It may not look like the lights go much farther than your house, but the extremely concentrated beams of laser lights actually reach much further than most people think. So if you’re going to install a holiday laser-light system, please make sure the lights are hitting your house and not shining up into the sky. People may not realize that systems they set up to spread holiday cheer can also pose a potential hazard to pilots flying overhead. The FAA's concerns about lasers – regardless of the source – is that they not be aimed at aircraft in a way that can threaten the safety of a flight by distracting or blinding the pilots. Federal Aviation Administration:Įnjoy Your Holiday Laser-light Display ResponsiblyĮach holiday season for the past several years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received reports from pilots who said they were distracted or temporarily blinded by residential laser-light displays. Tags: Hacking, Hobbyist, Holiday, Harvesting, Christmas, Class: 3R (IIIa), Color: Blue, Color: Green, Labelling, Photo, Star Shower, Toy or recreational useįrom a November 2017 press release by the U.S. It may be that after going through the holographic diffraction grating that creates the stars, that the Home Accents projector meets Food and Drug Administration requirements for user access to laser light. Class 3R (IIIa) laser projectors like this are not allowed in the U.S. Ĭommentary from : In fairness to Home Accents, the FDA-required warning sticker has to do with the laser power of the unopened unit in its factory configuration. has a page with more information, including measurements of the beam output of a Star Shower projector, here. Nardi writes: “If your biggest take-away from this post is that the Home Depot is selling a 440 nm laser you can use to burn stuff, I certainly don’t blame you.”įrom Hackaday. Nardi noted that the blue laser, when focused, was “easily able to burn pieces of paper and punch holes in black plastic.” He also estimated that the green laser was “at least twice as bright” as a laser pointer he owns that claims to be 50 mW: “…it certainly would not surprise me if they are both at least 100 mW.” The green and blue laser diode modules inside the holiday projector Once focused, it becomes pretty clear that these lasers are quite a bit more powerful than the <5 mW listed on the product’s warning sticker.” “…t 3 meters the spots looked as large as dinner plates…. He removed the cover with four screws and found the parts inside used connectors instead of solder: “It’s like they wanted us to strip it for parts.” In a JanuHackaday post, Tom Nardi purchased a “Home Accents Holiday Multi-Color Light Projector” from a hardware chain on clearance, marked down from $56 to just $14. Tags: US, FAA, Holiday, Media and press, Star ShowerĪ hacker opened a three-color Christmas/holiday laser “star shower” type projector, to find high-powered blue and green laser diodes inside. Civil penalties of up to $30,800 have been imposed by the FAA against individuals for multiple laser incidents. We may impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. We work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against individuals who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. Many high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots who are trying to fly safely to their destinations and may be carrying hundreds of passengers. Intentionally aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety risk and violates federal law. Last year we received 6,754 reports of laser strikes against aircraft, a 250 percent increase since we started tracking laser strikes in 2010. Laser strikes against aircraft continue to increase each year. If your laser-light display continues to affect pilots, despite our warnings, you could face a civil penalty. If we become aware that your laser-light display affects pilots, we’ll ask you to adjust them or turn them off. The extremely concentrated beams of laser lights reach much farther than you might realize. So please make sure all laser lights are directed at your house and not into the sky. You might not realize this, but a well-meaning attempt to spread holiday cheer has the potential to create a serious safety risk to pilots and their passengers flying overhead. With the holiday season upon us, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to make sure your laser-light displays are aimed at your house and not into the sky.Įach year we receive reports from pilots who are distracted or temporarily blinded by residential laser-light displays. The following is from a Decemnews release by the U.S.
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