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By LopeD
#5277
I want to buy a whole bunch of cheap laser diodes/pointers for use with signal modulation.
On ebay i see laser pointers for $1 each...
Some laser pointers can be modulated, some can not. It depends on their power supply. Some of the really cheap lasers just have a resistor as their "power supply". These are ideal.

Does anyone know if there is a delay when you turn a laser on after turning it off? A lot of designs i see modulate the laser between low power, and high power, instead of just on and off. (for digital stuff)

Laser diodes can probably be ordered a lot cheaper, but they need lenses to make collimated beams (i think that means thin and straight etc :)

So if anyone has experience with this, please shed some light.

peace
By badpacket
#5413
Well, can't help with your question, however for anyone looking for cool little toys, I just spent $30 on a bunch of laser stuff from vistawholesale.
They have straight 650nm laser pointers for $0.90/ea, which are supposedly much brighter than the 675nm.

I need to make some small fiber visual fault indicator/pathing gadgets for work, so picked a couple of these to use for the laser and hold the electronics. Now, I just need an electric skillet from Targ-e.

http://vistawholesale.zoovy.com/product/1LASERLITE

Not affiliated in any way either.
By badpacket
#5414
Well, can't help with your question, however for anyone looking for cool little toys, I just spent $30 on a bunch of laser stuff from vistawholesale.
They have straight 650nm laser pointers for $0.90/ea, which are supposedly much brighter than the 675nm.

http://vistawholesale.zoovy.com/product/LASERPOINTER

I need to make some small fiber visual fault indicator/pathing gadgets for work, so picked a couple of these to use for the laser and hold the electronics. Now, I just need an electric skillet from Targ-e.

http://vistawholesale.zoovy.com/product/1LASERLITE

Lottsa cool, cheap stuff to take apart. Not affiliated in any way
By LopeD
#5492
Hey dude... when you get your pointers, please open one of them up and check out the power supply and tell me what you see :)
would be appreciated.

peace
By badpacket
#5631
LopeD wrote:Hey dude... when you get your pointers, please open one of them up and check out the power supply and tell me what you see :)
would be appreciated.

peace
Will do, give me a couple of days. BTW, they ended up not being strong enough for me. They are labeled as <1ms, and are definately weak. We've got a Noyes 1mw fiber tester, and it will runs a couple of km!

Looking at a place that sells real 1mw dioces for like $20.

Ah saved you the effort and looking at the page the 3mw is only $17.50
http://www.apinex.com/ret2/laser-modules.html