Good party laser - with constellation effects!

[hoffsta]

I'm trying to find a good quality green laser pointer for use at nighttime outdoor music festivals and such that throws those cool tricked out beam patterns. I've also seen ones that kind of pulse on and off- that is a cool feature.

I don't know what power level would be safe if I very momentarily hit someone with a diffracted beam. How much is enough/too much? I've seen 5mW all the way up to 500mW, but obviously there's a sweet spot in there- can anyone make a recommendation on something powerful but still safe. Also how to get the diffraction effects in a compact, rugged and portable design?

Does anyone make special party lasers like this?

Thanks!

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

You can find simple 2-mirror spiros at places that sell blacklights an lavalamps and things like that.

In a pointer sometimes you'll see 'em come with a diffraction filter cap that produces a grid of pinpoints. This filter can be rotated to make the points swim around in a way you wouldn't expect.

You'll also see those keychain pointers like at convenience stores that have the different shapes etched into caps, and has 6 caps that you can change out.

These are all most likely <5mW, so at least a normal person with an average blink reflex will be able to blink before any damage occurs.

 

[tsask]

I'm trying to find a good quality green laser pointer for use at nighttime outdoor music festivals and such that throws those cool tricked out beam patterns. I've also seen ones that kind of pulse on and off- that is a cool feature.
I don't know what power level would be safe if I very momentarily hit someone with a diffracted beam. How much is enough/too much? I've seen 5mW all the way up to 500mW, but obviously there's a sweet spot in there- can anyone make a recommendation on something powerful but still safe. Also how to get the diffraction effects in a compact, rugged and portable design?
Does anyone make special party lasers like this?
Thanks!

have fun with your new toy/device. you need to know that these are becoming more available at retail locations with good & bad ramifications
a few idiots can ruin the fun for everybody. This has already happened with Blue LEDs where "rectal orifices" have misused them impersonating police etc.
concerning power sure its tempting to take it to the limit,ESPECIALLY when an authority figure, who might well be a jerk tells you what you cant do. yet in this case the damage caused is permanent. i would not go too far past 10 -20 mw. 5 mw should be enough!! enjoy!

 

[santanas]

Hi. Try O-Like.com in china, they had a good green star effects lower powered safe unit. Good luck. JH

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

I have the O-like rubberized 2xAAA 30mW green pointer with star cap. One thing to be mindful is that it needs good batteries. I use eneloops in mine and they work pretty well. Before, I'd used some crappy zinc-carbon AAA's, which powered the laser for all of like, a minute before they couldn't power it anymore.

So get some good batteries or rechargeables. They're good to have anyways