Simple mod to keep you laser from shorting out.

[crazyhobo]

I noticed that my "Cyber" green laser didn't have the little foam ring around the contact spring that I am used to seeing. I was concerned because the spring is quite long, compresses considerably when a battery is installed, and the wall of the battery compartment is unpainted. If the spring bends over enough to touch the wall it will short out the battery, and if the battery's protection circuit doesn't kick in, it could turn the laser into a pipe bomb. If your laser lacks this protection you can cut out a piece of foam to go around the spring as a safeguard.

 

[Tmack]

Great tip for those pesky long springs.

 

[KRNAZNBOY]

Yes this is an excellent tip! This is a great danger to many lasers....

:beer:
-Matt

 

[crazyhobo]

Thanks guys!

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

+1rep for you. I had an LR44 explode inside my nice 660nm keychain recently because of this exact
problem.

 

[crazyhobo]

+1rep for you. I had an LR44 explode inside my nice 660nm keychain recently because of this exact
problem.

Thanks!

And that sucks. :/

 

[The Lightning Stalker]

Luckily there was no damage to the laser.

And I got a box of free batteries out of the deal.

 

[crazyhobo]

UPDATE!

Foam was not enough! This laser has been on my desk with a battery installed since I originally posted this. That was long enough for the spring to bend over to the point where it was almost touching the wall. Grrr. I made another spacer out of rubber strips super-glued together. A little bit of heavy duty plastic (not electrical) tape around the edge has it sitting snugly in the barrel. I had to make it thinner after the first attempt because it was pressing against the driver when the battery was inserted. We'll see how this hold up. Notice how much of the spring sticks out of it's new home! It's WAY too dang long. That's the problem...