Nightvision!(Interesting)

[_SnaKe_]

Is it possible to build a pair of nightvision goggles?
If so how much (approx) would it cost and can you give me instuctions?

 

[Frangible]

Build, or assemble? If you just mean assemble, sure, you can take a tube, power supply, case etc and assemble it. I've never done it so can't say much other than that. You'd probably want some experience with it to minimize the chance of failure. Cost would depend on the components used and tube quality.

I doubt you'd be able to make anything for any cheaper than what some of the lower-end Gen 1 units sell for, if that's what you mean.

If you meant really build, well, last I read there were over 2000 manufacturing steps in making a night vision device, so good luck /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[_SnaKe_]

Thanks
I meant assemble , but where do you get this stuff?
I'm not exactly an expert on these things.
Does anyone have a diagram or anything on how to assemble this.

 

[Frangible]

The exact assembly would vary according to your tube, power supply, and casing. I believe it's mostly straightforward if you have a tube of the right diameter for your casing, and that the power supply can feed. I think you just need to solder one lead to the cathode, and another to the anode. Not sure how you'd wire the microchannel plate.

I've never seen instructions for any of it, anywhere, but occasionally I see NVD's without tubes on eBay, or sometimes bare tubes as well.

Another thing is how the image comes out at the end. Some tubes have a fiber optic inverter built in, but others rely on the inverter being in the optics. I'm not sure how widely varied this is.

You might try looking on http://www.nightvisiononline.com as I know some people there have built/rebuilt their own NVDs.

 

[E__WOK]

Are you in the US?

 

[_SnaKe_]

No
South Africa :-)
Why?

 

[mattheww50]

Export restrictions. Generally 2nd generation and beyond (Microchannel Plate) NV gear can only be exported to Nato and other allies. While Apartheid may be dead and buried, many of the export restrictions that came into place during the cold war are still very much with us.