Night Vision "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

[GBMaryland]

Ok,

So I procured an intensifier labeled "L3 MC-11620UV NOS" (written on a box in pencil) with no other identifying information. A serial number appears to be on it: 100141155

The tube looks like it may have been installed, but given what any 25mm tube looks like... I'd have a hard time telling how used this tube is. (Never seen a pristine one is my point.)

Pictures are now attached to the thread!

It's eventual home will probably be an AN/PVS-4a

GB

 

[GBMaryland]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

Oh, and if anyone has access to manuals for the AN/PVS-4 or the MX-11620UV or Gen 2 MX-9644/UV... and would care to share them. I'd be grateful.

Specially a SERVICING manual for the AN/PVS-4...

GB

 

[GBMaryland]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

Bump?

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

You can find the PVS-4 operator's and maintenance manuals online (I sent the maintenance manual to you by e-mail).

If none of the NV experts shows up to ID your image tube, you might go to the Australian Night Vision Forum website and look at the chart that's posted there. If one of your numbers is a contract number, then you might be able to find more info on the chart. I'm sure you know that it's a Litton/L3 Gen 3 tube for the PVS-4 already, that's the extent of my knowledge!

 

[GBMaryland]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

Thanks, I installed it... that was an interesting experience.

Primarily, the previous user / maintainance person did not clean all of the surfaces and optic... once I did that. Day and night difference, so to speak.

So the intensifier sees to work, and the Gen 2 unit I have works very well as well.

Thank you, btw!

GB

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

The electronics in a PVS-4 are incredibly simple, no active devices at all. I would use a little DeOxit on the tube pins; I think you can clean the tube's image screen and light window with alcohol. If you can't find the maintenance manual online, send me your correct e-mail address and I will forward a copy to you.

BTW, where did you buy the image tube? I will probably want a NOS spare for a TVS-5 I just bought. There's a guy named Tom who sells them on eBay, but not cheaply.

 

[GBMaryland]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The electronics in a PVS-4 are incredibly simple, no active devices at all. I would use a little DeOxit on the tube pins; I think you can clean the tube's image screen and light window with alcohol. If you can't find the maintenance manual online, send me your correct e-mail address and I will forward a copy to you.

BTW, where did you buy the image tube? I will probably want a NOS spare for a TVS-5 I just bought. There's a guy named Tom who sells them on eBay, but not cheaply. </div></div>

I found the service manual online at LSU ( AN/PVS-4 Service Technical Manual hosted at LSU )

Yeah, I probably got it at the same source.

 

[OmegaMan]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

It is definably a 25mm Gen 3. It also can be a Gen 3+1 which will give you problems using it in a PVS-4 (focal lengths are different). Tube is most likely 10 or more years old. Not enough info on the tube for me to tell you much more.

If it will focus in your PVS-4 you will have a nice scope. If it does not you will have to look for something like a Star-Tron 428 to use it as a long range viewer. My bet is a Drop in Gen 3 for a PVS-4. The Gen 3+1 hybrid looks just like it but was not designed for use in a PVS-4.

 

[GBMaryland]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

Actually, it focuses great. I can get very clear views... VERY.

My camera, which is just shy of a professional series is not doing a great JP taking pics through the scope.

Does this tube do auto light amplification / intensity adjustments?

 

[cj7hawk]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

Yes it does. I've sent you through the data sheet in a PM. It's a pretty advanced tube, but it's not autogated. It won't handle very bright situations well.

It will not be a 3+1. The FO plate is clearly evident in the images. That is certainly a 11620. These are somewhere between Gen2 and Gen3 in performance, but are excellent tubes and perform well. The resolution is low, but the large diameter makes up for it.

Regards
David

 

[I^2 Technologies - Peter]

Re: "L3 MX-11620UV NOS" 25mm Gen 3 Question (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cj7hawk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes it does. I've sent you through the data sheet in a PM. It's a pretty advanced tube, but it's not autogated. It won't handle very bright situations well.

It will not be a 3+1. The FO plate is clearly evident in the images. That is certainly a 11620. These are somewhere between Gen2 and Gen3 in performance, but are excellent tubes and perform well. The resolution is low, but the large diameter makes up for it.

Regards
David

</div></div>

Part of the problem they don't do well in high light is that the gain on these things is just incredible!!! They are very bright tubes. They need some sort of day filter in urban usage. Maybe a large neutral density filter could be made.

Also on the resolution, they are 45 LPM tubes BUT as mentioned the larger 25 mm tubes makes up for it bringing them up to 64 LPM in actual use. These things are just AWESOME !!!

IPSC_GUY
SIERRA II ALPHA

 

[GBMaryland]

Re-Added the pictures to this thread so that they are again on the Hide.

 

[chas013]

I'm betting if I find a good one it will double the cost of my pvs-4 to the point of just getting a later version gen 3 scope. I would probably be better off with a clip on but that's a lot of expense just to sneak up on hogs.

 

[GBMaryland]

The actual issue is 1) finding one at all, and 2) that the tube itself costs what a PVS-14 Gen 3 with a 1600+ FOM does. So it's kinda hard to see paying that cash at this point.

You're probably better off going to someone like TVNC and getting of the Gen2+ or Gen 3 weapon sights they are currently selling. [Parts for a PVS-4 / TVS-5 are hard to find, specifically, the potentiometers [aka variable resisters]]

 

[Ident]

GB is right in the fact that those Gen 3 tubes went very fast a couple years ago and they are had to find right now. As for the PVS-4 parts, there are a ton of NOS and surplus parts available all over the internet- about the only thing we have trouble getting is the crosshair reticle for the PVS-4. We don't the sell PVS-4 after the Gen 3 tube supply was exhausted but one of the best things about that scope was that because the tube had a large photocathode it was capable of producing a very wide FOV at the 3.7x magnification in that size of system. Difficult or even impossible to do today using the standard current 18mm tube. A lot of people would say that that a 4x 14.5 degree FOV that the PVS-4 is one of the best ever created for NV weapon sights.

Ident

 

[chas013]

It's too bad mine is as new and I have the crosshair reticle and picatinney mount and battery adapter. It's in two pelican cases. I was going to make a night only gun but hated to settle for the gen 2. I guess I'll just put it up and keep looking for the gen 3 tube at a reasonable price. I'll probably just get a low end thermal if I decide I want to do more night hunting than I do now. I have the pulsar n750 with a doubler but haven't tried it hunting yet. It seems ok out to 100yds. at night but the camera image is hard to accept in daylight for me.