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FrozenGate by Avery

Is My Laser Projector Safe?

A

AliceCooper

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Mar 14, 2012
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So I just bought a Casa CTL-RGY off ebay and it was being sold from within the US. I am planning on using it this Friday and Saturday for a party at my house. I was wondering if it is safe to use in a room that is 30 feet deep by 20 feet wide. I'm going to have fog,strobes, and another kaleidoscopic laser going at the same time. Would it be dangerous to scan the croud with this Casa laser? I don't want to burn anyone or damage anyones eyes. I am new to lasers and helpful criticism would be very much helpful. Thanks!

Here are the specs:
80mW 650nm red laser,TE-cooled+40mW 532nm green laser
Micro-stepping motor scanner with big angle scanning
Operating modes:Auto, Sound active, Master/Slave & DMX
Sound sensitivity control
Stand alone via DMX
After 8 seconds without sound laser will be shut down automatically
Dynamic scan speed adjust
Dynamic pattern speed adjust
LED indicator displays the status of the POWER
Sound sensitivity control
Fan cooled
Power:110V/220V
Applicable for Disco, Pub, Bar, Clubs, Large stage, Entertainment center, Casinos, Family party etc
Size:30*22*15cm
Net Weight:3.6kgs
 





Well safe can be argued.
What some call safe others would hang you for.
Some say you should never use a unvarienced projector for any show usages besides personal. As they dont have all the fail safe systems to make sure a full power beam does not go into the crowd.
But then others build their own and run them professionally and they are lack the variance but have all the fail safe they just dont want to pay the money and forms to get official variance.
The thing you have to worry about is if you get whats called a static beam where the motors freeze up and you would have a 100mw+ beam going straight into someones eyes.
As long as it keeps moving and "scanning" the exposure time is very minimal and the powers low.
Is it safe sure beats the hell out of some of the laser performers in Vegas 300mw Laser guns being pointed into crowds, no scanning motors just straight beams into peoples faces.
Its not the safest way to use one but better than most.
Just try to keep it as high and as far away from people as you can as the lasers become less dangerous with distance.
 
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If you can secure it set up about 6 feet high with it aimed at the far wall and ceiling with no beams dropping below 9 feet the chance of injury is very small. but it needs to be WELL SECURED not just sitting there and for sure NOT on top of speakers.

I personally like the look I get with my fogger on and ALL other things that move air OFF. ceiling fans-A/Cs/drafts just disperse the fog and you lose that 'whispy' look we like in fans/cones/ Liq Sky/Tunnel etc... but what do I know??? hope you havea great party.. be sure that all there know to stay away from your PJ..hak
 
kiyoukan said:
Well safe can be argued.
What some call safe others would hang you for.
Some say you should never use a unvarienced projector for any show usages besides personal. As they dont have all the fail safe systems to make sure a full power beam does not go into the crowd.
But then others build their own and run them professionally and they are lack the variance but have all the fail safe they just dont want to pay the money and forms to get official variance.
The thing you have to worry about is if you get whats called a static beam where the motors freeze up and you would have a 100mw+ beam going straight into someones eyes.
As long as it keeps moving and "scanning" the exposure time is very minimal and the powers low.
Is it safe sure beats the hell out of some of the laser performers in Vegas 300mw Laser guns being pointed into crowds, no scanning motors just straight beams into peoples faces.
Its not the safest way to use one but better than most.
Just try to keep it as high and as far away from people as you can as the lasers become less dangerous with distance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, this helps a lot. The ceiling is about 8 feet high and I plan to have it mounted in a corner. This room is fairly small benig 30 feet deep by 20 feet wide. I plan to have it aimed down into where people are dancing and having it make shapes and beaming all over the place. From what I understand, you're saying that it should be ok so long as the laser keeps moving. Though I'm going to do some testing and if it's annoying to have it aimed down where people will be dancing I'll aim it above. Just want to make sure it's safe to have it aimed at dancers within a 5 foot range minimum.
 
Well few things are 100% safe.
crowd scanning is a very hard thing to do perfectly safe.
But most of use projectors above 1,000mw of power so it becomes much more risky than your 120mw projector.
but a 120mw static beam can hurt someone so look at your options of what you want vs safety and you are the judge.
 
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kiyoukan said:
Well few things are 100% safe.
crowd scanning is a very hard thing to do perfectly safe.
But most of use projectors above 1,000mw of power so it becomes much more risky than your 120mw projector.
but a 120mw static beam can hurt someone so look at your options of what you want vs safety and you are the judge.
Click to expand...

Well I kind of asked if it would be safe enough as to not hurt people while its scanning all over the place in the first place since I really have no idea. But I've been discussing this with a guy on youtube with my same projector and he's been saying not to point it into the croud because it can cause damage even if it just scans over the eye quickly. I know it's not 100% safe, just I don't want anyone to leave with damaged eyes. and if a 80mw red and 40mw green laser can do that while croud scanning with a laser that is constantly in motion, then I'll use it to light the ceiling instead.
 
Well there is a science to crowd scanning for the exposure time to the eye, the speed of the beam, the max power possible from frames.
Distance and angle away.
with the right measurements you can use a 1,000mw projector to crowd scan, but there is alot of things going on.
To say that a 120mw max powered laser should never hit the eye even when scanning as it will result in damage is not true.
But seeing as you are new and dont want to go threw all the steps i would say have it pointed just above peoples heads and go for the ceiling.
We wont tell you its safe because its not, there are very few things that use lasers that are SAFE.
What we can tell you is the science behind and with the right laser measurement equipment needed is to do this.
I dont think the risk is worth the reward, but i dont get to control the situation.
Tons of clubs use those projectors and dont even give a fuck about who gets hurt i have been able to touch the projector and if i can i unplug the thing.
Test it first with it half on the ceiling and half in the air above the heads that should get you some cool effects. or another option not commonly done and a bit more risky is floor mount it and make sure no beam can go above 2.5ft off the ground. with low lying fog it looks cool but more people in the way makes the beams strobe as they pass around your feet.
Things to consider.
 
kiyoukan said:
Well there is a science to crowd scanning for the exposure time to the eye, the speed of the beam, the max power possible from frames.
Distance and angle away.
with the right measurements you can use a 1,000mw projector to crowd scan, but there is alot of things going on.
To say that a 120mw max powered laser should never hit the eye even when scanning as it will result in damage is not true.
But seeing as you are new and dont want to go threw all the steps i would say have it pointed just above peoples heads and go for the ceiling.
We wont tell you its safe because its not, there are very few things that use lasers that are SAFE.
What we can tell you is the science behind and with the right laser measurement equipment needed is to do this.
I dont think the risk is worth the reward, but i dont get to control the situation.
Tons of clubs use those projectors and dont even give a fuck about who gets hurt i have been able to touch the projector and if i can i unplug the thing.
Test it first with it half on the ceiling and half in the air above the heads that should get you some cool effects. or another option not commonly done and a bit more risky is floor mount it and make sure no beam can go above 2.5ft off the ground. with low lying fog it looks cool but more people in the way makes the beams strobe as they pass around your feet.
Things to consider.
Click to expand...

Actually, if there is a FAQ or something with those steps involved I would really appreciate it if you would point me in its' direction. I may be new but this is quickly being one of my many hobbies :) when not RC crawling, messing with computers, or working on my car this would fit in nicely with my home theater stuff.
 
it depends alot of the stuff inside the projector if the drivers are analog drivers that can be lowered via control or TTL that are full on or full off.
i would bet they are TTL as that is the cheapest option.
Another way to lower the power is to put something like not 100% clear glass in front.
This is an aftermarket way to lower the power. or use something called a diffraction grating.
 
kiyoukan said:
it depends alot of the stuff inside the projector if the drivers are analog drivers that can be lowered via control or TTL that are full on or full off.
i would bet they are TTL as that is the cheapest option.
Another way to lower the power is to put something like not 100% clear glass in front.
This is an aftermarket way to lower the power. or use something called a diffraction grating.
Click to expand...

Could you suggest some cheaper end < $200 DMX console or DMX to USB with an adjustable output power option? Now that I know about this TTL thing, I plan on buying lasers in the future that use analog drivers and use this laser for aerial effects.
 
AliceCooper said:
Could you suggest some cheaper end < $200 DMX console or DMX to USB with an adjustable output power option? Now that I know about this TTL thing, I plan on buying lasers in the future that use analog drivers and use this laser for aerial effects.
Click to expand...

I have a cheap DMX console for sale. PM me if you are interested.
 
I am currently looking at a laser from zlaserlights that has these controls.

Control: Sound Active Mode, DMX Control, Auto, Master/Slave, 100+ Patterns. Red + Green Output.

Does the Red + Green output mean I can turn the amount of power going to the lasers down?

EDIT: I also have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Laser-Lighting-Holographic-Projector-Tripod/dp/B004JZE152 that has a 50mw green and 100mw red laser that is defracted twice. I plan to have this mounted directly above everyone so it shines straight down with a fogged room. Since it is defracted twice and the room will have fog I see no harm in doing this, what are your guyses thoughts?
 
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I wouldn't want to be crowd scanned with a laser of any power.

This unit uses stepper motors which don't have as smooth or precise operation as a galvo system and probably runs at quite low speeds, increasing the chances for eye damage.

I damaged a few pixels in my Samsung camera with a ~70mW RGY system a few years ago being scanned at 20KPPS to give you an idea.
 
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