planning on getting 200mw DX laser, how do I keep my eye's safe?
- Thread starter Byan
- Start date
Help Support Candle Power Flashlight Forum
senecaripple
Flashlight Enthusiast
search for ir goggles here. I got one for about $15.00 shipped.
Don't worry about the IR at all with the DX worry about the green. Get some good laser goggles if you can afford it, at the bare minimum pick up a pair of these http://www.toolbarn.com/product/dewalt/DW0714/ They are a little dark ( low VLT ), but they block 532nm light as well as a pair of OD6 lasershields via spectrometer.
chesterqw
Flashlight Enthusiast
get a real IR blocking goggle.
some guy** sell goggle which are tinted black, with NO NO NO NO NO IR blocking capabilities.
** edited by Darell for PG rating.
some guy** sell goggle which are tinted black, with NO NO NO NO NO IR blocking capabilities.
** edited by Darell for PG rating.
Last edited by a moderator:
always had this question but always forget to ask. Is it dangerous to use a laser to light a room if your not looking at the spot on the wall. Like your aiming it at the ceiling and its just illuminating the room so all you see is the green reflection but you never look at the spot itself?? Really would like to know, thanks
Nic
Nic
There is no risk of any eye injury from a diffuse reflection off of a wall. You can point a handheld laser of basically any power at the ceiling to illuminate the room with no ill effect. Just make sure that you don't hit a glass/metal light fixture or anything that would generate a coherent reflection, because that could be a safety issue if it got you in the eye. If in doubt, wear your goggles!
A lasers power is in it's coherency, the wavelength of the laser is in step. Think of the diffrence between a waterhose stream and what happens when it is pointed at the wall. When it hits the wall it's scattered in all directions, and looses it's power.
As far as looking at the dot unprotected, it depends on the texture of the surface and how powerful the laser is. The beam diameter also make a big difference. My general rule is ~7 feet for the first 100 mw and and a few feet for every extra 100mw for rough/textured nonreflective surfaces.
Be very careful about shining through clear thing like glass as every surface has a reflection. a window pane has 2 reflections. Rough glass like privacy glass or even shiny surfaces like water or varnished wood can cause random high power reflections that can blind you. Anything shiny or slightly reflective, should be illuminated with the utmost care. Use a tripod for you laser if you have to to make sure the beam won't move around and cause the reflection to change.
As far as looking at the dot unprotected, it depends on the texture of the surface and how powerful the laser is. The beam diameter also make a big difference. My general rule is ~7 feet for the first 100 mw and and a few feet for every extra 100mw for rough/textured nonreflective surfaces.
Be very careful about shining through clear thing like glass as every surface has a reflection. a window pane has 2 reflections. Rough glass like privacy glass or even shiny surfaces like water or varnished wood can cause random high power reflections that can blind you. Anything shiny or slightly reflective, should be illuminated with the utmost care. Use a tripod for you laser if you have to to make sure the beam won't move around and cause the reflection to change.
Darell
Flashaholic
Leave it off! (sorry, I simply could not resist.)
The BEST tripod for the rpl ( i have one too ) is a microphone stand. works PERFECTLY. They are cheap you can pick one up for $15-20. You can use it with smaller pointers too, it depends on the clamp. ( try and get one with a clamp ( called a clothespin or quick release ) type folder rather than the one piece plastic kind.)
One you mount the laser so it's not likely to be moved, it's very easy to control the environment and that makes operating a high power laser without safety glasses MUCH safer. As long as you are careful about preventing anything ( reflective ) from entering the beam it's very safe.
