Any point?

[Sk8freak315]

So I was taking apart a cd player for the 3.5mm female jack the other day and I figured I would take anything else from it and throw it out. I took the diode out of it just to see what it was like because I never messed with them yet. I assume it is useless and this helped me prove even more to my self that it was.
"CD player laser diodes are infrared (IR) emitters, usually 780 nm, with a
maximum power output of around 5 mW."
Is this true? what diodes are worth keeping that are 5mW or higher of a visible color and where do they come out of.

 

[Cyparagon]

bluray players/burners and DVD burners.

 

[Krutz]

no use for those cd-reader diodes for the average. even the higher-powered ones from cd burners (still invisible, but eye-dangerous ) arent used.
you could build an infrared invisible "light barrier" (right name?) with it. but even there, a small red laser would be cooler ;-)

save the lens, look for tiny motors and magnets, maybe switches and other electronic parts?

manuel

 

[Greenmechanic]

Not much value in IR. I bought a box of diodes and drivers(50 or more) for $5.00
Bought them mainly to tear apart and learn.
And maybe make a low power DPSS when I learn more.