Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

How to Register on LPF | LPF Donations

What battery does my laser need?

JayC

JayC

0
Joined
Oct 20, 2013
Messages
68
Points
8
Hello.

I ordered a cheap 20 dollar 532nm green laser from Ebay about a month ago and it finally arrived. I didn't notice until now that the listing said it didn't come with a battery. I have two concerns. My first concern is that on the warning label it says "Max output power <5000mw" which seems a bit odd... and my second concern is I have no idea what battery to buy.
The side of the laser says SDLaser 303 and it came with a charger, but after doing searching I could not find out what battery I need or why mine says <5000mw. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!
 





Hey Jay,

I would just buy some AAA. Most of those eBay pens take AAA, but be aware it will use batteries at a fast rate! :beer:
 
Nevermind: Greenlander, did you even try to look up what he bought..?


Is it the same as this laser?

It'll take lithium ion batteries numbered "18650".

Take a look around the forum for those, I think there are a few members selling some good cells for cheap prices.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Pictures would help. Is it a pen style, or is it thicker?

Pen Styles usually use 2 x aaa

The thicker ones usually use a 18650...

Although I believe the SD models are usually 18650
 
I believe the SD laser 303's take 18650 batteries. If it just came with a charger you can order some off of amazon, ebay, or somewhere. Also, <5000mW just means that the laser is between 0 and 4999 mW. It probably will be about 100-200 mW or so.

EDIT: wow those guys are fast
 
Last edited:
Npglaserer said:
I believe the SD laser 303's take 18650 batteries. If it just came with a charger you can order some off of amazon, ebay, or somewhere. Also, <5000mW just means that the laser is between 0 and 4999 mW. It probably will be about 100-200 mW or so.
Click to expand...

Most likely, with im sure at least 50% of that being IR.
 
Yes, that laser takes an 18650. I bought one a week ago. Cheap, but was pretty bright-now when i use it i smell burning electronics, and the power drops quick :p
 
I've got a Dragon 447nm spartan 1w and the website lists the battery as a cr123. I'm wondering if I can use a couple 16340s instead.

I see that a lot of pointers use 18650s which I know all about, but I'm wondering if the diode in my laser may be on the unstable side and require the more consistent voltage of a cr123.

Anyone have a solid answer on this? I don't want to risk an expensive laser on cheap batteries.

I found this while trying to find an answer but none of it pertains to lasers

Thanks in advance!

PS the best 18650s out there imo are the Sony vtc5a and the LG HG2, but thats as they pertain to electronic cigarettes. What kind of discharge ratings do lasers require?
 
override said:
I've got a Dragon 447nm spartan 1w and the website lists the battery as a cr123. I'm wondering if I can use a couple 16340s instead.

I see that a lot of pointers use 18650s which I know all about, but I'm wondering if the diode in my laser may be on the unstable side and require the more consistent voltage of a cr123.

Is your laser doing something which would make you think there's some "instability"? "More consistent voltage" not sure what you mean by that...?

Anyone have a solid answer on this? I don't want to risk an expensive laser on cheap batteries.

Use the batteries recommended by the manufacturer and you won't risk your expensive laser.

I found this while trying to find an answer but none of it pertains to lasers

Thanks in advance!

PS the best 18650s out there imo are the Sony vtc5a and the LG HG2, but thats as they pertain to electronic cigarettes. What kind of discharge ratings do lasers require?

Lower discharge ratings than electronic cigarettes that's for sure. Your 1W spartan will be pulling less than 10W if I had to guess.
Click to expand...


See answers in red.
 
A cr123 puts out a consistent voltage throughout its discharge cycle, whereas a 16340 is fully charged at 4.2 volts and drops down to 3.2 volts when it's fully discharged. I'm curious if the varying voltage or overpowering would harm the laser
 
It depends on the laser design.

CR123 and 18340 are the same physical size.

CR123 is originally a description of a primary (non-rechargeable) lithium cell that was often used in photo camera's and such, and has a voltage of 3.0 volts, fairly constant from fresh to depletion.

If you want to know if a device that claims to use CR123 cells you should find the maximum input voltage for it. That sould be 4 volts per cell (so 8 if it has 2 in series etc). Many laser pointers are actually intended to be used with rechargeable cells and thus higher voltages, but it cannot be guaranteed.
 
Benm said:
It depends on the laser design.

CR123 and 18340 are the same physical size.

CR123 is originally a description of a primary (non-rechargeable) lithium cell that was often used in photo camera's and such, and has a voltage of 3.0 volts, fairly constant from fresh to depletion.

If you want to know if a device that claims to use CR123 cells you should find the maximum input voltage for it. That sould be 4 volts per cell (so 8 if it has 2 in series etc). Many laser pointers are actually intended to be used with rechargeable cells and thus higher voltages, but it cannot be guaranteed.
Click to expand...

I've continued looking around for an answer and come up with some good things but was unable to find a maximum working voltage for the diode.

Seems the diode was sourced from a canon projector but I can't find raw specs.

I did find a couple reviews saying the laser would operate fine on 3.2v lifep04 16340s but imr and icr batteries operating at 3.7v would overheat the laser. unfortunately these batteries would need a special charger and I'm not sure I want to do that.

I am curious though, seeing that a lot of these lasers are recommending 18650s what batteries are you guys using?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top