I have a question, (maybe a dumb question) for the more experienced users of these units. I have this for coyote hunting, and in really cold weather the ocular lens fogs up after a short time. Tonight I went out to trying to call one in, conditions were about 25 deg, and snow cover. the unit was helmet mounted and with a face mask on under helmet. The rubber eyepiece was rolled forward so some air flow was between face and lens. About every 10 min I would have to wipe off ocular lens. Is this just the nature of the beast? Any tips would be appreciated.
Night Vision PVS 14 users
- Thread starter T-Hoe
- Start date
You can try rubbing shaving cream foam, not gel on it, then wiping it off after a couple seconds. I tried that out of desperation a few times in cold climates on issued gear and it seems to work.
Nowadays, since I actually own the stuff, I just keep one of those "Hot Hands" hand warmers on the ocular lens when I am going to and fro outside when its not on my face.
Once its on, leave it on, don't keep flipping it up and down.
Nowadays, since I actually own the stuff, I just keep one of those "Hot Hands" hand warmers on the ocular lens when I am going to and fro outside when its not on my face.
Once its on, leave it on, don't keep flipping it up and down.
normal.
I used to adjust my 14 away a little bit from my face when I was workin real hard, seemed to work well. All the sweat coming off of my face would condensate on the ocular of the 14.
Seems that the heat from my eye/face/breath would cause it to fog up.
Not sure about chemicals, prolly some sort of anti fog stuff wouldn't hurt. I don't think they're like scopes with coatings, and all of that stuff
I used to adjust my 14 away a little bit from my face when I was workin real hard, seemed to work well. All the sweat coming off of my face would condensate on the ocular of the 14.
Seems that the heat from my eye/face/breath would cause it to fog up.
Not sure about chemicals, prolly some sort of anti fog stuff wouldn't hurt. I don't think they're like scopes with coatings, and all of that stuff
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Thanks for the help guys. Had not thought of putting something on the lens. I will try some anti-fog that I used on my diving mask. Thanks again.
Pull your face mask down just below your nose. Keeps from shoving your breath up at the unit.
I can try pulling mask down, but the ones I use have openings for the mouth and nose but fabric sewn over the bridge of nose area. But I will try that also.
When you find something that works let me know! Every damn time I want to go green and it's 30 or less below my stuff fogs up bad! It looks like I'm looking through a 7 up bottle and shining a flash light....
I really don't have this issue at all if you're not forcing your breath up at the unit. Also back it away from your eye a little and dump that worthless eye cup.
I will try all suggestions the next time I go out. Thanks for all the input.
Fog Tech anti fog!!! This is what I have found works the best! CAREFULLY clean the eyepiece with lightly soapy water and then CAREFULLY dry the freshly cleaned glass surfaces. Did I mention be cardful with the eyepieces glass surfaces?
On any night vision device the eyepiece lens sureface is WAY more important to forming the image than the objective!
Anyway, clean everything and then apply the fog tech, wipe off the excess and this will solve all your fogging issues!i have been using this stuff for years, it got me (and countless Aircrews) through my last tour in Iraq!
On any night vision device the eyepiece lens sureface is WAY more important to forming the image than the objective!
Anyway, clean everything and then apply the fog tech, wipe off the excess and this will solve all your fogging issues!i have been using this stuff for years, it got me (and countless Aircrews) through my last tour in Iraq!
I really don't have this issue at all if you're not forcing your breath up at the unit. Also back it away from your eye a little and dump that worthless eye cup.
Just getting ready to respond but no need to. Killswitch hit it right on the button.
Just getting ready to respond but no need to. Killswitch hit it right on the button.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't ever want to wipe the actual lenses when they are wet. It removes the coating. Shaving cream is an infantry do-all, just under 100mph tape and 550 cord, but I wouldn't use it, especially on NODs I own. Its used to clean weapons and all kinds of shit prior to inspections.
I'm assuming you have the proper demist shield and sacrificial window for the 14's? If not, that's a good place to start. Those "can" be wiped and should have come with your NODs no matter where you got 'em I'd hope.
Another thing you can use, and I'm still trying it out and so far so good, is a replaceable sacrificial window that threads in, and a small modification to the eyepiece that allows a snap on, thick rubber eyepiece with an amber window. There is no cup (though you can swap 'em out if need be). The amber filter helps prevent the green glow you get without the eye cup; it works fairly well at it. As a result, the image is tinted sort of a yellowish color vs. straight green. Something to consider. There is no pocket to collect warm air I'd think, provided you keep your NODs away a bit. Another thing to try are goggles, either ESS, which are great and come in laser resistant lenses, or better for most NV use IMO, the Revision Exoshield. It's guaranteed not to fog up and they came free with my NODs. They fit snug and seal to your face, just over your eyes, zero to almost zero blind spots, and fit around a helmet or under or w/o one with velcro straps. Low profile, SF shit. Really nice, clear, good eye pro, flexible use, and if you have fogging problems, these may be the cheapest sure fix. I was VERY, very impressed with these goggles, and ironically, I wouldn't ever have ordered them on my own: TNVC gave them to me free with my 14's. But now I'll be using those or the ESS with the green laser lens, depending, when I use my NODs. Yeah, I wear eye pro with my NODs. I used the ESS ten years ago in the army and they work well and will fix your problem and take several different types of lenses too, but I have to say I like the Revision Exoshield for regular, everyday clear and low-pro eye pro with the NODs. They're made for it.
TNVC sells these and other accessories for PVS-14 night vision and have been an awesome company to work with, can't say enough good about their CS and the guys that work there. And you can PM those guys right here on the Hide too. They'll answer your questions without selling you on shit which is nice also.
Wilcox makes the amber filter, $59 and the sacrificial window, $30 with 6 replacement windows, $55. But you can put the six replacements off 'til later. Or not get that special sacrificial Wilcox window part at all. But it allows you to use a Butler Creek flip up for your daylight pinhole filter if you so choose, and does cost less down the road if you replace windows. You could even forgo the amber filter, as I don't know whether it helps with YOUR fogging or not, but you'll need good goggles to fix your problem then. The Exoshield goggles are $40 and worth every penny IMHO.
This is part of their (Revision's) ad from TNVC:
"This is the best anti-fog coating on the market. We cannot get these goggles to fog… period. Anyone who uses night vision often, should be running EXOSHIELDs."
Hope that helps. I had a BAD fogging problem in the army and I tried everything, and nothing really worked until we got those ESS goggles for the first time in '02 or so. I still use both now, but again, I prefer the lower profile Exoshield over ESS for clear lens NODs use. Sorry so long winded, but this will fix your problem. Happy holidays.
I'm assuming you have the proper demist shield and sacrificial window for the 14's? If not, that's a good place to start. Those "can" be wiped and should have come with your NODs no matter where you got 'em I'd hope.
Another thing you can use, and I'm still trying it out and so far so good, is a replaceable sacrificial window that threads in, and a small modification to the eyepiece that allows a snap on, thick rubber eyepiece with an amber window. There is no cup (though you can swap 'em out if need be). The amber filter helps prevent the green glow you get without the eye cup; it works fairly well at it. As a result, the image is tinted sort of a yellowish color vs. straight green. Something to consider. There is no pocket to collect warm air I'd think, provided you keep your NODs away a bit. Another thing to try are goggles, either ESS, which are great and come in laser resistant lenses, or better for most NV use IMO, the Revision Exoshield. It's guaranteed not to fog up and they came free with my NODs. They fit snug and seal to your face, just over your eyes, zero to almost zero blind spots, and fit around a helmet or under or w/o one with velcro straps. Low profile, SF shit. Really nice, clear, good eye pro, flexible use, and if you have fogging problems, these may be the cheapest sure fix. I was VERY, very impressed with these goggles, and ironically, I wouldn't ever have ordered them on my own: TNVC gave them to me free with my 14's. But now I'll be using those or the ESS with the green laser lens, depending, when I use my NODs. Yeah, I wear eye pro with my NODs. I used the ESS ten years ago in the army and they work well and will fix your problem and take several different types of lenses too, but I have to say I like the Revision Exoshield for regular, everyday clear and low-pro eye pro with the NODs. They're made for it.
TNVC sells these and other accessories for PVS-14 night vision and have been an awesome company to work with, can't say enough good about their CS and the guys that work there. And you can PM those guys right here on the Hide too. They'll answer your questions without selling you on shit which is nice also.
Wilcox makes the amber filter, $59 and the sacrificial window, $30 with 6 replacement windows, $55. But you can put the six replacements off 'til later. Or not get that special sacrificial Wilcox window part at all. But it allows you to use a Butler Creek flip up for your daylight pinhole filter if you so choose, and does cost less down the road if you replace windows. You could even forgo the amber filter, as I don't know whether it helps with YOUR fogging or not, but you'll need good goggles to fix your problem then. The Exoshield goggles are $40 and worth every penny IMHO.
This is part of their (Revision's) ad from TNVC:
"This is the best anti-fog coating on the market. We cannot get these goggles to fog… period. Anyone who uses night vision often, should be running EXOSHIELDs."
Hope that helps. I had a BAD fogging problem in the army and I tried everything, and nothing really worked until we got those ESS goggles for the first time in '02 or so. I still use both now, but again, I prefer the lower profile Exoshield over ESS for clear lens NODs use. Sorry so long winded, but this will fix your problem. Happy holidays.
I do use the demist shield and sacrificial that came with the unit. My demist shield is scratched a little, so I placed a order for more of them this morning at TNVC. I will check on the exoshields. Thanks for the info.
Get an under armour mask. Mine was always fogging up until I got 1. Ears are toasty, pull it down to bout your bottom lip
Loggers Inn, what is the density filter for the ir laser that you spoke of in another post?
http://tnvc.com/shop/laser-neutral-density-filter/..what this does is cut down on the bloom of your laser. It is a nice pin point cast with the filter. Each dbal has it's own filter, so get 1 that fits your devise
Looks like the link comes up an error, just google dbal neutral density filter
I found the filters that you mentioned at tnvc. Wish I would have put them on my order yesterday. Thanks for the info.
Who cares order it. Prolly just a couple bucks to have it shipped. It's a good piece to have
Prob going to order again tomorrow.
Just ordered filters. Thanks again for the help.
Loggers Inn, I now have tried the density filter in my ir laser, Wow much better. No bloom and allows a finer dot to aim with. I have not been back out to try the cold weather tips on fogging, but I am hoping to give my set up a work out on a upcoming hog hunt. Thanks guys for all of the advise.
Learned about the filter from skypup, just passin it along
I would guess its just your breathe, or heat coming from your face fogging up your pvs14. Adjust the mount to the farthest position away from your eye so you can still see and so plenty of air can travel through. Keep the eye cup rolled back too. First time I hunted in real cold weather, mine fogged up, and these actions cured it.
I read this post a couple weeks ago and bought some Fog Tech at REI. The stuff is incredible. The temps were getting into the mid teens and my nod lenses were constantly fogging. Not anymore.
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