Have you ever tried to hunt in the dark? If so, then it certainly brought you a lot of new emotions and sensations. But such a hunt is very different from the daytime due to the lack of light and total darkness as a result. This is where night vision devices come to the rescue.
What are they and how to properly care for them? A night vision device is an optical-electronic device that provides a visible image of the terrain and objects in low light conditions. Such devices are applied for night combat operations, driving cars without unmasking headlights, hunting, reconnaissance in dark rooms and many other goals. It is necessary to undergo special trainings, since most devices do not provide peripheral vision and you need to adapt to this.
All night vision devices are divided into several types depending on their appearance and functions:
- Monoculars – somewhat similar in appearance to a spyglass, which can be viewed with one eye. It has small dimensions and weight and reliable design. A nice addition is that it can be attached to a helmet. The main task of this type of device is to collect the reflected light from the starry sky, the Moon or other natural light sources and amplify it many times to obtain an image.
- Binoculars provide binocular vision, which allows you to see objects and surroundings more realistically. They will cost be slightly more expensive that monocles. The basic of the binocular is an electronic-optical converter, which amplifies low light from natural objects.
- Goggles form a stereoscopic image. There are binocular glasses – they consist of 2 identical night channels for each eye, and each has a lens and an EOC; and pseudobinocular glasses – have 1 lens and 1 EOS, from which the image is bred to both eyes applying a pseudobinocular microscope. They’re inexpensive and light in weight.
- Rifle scope has analogous optical systems with monoculars. The differences from other types of such devices are the net, the guidance mechanism and attachment to the weapon. They have protection against mechanical damage and they are wear-resistant.
Like all equipment, night vision devices can be subjected to various damages and, as a result, fail faster. How can we extend the life of night vision devices? There are general rules of care that you need to know:
- Instructions for usage – your most reliable friend, because such devices consist of rather fragile components, and without them the device can already be unsuitable for applying; some NVD may contain toxic substances, so reading the user manual can prevent from the danger.
- Do not disassemble the device yourself, it is better to contact professionals for repairs, this will help to avoid mistakes that can cost you a lot later.
- Beware of high humidity, because the basic of mechanism is electronics, which is afraid of moisture, and can simply stop working, due to fact that not all such devices are waterproof.
- Do not shake, do not drop and do not throw your appliances, purchase reliable mounts.
You have already understood which rules of using are for the devices themselves, but what about the objective lens? How to prolong her life? For this there are certain rules as well. For instance, you need to keep the device turned off during the day so not to damage the indoor unit of the device. You also need to remember that the lens is a very sensitive part, so you should not touch it, and it is better to apply disposable paper for cleaning. Batteries should be kept away from the instrument when it out of service – firstly, this will help prevent accidental activation of the device, and secondly- the batteries may leak, which will lead to damage and failure of the lens.
Since such devices are very fragile and require care, it is imperative to have a case. The choice of case type directly depends on the selected type of device. You can take, for instance, a patch for night vision goggles, if you have purchased this type of device for yourself, or a universal hard case that will reduce possible physical damage to a minimum.
Let’s sum up. All devices are divided into monoculars, binoculars, goggles and night vision scopes, each type of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. There are general care rules that were outlined above, and for the safe transfer of such a fragile item a case suitable for the type of the device is required. Such devices improve and simplify life while using them correctly, which you now know!