THE PIRANHA
RED LASER POINTER

The Piranha Red Laser Pointer, retail $3.75 (www.alpec.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown) for Tracer (www.tracer.net
Last updated 03-11-06




What this is is a keychain laser pointer. It emits a red beam (est. 645nm-650nm) with at least 2.5mW of output power, and it includes the 3 LR44 button cells it feeds from.

It fits on your keychain with a split-ring, so you can carry it anywhere.


SIZE



To use your new laser pointer, feed it first (see below), and then you'll be ready to go to town.

Press the button on the barrel and hold it down for as long as you want or need the laser beam, and release it to shut the unit back off.
Don't aim the laser at your face when you push the button, otherwise you might hit yourself in the eyes with the laser beam, and that wouldn't be very good at all.



This laser pointer requires three LR44 button cells, which are included in the package so you don't need to run to the store right away. To change them, unscrew and remove the tailpiece, dash it to the floor, and stomp on it...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the open end of the laser pointer into your hand, and dispose of or recycle the three button cells that come out as you see fit.

Stack three new LR44 button cells on top of one another on a table, countertop, or other flat surface, button-end (-) negative facing up. Lower the laser pointer over this stack so all three cells are in the barrel. Slide the assembly to the edge of whatever surface you're reloading the pointer on, and place your finger over the laser pointer's opening as you slide it over the edge, so all those batteries don't just clatter to the floor. Invert (flip over) the laser pointer now, so the open end of the barrel faces up. Remove your finger. Screw the tailpiece back on, and be done with it.
Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that tailpiece now?

Unable to measure current draw due to how the product was constructed.



As inexpensive laser pointers go, this laser pointer is built relatively sturdily. It is not water-resistant or submersible, and probably would not withstand being stomped on or run over either. But it should not break just hanging on your keychain.

Since laser pointers like this are not meant to be stomped on, run over, drowned in the commode, or otherwise abused, I will not inflict those sorts of punishments upon this one. So this section of the web page will be a bit on the bare side. :-/

The laser pointer emits a red beam at approximately 653nm to 658nm in wavelength in the red part of the spectrum, and has a measured output power of 2.67mW. The labelling on the laser pointer indicates it is a CDRH Class IIIa device (which cannot emit more than 5mW), so there is no problem whatsoever with that.

This is a directly-injected diode laser, so there are no crystals, filters, electronic drivers, or other horse puckey inside to go afoul.



Beam photograph on the test target at 12".
Beam image bloomed *substantially* in this photograph.
Power output measures 2.67mW on a meter designed specifically for this purpose.


Beam photograph on a wall at ~15'.

Those rectangular graphic things near the bottom are marquees from:
Venture Line ''Looping''
Williams ''Joust''
Williams ''Stargate''
Sega ''Star Trek''
Sega ''Space Harrier''
upright coin-op arcade video games from the early-1980s.

And that red star thing on the wall is from an American DJ Laser Widow.



TEST NOTES:
Test sample was purchased for me by a member of Candlepower Forums, and was received late on the morning of 02-24-06.

The website this product is sold on requires one to have a bank card in order to make purchases; since I do not have one, somebody else ordered the laser pointer for me.

This product was made in Hong Kong. A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I published it on this web page.


UPDATE: 02-25-06
When the beam was examined very closely, no artifacts were seen in it. For $3.75, you really couldn't ask for a higher beam quality.


UPDATE: 03-11-06
Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the Piranha laser pointer.
Ocean Optics USB2000 Spectrometer on loan from TWO-CUBED.


PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Keychain laser pointer
    LAMP TYPE: Directly-injected diode laser
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Very narrow spot
    SWITCH TYPE: Momentary pushbutton on/off on barrel
    CASE MATERIAL: Aluminum
    BEZEL: Metal; laser inside cell for it
    BATTERY: 3xLR44 button cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Very light splatter-resistance at maximum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Medium split-ring, 3 batteries
    WARRANTY: 6 months

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





The Piranha Red Laser Pointer * www.alpec.com...






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