How to make a nice IR light on the cheap
There was a little interest…so we will do a simple little IR light build. This is just about the simplest build one can do.
This is not a 300 yard light, its an Airgunners light and it works very darn well.
This little light build will feature a Zoom lens and 3 modes (high,low,and useless strobe)
A quick vid of what it does, but note the snow is killing it..expect a little better performance.
Part 1: the basic build
The parts list
1) Pick your flavor of IR led bulb and mounting star
USA Source http://au.mouser.com/
OSLON Black Series (850 nm) Mouser Part #: 720-SFH4715S 9 bucks+ shipping
OSLON Black Series (940 nm) Mouser Part #: 720-SFH4725S …same
You need this star!
Mounting star for above chips Mouser Part #: 951-804087 about a buck
2) To keep this simple build..we are going to use this light. 7 bucks..free shipping
I should note that we are going to be powering this light with an 18650 battery..the run time is about 1 1/2 hrs.
For now, you can just power it with 3 AAA batteries…but it will only last 20-30 minutes
Here is a quick link….feel free to find a better deal on ebay….
Here is a link to flow soldering..This is the hard part
Build info after the flow soldering is done
End of Part 1
The above light really is ALL you NEED for Airgun ranges !!
Part 2
It really is the same as the above simple light build except..we are going to have to replce the Driver board as well
Pick your flavor of driver.
1 Mode on/off
http://dx.com/p/17mm-1050ma-single-mode-regulated-led-driver-circuit-board-for-flashlight-diy-dc-3-4-5v-127687
5 mode Hi > Mid > Low > Strobe > SOS Strobe/sos..useless to us.
http://dx.com/p/1050ma-constant-current-memory-5-mode-led-driver-circuit-board-for-flashlight-3-4-5v-222869
There may be other driver boards out there..but these are ones I know will work with the oslon.
The REAL custom light builders have taken things a few steps further. They have picked some base model light such as the T20 or 501b and with a lathe made a larger front bezel to hold a larger convex lens. Bigger lens = more distance with the light. They also replace the plastic lens with a higher quality glass one..and a few other little tricks as well.
Well simply put..We allI can’t do that, but we can try to find an off the shelf light with LARGEST lens possible that meets our needs.
Things to consider
1) ZOOM ..has to have it
2) Must alread have a Convex lens in it and the bigger..the better
3) MODES.. We get to decide by which driver we use.
4) PHYSICAL SIZE ..will it fit in a scope ring or is it a big heavy monster
5) Prefer a single 18650 battery
The HEAD size gives os some idea of the LENS size.
This is an Ebay vendor that I have no affiliation with. This is his list of flashlights..he made a real nice list.
We dont care about the current bulb..Q5,T6..whatever…we are putting in the oslon chip
We don’t care about the currrent Modes…we are replacing the driver from the ones above..
all we care about is ZOOM, HEAD SIZE(lens size), PHYSICAL size
This is the ebay vendor. I have bought lights from him, he is in the US..I do recommend
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221285193318?var=520173983929&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_6127wt_1012
Since we are replacing both the LED chip and the DRIVER ..We can take any size LED light and convert it.
Feel free to look around ebay for lights with larger convex lenses.
Arctic silver – The Correct Thermal Adhesive
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arctic-Silver-AATA-5G-Alumina-Adhesive-Thermal-Epoxy-5g-/170708546413?pt=US_Thermal_Compounds_Supplies&hash=item27bf05b36d#ht_8263wt_1103
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Condor 24″ .25 barrel
10″ x 2″ LDC
TT Hammer with hammer slap mod
TT adjustable top hat
TT breach knob
Mad Dog Ultima Long Stock with adjustable bench leg, weaver rail, and sling studs
UTG Tactical SWAT bipod
UTG Swat 3-12 x 44 swat scope
UTG Xenon Flashlight
M22/50™ MUZZLE BRAKE
Fantastic looking setup again :darth-vader:
You could kill some time listing your parts list.
i got the light mounted now just waiting for it to get dark out 😈
Condor 18″ .22 barrel
8″ x 1 1/2″ LDC
TT Hammer with hammer slap mod
TT adjustable top hat
TT breach knob
Mad Dog Ultima Long Stock with adjustable bench leg, weaver rail, and sling studs
UTG Tactical SWAT bipod
UTG Swat 3-12 x 44 swat scope
Ultrafire Wf-501b Cree Infrared Ir 3w LED Night Vision Flashlight Torch
Seban DKA2 mount
3.5″ TFT Portable LCD Monitor Handheld Security Tester CCTV Camera Video Tester
Magpix IR-101 Midnight/Shot Infrared Night Vision Digital Camera
just waiting on batteries should be here today hopefully
Finally got around to removing the IR Filter. Clamped the back end in a machine vise and the whole front screws off just like Mrnewbie said. Pryed the filter off with my fingernails. It seemed to be stuck down with a thin border of double face tape. Had to really screw hard 😯 to get the case back into place and ended up trying to adjust the focus of the lens. If you back that tiny set screw out to far…oh well 😥 Strangely once you find it, if you can, it kinda repositioned back in the hole fairly easily.
Anyway, TESTING Mr newbie’s build of a good and cheap IR Flashlight.
This evening I threw open the glass doors and shined the focus spot on my shed target backdrop at 50 feet.
Hey, that’s to bright, have to adjust to flood at 50 feet.UPDATE Lasered. 48′.
Here is full flood:
And looking off to the right is a neighbor’s shed maybe at 90 feet (UPDATE Lasered 111′), i’ll have to laser it tomorrow.
Gonna have to wait for a warm day to see Mrnewbies cheap IR flashlight start a fire at 100 yards 
Here is the TCK EJ 230 Camera looking thru glass sliding doors with the assistance of the great little cheap IR Flashlight . There is partially shaded street light in the neighbors yard but it doesn’t help my old eyes for where I want to shoot, at the base of those shed doors.
Here is without the aid of the I’d flashlight
The camera is super good in low light. but the cheapo or flashlight helps me see.
When weather warms I will have a screen of sorts across that doorway, with a flap hooked to a draw string. The Farrell cats will cease to tear out the neighbor ladies flower bed and will get a ride out on Tuesday mornings. That orange one that defied my yelling and shit in my tomatoes is high on my list to be deported.
Well seen his chick, he’s cock right!!
WOW, Mrnewbie does great work. He graciously did the soldering and reassembly for me and got the great flashlights back to me in a hurry.
This is the exceptional kind of people that make this forum and hobby an ongoing delight ❗ ❗ ❗
There are very few with this resolution of 800X480.
CAN’T seem to upload an image ❓
Oh well, I ordered from E-PRANCE.
Any suggestions on the camera lens, 12 mm or ??
And one listing of the EJ230 camera says something about IR filtr removed but they don’t explain it.
Great, for night vision we need that IR filter removed…Its a must..it has to be romoved !!
The 12mm is about what you see with the naked eye…the 16mm adds just a little zoom.
I prefer the 16mm..they both work fine..the cheap 7=8 buck lenses are fine..for our usage
Roland did show how to dig out and remove the IR filter..in one of his early vids
There is an easier way..when it comes in drop me a PM
I haven’t dealt with chinka for about 2 years now. Tried to get the 5″ monitor that Rolaids linked to but gave up and hours later found one on amazon. Darn, 3 weeks delivery time 👿
There are very few with this resolution of 800X480.
CAN’T seem to upload an image ❓
Oh well, I ordered from E-PRANCE.
Any suggestions on the camera lens, 12 mm or ??
And one listing of the EJ230 camera says something about IR filtr removed but they don’t explain it.
OK, so at this point your cmos camera is for monitoring your back yard..much like wy woodplie cam or Chancers game cam.
(PM sent on this subject)
My suggestion is you do the basic Rolaids build using the KCP 230 ..this is the one with the internal menu and can make those xhairs.
Roland is the camera expert..see his latest vids..he may have picked a better one by now. Its in the 100-110 price range
Try the KCP 230 with your smaller 4×16 scope..it may get you your 100 yards with your current light in the 4-6-8 power ranges
If not you can always add that telephoto camera lens to it at a future time, or Build a bigger light..
The longest range system is Rolaind’s scopeless system…the 230 camera and telephoto lens..it sees (a guess) 30-40 percent further than a camera looking through a scope.
The only question is do you need or want that extra range?
😳
My intentions are to build a mobile night vision pest control airgun. Initially I need the night vision for my AF tuned down 12″ .177 caliber pester that is very accurate out to 50 yards. Then for my .25 TT AAA Condor that hopefully will exceed my 100 yard egg blasting by taking down some Yotes and feral hogs.
My Hawke scopes are 8.5-25X & 4-16X. Not what I need for night vision. And, my CMOS Camera runs off an 8 VDC wall wart and won’t mount to my present scope camera mount unless I use duct tape. The threads are finer than standard camera mount threads. The CMOS Camera by its self has been inadequate for monitoring my local pest problem. Pests disappear quickly out of the range of the 12 low power IR LEDs.
You’ve saved me a good bit already with the great working cheapie IR Flashlight ❗ That has greatly increased the range of my home night vision IR CMOS Camera and will work for both home pesting and if I can get somewhere else to help thin out pests.
I’ve been trying to use what I already have while making a complete build. You’ve got me off to a great start. Where are we going next ❓ ❓ ❓
I expected I’ll need a rifle mount IR camera. The one you mentioned that Rolaid uses, like yours only with a built in crosshair option sounds like a good start for the camera. I like your thinking and proof that the IR flashlight can be had cheaply and make the whole project more obtainable.
I’ve got some hobby money now because I did without for a long time. And, I love to build things that few people know anything about. I’m hooked on everything ‘AIRGUN’ and everything I can add to my AirForce rifle platform.
I’ll try to read up on Rolaids builds but would appreciate any more ideas and knowhow you are willing to take the time to share.
This hobby is fascinating because of people like you ❗
Am I supposed to be ready for the big time ALREADY 😯
I haven’t thought about mounting that camera to a scope yet 😳
Oh ya, it will work. I wasn’t thinking about using the scope….and I even have 2 camera mounts and I even know where both are.
To cold now and I have to get up early to shovel a path for an UPS delivery. I think I ordered something for my memory 😐
Lurker my friend..You have me confused. Unless you are just using the light to extend the range of a security camera what is your intended purpose?
your above pics look great, but as soon as you slap a scope on it.. the range goes down.
A 3 power scope will see 1/3 the light
a 6 power scope will see 1/6 the light
Are your above pics with that cmos camera U listed..if so its doing a darn good job for a cmos camera.
Its not a success story until its looking through a scope
Uh…uh…That went over my head :whistle:
Am I supposed to be ready for the big time ALREADY 😯
I haven’t thought about mounting that camera to a scope yet 😳
Oh ya, it will work. I wasn’t thinking about using the scope….and I even have 2 camera mounts and I even know where both are.
To cold now and I have to get up early to shovel a path for an UPS delivery. I think I ordered something for my memory 😐
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You could kill some time listing your parts list.
I added it to the posts with the pictures