Red and green laser level (what to choose for what job)
Content
In general, both green and red lasers were designed for specific purposes. But consumers often do not consider this, they only consider the cost.
Green laser levels produce 4 times more light than red laser levels. The visibility range of green lasers when operating indoors is 50 to 60 feet. Red laser levels are convenient when working in hard-to-reach places.
Generally, green laser levels are best for indoor and outdoor use. They provide increased visibility; they are more easily detected by the human eye than red lasers. Red laser levels are hard to see, but they are cheap and their batteries last longer than green laser levels. In addition, green laser levels are very expensive. Therefore, choosing a laser level depends on factors such as your operating range and budget. Large ranges require green laser levels, but for short ranges you can use a red laser.
Laser beams are excellent building tools. Beams provide the best alignment or level in a simple, efficient and convenient way. In this comparison article, I will talk about the features of the green and red laser levels. You can then choose the best laser level based on your working conditions.
Overview of green laser levels
Green lasers are easy to operate; they have improved visibility and are more powerful. Their range is also high. Let's now check these properties from an in-depth point of view.
Visibility of green laser levels
Green light is right in the middle of the light spectrum below the visible light range. Visibility refers to the visual quality or simply the clarity of vision. Green light is easily perceived by our eyes. In this sense, we see that we can see green lasers without straining. Red light is at the end of the visible spectrum. Therefore, it is difficult to see when compared with green light. (1)
Green light has clear edges and visibility. His . Simply put, green light is four times more visible than red light or laser.
Indoors, the green light visibility range is 50 to 60 feet. To the surprise of most people, green light lasers can be used at distances greater than 60 feet (outdoors). The general conclusion is that green light outperforms laser levels of red light.
Green laser level design
Based on their superiority and power, green laser levels should have more features and details than red lasers. Green laser levels have an 808nm diode, frequency doubling crystal and many other sophisticated features. Green lasers thus have more parts, are expensive, and take longer to assemble.
Price
It is now self-evident that green lasers cost more money than red lasers. They are about 25% more expensive than their red counterparts. This is due to their complexity, high functionality, or in general with their design. This also explains why red lasers are flooding the market and not green ones.
We agree that red lasers are more economical than green ones. However, this concept is a bit of a contentious thing. If, for example, construction costs millions, then mistakes cannot be made. In such a situation, it is worth using green lasers.
Battery life
Green laser levels have very powerful lasers with excellent visibility. This is costly. They consume a lot of electricity generated by their batteries. For that matter, the battery life of green lasers is indeed shorter than that of red lasers.
Please note that the visibility power of green lasers depends on the energy of their batteries, so there is a direct proportional relationship.
As the battery drains, visibility also deteriorates. Therefore, if you are using this type of laser, be sure to constantly check the condition of the battery. You may need a few batteries to be on the safe side.
Best Application of Green Lasers
The green laser level provides optimum visibility. Thus, it will be your best choice if you need maximum visibility. In outdoor conditions, green lasers take the lead. In this situation, you will have to ignore the cost and battery cost that green lasers have. And focus on deriving their visibility.
On the contrary, it is wise to avoid these types of lasers if you are on a tight budget. You must choose red lasers. However, if your budget is not limited, choose a giant laser level - green lasers.
Overview of red laser levels
Having studied the green laser levels, we will now focus on the red laser levels. We can say that red lasers are a cheaper version of green lasers. They are by far the most commonly used lasers worldwide due to their cost. They are cheap and require less maintenance than green laser levels.
Transparency
We have already mentioned that red light is at the end of the visible light spectrum. Therefore, it is somewhat difficult for the human eye to perceive this light. On the other hand, green light is located right in the middle of the visible light spectrum, so it is easy to detect with the human eye. (2)
Comparing these values with green light (wavelength and frequency), we see that green light is 4 times stronger/brighter than red light. Therefore, when working indoors, your eye picks up red at about 20 to 30 feet. This is about half the range that the green light covers. When you're doing your job outdoors, below 60 feet, feel free to use the red laser.
As a rule, red laser levels are inferior to green laser levels. Red lasers provide less visibility than green laser levels. Therefore, if you are working in a small area, you can use a red laser. However, if your work area is large, you will need to use a green laser level. Red lasers will be ineffective over a large area.
Design
Yes, red lasers are inferior to green lasers in visibility standards. But if you compare them in terms of design, then red lasers take over. They (red lasers) have fewer components and are therefore very economical. They are also very easy to operate. If you are new to the laser world and just need to complete a few tasks, such as aligning objects on a wall, choose a red laser level.
The cost of red laser levels
These types of lasers are really affordable. If you're on a budget, get a red laser for simple tasks. The price of a red laser level with a detector is generally cheaper than the cost of one green laser level without a detector.
Battery Life of Red Laser Levels
Red laser level batteries last longer than green laser level batteries. The battery of the laser level depends on the power consumed by the laser - the power of visibility. Red laser levels have limited visibility compared to green lasers and therefore consume less power. Less power consumption means the battery uses less power.
The best use of red laser levels
Red lasers are suitable for short distances - indoors or outdoors. In addition, they are cheap and therefore good for people on a budget. Long battery life also reduces maintenance costs.
So which laser level is best for you?
Having discussed the red and green laser levels, it will not be difficult to figure out which laser level is right for you. Well, it will depend on your situation.
Green laser level will win:
- When operating outdoors at 60+ feet.
- Indoor operations over 30 feet away (you can also use red laser + detector in this situation)
- If you need maximum visibility
The red laser level is the winner:
- When you have a limited budget
- Outdoor situation - 1 to 60 feet.
- Indoor - 20 to 30 feet
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How to use a laser level for marking
- How to use a laser level to level the ground
Recommendations
(1) clarity of vision - https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbooksauthors/
2021/02/11/three steps to clarity of vision/
(2) light spectrum - https://www.thoughtco.com/the-visible-light-spectrum-2699036
Video link
