NVG filters for airsoft.....
 

What lenses are you fellow NOD wearers using to protect your tubes?
I assume most are using a polycarb shield to protect from bb strikes, but what about from IR lasers (both class1 and above) and from high lumen flashlights potentially causing damage(or at least degrading tube life quickly).
Not sure which of the two threats is a bigger concern, IR laser or high lumen light hitting the tube.
LIF...
Infrared filters...
Something else...
Nothing at all...
Any suggestions welcome

ps-Not trying to bring up the class1 laser eye safety issue, just wanting to know about tube protection and longevity

Thanks

Some of us were using UV protective filters for camera lens. I had one bust out. Definately worth the $10

Depends on the generation really and the features available.

For bb strikes, wilcox poly carb protectors work, sometimes I just use LIF's as sac lenses for better optical clarity.

For ir lasers, bright lights, pinnacle tubes will solve most of the worries in that department. If your unit isn't using the latest tube technology, you can always fall back on bright light cut off. Anything generation 3 is designed to take a lot of abuse though. I would be very surprised if anyone managed to destroy their nightvision tubes playing Airsoft. :)

In fact, I have yet to see a generation 3's tubes circuit protection get triggered.

The worst I have seen is the swirls left from overloading the receptors. They are usually gone within a few minutes of use.

I have the Wilcox sacrificial front and rear, in case the unit was up, but with the Wilcox L4, it is less of an issue than the USGI

The lanyard makes me feel more comfortable, especially if I am braindead and leave the L4 in breakaway mode.

With other units, YMMV.

I have a LIF and a wilcox sac lens over that.
Works fine for me, never had an issue.

I hate how easy it is to put the L4 in breakaway mode with the button for it and the unlock for the arm being so damn close.

Yeah, ghost "memory trails" occur from tube to tube due to bright light, but they fade over time. Even when you have some stay long, leave it in a black box for a few days turned on and it will clean any residual image out. I won't even bother protecting the eyepiece anymore (unless it's bright enough to run a filter) parts are so abundant now, if it ever took a bb strike you would probably spend less vs a replacement ptw motor getting a new one.

Thank goodness for abundant pvs-14 parts from Singapore lol.

Hey man, back at the LZ when we were driving that iltis in the dark that breakaway feature would have saved your neck from any low hanging wires.... Which may or may not have actually existed.

Great info, thanks.

What would you suggest is the bigger concern:
Direct hit from a IR laser(nothing crazy powerful but over class 1) or,
Sudden bright flash from some clown running 1000lumen flashlight up close?

I ask because I have a LIF that should protect from Laser, and a MaxMax IR filter(maybe 720nm not sure) to cut much of the light from an LED but can only mount one to the front of my PVS-14 at a time. Tube is ITT pinnacle gen3 autogated if that matters. Maybe none is needed, just looking for input from those with some experience.

LIF only protects from green(visible laser) - does not protect from IR.
I wouldn't worry about the flashlight, if its too bright the unit will turn itself off.

I suppose I should clarify, I hate how easy it is to accidentally put the L4 in breakaway mode.

Would it have killed them to change the direction of the selector bar?
>go to lower nods with gloves on.
>oops you hit the breakaway selector at the same time as the arm lock and did not notice.
>nods possibly fall off your face :P

lol, I hear ya. Newer models have changed the direction. It's now activated from the opposite side.