IR LED or VCSEL

[LE9219]

I appreciate this has been done a few times, and ive gone through many a thread trying to get an answer, ive got a hik alpex4k lrf and want a IR to go with it, LED are much cheaper so tempted to go down that route, what id like to know is are there any LED IR's that will let me see beyond 200 yards? I wont be shooting passed 200 yards but would like to be able to atleast see a fox coming in to the caller if it's at say 300 yards running in, would LED work for me?

Any recommendations would be appreciated

Cheers

 

[camo304]

Better off with a 850nm Vcsel for those range's.

 

[sauer]

VCSEL all the way !!!

Had a zulu 3x12 that was just pi5h till we figured out it had the LED ir .... changed out for a VCSEL and transformed the unit to something you wanted to use
850nm VCSEL

Paul

 

[LE9219]

Im leaning that way to be honest, alot of my permissions are very open ground with long line of sights

 

[LE9219]

VCSEL all the way !!!

Had a zulu 3x12 that was just pi5h till we figured out it had the LED ir .... changed out for a VCSEL and transformed the unit to something you wanted to use
850nm VCSEL

Paul

Are there any decent 850nm VCSEL's for under the 100 quid mark, i know the solaris srx v2 is meant to be good but would like to spend abit less than that

 

[sauer]

Im leaning that way to be honest, alot of my permissions are very open ground with long line of sights

vcsel sounds ideal for your purpose

I'm out of touch with what's currently envogue for external IR....

I'm using dnt zulu with its onboard ir and works

My original model pard 007 is vcsel onboard and works

I have an external IR but don't even know model make it is I've forgotten

@mealliejimmy for advice on external.
I'd save if I was you get best you can if buying external.IR ...if can't see it can't shoot it

Paul

 

[Clive Ward]

I appreciate this has been done a few times, and ive gone through many a thread trying to get an answer, ive got a hik alpex4k lrf and want a IR to go with it, LED are much cheaper so tempted to go down that route, what id like to know is are there any LED IR's that will let me see beyond 200 yards? I wont be shooting passed 200 yards but would like to be able to atleast see a fox coming in to the caller if it's at say 300 yards running in, would LED work for me?

Any recommendations would be appreciated

Cheers

A 38mm AS LED illuminator like the T20 or B22 if you want a posher one 'might' do what you want.

Alternatively, just get a Dark Engine BLADE. You won't need to buy another one then. It's also tiny and you won't notice it's on the rifle.

Black Sun Dark Engine BLADE IR illuminator

www.nightvisionstore.co.uk

Cheers





Clive

 

[Pellet Pinger]

The Ludicrous Lumens Wraith ESL is by far the best illuminator for the Alpex.

 

[Sniper308]

These are all with the Sirius that I have up for sale as I’m moving to thermal

 

[Dari]

Just make sure, that your IR will fill as much of Alpex field of view as possible.
In my case, Solaris srx fills only half of Alpex FOV, while original HIKMICRO LED IR fills it completely.
VSCEL will reach longer that LED, the question is, do you really need to see that far.

Cheers

 

[LE9219]

Just make sure, that your IR will fill as much of Alpex field of view as possible.
In my case, Solaris srx fills only half of Alpex FOV, while original HIKMICRO LED IR fills it completely.
VSCEL will reach longer that LED, the question is, do you really need to see that far.

Cheers

The pbir x claims to have 700 meter range while being LED, tempted to try it, seen a guy on youtube use the alpex 4k with a pbir x and it seemed decent enough

 

[Clive Ward]

The pbir x claims to have 700 meter range while being LED, tempted to try it, seen a guy on youtube use the alpex 4k with a pbir x and it seemed decent enough

It's massive and heavy. It's a commercial copy of the now very old Sunnranger Night Vision Forum community design. The only purpose for adding the Yukon style lens to a T20 (to make a Sunnranger) was to make the beam tighter for use with high magnification add ons (when LEDs were all we had to work with). The actual total output power is less than a cheapo aspheric lensed IR such as a T20 or B22 (if you want a posh one) when you set both beams to full the field of view of a modern NV scope such as the Alpex.

I would again suggest the Dark Engine BLADE. It's the smallest and lightest high power IR you can get.

It will give you a 'good' image to 500 yards and 'good enough' to 1,000. If you tighten the beam and claim bouncing it off a treeline as 'range' it will do that at even further!

If you're on a budget, then this is a very good 'halfway house' and comparatively bugger all money:

Black Sun V20 VCSEL Laser IR illuminator

www.nightvisionstore.co.uk

Cheers





Clive

 

[C h r i s]

How eye safe are the VCSEL illuminators? Are we talking instant and significant damage to the retina if exposed to a.tightly focussed beam, say within 2 metres?

 

[Clive Ward]

How eye safe are the VCSEL illuminators? Are we talking instant and significant damage to the retina if exposed to a.tightly focussed beam, say within 2 metres?

Interesting one Chris.

They have the potential to be very dangerous.

We designed the BLADE to be at the maximum power that is legally allowed to be sold to consumers. We test the BLADE and advise the various 'risks' on the warning label at different distances. We're the only manufacturer that does this. In therms of the BLADE it represents no hazard at 2m and incidentally is a safe product at any distance.

As far as I'm aware, only one other manufacturer has actually had their product tested for safety, but then the design was changed shortly afterwards so I'm not sure how valid that certification is.

Nobody else is bothering at all and it seems simply relying on assumptions that because one VCSEL is tested and safe, then theirs must be. That won't be the case at all.


Cheers





Clive

 

[old keeper]

The Ludicrous Lumens Wraith ESL is by far the best illuminator for the Alpex.

I agree.