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How to Fix a Big Dipper Laser

The Big Dipper brand laser pointer provides a powerful beam of coherent light unlike any light found in nature. A failure of the power button to activate the laser can be fixed, although it is not actually the button causing the problem. A tool common to most homes will be needed. You do not need special electrical skills in order to repair the laser so it functions properly again.

Things You'll Need

Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew the cap from the back end of the Big Dipper laser pointer. Hold the end vertically over your palm. Shake the pointer to dislodge the batteries from inside the battery compartment and drop them into your palm. Place the batteries and the cap aside.
- 2
  Hold the pointer in one hand with the back end facing up. Hold needle-nose pliers in the other hand.
- 3
  Insert the needle-nose pliers into the back end of the pointer. Grip the edge of the spring inside the battery compartment with the jaws of the needle-nose pliers. Pull the pliers toward you until you can see the spring exiting the back end of the pointer. Release the spring. Over compression of the spring is the likely cause of the malfunction. Restretching the spring will fix this.
- 4
  Place the batteries back into the battery compartment. Push the end of the battery closest to the back end of the pointer in, using your finger. Screw the cap back on the back end of the pointer.
- 5
  Aim the lens at the front end of the Big Dipper green laser pointer at a far wall that does not have any reflective surface on it, such as a mirror or picture frame glass. Press the "Power" button on the pointer to project a beam of laser light on the wall. Press the button again to turn off the laser light.

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