50mw green laser safety

[belmaktor]

What are the capabilities of a 50mw green laser? What safety precautions should I take when using it? I already own a 20mw but I want one that is more obvious in sunlight. should I use goggles when looking at the dot up close? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[scopeguy20]

Only the dot will be more obvious in sunlight, there are no portable green, (or any color), lasers that show an obvious beam in sunlight, I just tested one that hits about 700 mW, and no beam visibility in direct sun without smoke or fog, at least. -Glenn

 

[Bluefan]

50mW is qutie a lot of light, if you view the dot up close I'd wear goggles, but for pointing far away I'd only wear the goggles against reflections.

 

[belmaktor]

Could you damage your eyesight from diffuse reflections?

 

[Bluefan]

with higher powers, like 500mW, yes you can, but if you're up close, and that's only about 3 times as close, it has the same effect. So looking at the spot at very close definately can damage your eyesight. I don't know how fast of how close that happens.
If the spot if comfortable to look at it's no problem.

 

[hotsh0tskill]

Green isnt THAT dangerous although it can blind you. just dont look into the diode...

 

[photonaholic]

Oh my people, black powder is safe too.

Green will blind you just as fast as any other colour.

I have a 50mw and after just a few minutes of playing around without protection my eyes feel like someone dumped sand in them.

Protection, protection, protection....... come on now write it down 200 times, or maybe 500, until you get the point.

Eyes are irreplaceable, if you insist on playing with lasers unprotected, start learning braille now while you can still see the frakin chart.

 

[lasersbee]

Green isnt THAT dangerous although it can blind you. just dont look into the diode...

:wtf:Where did you get this nugget of expertise.....
Not dangerous but can blind you...:thinking: If it can blind you it IS DANGEROUS...

It has nothing to do with the color it has to do with the Output
power of a collimated Laser Beam... whether it is Green or (Invisible
to the human eye) Infra Red it has the same potential to harm you.
Just because you can or can not see it is irrelevant... It is the POWER...

Jerry