW laser, and if it's not even that.. then, well, I still have a laser of some kind XD)

to give you some peace of mind i just tested shining my laser on a few glossy black bags i have,, and every time the laser was reflected as a floodlight and no longer a laser,,, in other words the power density of the light was spread in such a way where the energy was no longer harmful.. look at the example thread i linked above and you will see what i mean,,

 

[njstar]

okay, I think I can get back to work now. I didn't think it was reflection, but just scattering would be able to do damage. I will still see my doctor when I get back. And I will measure the output power of this one and tell you how bad their classification labels are.. (and how much IR light is bleeding through)

 

[firelaser]

okay, I think I can get back to work now. I didn't think it was reflection, but just scattering would be able to do damage. I will still see my doctor when I get back. And I will measure the output power of this one and tell you how bad their classification labels are.. (and how much IR light is bleeding through)

a doctor can never hurt lol

 

[EpicHam]

a doctor can never hurt lol

it hurts the wallet tho.
How about asking for help from the optometry department in your university?
I'm sure its a LOT cheaper

 

[njstar]

Doctor in The Netherlands won't hurt my wallet, I think it's included in my insurance to see a specialist when I get a reference from my general doctor. Doesn't hurt to ask around in the optics labs too though

 

[firelaser]

it hurts the wallet tho.
How about asking for help from the optometry department in your university?
I'm sure its a LOT cheaper

lol well i was assuming , hoping he had insurance for simple check ups