Finding a Balance between "Fun" and "Safety".

[XxCodyDarnellxX]

I'm having trouble finding a balance between "Fun" and "Safety" while searching for a good 532nm (Green) laser.

So far, I've settled upon a 300mW, which I figure will be powerful enough to have fun with, but not powerful enough that I have to treat it like a dangerous power tool.

What do you guys think is a good balance between "Fun" and "Safety" as far as the wattage of a 532nm? I don't want to be scared to use it, that ruins the fun of it. :beer:

 

[Kookapeli]

If you want fun, stick with <5 mW anything over that treat like a loaded weapon
as long as your careful and have the appropriate eye safety you'l be fine. If your using it in a wide open space glasses aren't necessary

 

[XxCodyDarnellxX]

If you want fun, stick with <5 mW anything over that treat like a loaded weapon
as long as your careful and have the appropriate eye safety you'l be fine. If your using it in a wide open space glasses aren't necessary

Alrighty, I figured I'd be alright with any power, so long as I stress safety, but I didn't want to end up worried to even turn the thing on around others.

 

[agentpixel]

Alrighty, I figured I'd be alright with any power, so long as I stress safety, but I didn't want to end up worried to even turn the thing on around others.

yes stress safety always remember to think of the laser as right around the cornor is a person and you dont want to give them eye damage. always wear safety glasses and use extreme caoution when oporating the laser and dont forget to never point it at a window as there could be someone outside and inside in the reflection area you could call it.


have fun with your 300mW laser

 

[KapHn8d]

XxCodyDarnellxX - if you don't mind me offering some advice (just for now)... buy a few pointers in the 1-15mW range and spend about $30 on a fog machine (you can get them all over... local party stores, ebay, amazon, etc) and go to town with that for a little bit while you learn more about what you really want to do long term with the hobby. You won't be able to ignite things or pop balloons, but you can do cool optical experiments and take photos... enjoy alot of it without worrying too much about eye damage (as long as you keep shiny/reflective stuff out of the picture). Maybe that would get you a "fix" until you decide where your comfort level will be and you can start having fun now.

c

 

[hwang21]

As long as you ensure that the laser will not become a light hazard to anyone or anything... you don't technically need goggles. I'm talking star pointing and such, as long as there are no planes and your area isn't infested with nighttime flying bugs.

For the most part though, goggles should be on hand... safety always first. Better safe than sorry, anyway...

 

[Atomicrox]

I tend to consider the balance point to be between 50mW and 200mW (depending on wavelength). Powerful enough to do some burning, visible beams on anything below 635nm. Little danger from diffuse reflections, which means you can use them indoors without goggles if you're careful not to look at the dot from up close or point at reflective stuff.

For 532nm 50mW is already pretty bright. 100mW really pierces the night sky...

 

[XxCodyDarnellxX]

I tend to consider the balance point to be between 50mW and 200mW (depending on wavelength). Powerful enough to do some burning, visible beams on anything below 635nm. Little danger from diffuse reflections, which means you can use them indoors without goggles if you're careful not to look at the dot from up close or point at reflective stuff.

For 532nm 50mW is already pretty bright. 100mW really pierces the night sky...

How dramatic is the difference between a 100mW and a 300mW 532nm as far as brightness? Because of it sort of "Caps" at a certain mW, then I may as well stick at it. Otherwise, the brighter and more glorious the better.

 

[Atomicrox]

Vision is a very subjective thing but to me dot brightness of 532nm caps way below 50mW (when looking at it from the same room). The dots seem to be equally bright but the more powerful ones have more "eye splash" or whatever that thing is called. TBH dot wise I even prefer the lower powered ones.

I don't think I have anything powerful enough to cap beam brightness but power seems to make far less difference in brightness at higher powers. My 3W blue is at best 50% brighter than my 1.3W one, just so you can have an idea.

People here like to say brightness is proportional to the square root of power.

If you want as powerful as it gets you might as well change the topic title and get some good goggles.

 

[firelaser]

Here is how I treat my lasers . First a quick scan of the area to see what is there. . Any people animals planes or vehicles ? Any reflective ? Then laze. Usually only takes 5 or so seconds to do so .. To burn glasses always Generally also avoid close range targets with my blue laser as well. Too bright
Never had an accident with a laser over 100mw Just some with a weaker green for both my eyes and a friends lucky it was low power

Now no accidents
Remember windows are reflective even tho they are clear
Most common mistake I'd think

 

[dubious speculation]

If you get anything over 5mw you still need to take the necessary safety precautions, it doesn't matter if you get a 30mw or a 300mw you still need to take the necessary safety precautions like wearing goggles to avoid damaging your own or someone else's eyes, I'm sure you'll be very happy with your purchase from laserbtb

 

[EpicHam]

I'm having trouble finding a balance between "Fun" and "Safety" while searching for a good 532nm (Green) laser.

So far, I've settled upon a 300mW, which I figure will be powerful enough to have fun with, but not powerful enough that I have to treat it like a dangerous power tool.

What do you guys think is a good balance between "Fun" and "Safety" as far as the wattage of a 532nm? I don't want to be scared to use it, that ruins the fun of it. :beer:

532nm for show.
638 for collection
660 for burning
445 for SUPER close range burning at a low price
589 for e-peen
473 for handheld sky

Anything can be fun and safe.
Anything about Class II is already unsafe to "play" with.

Treat lasers above Class I like a power tool.

If you are going to go above class I , go for anything you want.
Because by human's response time of 24ms.
3000mw , 1000mw ,300mW is not going to make a difference.
You're going to get scotomas if you get a direct hit on your eye.

 

[Atomicrox]

It makes a difference because higher powers also have dangerous diffuse reflections (i.e. looking at the dot on a wall).

 

[EpicHam]

It makes a difference because higher powers also have dangerous diffuse reflections (i.e. looking at the dot on a wall).

Diffuse reflection is like a really powerful flashlight.
it might cause temporary flash blindness but nothing permanent.
Unless your eyes is inches away from the surface.

The main danger of the laser lies with DIRECT hits and reflection off glossy or reflective surfaces.

Thats the way I see it anyway.
Most of the study previously carried has to do with direct hits, very few about diffuse reflection


Read this
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.cs.odu.edu/~mln/ltrs-pdfs/tm4520.pdf

 

[Atomicrox]

That was an interesting read but it's only suited to pulsed lasers. In an older post we did some calculations to determine the diffuse reflection safe distance for a 5W laser and it turned out to be around 40cm if I'm not mistaken. The formulas used were from another paper and the MPE value (1mW/cm^2) from this graph.

 

[Sigurthr]

It depends greatly on the reflectivity of the surface. A semi-gloss wall can still damage your eyes from a diffuse reflection if the angle of incidence is right and the power level is high enough.