Are 200mw and 300mw 660nm diodes different?

[drjava]

In a pointer of course the current is pre set, so you can have a 200mw or a 300mw pointer. But are the diodes really different. Are most of these diodes the same. On the diodes compilation here :

http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/diodes-compilation-all-diodes-data-one-thread-45042.html

They all seem to take 420ma and all seem to put out about 250mw. So are they all functionally equivalent and all take the same currents and have about the same output powers?

 

[yzer]

The manufacturer's rated power is a useful figure. That is the output power at which the LD is expected to reach a 5,000 hour lifespan. All of these diodes can be overdriven and achieve a limited and useful lifespan but how each diode responds to overdriving will vary.

I use and like the diode compilation thread but it is seriously out-of-date. Mitsubishi now produces several other red diodes (for instance). OTOH, many of these newer diodes have yet to trickle down to general use in the hobby market.

 

[drjava]

Thanks.