Undecided on which laser level to buy with all choices in the market? Should I choose green beam laser level or pick the red one?
If you are new in the field, selecting the right laser level to invest in could be daunting. When it comes to the beam, which color is best to help you accomplish your job?
This guide helps you with that decision by presenting to you the essential features of green lasers in getting the quality you want in your work.
The human eyes are highly sensitive to “visible light” which belongs to a small electromagnetic region.
The visibility of lasers is commonly determined by their wavelength and power output. The wavelength of visible light is within a range of 400 to 700nm with color ranging from violet to red.
Considering laser levels with the same power output, wavelengths nearer to 555nm are brighter, where green remains the brightest, then red, blue and violet.
On the other hand, given that the wavelengths are the same, those with higher power output appears brighter, such as a laser product of 650 nm at <5mW is brighter than the laser product with 650 nm at <1mV.
Why choose Green instead of Red beam lasers?
Green lasers remain at the top of users' preferences which often operate at a wavelength of 532nm in a Class IIIA. It can be detected 4 times better compared to the red laser.
In optimal conditions, they are visible for thousands of feet at <5mW. Green is also nearer toward the center of the visible spectrum making it more visible to the human eyes. It utilizes more energy accounting for a longer distance of visibility.
A laser emitted by green diode can be sensed at a longer distance without requiring a detector and can be seen as a solid line from the rotating laser, giving it a great edge in interior jobs.
Since it can cover a longer distance, it means lesser time for setup and more time saved for the project.
Green diodes are more expensive to produce by 20% to 25% add on the cost compared to red lasers. The cost accounts for the more KTP crystals, more diodes, and components in this type of laser.
The green laser uses more power in its operation which requires lesser total operation time compared to red laser. These, however, could hardly sweep a buyer away from purchasing green laser because of the advantages.
When to use green laser level?
The green laser is the most preferred choice in round construction, for working on drywalling and suspended ceilings, and when mixing exterior and interior work.
This is highly recommended in interior construction but it has disadvantages in exterior jobs even with high output power because the green beam is easily dissipated in daylight.
If you are planning to use the green laser level for exterior purposes, choose one with an outdoor function for visibility, otherwise, you cannot combine it with the detector for that purpose.
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Conclusion
When investing on a laser level, precision is also reinforced by the beam you choose to use in your work. There are a lot of models and beams with colors of green, red, blue and violet to choose from.
In making the final choice, you need to be clear of your operational purpose of this tool, such as will it be used more for the interior, exterior or a mix of both conditions?
With green and red lasers commonly used in construction projects, green laser remains superior with its visibility and distance.
Our eyes are more sensitive to green lasers and can reach farther compared to the red laser. This is best used in large-scale interior jobs and it can also be used for exterior projects provided the mode you are using has an indicated outdoor function.
Bruce Rivers
