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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CMOS Camera only…looking toward shed at 50 feet that will be backstop for baiting station for sickly ferral animals:
2-4 Wide focus to Medium to Full Zoom
WOW, I’LLHAVE TO MOVVE THE CAMERA SOMEWHERE ELSE TO. SEE HOW MUCH THE SQUARE SPOT SPREADS AND HOW FAR AWAY IT WILL ILLUMINATE.
I’D BET 100 YARDS EASY ❗ ❗ ❗
Same setup only with the focus all the way out.
Tune in tomorrow night for a sight to behold ❗
BEFORE at close range, CMOS camera looking out the patio door at my neighbor lady’s window. The camera does alright at close range like this. No comments now about the neighbor lady. She thinks air rifles just shoot air so they are alright to shoot ferral cats with.
So with Mrnewbie’s conversion that he did on a flashlight I tried to give to hi, with focus set to full wide angle:
I couldn’t see the monitor from the place I sat the flashlight down so maybe it isn’t aimed perfect.
Damn its to cold to leave the patio door open. So, I’ll try to get the camera in position to get a longer range comparison tomorrow. I’m still looking for my soldering irons too.
I already owe Mr newbie a couple parts and may just send parts and pieces to him.
Hint…be good to practice flow soldering with
Excellent 💡 IDEA 💡
But first I need to find either of my 2 low wattage soldering irons 😳 OOPS AGAIN ❗
Looks like you have a cheap cree bulb on its star to play with.
Hint…be good to practice flow soldering with
Next screwup/STEP, I tried to hacksaw a double notch but it was to hard to keep straight.
So I had a brainstorm and decided to use a dremel like Mrnewbie suggested.
But his notch looked to small and I had a bunch of scratches to hide ( a lot like carpentry work, it’s perfect if you can cover it up). So I used 2 cutoff wheels together. Yep, hid the scratches but I got to thinking…will it be waterproof to 100 feet ❓ Oh well, who needs a warranty ❓
It ain’t for spear fishing anyways.
And better view of how thick the black plastic thingy is…
WELL, I’LL BE DARNED ❗ ❗
That black plastic spacer does come out ❗
Now I know how much deeper to cut at the outside edge, the next one will be only half as tough.
Oh, that little light thing to the right is/was a tiny lens over the origin LED. I breaks when used to pry against it to get the black plastic out 😳
I think I voided the warranty 👿
1) Would circuit board solder work or is there an additional circuit board solder and flux I’ll need ❓
2) I have a Wagner Digital HeatGUN, selectable up to 1350 degrees F.
Is that hot enough OR can I use a radio shack micro torch ❓
3) What options would you suggest for a camera 😕
I would like to use it on my scope camera mount but will be making a wood pile out of my shed if my night time shooting isn’t accurate enough 😎 😆
This is the exact stuff I used for the flow soldering
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062725
Flow soldering is tougher than you think. Althought the idea behind this thread is you can do it, I think the flow soldering will bugger you and most people up.
I encourage you to try it yourself, but If you or anyone else are unsure..I’ll do the flow solder part for you..u have my address, I thought you were sending me stuff anyhow. I will be happy to spend an hour flow soldering stars for fellow TAG members.
We just have a cheap heat gun..it gets plenty hot to flow solder. I used the same basic setup as in Marky’s video above.
I like the KPC-E190, if you like the menu options then the KPC-230..straight out of the Rolaids builds. Any proven camera is fine these are both around $100. The newer Rolaids vids list a few more cameras and Roland is the camera expert.
You should try your current cmos camera first..
Just a few questions as I can’t hear for shit 😳
1) Would circuit board solder work or is there an additional circuit board solder and flux I’ll need ❓
2) I have a Wagner Digital HeatGUN, selectable up to 1350 degrees F.
Is that hot enough OR can I use a radio shack micro torch ❓
3) What options would you suggest for a camera 😕
I would like to use it on my scope camera mount but will be making a wood pile out of my shed if my night time shooting isn’t accurate enough 😎 😆
I should have the pieces soon.
ebay had to delay the game probably because of my bitching about shit from chinka but I finally got a new account and flashlights have been shipped.
I liked the videos ❗
but, will probably have to ask a question or two when I start in disassembly.
I ain’t even gonna check the mailbox today. -10 degrees F with windchill -39 F.
camera I hope to use is an “ASTAK CM-818W” night vision CMOS camera with 12 LEDs and audio.
The problem is the limited range of maximum 22 feet.
I’m hoping that with an au auxiliary IR flashlight I’ll be able to see40-50 feet.
But, I can’t find info on what frequency it operates at for IR.
Should I just get something else. ❓
If your talking about that camera…yes you should get something else. CMOS cameras stink!
But, I think you will get your 50 ft+ with the above light..go with the 850nm chip
Looking for what frequency IR led to get.
camera I hope to use is an “ASTAK CM-818W” night vision CMOS camera with 12 LEDs and audio.
The problem is the limited range of maximum 22 feet.
I’m hoping that with an au auxiliary IR flashlight I’ll be able to see40-50 feet.
But, I can’t find info on what frequency it operates at for IR.
Should I just get something else. ❓
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Ok, now slap it on the scope and lets see how it does.
I’m curious how that cmos does, its looking just like it should at this point
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