HIGH-POWER LASER SALVAGED FROM HEADLIGHTS

[GURPS]

The headlights work with blue laser diodes that excite phosphor to produce white light. Removing the outside trappings revealed a three-pin laser diode (the case is the third pin). There’s also a substantial heatsink. Removing the diode from the assembly is difficult, but it is easy enough to leave it in the heatsink and use the existing connector.

Of course, the phosphor and a filter have to go. Some destructive work with a screwdriver and pliers broke out the optics from a diode he’d destroyed trying to remove it. Then he replaced the optics on the remaining diode with the modified housing.

With a low-current test, the diode didn’t lase but did act as a regular LED. More current did the trick, though. The laser without the optics made a line rather than a spot but still had enough power to melt some plastic and light matches. To get a parallel beam, the internal lens needs to move closer to the diode, and a drill bit allowed that to happen, which reduced the beam’s divergence quite a bit, but didn’t create the best result.

High-Power Laser Salvaged From Headlights

[DiodeGoneWild]’s latest video lives up to the name. He takes apart a laser headlight to recover a pretty powerful blue laser. You can see the video, below. The headlights work with blue lase…

hackaday.com

 

[glhs837]

For me, "high power laser" always elicits images of bunny rabbit eyeballs that we were shown before playing with a really high power countermeasure laser pod...... Reflected laser energy can be just as hazardous of direct impingement. Love lasers, but not even playing with them.

 

[Kyle]

Are these the ones with the blue glare that irritates the hell out of everyone?

 

[glhs837]

Are these the ones with the blue glare that irritates the hell out of everyone?

Nah, that's just *******s with aftermarket HIDs

 

[kom526]

Are these the ones with the blue glare that irritates the hell out of everyone?

The factory lights on the latest generation of Ford trucks are infuriating for little car drivers like myself. I feel like Andy Dufresne after busting out of Shawshank when one is near.

 

[Sneakers]

The factory lights on the latest generation of Ford trucks are infuriating for little car drivers like myself.

I've told a story on here before, when I was towing a trailer (raises the light beam a bit) and pulled up behind a Miata at a light. He was going ballistic because my lights were at his eye level. He thought my brights were on and wanted me to dim. They were on dim, so I flashed the high beams. Damn near blinded the guy. As a courtesy, I turned the lights off until we started moving again.

 

[Kyle]

The factory lights on the latest generation of Ford trucks are infuriating for little car drivers like myself. I feel like Andy Dufresne after busting out of Shawshank when one is near.

I've got a 2020 but never noticed them being brighter than any others. I'll have to pay closer attention.