Wiring battery box with on/off switch to laser pen

[rshaw06194]

Hi, i've bought a couple of cheap $5 blue laser pens off ebay for a festival costume i'm making. They are perfect for what I need as i don't want them to burn anything, just give off a bright blue beam. However, i'd like them to stay on continuously without me having to hold the button down. The laser pens take AAA batteries so I've bought a couple of AAA battery boxes with an on/off switch. What would be the best way to wire this up? I don't even mind taping the existing button down and having it so that the switch on the battery box provides the power instead if that would work, i'm just looking for the simplest way. I just need to which bits to wire the positive and negative to.

 

[10fenny]

Blue(445nm)? Or violet(405nm)? Either way most of the "ebay" pens are waaay overspec and can be very dangerous! Mostly the violet, for it is on the verge of not being able to be seen by the human eye. I am just trying to let you know that your "costume" could be very dangerous!

 

[Trendkilla254]

I would recommend not using a ebay pen. It's not safe.

Assuming you get a safe laser without a switch, Open the case pull out the module, (careful if it's green, you could destroy it easily) Turn soldering iron on low power, melt the clicky off and solder wires in it's place. Solder those wires to switch. Done

 

[rshaw06194]

Thanks, it's a 405nm 1mW blue/violet laser pen. How do you mean by unsafe exactly? The lasers will be pointing straight up towards the sky so no danger of them shining in peoples eyes if that was a concern?

 

[10fenny]

Unless you have got it metered its most likely putting waay more than 1mW out. it may not look bright because the human eye has a hard time seeing 405nw. stray reflections can be dangerous too. Im just saying be very careful or rethink your idea!

 

[Pi R Squared]

1mW of 405nm isn't even visible to many people, it will put a dim spot of fuzz on the wall in dim lighting. Why did you buy pens if you want to connect them to a battery box, most pens can't even be taken apart. Just buy modules that you can wire directly to the battery boxes. Preferably a different color. Look for ones that look like this:

405nm 5mW Mini Laser Module 8x13mm, AixiZ

635nm 5mW Laser Module 8x13mm, AixiZ

650nm 1mW 8x13mm Laser Module with Focusable Lens, AixiZ

Note the voltage required can vary, but many of them will run on two AAA batteries, you can find them cheap on eBay.

Alan

 

[Trendkilla254]

Dont point lasers into the sky willy nilly. Planes = Jail.

 

[rshaw06194]

Ah some fair points there. Thanks all for the advice, i'll probably just rethink my idea. Sounds like there are too many risks involved. I just thought it'd be cool having some lasers shining out but if it's posing a risk to people i'll sack the idea off and think of something else. The input was much appreciated anyhow, thanks!