409 vs 405

[climbak]

Each diode will vary as well. I have a diode that I run in my lab and we cool it to about 15 degrees C and I can't hardly see the beam at all at 160mW, but sometimes it will be visible in the lit room at 100mW. One of the diodes we tested varied between 407-409nm give or take a few tenths.

 

[Chicxulub]

There's a threefold increase in brightness between 400nm and 410nm, so there's quite a bit of variability in these lasers.

 

[Frechy]

Yes, I have noticed this, too even with PS3 diodes.  The ones that were in the 408/409nm region looked much brighter than the 405/404nm ones.  You know, there must be a trash bin in a quality control department in a laser diode factory somewhere that is throwing out 410nm and above diodes!

The exact same here. I had my PS3 diodes measured by a very good meter, which told me the output + wavelength. They ranged from 404nm to 410nm.

 

[Midknight]

Someone test a 4, or 6X BR diode to see what wavelength they are.