mick miller Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 (edited) An update. Some of you may have seen the footage I posted of my camera set up when it was attached to the rifle and used a tv screen mounted on the scope to act as the view finder. Well, I wanted to have a through the eye set-up instead. Much like the lardyvision and laterly, the wardy vision. I also wanted to get rid of the presuure switch and three set modes of the X Searcher and replace with a dimmer system driving the torch directly from a single 12v li-ion battery. Ideally, this would run the camera, viewfinder and torch plus dimmer circuit. Not having access to a lathe, or any fancy moulding equipment I'm stuck with 'off-the-shelf' items such as project boxes and to sleeve the camera lens and fit inside the DSA, a waste pipe stop end! The results are pretty good. I now have a through the scope set-up, using the viewfinder which also gives brightness and contrast adjustment via four rubber button at the front. A dimmer circuit controls the IR lamp and will cycle from 0% to 100% smoothly. A simple on/off switch powers the whole lot up. One lead in from a stock mounted li-ion battery, one lead out to my IR torch. Total length is no more than 100mm although the eyecup adds another compressible 20mm, I'm toying with the idea of trimming it a little shorter. Range remains similar, although I think the IR led I'm using is not quite as bright as the original Deerelight one, I'm still getting a spotting range in excess of 600 yards and a shootable, clear picture up to 300 yards. You could easily boiler room a fox at that range if you were a capable shot. I'm not. The dimmer solves the issues I had with over sensitivity, I can now dim the IR light to see a picture at 10 yards and then in an instant ramp up to get the big picture. Flare is still an issue from close in highly reflective objectives however. I can't seem to conquer that! Some pics: Please don't ask for a parts list. Most of the info on the viewers is available on nightvision forums, the camera was a lucky strike on ebay and has no markings that I can use to find another, and believe me, I have really tried! Edited October 15, 2013 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Excellent set up Mick. Well done mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Also, I can't grab any footage with this one. Cramming the viewer, dimmer circuitry, power in, power out, heatsink, on/off switch and dimmer control didn't leave me any room for an AV out. Mk III just might! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Did your DSA look like that one Steve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Did your DSA look like that one Steve? No mate. I think it was one from a Cobra Merlin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Ah, ne'er mind. I could do with another one of those and they're £85 quid each! Ouch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 17, 2013 Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 cracking setup mick, all mine runs on 12volts now mate including the T20 , and on the other side of my unit I,ve fitted an A/V out for recording , all the leads have been shortened so no cables anywhere, heres a pic before I changed the torch to 12v and added the A/V, just makes things easier buddy , I,ll put another pic on 2moro to show ya how the setup is now,,,once I get a chance to photograph it cheers Bob keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 Looking good bob, a fine bit of fettling. How do you find the t20? Too bright or just right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) I went upwards with my boxes as when I shoot from the landy I tend to rest the rifle on the door mounted, extended rest and roll the rifle on its side as I drive. Any bulk left or right of the scope tended to foul on the rest. Horses for courses though. Edited October 18, 2013 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) Looking good bob, a fine bit of fettling. How do you find the t20? Too bright or just right? its a bit bright mick upto 35yrds but easy way out was to alter the focal length of the led with the zoom, but upto 100yrds its performing great, would be better with the dimmer tho lol my next task by the way tried it with the 66mm lens and red led and we could see the full length of the fairway and a par 5 at 524 yrds totally awesome cheers Bob Edited October 18, 2013 by evo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 T20 with a 66mm? Any links. I can recommend a dimmer if you're looking for one? The only Issue is that I can only order them from the States Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 hi mick, its the 66mm crelant, unreal what it can do with the red led, I,ve just got the driver with the dimmer mate so I,m ok for one, heres the 66mm head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant.mass Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) i got a T20 with IR + a 66mm head here but im not to good moment so i haven’t got round to try it out yet Edited October 18, 2013 by ant.mass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Do the threads fit okay between the torch and head Evo. Also, what dimmer are you using as I found the ones used on nvforum only went from 40% to 100%. The ones I use go from 0% to 100%. Perfect down to 10 yards and up to 600! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 the threads are slightly different but it does go on mick and once on I covered the holes with black insulation tape once I had adjusted it so as the led was at the right focal length, its an awesome torch even with the ir led in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verminator 66 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 TBH you got the best one on the set up you have Plus its looks the part Think you have made a good job of what you done The X Searcher is what I have been using and same as your self I have fitted a dimmer and it gives a better beam then My 66mm crelant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verminator 66 Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 the threads are slightly different but it does go on mick and once on I covered the holes with black insulation tape once I had adjusted it so as the led was at the right focal length, its an awesome torch even with the ir led in it Did you just screw the head on hard to make it fit dose it work ok Have seen some being made on one of the other forums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 19, 2013 Report Share Posted October 19, 2013 Did you just screw the head on hard to make it fit dose it work ok Have seen some being made on one of the other forums you have to take the lens out of the crelant and screw it on from the bottom of the torch then put the lens back in and hey presto you have a top torch, sikastag on the other forum builds these and charges £99, well worth the money when you consider the price of some of the torches out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verminator 66 Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 you have to take the lens out of the crelant and screw it on from the bottom of the torch then put the lens back in and hey presto you have a top torch, sikastag on the other forum builds these and charges £99, well worth the money when you consider the price of some of the torches out there Yes had some of his made IR's and got to say really well built for the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted October 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 I am very interested to see if I can mod one of these! http://dx.com/p/letterfire-lf17-cree-xm-l-t6-600lm-3-mode-white-zooming-bicycle-headlamp-black-4-x-18650-224359 Comes with a battery and a charger to boot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 I am very interested to see if I can mod one of these! http://dx.com/p/letterfire-lf17-cree-xm-l-t6-600lm-3-mode-white-zooming-bicycle-headlamp-black-4-x-18650-224359 Comes with a battery and a charger to boot! looks interesting would be good to see how it performs mick, lol, your as bad as me for tinkering lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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