Night Vision Laser Question

I am interested in using a IR laser 900nm + that I could duct tape to a Bushnell Equinox 4x40 night vision monocular. Has anyone done this before? I would like to have an adjustable beam of some sort. If anyone has some advice or could steer me in the right direction, I am all ears. Thank you.

ive done a few IR lasers for NV optics. 808nm works good, 940nm or 860nm are the closest common wavelengths i could find on eBay to 900nm.

You will need to put the diode in a module then in a heatsink, the module will have a adjustable focus lens.

Stick with the 5.6mm or 9mm diodes.

Is there some fully assembled battery-powered device I can buy already? I definitely need it to be focusable. I do NOT want my laser to be visible to anyone or anything as much as possible!!! Im too much of a noob to know what to buy piece by piece otherwise, unless someone holds my hand. lol. I appreciate your response fiddy.

are you using it as a illuminator (wide angle) or like a focused laser (dot)?

I would like to use it as a wide angle illluminator. Being concealed (not seeable) is important though. This is for security purposes around my property and dealing with crappy neighbors stealing farm equipment.

I dont think you can get a handheld close to 900nm thats available off the shelf, closest is 808nm, else you will have to build it.

Would 808 be sufficient? I dont want to be a beacon to the trouble-makers. Its okay if its barely visible, but no more than that. What would you buy as a full unit?

808nm doesn't have a visible beam, it has a barely visible dot when focused, only think they would be able to see is the the dull red glow if they could see where it is lasing from.

What specific product(s) would you buy?

Diode: 860nm 1W 100?M Aperture TO 5 Laser Diode | eBay

Module: 3 Pack 12 X 30mm Copper 9mm Laser Diode Mount Blank Module | eBay

Lens: 445nm 405nm Three Element Glass Lens FOR Aixiz Module | eBay

There are lots of driver options for this diode.

Can you give me an example of an appropriate driver? I am a first timer to this stuff. Once I have those 4 parts, is it simple to put it together?

Not really theres a lot of stuff you need to know how to do and safety precautions.

I suggest you a lot of reading here.

Here are some fully assembled focusable IR lasers:
980nm-http://laserbtb.com/productshow.asp?id=81
808nm-http://laserbtb.com/productshow.asp?id=78

Pretty cheap price and good company.

I checked out the Bushnell IR Monocular you mentioned , is it this unit ? <http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Equinox-Digital-Vision-Monocular/dp/B004I8Q9JQ>
If it is , duct taping a higher output IR illuminator to will give you problems IMHO.
An IR Designator like the pictured below would probably give you the bolt on solution you seem to be looking for.


I'm pretty sure I have seen this housing specified to work under a more civilised ambient temperature & still be water resistant. There are plenty of other housing designs that have an IR emitter inside of them with adjustable optics , that will give you a _minimum_ dot size of 22mm @ 30 meters , if you open up the aperture of this 1 Watt (or higher) IR designator or any of the other housing's pictured below that can all be bought with an IR Laser output you should have no problems lighting up the maximum distance that a Gen1 or Gen1+ Night vision monocular is limited to.

Other Housings (with a green output) That you should be able to buy that give out an IR output if you look around or upload the pictures in Googles Image searcher <http://images.google.com/>










I'm not associated with any of these manufacturers , I am doing my own work on building a suitable IR Designator so I can use a DSLR camera to film & photograph "stuff" at night using a 400 mm telephoto lens

Getting a quality factory built ~2 Watt IR Laser designator legally imported through Customs & into Australia can be done as I have the qualifications required to do so , but the pile of paperwork & applications to numerous government departments that I am required to fill out , makes building a unit from scratch a more practical & educational experience.
With any "specials" that I build , I always end up with exactly what I want & have a comprehensive understanding of how it works.....


JB

my 1.7W 808nm under NV optics.

Thanks for your reply. What do you feel is the best wavelength for my bushnell? Is 808nm sufficient?