10mw green laser + protection

[JaGWiRE]

I'm thinking of buying this laser:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.938

I realize 10mw is much more powerful then 5mw green laser, but should I really go for the 10mw? I know with 5mw red lasers and stuff, if they get in somebodies eye for a split second or something, no permanent damage is done (is it the same for 5mw green lasers?) But with 10mw, I am pretty sure you can blind somebody very easy (even by accident if your not careful.)

I was thinking if I got some laser eyeware, it'd be okay, but I have no idea where to buy any locally (or via the web with paypal, not via eBay), or how expensive it'd get.

Do you guys think I should just get the 5mw version? I plan to use this in the city and at home for fun probably. I don't want to hurt anyone or do anything dangerous thing. Is it illegal to use a 10mw in Canada/ Toronto? I suppose you can point it in the sky and stuff as long as you don't aim at aircrafts or whatever (will it even get that far though, 10mw is powerful, but still has limitations), and at buildings, as long as you don't do anything too annoying or dangerous with it? My real intention is to use this with long exposures in photography, as I think it'd be fun to write stuff on walls and stuff.

PS, will this even get to me if I order it, or will it get stopped at the boarder? I think the taser/ pepper spray flashlights on that website sells for example won't even get to you if you order it because it's illegal to own in Canada.

[ProfessorChaos]

ROFL that's like saying

I want to buy a gun...I know if u point a 9mm at someone, they won't get hurt....but what about a .45 cal? I don't want to hurt anyone but is it safe to use?

[JaGWiRE]

ROFL that's like saying

I want to buy a gun...I know if u point a 9mm at someone, they won't get hurt....but what about a .45 cal? I don't want to hurt anyone but is it safe to use?

The idea is accidents happen, and you can be pointing the laser and having fun, and somebody can accidentally walk into it, or you can point it at them. With class IIIa, no permanent damage can be done. I am considering the safety of others and myself here.

I have asked on the website if it is really IIIa as stated on the site. The info for that laser seems a little off, considering 10mw should take 2 AA and not 2 AAA, and the laser doesn't seem to have safety locks all over it.

[Kwirky]

I hate to say it, but if you need to ask, you should probably should go with the lower powered laser & treat it like the high-powered one.

I have asked on the website if it is really IIIa as stated on the site. The info for that laser seems a little off, considering 10mw should take 2 AA and not 2 AAA, and the laser doesn't seem to have safety locks all over it.

Not true: http://www.dansdata.com/nexus.htm <- 95mW laser on AAA's

[JaGWiRE]

I hate to say it, but if you need to ask, you should probably should go with the lower powered laser & treat it like the high-powered one.



Not true: http://www.dansdata.com/nexus.htm <- 95mW laser on AAA's


Yeah. Your probably right.

I think I'll go with the 5mw one, but I will see what the guys on the site say. If it truly is a Class IIIa (which makes no sense, but if the sticker says it), then I will go for it.

The 5mw ones are pretty harmless. Assuming your not a total moron or have intent to damage somebodies vision, I don't think it will happen. I am of course going to treat the laser with safety, but the thought that if it slips out of my hand or something and for even a split second is in somebodies eye, and they get permanent damage, scares me.
I would definitely get it if I knew where to get several sets of laser eyewear goggles cheap, so my friends and I could all wear it when using this at night for skygazing and whatever.
It sounds almost like if you plan to use this outside around other people, you should get the 5mw unless you are only using it in the sky, high rise buildigns, etc (so not pointing it at general stuff where people might be), am I right?

[Kwirky]

As far as it being class IIIa, that makes sense, given that the max power of a class IIIa is 5mW:

http://www.ehss.vt.edu/Programs/OHIH/Laser/03_Laser_Classification.htm

I think the general assumption here is that it can cause eye damage, but it's expected that the blink reaction will be sufficient to avoid any actual damage. From what I've googled (in other words may not be reliable), it seems that the range of a 10mW green laser is up to 12,000 ft.

For fun and stargazing I think a 5mW would do; more fun than red without being too much of a danger.

[JaGWiRE]

As far as it being class IIIa, that makes sense, given that the max power of a class IIIa is 5mW:

http://www.ehss.vt.edu/Programs/OHIH/Laser/03_Laser_Classification.htm

I think the general assumption here is that it can cause eye damage, but it's expected that the blink reaction will be sufficient to avoid any actual damage. From what I've googled (in other words may not be reliable), it seems that the range of a 10mW green laser is up to 12,000 ft.

For fun and stargazing I think a 5mW would do; more fun than red without being too much of a danger.
If you take a look on the product link and read the post I made, it sounds as iif this laser is relatively safe. I think it might be a 5mw modded to 10mw, and maybe not exactly twice the wattage.
I'm probably over panicking, as the guy who runs the site said, they sold 120mw that cut through thin plastic, those were dangerous, but this is probably relatively safe.
And yeah, with 5mw, it seems you blink and your fine, as long as you don't keep it in your eye. I've actually had a cheap IIIa red laser in my eye for a split second and my eyes are fine, heck, I went to the eye doctor a few days ago, better then ever! I think the 10mw might be fine too, I think it's the 15mw and greater ones, because those are where you begin to get all the nutty things.

[matkun]

To quote from Dan's Data:

"But if you'd like a frisson of danger from your handheld laser, 5mW-or-less units don't cut it. Stare into the beam and you'll damage your retina, eventually, but that's it for risks. Brief glances are less harmful than a similarly brief glance at the sun, and there's just not enough energy in the beam for it to interact with the macroscopic world in any of the exciting death-ray ways that all right-thinking people desire."

So yes, your fine with 5mW, and probably fine with 10mW as well. Keep in mind though Green lasers appear much brighter, because again as Dan stated, the human eye is about 10 times as sensitive to green light as it is to red light.

[JaGWiRE]

To quote from Dan's Data:

"But if you'd like a frisson of danger from your handheld laser, 5mW-or-less units don't cut it. Stare into the beam and you'll damage your retina, eventually, but that's it for risks. Brief glances are less harmful than a similarly brief glance at the sun, and there's just not enough energy in the beam for it to interact with the macroscopic world in any of the exciting death-ray ways that all right-thinking people desire."

So yes, your fine with 5mW, and probably fine with 10mW as well. Keep in mind though Green lasers appear much brighter, because again as Dan stated, the human eye is about 10 times as sensitive to green light as it is to red light.
Right. Candle power forums has a group buy on eyeware protection, so I put myself down to 2 sets.
I think 5mw is the most your allowed to use outside, legally. Anything more is only good for skygazing I think. I'll probably be too chicken to point it up, scared I won't see a plane.
I'll get the 5mw, and when I want more, I'll go buy some ridiculous 100mw one, probably from a real brand where there is some IR filtering and stuff.