new red laser module

[360freak]

Ok I just bought one of these:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10095

Can you tell me any precautions, past experience, etc..?

This should be a standard 650 nm, so I should be able to see the beam vividly. At what wave length will the beam start to get less noticable at 100 mW? And should I get some IR protective goggles? Is there any IR?

Going to be powered by an AC 6v plug btw.

 

[AndrewAZ]

I have a 160mw + red and the beam is somewhat visible in a dark room but nothing like a green even a 15mw green is more visible. I have a home built 100mw ish red and only in a dark room you can sometimes see parts of the beam when dusts passes, but I would say the 100mw 650 beam is about as visible as a 5mw 635nm red.

You dont need an IR filter since it wont have any IR, IR comes on the green lasers since the green lasers use an IR diode to power them which runs into some optics to split the wavelengths down to the 532nm. Red on the other hand uses a 650nm diode and a lens to focus it thats it.

But my guess for a red 650nm you would need 250-300mw++ for a fully visible beam in a dark room that would equal a 15mw green. But the best way for a red beam is to just get a higher powered 635nm laser.

 

[nanoWatt]

The only red I've ever had was a HeNe kit I bought from a catalog. I think it put out 2mW. Could see the dot, but never was able to see the beam.

 

[nanoWatt]

The only red I've ever had was a HeNe kit I bought from a catalog. I think it put out 2mW. Could see the dot, but never was able to see the beam.