Silly thought: use a laser as a headlight?
01-23-09, 01:00 PM
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Silly thought: use a laser as a headlight?
On ebay I see "Christmas SALE Green Laser Pointer with Star Cap US" which broadcasts a fuzzy grid pattern. Would that work as a head light, or is that just silly talk?
01-23-09, 01:36 PM
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It's silly talk. Unless you intend to get on the bike and chase the dot, kinda like a cat/dog will 
01-23-09, 01:54 PM
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I don't know, I love staring down left turning drivers with a helmet mounted light so a laser would give you pinpoint accuracy and a longer range, although you might blind or distract them with it.
01-23-09, 02:27 PM
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"chase a dot" - the sky cap seems to disperse the beam into a large grid of dots simulaneously. Off course the lumins are spread over a large area, and safe lasers are measured in milliwatts.
What I like about the green is it will be easier to look at than bright white at night. Of course it might not work.
What I like about the green is it will be easier to look at than bright white at night. Of course it might not work.
01-24-09, 11:55 AM
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However, I sympathize with staring down drivers with a headlamp. I try to use mine as a signal, I will "flash" drivers with brief direct lamp contact to make them aware of my presence. For the dicks that turn their brights on as I approach, I will beam them directly as I pass.
01-24-09, 12:55 PM
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there was a news story about someone porting green lasers at helicopters and blinding the pilot. green lasers are super bright. just get a standard 2k lumen white light setup to burn retinas legally.
01-24-09, 06:08 PM
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The pattern that the OP mentioned would help, but it wouldn't reduce the dazzling (read: "blinding") effect. Hence,
... although you might blind or distract them with it.
Here's what I would recommend. Get that laser (they're fun anyway
) and go out someplace dark with a friend. Stand about 50' apart and have them aim it towards you. If they manage to hit your eyes with it, measure how long it takes for your vision to come back to normal. If you can live with being blind for that long, maybe you can be the driver who gets subjected to helmet lasers on a regular basis.
01-24-09, 07:36 PM
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01-24-09, 08:38 PM
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Here's what I would recommend. Get that laser (they're fun anyway ) and go out someplace dark with a friend. Stand about 50' apart and have them aim it towards you. If they manage to hit your eyes with it, measure how long it takes for your vision to come back to normal. If you can live with being blind for that long, maybe you can be the driver who gets subjected to helmet lasers on a regular basis.
) and go out someplace dark with a friend. Stand about 50' apart and have them aim it towards you. If they manage to hit your eyes with it, measure how long it takes for your vision to come back to normal. If you can live with being blind for that long, maybe you can be the driver who gets subjected to helmet lasers on a regular basis.Don' t test how anybody's eye responds to a laser! If you must, test it on a digital camera or videocamera.
01-24-09, 08:39 PM
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Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
^^^ I don't think they're dumb enough to try. If so, then what can I do? 
01-24-09, 09:13 PM
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01-26-09, 08:28 AM
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I think this would be a better option for night riding I plan to make one ASAP.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Ulti...o---100-Lumen/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Ulti...o---100-Lumen/
01-26-09, 02:20 PM
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I think this would be a better option for night riding I plan to make one ASAP.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Ulti...o---100-Lumen/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Ulti...o---100-Lumen/
02-04-09, 05:29 PM
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Lasers are bright but in a very, very limited (very small) angle. If you spread the light over a larger angle, a laser won't be very bright (or as efficient) as an LED for the purpose you intend. I doubt that the "fuzzy grid" will be as good as the beam pattern of an LED.
02-06-09, 07:40 AM
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02-06-09, 08:38 AM
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