Is this the worst thing on Aliexpress?  "Toy" 80W IR laser pointer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 10:02:16 pm
content: "IPG 80 Watt Laser Technology Toy Remote Igniter with Effective Ignition Distance Within 1- 2 Meters"https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009915374571.htmlOK I'm willing to bet it isn't actually 80W, but still....

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 10:38:27 pm
content: "Strictly prohibited to use on people or skin.When starting the laser, it is strictly forbidden to look directly at the light outlet with the eyes."That should get it past the killjoy regulatory authorities.

author: UnijunctionTransistor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 11:39:54 pm
content: This toy belongs to the “I can’t imagine what could possibly go wrong” category.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 11:51:13 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on October 02, 2025, 10:38:27 pm"But but but ... they didn't say I couldn't point it at an airplane!"

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 11:55:33 pm
content: what I want is a ocular regeneration machine like stargate SG1 episode "new ground". Sold OTC at the pharmacy for $20.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 11:56:37 pm
content: It's probably a language/translation issue.Perhaps a word in Mandarin that means 'fun to play with' translates into 'toy' in English and never had the 'for kids' meaning before translation.Just a guess though, I'm sure someone on here from china could shed some light on it.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 11:56:49 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 02, 2025, 11:55:33 pmI believe that was next on Theranos's list.

author: paul cotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 08:55:21 am
content: 80mw, ie eighty milliwatts I would reckon, and even that would seem optimistic.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 09:06:14 am
content: Quote from: paul cotter on October 03, 2025, 08:55:21 amWhere do you get mW from? It's 80 WATTSThe battery spec is 30C 4S 750mAh, i.e. 270 watts input power.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 09:23:58 am
content: The laser welders are scary, but at least they're quite expensive so folks that are 'just curious' don't buy them. Whereas, these kinds of potentially dangerous lasers are scarily cheap.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:08:22 am
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on October 03, 2025, 09:23:58 am..and actually useful...

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:48:25 am
content: Laser welders are much more powerful than this thing.Not that the power matters much, you're blind if either of them reflects into your eye.

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 12:28:29 pm
content: 80W are not yet enough? 120W 260Whttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009521209853.htmlone review says: "Fast delivey, great 120w laser gun, im like jedi in the night. The only thing is too fast overheating, so it switches to protect its functionality."

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 01:45:53 pm
content: Or if you don't mind a little less portable, a 500W "Laser obstacle remover" with 140m range.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010055649745.htmlQuoteQuote

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 02:04:10 pm
content: This should be a restricted item. Even reflections from anything above class 3 can cause eye damage.Same rules should apply as buying a firearm, but with an added IQ an morality test probably.

author: paul cotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 02:19:18 pm
content: Mikeselectricstuff, numerous aspects of this raised my suspicion. Yes, the specified batteries could deliver 270w but for how long? A quick mental calculation gives me ~6mins. Another issue is the cost as I don't think one could buy a laser diode for the price being quoted, although this is now a quite competitive field. It reminds me of the hv modules advertised claiming hundreds of kilovolts when all they could produce was ~20-30Kv. Ok, I could be quite wrong, I am an old fogey and it's 30years since I worked with both solid state and gas lasers for the entertainment industry. PS: if I am wrong then I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that this is basically a dangerous weapon and should be highly restricted. Even a 80mw laser could cause serious eye damage.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 02:26:00 pm
content: Quote from: paul cotter on October 03, 2025, 02:19:18 pmI doubt that it's anywhere near 80W, but even if only 10W it's still terrifying.As regards cost, this sort of product will be most likely using surplus/out-of-spec/ex equipment diodes, or which there are loads on Aliexpress

author: UnijunctionTransistor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 06:57:24 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 03, 2025, 01:45:53 pmThe only obstacles that a mischievous person would clear, would be neighbor’s cats.Spoken by someone whose cat was once shot by a neighbor. Poor cat, managed to reach home and die in the porch. It was horrible.

author: paul cotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 10:14:20 am
content: As a cat lover I find your story horrific. My sympathies to you.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 05:30:35 pm
content: Oh dear....https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q-04cUg3CAQ

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 06:06:48 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 10, 2025, 05:30:35 pm£330 for that one.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010082248168.htmlI'd be worried that it could burn through my goggles!

author: elektryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 07:06:19 pm
content: They claim that's 1000W.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 09:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: elektryk on October 10, 2025, 07:06:19 pmQuIte possible, as it's tethered to a big mains powered box - scary in its own way, but not as scary as something that any dickhead can carry around in their pocket

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 05:29:11 am
content: Laser rust cleaners are pulsed i think.Not sure if that 1000W is the peak of the pulse or the average.

author: elektryk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 06:29:17 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 10, 2025, 09:20:08 pmYea, both units are connected using optical fiber.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 08:01:24 am
content: Quote from: paul cotter on October 03, 2025, 02:19:18 pmYou really should check the Youtube-channel Styropyro. He made his own laser gun from a laser diode array - those are quite cheap, but deliver an incredible amount of output power.Talking about 100W and above for a low three digit price.Incredible parts, used in laser projectors.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 08:26:45 am
content: Quote from: Psi on October 11, 2025, 05:29:11 amThese typically use very short pulses - peak powers can be many tens of kilowatts

author: paul cotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 09:05:50 am
content: Like aeronautic primary radar which typically have an ERP of 100kw but the average magnetron power is only ~1kw, a lot of gain in the radiator in addition to the short duty cycle.