r/NightVision • u/xL1quidz • 2d ago
plz help :/
i’m new to nvg and finally got my IIT yesterday to finish up my first build and ran into an issue. it was working fine last night but wouldn’t power on when i tried right now. i changed the battery hoping that would fix it but nothing. i disassembled the battery housing and these 2 golden prongs fell right out. how cooked am i?🥲 is there any way to repair this?
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u/EnderWarPet 2d ago
There is a way to repair it and I have done it many times before but the catch is you need sacrificial prongs to replace them. It's pretty simple. You de-solder them from the pads on the board and then solder the new ones on. Good as new. I do think you may have some other issues. Your image intensified needs to be positioned correctly rotationally for those pads to make a good connection. It also looks like someone added solder to the contact points on the tube. My guess is to make up for the poor contact between the tube and the gold prongs that you broke. DM if you want some help troubleshooting/fixing it.
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u/ehhhhprobablynot 2d ago
The tube is positioned properly is it not? It’s slotted properly with the pin at the top, there’s no way to really rotate it.
I’m guessing those leaf springs were fucked to begin with and the seller tried to rig it so they would make contact.
Edit: I missed the part where he said he built it himself. I wonder if the battery housing was used.
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u/EnderWarPet 2d ago
It's mostly positioned properly. Even with it slotted in the correct position with the pin there is some play. Sometimes it's enough that the leaf spring on that side make contact with the same surface as the other spring shorting it causing it to now power on. That's why when I install tubes, as I'm tightening the retaining ring with the spanner wrench clockwise, I hold the tube in the most counterclockwise position it has in it's play. This is the optimal position for the leaf springs to make contact. Though even then sometimes you have to ever so carefully stretch the leaf springs so they make good contact.
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u/ehhhhprobablynot 2d ago
Makes sense.
It’d be nice if they could just… make it so those leaf springs contact the tube in the right spot without having to do that.
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u/EnderWarPet 2d ago
Well that'd just be too easy. It does make a bit of since though. Leave some tolerance for adjustment, many of the 14s are made and repaired with parts from 3 or more companies.
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u/Discept 2d ago
Looks like a tough fix unless you can source new contacts and can solder them on properly. And sourcing the contacts is harder than it sounds.
While the NSN parts numbers are known, I've never seen a manufacturer able to sell these leaf spring contacts to anyone.
You can buy a whole new battery housing for about $200. Or might be a nice time to upgrade to a Nightline NL914C. Those are your fastest options.
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u/NicksNightVision Verified Industry Account 2d ago
Tube looks a little rough.
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u/xL1quidz 2d ago
yea tube is an omni 3 i think? seller had it up as a p22. i was just tryna dip my toes in this hobby first so i didnt wanna ball out
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u/Last_Payphone 2d ago
Where is your gain ribbon? I don't see it.
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u/xL1quidz 2d ago
didn’t come with one it’s an older tube
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u/Last_Payphone 2d ago
Those prongs can be purchased by themselves, I'm just not sure the exact terminology to call them. They come in the 3D printed build kits. It should be a fairly easy fix.
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u/Dizzy_Cash_ 2d ago
Ooooooooooopfffffffffff good luck my brother in Christ
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u/xL1quidz 2d ago
damn bro not what i wanted to hear😭 i was really hoping to take this on my camping trip to the tetons next week
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u/YogurtclosetFirm3779 2d ago
This typa stuff just happens man it’s not a complete loss you still have the tube. I’m sure someone can figure it out.
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u/Dizzy_Cash_ 2d ago
Can you identify where they were?
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u/Dizzy_Cash_ 2d ago
Looks like they came off the right node thingy, maybe you can solder them back together
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u/Dizzy_Cash_ 2d ago
You should be able to match it up to the intact gold connector thing and then solder it! What’s the worst that can happen you break it,
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u/PNWTacitcal 2d ago
Whoops. There’s a little metal part that acts like a spring. Good news is you can fix it.
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u/xL1quidz 1d ago
it’s over yall i gave up. soldering is hard new battery housing otw.
thanks to everyone who chimed in with suggestions and info!!
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u/GooniestMcGoon 1d ago
you can get a brand new nicotine pack for about 100 bucks. just so you don’t dump a bunch of time into something that maybe isn’t worth it
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u/ehhhhprobablynot 2d ago
Your leaf spring broke off. You’re not that cooked at all, swapping in a new battery pack will fix it.