Opinion: What is the best mw for a blue laser?

[Rageypoo]

Hi guys, I was wondering if I could get some of the veteran's opinions on what mw is the absolute best for a portable laser. Take into consideration the following:

-Battery life
-Best lens (the lens that lasts the longest)
-Best host (the host that either has the most durability or functionality)
-Best features (what can attach to it and how versatile it is)

Let the debate commence!

 

[IsaacT]

Well it all depends on what is important for you. I love my 2.5W 9mm build, but if beam specs are your focus, then you probably want a single mode, low power build. Then I would go for a 200mW or so 450nm PL450B build.

Battery life is going to be easier on the lower power builds, because of the lower current draw.

Any glass lens should last a long, long time as long as you dont wipe your ass with it or drag it through insulation in your attic.

Any high quality host should work, once you decide on what is important to you you can figure out the best option host wise.

Features? Versatility? Unless you are talking about a gun sight, or adding tripod mounting holes, most lasers are pretty much the same in terms of features.

 

[firelaser]

Also getting a host with bigger batteries will be a lot better for battery life. 2 18650s will be Many times better than 2 16340s

 

[Rageypoo]

Wannaburnstuff do you have a picture of your 2.5? I'd love to see it. Firelaser thanks for the tip! I'll try to focus my next high power project around those 18650's instead of the 16340's ^_^

 

[Shakenawake]

18650s are good, but for the same length and wider you could get 26650s instead, and get even longer run-time.

I'd say the copper dominator by blord is one of the best single diode lasers I've seen. mine will be 3W, have a 5min on, 1 min off cycle and runs on two 26650s

seen in this thread, and others:http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/blord-copper-dominator-one-laser-rule-them-all-81910.html

 

[Rageypoo]

What about the 25500 batteries? I wish I could find a list of how long these batteries last side by side. I really love the C6 casings Blord has, this dominator is great too but not practical for what I'd use a higher powered laser for. I like all of these suggestions so far!

 

[IsaacT]

Wannaburnstuff do you have a picture of your 2.5? I'd love to see it. Firelaser thanks for the tip! I'll try to focus my next high power project around those 18650's instead of the 16340's ^_^

Here you go Rageypoo:



And here is a video of it with dead batteries....didnt realize they were dead until it turned off after the video.

 

[Rageypoo]

That's an impressive beam! Wow! what shape is the beam? (square? round?)

 

[IsaacT]

It is round mostly. The dot is like any multimode last though.

 

[Rageypoo]

It's so impressive! How did you get such a round beam at such high power?