Need Night Vision & IR Thermal education & advice...

[Rmplstlskn]

With the fevered pitch of gun sales going on, it was the time to sell my FAL, mags and .308 ammo, which it did sell... Now I can soon afford thinking seriously about NV or IR monoculars! But I am ignorant on these things...

Some questions:

How long will a PVS-14-type NV monocular function properly not in use, just stored on a carbine? Do they get weak like Tritium does? How long will they last if used? How many hours are their lifespan? How quickly do they burn through batteries and what type of battery?

How does the monocular with the hoods affect those who wear glasses? I have a bear of a time with binoculars, trying not to smudge up my glasses by hitting the eye hoods. Is this the same problem with those hoods on the rear of a PVS-14?

For defending property from a FOP at night, which is more useful detecting human predators, NV or IR Thermal Imaging?

Thanks in advance to all who help me get edge- u-ma-cated...

Rmpl

[610Alpha]

With the fevered pitch of gun sales going on, it was the time to sell my FAL, mags and .308 ammo, which it did sell... Now I can soon afford thinking seriously about NV or IR monoculars! But I am ignorant on these things...

Some questions:

How long will a PVS-14-type NV monocular function properly not in use, just stored on a carbine? Do they get weak like Tritium does? How long will they last if used? How many hours are their lifespan? How quickly do they burn through batteries and what type of battery?

How does the monocular with the hoods affect those who wear glasses? I have a bear of a time with binoculars, trying not to smudge up my glasses by hitting the eye hoods. Is this the same problem with those hoods on the rear of a PVS-14?

For defending property from a FOP at night, which is more useful detecting human predators, NV or IR Thermal Imaging?

Thanks in advance to all who help me get edge- u-ma-cated...

Rmpl

Those are some good questions and I look forward to hearing the answers myself which i have no doubt will come from 1Admin or his alter ego Lowdown3

[1Admin]

With the fevered pitch of gun sales going on, it was the time to sell my FAL, mags and .308 ammo, which it did sell... Now I can soon afford thinking seriously about NV or IR monoculars! But I am ignorant on these things...

Some questions:

How long will a PVS-14-type NV monocular function properly not in use, just stored on a carbine? Do they get weak like Tritium does? How long will they last if used? How many hours are their lifespan? How quickly do they burn through batteries and what type of battery?

How quickly do they burn through batteries and what type of battery?

For defending property from a FOP at night, which is more useful detecting human predators, NV or IR Thermal Imaging?

Thanks in advance to all who help me get edge- u-ma-cated...

Rmpl

No reason you couldn't leave a 14 attached to your carbine, but you don't HAVE to. Even the standard military mount is really quick to install and take off, let alone the beau coup high dollar "quick release" type mounts.

Do they get weak like Tritium does?

Nope. Won't go bad in storage. My personal sets are stored with batteries out, inside a small Pelican case inside a .50 cal ammo can with foam blocks on the inside of the can holding the Pelican case in place and giving it some insulation from the can. Waterproof- times 3 (unit is waterproof to 66 feet, then the Pelican case then the ammo can), fire resistant and EMP proof.

How many hours are their lifespan?

The new Third Generation PINNACLE AUTOGATED ITT/Exelis tubes are rated for TENS OF THOUSANDS of hours of use! We have carried these particular sets 7 years now and have seen ZERO tube failures in that time frame- ZERO. I've heard of very little tube failure from the sets the military used on a day to day basis in Iraq and Afghanistan. Significantly more longevity with the new Pinnacle Autogated technology.

How quickly do they burn through batteries and what type of battery?

ONE AA battery typically runs a unit for 40 hours. Back in the long long ago these units took two AA batteries, now any units that you see that require TWO AA batteries are either someone's old stock or some knockoff unit. I have not seen a TWO AA set in 7 years...

How does the monocular with the hoods affect those who wear glasses? I have a bear of a time with binoculars, trying not to smudge up my glasses by hitting the eye hoods. Is this the same problem with those hoods on the rear of a PVS-14?

I assume you mean the soft rubber eye cup? MUCH softer and easier to push out of the way than what you typically see with binoculars. It CAN be removed also if need be.

For defending property from a FOP at night, which is more useful detecting human predators, NV or IR Thermal Imaging?

Well they are two different animals so here's a few things to consider-
1. Most "affordable" thermal imagers (and yes thermal imaging units under $7K is considered affordable for thermal) cannot be weapons mounted. Their is a T320 unit that is weapons mounted but it's around $6K The FLIR Scout series ($2000.) the Thermal Eye X50 ($2900). CANNOT be weapons mounted. The FLIR Scout PS24 is the lowest cost one right now $1895. on sale but is also not weapons mountable. And it's not just something you can "rig up" a mount for- they aren't designed to take recoil.

The PVS14 IS weapons mountable.

2. The FLIR Scout series all have USB charging ports and an internal battery, a little tougher to recharge than having a few cheapie solar chargers going running rechargeable AA's for the PVS14 or the Thermal Eye X50. Also the FLIR Scout info says you should not use the unit while it's being recharged. So 4 hours in use, then some downtime to recharge, then 4 hours in use, etc. Whereas with the Thermal Eye X50 or the PVS14 the only down time is the time between pulling the dead batteries and replacing with new ones.

3. Pretty much any thermal unit you are going to find under $10K is going to be of a commercial electronics grade. In other words, it's not designed to be dropped off the back of a tank, submerged in water to 66 feet, take weapons recoil, etc. like a 14 will. I get the "if you could only get one, which one would you buy" question a lot re: FLIR vs. PVS14. My answer is always the same- PVS14 for the reasons I put above.

4. Now the thermal does have the advantages of detecting heat, whereas the 14 does not. However you also have to figure that people don't do camo worth a crap during the DAY, now at night, they tend to do even LESS thinking that "the night hides me." That coupled with a general unfamiliarity with how to move properly at night, lack of night training, etc. I think leads people to not be cautious at night with good use of cover or concealment and generally poor camoflague. In other words, the guy is overconfident thinking he won't be seen cause HE can't see 20 yards ahead of him. In reality, your spotting him a couple hundred yards out...

5. The PVS14's being that they are all mil parts, etc. means that long term logistics will be good on them. Yes you have a 5 year warranty that's the best in the business, etc. but 20 years from now? You'll be able to find spare parts cause it's a MILITARY item and the military stocks tens of thousands of spare parts. Same rationale as buying an AK, AR, etc. versus a Marlin Papoose or something for your main rifle- you can go into any gunshow in the country and find spare parts for the AK, the AR, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Rmplstlskn]

4. Now the thermal does have the advantages of detecting heat, whereas the 14 does not. However you also have to figure that people don't do camo worth a crap during the DAY, now at night, they tend to do even LESS thinking that "the night hides me." That coupled with a general unfamiliarity with how to move properly at night, lack of night training, etc. I think leads people to not be cautious at night with good use of cover or concealment and generally poor camoflague. In other words, the guy is overconfident thinking he won't be seen cause HE can't see 20 yards ahead of him. In reality, your spotting him a couple hundred yards out...

Sounds like a good CLASS for someone with the know-how to combat NV technology... Besides using vegitation for concealment, I would be clueless to what fabrics and gear are best against NV. I have seen vids where the BLACK BDU's are like wearing NEON in a NV scope... One of those logical mistakes...

Thanks for the info... It was what I thought, but wanted confirmation.

Rmpl

[xdpatriot]

I'm legally blind in my right eye, but it's corrected with glasses. I don't have any problems using the PVS 14. I have it mounted on my AR with a flip to the side mount from LaRue tactical. I also run it helmet mounted. I was totally impressed with the force multiplier NV is. I bought mine from JRH enterprises. A buddy of mine borrowed it, tested it for about a week and decided he wanted one. I told him to order from JRH which he didn't. He went to a 'reputable' larger dealer. Not only did it take about a month to get his, when he got it, the lens was filthy. On the INSIDE! He shipped it back. They said t was a faulty lock ring they installed. He still hasn't gotten it back. My PVS 14 hasn't given me any problems at all. I don't have thermal, but my wife and I are considering it. I don't think you can go wrong with NV.

[1Admin]

I'm legally blind in my right eye, but it's corrected with glasses. I don't have any problems using the PVS 14. I have it mounted on my AR with a flip to the side mount from LaRue tactical. I also run it helmet mounted. I was totally impressed with the force multiplier NV is. I bought mine from JRH enterprises. A buddy of mine borrowed it, tested it for about a week and decided he wanted one. I told him to order from JRH which he didn't. He went to a 'reputable' larger dealer. Not only did it take about a month to get his, when he got it, the lens was filthy. On the INSIDE! He shipped it back. They said t was a faulty lock ring they installed. He still hasn't gotten it back. My PVS 14 hasn't given me any problems at all. I don't have thermal, but my wife and I are considering it. I don't think you can go wrong with NV.

Interesting but unfortunately not the first time I've heard horror stories of the "larger dealers" screwing the pooch on orders big time. A guy at a campout showed me the "great deal" he got on a "hand select by *** " unit he got. It was not even a real PVS14- different batteries, a couple of HUGE blems in the tube, etc. and all for the low low "great deal" price of $3,600. I didn't trash the unit in front of him, but it showed me that some of these guys that do the "seed of doubt" marketing- also known as the "if you don't pay $3500. for a PVS14 you ain't getting a good one" are really full of it....

[610Alpha]

, but it showed me that some of these guys that do the "seed of doubt" marketing- also known as the "if you don't pay $3500. for a PVS14 you ain't getting a good one" are really full of it....

Just shows the power of marketing in our minds...

[Fight4Freedom]

Let me know if you have any other questions.

With regards to night movement, can you suggest any worthy reading?
thx