Can I use a toggle switch to operate a 5mw green laser pointer for Halloween ?

[newguydom]

Hi,
New to the site.Curious if some of you can help me out with a question.Is it possible for me to open a 5mw green laser pointer,remove the push button and make the wires longer so i can feed them outside of the pointer's housing through the hole where the push button was. I would like to use a toggle switch mounted to a box that contains the laser pointer.Would it work? do I need a specific sized toggle?Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.I know this will wear on the battery but i only need it a a special effect not on for long periods.

 

[Nocturnal]

should work just fine. any small toggle should work. It might be easier to solder the current switch permanently on, then run wires from the spring and case of the module.

Chris

 

[newguydom]

Thank you Nocturnal! If I decided to use a battery compartment do u think I could up the size to AA...hoping for more burn time?Or would I just fry the laser.I do have a AAA as well.Or if u think its best should i just continue to keep the batteries in the housing?

 

[Nocturnal]

AA's will work no problems. They are the same voltage, and yes you will get more burn time. Its a 2*AA battery compartment right?

 

[Fiddy]

here you go, something i whipped up a while ago.

Also, if you want more run time between battery changes, run more batteries in parallel, so each addition parallel branch is 3V (2x AA in series).

also if you housing isn't conductive i.e plastic/wood/etc, you will have to run wires from the case of the module to the positive of the battery.

 

[newguydom]

Awesome!Thank u both for the help...I just want to make sure one more time...I can replace 2 AAA with 2 AA?...I don't have space to add more AAA in parralell so 2 AA would be great.

 

[Fiddy]

yep AA's will work, they both have a cell voltage of 1.5V the only difference is the AA has a higher capacity that the AAA due to its size, so it will last longer.

 

[Ablaze]

FYI two D cell batteries will also work, and will provide a LONG battery life.

Just be aware that rechargeable AAs or AAAs are not 100% interchangeable with non-rechargable, so don't try to replace your two non-rechargable AAAs with two rechargable AAs.

 

[bennett326]

also like in fiddys pic its easier just to bypass the switch with a small piece of wire instead of de-soldering it