Gen 1 and distance light sources [Archive]

View Full Version : Gen 1 and distance light sources

Dragonboy

16-02-2007, 07:48 AM

bumcake

16-02-2007, 09:13 AM

Calling all nv experts.:)

What is the risk of damaging the intensifier tube of a Gen 1 nv scope by looking at distance light sources such as street lighting, outside house lighting or even sombody with a torch when undertaking a quick scan of an area.

I thought I have better ask now rather than later.

Cheers,

Andy

Hi. I'm far from a Nv expert Lol, but been using gen 1 for about a year or so and never had any trouble with distant street lighting (more annoying than anything else as it tends to distract your eye). torch beam's I would definatley avoid, also ifra-red from either another source or from pointing your rifle down with the emitter switched on as the reflected beam at close range will not only light you up like a xmas tree but degrade the tube. I've been lead to believe that gen 2 can be even easier to b*gger up, my shooting bud has one with plenty of black spots (look's like mould to me) :(

Baldie

16-02-2007, 09:41 AM

Hi. I'm far from a Nv expert Lol, but been using gen 1 for about a year or so and never had any trouble with distant street lighting (more annoying than anything else as it tends to distract your eye). torch beam's I would definatley avoid, also ifra-red from either another source or from pointing your rifle down with the emitter switched on as the reflected beam at close range will not only light you up like a xmas tree but degrade the tube. I've been lead to believe that gen 2 can be even easier to b*gger up, my shooting bud has one with plenty of black spots (look's like mould to me) :(

Pretty good. :)

Light.....

There is a vast [measurable] difference between daylight, and night time light levels.

There is also a vast difference in light levels between a light source [street lamp/torch] and reflected light, from say a target.

While light from a streetlamp or torch doesn't carry the same brightness levels of daylight, there is still a danger that over exposure, or repeated exposure to a light source at a fixed point may eventually degrade some (or all) of the tube. There is an NV'er here, who accidentally burned a mark into his tube by allowing light from the attached laser to reach the tube for longer than was good for it. [I think it may have been left switched on while pointing at the ground.] The system (fortunately) is still useable. ;)

The occasional wave past a light source won't kill your NV, but is best avoided. There is no 'exact science' that means someone here can say anything like "three strikes and the tube is finished" because without testing the light source, no-one here can actually know what the 'damage potential' is. Hence the global remark; "avoid ANY light source" pointing into the tube, no matter how dull it may appear to YOUR eye.

If your pal has what looks like black dust (grit) spots on his tube, these are manufacturing imperfections. I've not seen many Gen II tubes with more than 3 or 4 of these spots on. I have seen 2 tubes that had 10 or so notable spots, and these were sub-standard tubes that might be termed 'Grade D' (actually ungraded as they are so poor in quality).

...

bumcake

16-02-2007, 09:58 AM

Pretty good. :)

Light.....

There is a vast [measurable] difference between daylight, and night time light levels.

There is also a vast difference in light levels between a light source [street lamp/torch] and reflected light, from say a target.

While light from a streetlamp or torch doesn't carry the same brightness levels of daylight, there is still a danger that over exposure, or repeated exposure to a light source at a fixed point may eventually degrade some (or all) of the tube. There is an NV'er here, who accidentally burned a mark into his tube by allowing light from the attached laser to reach the tube for longer than was good for it. [I think it may have been left switched on while pointing at the ground.] The system (fortunately) is still useable. ;)

The occasional wave past a light source won't kill your NV, but is best avoided. There is no 'exact science' that means someone here can say anything like "three strikes and the tube is finished" because without testing the light source, no-one here can actually know what the 'damage potential' is. Hence the global remark; "avoid ANY light source" pointing into the tube, no matter how dull it may appear to YOUR eye.

If your pal has what looks like black dust (grit) spots on his tube, these are manufacturing imperfections. I've not seen many Gen II tubes with more than 3 or 4 of these spots on. I have seen 2 tubes that had 10 or so notable spots, and these were sub-standard tubes that might be termed 'Grade D' (actually ungraded as they are so poor in quality).

...

Hi, When he bought the scope the optics where pretty mucky, no big deal since it's one of those scope's where the intensifier tube is seperate from the front lense assembly & eyepiece (lock's together with bayonet fitting's) so a hour or so cleaning the lenses and all the mucky bits are out, assemled it again (in the dark :o ) all the little bit's of fluff etc were all gone but all the smudgey black marks still appear on the tube, they look like they are inside, dosent really bother him.....drives me potty as my two pns scopes are crystal clear.

Dragonboy

16-02-2007, 10:06 AM

So it is best to avoid but there is no real worry if slight accidental exposure occurs. I 'll keep it in mind. Cheers guys.

Baldie

16-02-2007, 10:11 AM

Hi, When he bought the scope the optics where pretty mucky, no big deal since it's one of those scope's where the intensifier tube is seperate from the front lense assembly & eyepiece (lock's together with bayonet fitting's) so a hour or so cleaning the lenses and all the mucky bits are out, assemled it again (in the dark :o ) all the little bit's of fluff etc were all gone but all the smudgey black marks still appear on the tube, they look like they are inside, dosent really bother him.....drives me potty as my two pns scopes are crystal clear.

"Smudge" marks sound more like burns. If you can imagine a photo negative of what you can see in his tube, (black becomes white obviously) might the smudges then look like white stars or a light source? The black specs I mentioned originally would literally look like bits of black coal dust. [Have solid edges.]

bumcake

16-02-2007, 10:32 AM

"Smudge" marks sound more like burns. If you can imagine a photo negative of what you can see in his tube, (black becomes white obviously) might the smudges then look like white stars or a light source? The black specs I mentioned originally would literally look like bits of black coal dust. [Have solid edges.]

The mark's dont have a defined edge very smudge like and black, they are less noticable when in use in pitch black and mainly cover the lower visible part of the tube, look's very much like the beam from the emitter has been reflecting off the barrel of whatever rifle it has been on previously...possible???. or just a duff tube???
Chris

Baldie

16-02-2007, 10:58 AM

So it is best to avoid but there is no real worry if slight accidental exposure occurs. I 'll keep it in mind. Cheers guys.

That's about it. Yes. :cool:

The mark's dont have a defined edge very smudge like and black, they are less noticable when in use in pitch black and mainly cover the lower visible part of the tube, look's very much like the beam from the emitter has been reflecting off the barrel of whatever rifle it has been on previously...possible???. or just a duff tube???
Chris

TBH, even with looking at it, it might be hard to pinpoint the EXACT cause, all of it being a guess (really).

Originally you said it was a Gen II tube. (Or Gen II+). If it's not an horrendously expensive bit of kit, [European tube] chances are it's a US made tube. These were manufactured some time ago, and overall quality has improved somewhat since that time.....

If these marks were there when the NV was bought, I'd (try) to ignore them. If they've appeared since, your mate needs to follow your good advice. :)

...

Edit for grammar lapse. :rolleyes:

bumcake

16-02-2007, 01:44 PM

That's about it. Yes. :cool:

TBH, even with looking at it, it might be hard to pinpoint the EXACT cause, all of it being a guess (really).

Originally you said it was a Gen II tube. (Or Gen II+). If it's not an horrendously expensive bit of kit, [European tube] chances are it's a US made tube. These were manufactured some time ago, and overall quality has improved somewhat since that time.....

If these marks were there when the NV was bought, I'd (try) to ignore them. If they've appeared since, your mate needs to follow your good advice. :)

...

Edit for grammar lapse. :rolleyes:
It's a dipol....is that how you spell it?.:) I'm sure he asked a while back about the recticle....or lack of with any bright surface.

EGGY

17-02-2007, 07:16 AM

It's a dipol....is that how you spell it?.:) I'm sure he asked a while back about the recticle....or lack of with any bright surface.

Hi Chris Petes n/v came originally from Soviet Bazaar and the monocular is Gen 3 however the unit was sold cheap to my m8 because of the tube spots , (it was priced at over 2k new ) I used it for 2 years and got used to the imperfections , didnt bother me as they were in the bottom r/h corner of the screen

bumcake

17-02-2007, 09:23 AM

Hi Chris Petes n/v came originally from Soviet Bazaar and the monocular is Gen 3 however the unit was sold cheap to my m8 because of the tube spots , (it was priced at over 2k new ) I used it for 2 years and got used to the imperfections , didnt bother me as they were in the bottom r/h corner of the screen

Morning Geoff, how's the weather gotta be better than what we were stood in last night. Pete had a go at changing the setup to how you had it on your rifle (monocular & laser)......not happening Lol, much swearing later he's back to the holosight. I'm considering changing my scope (your fault, shouldnt have looked :rolleyes: ) getting a bit fed up of the "chris, Chris, rabbit....over there, can you not see it :mad: ). Think the illuminated recticle has been a little cooked with those cheap cr's rechargeables we bought...

Baldie

17-02-2007, 12:11 PM