issues with green laser pointer

[Reaper_Man]

Okay, so I bought a green laser pointer from Radio Shack a while ago, and it seems as though it's "unstable."

What happens is the brightness tends to flicker a bit. Sometimes when I turn it on it'll be dim, while other times it'll be at the full brightness. If I shake it a little, it'll either get better or worse... usually worse. Is this a common issue with this type of laser pointer? Is it fixable/worth fixing? If not, what would you recommend for a <$100 green laser pointer?

Please note that when it comes to laser technology I'm a total newb, go you might have to explain a few things to me. ;p

 

[Amnizu]

It sounds like there's poor contact between the batteries and the rest of the laser. Check to see if they're not fitting properly in the battery cavity. As for a laser <$100, check out http://www.dealextreme.com for a good selection of cheap, if not always 100% reliable, green and red lasers.

 

[styropyro]

It sounds like your laser can be easily fixed. Simply make a small wad of aluminum foil and put it in the battery cap. Play around with the size of the wads of foil but that should fix that problem.

 

[Reaper_Man]

really? that's it?  oooh thanks! I'll give that a try!

it's probably also because I'm using Nickle Metal Hydride batteries and they may be a few millimeters shorter than alkalines.


edit: looks like that worked! and here I thought there was something wrong with the assembly. Thanks again! I just hope I didn't put too much in there (it was a bit of a bitch to screw back in... I hope I'm not stressing anything >.>

 

[Reaper_Man]

hello again, sorry about the double post, but it seems as though the pointer that I have is just a piece of shit.

well, it was working for a while, but it started to dim. Thinking it was a battery issue, I decide to put some NiMH batteries that I have in. I put them in, but it wouldn't light. Then I noticed that the batteries got really hot. I figured that it's possible that it was shorting somewhere, or that for some reason the pointer and/or the piece of aluminum that I was using was interfering in some way. I'm not too certain sadly. ;/

in any case, I've decided that with my next paycheck, I'm just going to say fuck it and get a 10mW pointer from that one website that someone here mentioned...

 

[styropyro]

hello again, sorry about the double post, but it seems as though the pointer that I have is just a piece of shit.

well, it was working for a while, but it started to dim. Thinking it was a battery issue, I decide to put some NiMH batteries that I have in. I put them in, but it wouldn't light. Then I noticed that the batteries got really hot. I figured that it's possible that it was shorting somewhere, or that for some reason the pointer and/or the piece of aluminum that I was using was interfering in some way. I'm not too certain sadly. ;/

in any case, I've decided that with my next paycheck, I'm just going to say fuck it and get a 10mW pointer from that one website that someone here mentioned...

You put in too much foil I'm guessing, the spring is probably shorting against the case.
BTW, that website people mentioned is probably dealextreme.com. Get the true 30mW, its only a few dollars more than the 10mW.

 

[bob12345]

Better yet, head over to Kaidomain and get the 50mW Edwina for an extra $2, much better than the True 30 (in my limited experience).

 

[Entity]

hell just get the RPL 400. It's only about $1474 dollars more.

 

[Reaper_Man]

You put in too much foil I'm guessing, the spring is probably shorting against the case.
BTW, that website people mentioned is probably dealextreme.com. Get the true 30mW, its only a few dollars more than the 10mW.

hmm, how bad could a 30mW laser f­uck up someone's eyes?

I know a 5mW one won't hurt, but....

 

[Amnizu]

[quote author=styropyro link=1205282793/0#5 date=1206330471]
You put in too much foil I'm guessing, the spring is probably shorting against the case.
BTW, that website people mentioned is probably dealextreme.com. Get the true 30mW, its only a few dollars more than the 10mW.

hmm, how bad could a 30mW laser f­uck up someone's eyes?

I know a 5mW one won't hurt, but....[/quote]

Depends on the exposure. Getting a laser in your eyes is NEVER good for them, but 30mW isn't going to be terribly damaging.

 

[Reaper_Man]

eh I would say hmm.... <1 second or so

I have bad OCD where I have the urge to do things that I know I shouldn't do. (think of it as pressing the shiny red button) and yeah... sometimes I deliberately hit my eyes with them.

as long as it doesn't do irreversible damage I think I'll be fine.

 

[f22warzone]

u may want to stick with the 5mw leadlight then...... and pot mode it to make it LESS powerfull if you plan on shining it in your eyes

 

[Amnizu]

eh I would say hmm.... <1 second or so

I have bad OCD where I have the urge to do things that I know I shouldn't do. (think of it as pressing the shiny red button) and yeah... sometimes I deliberately hit my eyes with them.

as long as it doesn't do irreversible damage I think I'll be fine.

That doesn't mean you have OCD, it means you're an idiot.

 

[Reaper_Man]

That doesn't mean you have OCD, it means you're an idiot.

Uhhhh, f­uck you?

All I wanted was an answer to a very simple question. What I didn't want was to be insulted, and who are YOU to say whether I have or don't have OCD? Are you a psychiatrist? Thought so...

So either answer my question or fuck off.

 

[john_lawson]

ok thats weird

 

[Amnizu]

[quote author=Amnizu link=1205282793/0#12 date=1206418118]That doesn't mean you have OCD, it means you're an idiot.

Uhhhh, f­uck you?

All I wanted was an answer to a very simple question. What I didn't want was to be insulted, and who are YOU to say whether I have or don't have OCD? Are you a psychiatrist? Thought so...

So either answer my question or fuck off.
[/quote]

OCD or not, you're still an idiot.

Why would you come to a forum full of laser enthusiasts who have repeatedly talked about the dangers of having lasers shined in their eyes, then shine a laser directly into your eye and not expect to be called an idiot? That is doubly idiotic.