Night Vision Monocular Teardown!

[@zincmann]

Who knew a night vision monocular had all this technology in it? wow. Cool stuff

[@sjm4306]

It's a fascinating read about the development of IR based night vision devices for military applications. All the way from barely being better than the naked eye and requiring an big blacked out incandescent illuminator to pass little IR to modern filmless 3rd gen tubes that barely need any external ambient IR illumination.

[@jadinadams9576]

I have the fampus tails version as well and the night vision seems to work but i cant get the image to focus at all. Any idea as to why?

[@sjm4306]

Check you are focusing both the front and rear lenses. It's possible the rear lens is out of focus on the phosphor side of the tube.

[@dano2490]

I own one of these (won it at a trade conference of all things) and needed to fix one of the buttons. I thought there was NO way I would find disassembly instructions for something so obscure, but decided to try anyway. Your video was just what I needed to take it apart. So I don't know if this is a win - win, but it is certainly a win for me. I know why you didn't film loosening the ring, I used many choice words getting mine loose. One bit of advice I would give others is that if it doesn't move counter-clockwise, try clockwise first. I couldn't get it to budge at first and thought it might be reverse threaded and your video was reversed somehow. I managed to move the ring a little clockwise, just enough to confirm the thread was normal. When I then tried to go back counter-clockwise, the ring now moved.

[@travislupum]

The very first night vision I had ever got was a night owl monocular me and my brother would dress up in camouflage and hit the golf course at night and mess with security 😂 my pvs7 is still my all time favorite device

[@sjm4306]

I wish I had one of these when I was younger ... on second thought it's probably better I didn't, don't even want to think what mischief I would've gotten into with them lol!

[@matrim1762]

fun fact the image tube in this device is an eop V-8 (B-8 in russian) and is used in many military grade devices from the soviet blocks from the 80s-90s. so if you have a dead tube in a russian military nv device you can steal parts from a "modern" nv monocular.

[@sjm4306]

That's really cool to know. If only I could wait 20 or so years for modern 3rd gen nv tubes to make their way into affordable consumer monoculars lol!

[@Winner12386]

Yeah I have bought these to replace tubes in my PNV-57E .

[@matrim1762]

@@Winner12386 yeah I plan to post a repair video on pnv 57Es and how to change the focus of the tubes for close or long distance viewing.

[@Winner12386]

@@matrim1762 nice I found this same device on ebay so I’m going to get it because I like the v8 image quality over the ep-33 which I sourced from some weird civilian device that was essentially a 57e with a transformer screwed to the top.

[@falloutforever88]

I'm assuming they made A LOT during the cold war and surplus stocks are getting bought and used for gen one devices. The tech for gen two and up is still tactically effective so it's my assumption that the market is kept scarce on purpose considering there are likely huge stockpiles of those tubes as well. Also ITAR, I'm just assuming though so correct me if I'm wrong.

[@danielramirezcruz.2209]

Voy interesting información..i love it.. thanks for posting..

[@filipciborowski6443]

Hey, do you maybe know how much maximum voltage can the power supply take? On a pnv 57e which uses almost the same intensifier it is recommended to use a 11.1v battery or roughly 6v per tube. This one only uses 2 aa batteries which give you 3 volts.

[@sjm4306]

I wouldn't go much above the 3V nominal voltage since it doesn't look like there's any active regulation in the circuitry so increasing the input voltage too much can destroy the boost circuitry and possibly burn out the tube.

[@filipciborowski6443]

@@sjm4306 would adding such a thing be difficult?

[@sjm4306]

Yeah it'd be easy just adding a small adjustable buck converter to step whatever voltage you need down to the required 3V and feed that to the battery terminals. It's low enough power that just about any buck converter module off amazon/ebay should work just fine.

[@JustPako_zZ]

Depend by the voltage elevator. This tubes works at 17Kv-19Kv but the power supply voltage depend by the nvg model. PNV57E Works at 12 volt infact was used on veichles

[@sjm4306]

Yep, it's not the tube that'll be damaged by using a higher battery voltage, it's the circuitry in the input dcdc switching boost converter.

[@pcblah]

I have a rigel 3300 that has a bad V8S tube. Good to know I can salvage new ones.

[@mr.foshow5474]

Hey. I have the zenit nv-300 and it’s not working any help. Thanks

[@sjm4306]

Sure, what have you tested so far? Basically what are the symptoms?

[@mr.foshow5474]

No power at all. I took it part broke something lol😂it wasn’t easy priing it like you did. But just the cover part broke nothing else got damaged. Anyways I’m getting power to the switches that’s all I have tested

[@sjm4306]

When you energise the tube can you hear a high pitched squeal?

[@mr.foshow5474]

Hi. Sorry for the late response but I hear no sound or anything thanks.

[@sjm4306]

That means your high voltage converter is likely dead and would need to be replaced. It is technically repairable but since most are potted it's practically impossible to do so.

[@mr.foshow5474]

⁠Ok 👌 thanks for your help I appreciate.

[@DevTechGarage]

What happens if you adjust the variable capacitor?

[@sjm4306]

It's probably to adjust the switching frequency/voltage

[@DevTechGarage]

@@sjm4306 but what does that do? Will it enhance night vision or hurt it?

[@sjm4306]

They set it to the correct voltage at the factory. Decreasing it will make the tube dimmer and increasing it will make it a bit brighter up to a point (but also burn it out quicker). It should be set at the optimal value from the factory so play with it at your own risk.

[@DevTechGarage]

@@sjm4306 well I've got one of these, however when I press power, I have to hold it down because it does not stay engaged and I hear buzzing but the tube will not power up. IR will work but tube will not. What would you guess the problem could be?

[@sjm4306]

So this model's power button is momentary meaning you have to keep it held for continuous power so that's normal. The buzzing sound means the high voltage inverter is working. Now the bad news, this all probably means your intensifier tube is either burnt out or air has gotten in through a little crack, killing the tube.

[@chriswright5191]

I have a gen 1 device and it works but it does not react to ir light/torch source?! Has anyone heard of this problem?

[@sjm4306]

Does the tube show an image? Ie how do you know it works?

[@Zenodilodon]

Yus! These are awesome to mess with. I have a friend who wants to buy the one I fixed for a fair amount, I might end up picking up a better unit soon :P

[@sjm4306]

Oh get that mil grade cascade tube I linked you! That would make for an awesome diy scope project.

[@Zenodilodon]

@@sjm4306 It has a white phosphor screen too from what I remember. That's not a bad idea. I am also eying up a 10 watt green laser head as well. I figure with that kind of power night vision won't be needed lol.

[@mikemarshall3891]

I bought a Tasco NV200, used, on an auction. It doesn’t work. Anyone like to buy it?

[@alexandrosvezyropoulos566]

hey , i have one for repair, its not opening. any tips where to look? it looks allot like in the video

[@chriswright5191]

Yes the tube looks fine as normal without ir. But ir light has no effect?

[@sjm4306]

You aren't turning on and exposing the tube to normal ambient light are you? This can very well destroy the tube by effectively desensitizing it. The only other explanation I can think of why it cant see ir light is if you have a lens with a coating or filter on the input that is filtering ir light before it even gets to the tube.

[@williehallett7704]

Hiya! My old GBA SP has a problem I don't think I can describe well. The screen looks just like Christie's from the screen repair video, minus the fact that it has no visible crack and that it doesn't appear to turn on (I tried the brightness switch, doesn't change a thing). It pings like normal, though, when I do power it on. Should I follow those same steps to replace the screen, is there something else I can do, or is replacing it a different story?

[@sjm4306]

The screen probably died and would need to be replaced (yes you can use the steps I showed). I would first just try opening it and remove the lcd ribbon and reseat it in the slim chance it got loose to see if that fixes it.

[@williehallett7704]

@@sjm4306 I didn't know screens could die! But that makes sense. Thank you tons.

[@loganireland3113]

If the voltage multiplier makes a constant sound (no short) but no image shows up on the phospor screen are the tubes dead?

[@sjm4306]

It could be a connection issue between the hv converter and tube, but more likely than that is it's as you've guessed that the tube is likely dead (either phosphor burnout or it's got a crack causing it to lose the vacuum).

[@TheJeffrey1964]

I have night owl monocular not working .

[@absolutly2crazy]

whats the original price on these? (average price)

[@pushkinmania]

hi, nice video i also have a similar problem the tube does not turn on but I can hear the noise What could be the cause

[@sjm4306]

One of two problems, best case there is a path somewhere in the high voltage side that is shorting the supply (can be fixed by opening the device, turning down the lights and turning it on to observe where the hv discharge glow occurs), worst case the tube itself is damaged and the vacuum has been released (unfixable other than replacing the tube).

[@pushkinmania]

@@sjm4306 Thanks for the reply. I have already tried to turn it on (with the light off) but I don't see anything (I try to look more carefully) let's hope it's not the tube

[@dragdragon23]

I got the same model, but its called famous trails FT700!

[@coreydelrosario6403]

Would it be possible to put this in another housing to make a helmet mounted setup?

[@sjm4306]

Yes of course

[@JLuk98]

@@sjm4306 what steps would need to be taken? I have a night owl nocc3 and would like to fit it into a new housing (probably 3d printed) and change the lens to be 1x instead of 3.1x

[@gurofzt]

@@JLuk98 I’m trying the same thing, so far I know that the lens mount on night owl optics is m42, but designing a new housing is more complicated

[@flugschulerfluglehrer]

Are Gen 1 and Gen 2 Tubes interchangeable? I mean, can I replace my gen 1 tube with a gen 2 or 3?

[@sjm4306]

I unfortunately dont know as I've only ever had a gen 1 tube, gen 2 and 3 tubes are a bit out of my price range just getting into the hobby.

[@flugschulerfluglehrer]

sjm4306 As far as I was able to research in the mean time Gen 1 has a different power supply than Gen 2 and 3.

[@untrust2033]

Nope. Usually gen 1 tubes are a completely different shape and electrical design to 2nd gen stuff. You can get gen 2 and 3 tubes in the same format however. Most gen 1 designs are built around a very specific tube and would be impossible to change out for a different format tube. You could probably reuse the lenses if you really wanted to though, but you'd probably have to make your own housing

[@untrust2033]

@@flugschulerfluglehrer It depends on the tube, even across generations. Some have an integrated high voltage power supply so you can run them on batteries (again, depending on the tube the battery voltage will vary) but for quite a few tubes such as the v8 (shown in this vid), ep33 or similar use an external high voltage power supply.

[@chriswright5191]

No I have never exposed it to normal light. No I have taken the tube out of the housing and powered it and the same issue. Strange hey? But I appreciate any ideas. I bought it second hand so maybe the previous owner didnt look after it.

[@mpireoutdoors5274]

The tube in a LOMO ELF 1 device which I am trying to fix has very similar (the same) design and markings. In the end it looks like I will need to reconstruct the voltage multiplier because some of the pieces broke (probably during my disassembly because the whole unit was potted in thick silicone which was a total whore to remove and I kinda lost my mind towards the end of it). kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2Wqe5inibqog6s - tube. But interesting that tube, multiplier and circuit board were shock protected by this thick layer of silicone potting. Also interesting the voltage multiplier had its own plastic case to further insulate it.

[@Winner12386]

This is an EOP V-8 tube

[@mpireoutdoors5274]

@@Winner12386 thanks very much.

[@Winner12386]

@@mpireoutdoors5274 NP they look very similar.

[@mikemarshall3891]

I just bought a used Tasco NV200 on an auction. Paid $45 for it. It doesn’t work. It’s available if any of you would like another project.

[@richies5059]

Do you think it would be possible to remove all the electronics from it and just shove it into a different body

[@sjm4306]

Yeah no technical reason why you couldn't do that

[@richies5059]

@@sjm4306 ok thanks so much I bought two of these and I wanted to 3d print a body to have these work as dual tube that I could mount on a helmet

[@filipciborowski6443]

@@richies5059 hey did you get it to work? I've though of the same thing!

[@richies5059]

@@filipciborowski6443 unfortunately this one that I had stopped working but I did it with an atn unit that had a terrible body and that worked

[@richies5059]

@@filipciborowski6443 you probably could tho

[@deltamike20]

HI THERE, I HAVE A TASCO NV200 AND IT SEEMS TO POWER UP BUT WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH IT ITS BLANK. NEW BATTERIES PUT IN..

[@sjm4306]

Can you hear a high pitched squeal when you try to turn it on?

[@sierra1s953]

@@sjm4306 have the same tasco and it does the sound u say and not working,blank screen.can i fix it or its dead? Thx!

[@sjm4306]

Are you also pressing the ir led button? Keep in mind these are gen 1 nv devices so they either need sufficient ambient ir or the onboard ir led to illuminate the surroundings.

[@sierra1s953]

@@sjm4306 yes the ir power ups but i hear and see inside some electric spikes and nothing else..blank

[@sjm4306]

Then it sounds like your tube may be damaged. Just to verify, does the high voltage sound you hear sound like a constant high pitch squeal or does it have random zapping sounds?