Image Intensifier Tube (Help Identerfying) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2020, 08:52:27 pm
content: Hello All, I managed to de-silicon & free this rather nice image intensifier tube however the stiker that was on it got destroyed with the silicon & ended up going up the hoover.So I am wonding if anyone can help identerfy this thing so i get get the specks. The only number on the thing is: 0016201Photos are with this post. The tube also only has only two power connection points.Link to the type of camera it came from:

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 10:10:39 am
content: I know a little about the camera system that the I.I.T was part of but I do not recognise the tube model.It will be Gen 1 and likely British made. Possibly an EEV product. The original use was military.The attached picture of a similar tube may help you better understand its power needs. These tubes require just 2 connections....HV and 0V. The HV can be different between tube types but the HV supply is still in your camera so you should be able to extract it for powering the tube. Do not expect very high gain from a Gen1 tube and do protect us from bright light or you will damage it.This page may also be of interest to you.......https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/nvg.htmFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 10:23:25 am
content: X-Ray images of a similar tube.....https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/Gen-1-image-intensifier-X-rayed/18-485590/Fraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 02:14:01 pm
content: Thanks for the info, this is genualy helpful. I have a video uploding of reverce engineering the voltage muliplyer cuciut that was inside the silicon potting. I will post it here when it hase finnished uploading.So I am looking around 15KV. I am thinking of useing the voltage miltiplyer with a CFL driver for the HV as I really have no better way of generating a high voltage. The original driver is very complex & sadly not its own modual. So i need to do what I do best, improvise.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 02:26:58 pm
content: You can buy HV generator modules from China very cheaply these days. Less than £2 if I remember correctly. They come in different voltages so you can experiment with which work best with your tube. The current needed by the tube is truly tiny so do not worry about the HV module current rating.There may be UK sources of the same HV modules if you are in a hurry. They generally cost about double the China sourced units.Just search on eBay fir “kv module” and “kv generator”example units...... (pulsed is ok)https://www.ebay.com/itm/15KV-3-7V-High-Voltage-Inverter-Generator-Spark-Arc-Ignition-Coil-Module-DIY-Kit/333134564126?epid=12011458024&hash=item4d905e0b1e&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&enc=AQAEAAADYEhVUlK1WfsviWuxKPk6p0FahXbA08paIU0slylzCSg1hEMHpUN1afkQ%2BTi6AFzGXXhcnR45XGWgE%2F9WXpIdY9Kq2d3iF%2FSMFDzjHMF21U7Ww%2F0hPGUcvb3J4lm1o3KCZglLSid%2BDLu1vDVAUyIAXek7w9mfoED8mvhS4MUrlygEhhoWjs7TuiX6wFeZm6%2Fw7jU39pWD8yaiX111QAiDiAQID%2BspVIvao1kig41LypKTqRVHklUAYhsLn%2FxdD%2BQnuq8u08R0bRfLaANmHyF%2FSRp4HeJ%2BzWxYPb45ELZ8Km0zPac39N%2Ba66etw9wait%2F0HL8WNIgaYOoAOTbOFipAyzbPqGP1mxGa8G%2FygfJ%2FVLXmVp%2Fygz%2B00NGBy3fxgjkkMl%2FUCAq0pgymNWUmVYg93r%2F4Rt%2FdylUAN0Uo%2B3Is3uVvNH3eRRe9RgbqOzl8%2FCjTQUP%2F3bNCXXzvMSWh3uvQhuwAaWsrtigvUD8x%2FqQGBxh167%2FjfTkhwEv%2Fq%2Bw4l7tJxWS5XiMgOpW2rmmI2lo2JrkfGPEZy5tyOYe1XZuVH%2FgO09Xk62q0P2JEK7CT%2BYpk9QwjRtUpsVm%2FkJjdzkHmRPidwz5IY6hrIGekZzKg7WhNq332QE%2BpGp1wQwX0Py%2FxWALpTXLRgoEqSJJJTxcJJRt4HvSELc6kITzAtvvTbYzi7a4DYxYXLWOk%2FGpdqP28Zexx7wD2Xy5aNelDl%2Br8XOksxi1NePbg15i951AUp67MaV%2BhN0nG181%2B47xInT8j3RqzqjRQtzC7upa6b1wzgPOj06md%2FGv3BBD8BsU3hgk1ulmGQSiFJrT2fk7yISOaNsbgT5T7GPxJ%2FgM2WBFnNl4gyW5tr7e%2FAp0IGILwFv7SA2yu%2FZ8%2Fz6Vy8Yrg%2BKHRU9HSGgt7Olmn87Ghy1KDVD%2BDxXNAq4JoWETtkTMifMV3BtIQbmpS%2F4YXL1cbG31B6ZP%2BiBF1X6JKzCQ6h%2FywEda%2FCWicwYgpiOGx6uXu3cBjCczZAfZECbFCVJtg0vjTLfchB1HCg2H0y8w2mbeqEq4wGLvrHDBYAAvpbXTj4HncAIxAIKd23vYDII2fFFDxFcb%2FCqzw%2FSz4%2BEnziJpc3c3WfgXeifrv2ea2NnGq4iYEiMJbiI9abo1zfNx81F4sww%3D%3D&checksum=333134564126d2110f7b420042f489a2c16cff1dd887https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC3-7-12V-3-1000KV-Step-Up-Voltage-Pulse-Inverter-Arc-Generator-Coil-Module-HOT/153620804355?hash=item23c4837303:m:mjppapsgO10LH_9abzmVNKAFraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 02:30:41 pm
content: Here's the video =-)

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 02:34:36 pm
content: I genraly try to avoid ordering from China as I have had nothing but problems from Chinise sellers, so I will go for the UK ones =-)1. Wrong parts2. Broken parts3. Stuff going missing4. Fake stuffThe usual.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 05:09:58 pm
content: I've ordered many hundreds of items from Chinese sellers and I've had those problems maybe 10 times out of all of those. Most of the US/UK sellers of the Chinese widgets are just local fronts for the Chinese sellers, sometimes they have local stock, sometimes not.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 10:41:11 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 10, 2020, 05:09:58 pmYou are not wrong there, you tend to be fine if you get it though a repritable seller or store. Hobbie King is very good, never had issues with them.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 10:44:27 pm
content: Good news, I powered up the tube with a CFL driver board hooked up the the voltage multiplyer & managed to get the tube to power up & work. I will post the video when I upload it. Sadly the tube has cronic screen burn. However the tube dose transmit any images on the face to the back screen.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2020, 10:50:22 pm
content: Sadly the original use of that camera involved viewing a static scene so image intensifier burn-in damage was common. These units IT was pretty much a consumable part, just as on armoured vehicle night vision etc.On a positive note, you have learnt something about Gen 1 single stage image intensifier tube technologyFraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 12:45:16 am
content: Quote from: Fraser on April 10, 2020, 10:50:22 pmIntresting, so what did they use the cameras for if it was not some kind of targating system. You forgot to mention I have also leaned a little more about HV as well.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 11:29:33 am
content: Here's a video of the tube working =-)

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 11:52:29 am
content: Nice video. I've just returned from the bathroom and am going to lie down with my eyes closed for a while.P.S. Thatisa nasty burn, maybe you can capture a still image of what it was looking at for all that time.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 12:58:51 pm
content: Did you buy a Philips XX1080 on eBay by any chance ?If you did, please be aware that what looks like a lens on the front is not. These XX1080 tubes need weird optics to match into them. If you did buy an XX1080 it would be worth reading about them on the internet. They are cheap because they are Gen1 and a PITA to use !Fraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 01:37:55 pm
content: Yep thats the one I go, for about 20 quid. I did not know that was not a lens, so I pretty much need a lens with terrible barrle distorsion, thanks for the heads up. Did some basic googleing & found it is a Gen1 tube, from the seller it does not have cronic screen burn ether.Whats PITA?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:09:04 pm
content: PITA = Pain In The Arse

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:22:21 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on April 11, 2020, 02:09:04 pmLike most things in life then

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:43:17 pm
content: Be aware that the XX1080 also requires Screen and Focus voltages and they need to be pretty accurate. The HT should not exceed 15.4kV. I told you they were a PITA !http://lampes-et-tubes.info/ic/ic013.php?l=eFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:52:33 pm
content: Abex have had quite a lot of those XX1080 tubes over the years. They did stock the special lens that matches the tube. It may be worth searching their site or contacting them.https://www.abex.co.uk/esales/optical/philips/image-intensifier/xx1080/xx1080_2/index.phpFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:55:32 pm
content: Here is the lens from Abex...... £29https://www.abex.co.uk/esales/optical/mel/lens/xx1080og-b/000/index.phpFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 02:57:17 pm
content: A better condition lens from Abex for £49https://www.abex.co.uk/esales/optical/mel/lens/xx1080og-a/000/index.phpFraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 08:25:00 pm
content: Nice, I love my lenses as I love photograpy.I will very lickly pick one of those lenses up. I have no doughts I will have a go at attaching it to my Fuji X-T1 as it could get some intresting shots.Also here is a shot of the tube running, while the screen burn is terrible it does it least look to be full functional.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 08:27:26 pm
content: I will build this into its own scope just for shits n giggles even though the tube has preven to be a bit crap. Think of it as a practis tube for when the other more hard one arives.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2020, 08:31:02 pm
content: The thing that amazes me is how little power the thing takes, it litraly runs on fumes.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2020, 04:14:23 pm
content: New tube has arrived, I will post the adventures with this one in a new thread.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2020, 08:46:25 pm
content: Night vision scope is nearing completion, had a few fails in the video for you all to enjoy.

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2020, 11:34:16 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on April 10, 2020, 10:10:39 amSo true about the low light gains, I would say not much to any better than the naked eye, the advantage they do have is the ability to pick up IR near the visible spectrum, same IR as a camera.I have some CCTV cameras that problay have better IR caperbilitys. But as a project it was well worth building as a fun leaning experence in the technology as well as HV stuff. The thing does have a bad habbit of sparking & crackerling while running so my silicon sealent was not the most effective in the world. But as I say, a leaning experence. It does sometimes still zing me while using it.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2020, 11:45:25 pm
content: The Gen 1 tubes gain decreases with the hours run so they literally wear out with use. Your burnt tube be be well beyond it’s expected service life so it’s gain will likely be way down compared to a new tube. From memory the gain is about x1000 in a new Gen1 tube. Gen2, Gen2+, Gen3 and Hot Gen3 have significantly higher gain.Modern back thinned CCD imaging arrays can easily compete with a Gen 1 tube where night vision is concerned. And that is without needing to cool the CCD to reduce noise. Gen 2+ and Gen 3 are much higher gain image intensifiers and still provide high performance service in military and scientific applications.As you say, a Gen1 can be used to view sources of IR. A cheap monochrome CCTV camera or Board camera can do the same however.Fraser

author: TheEPROM9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2020, 05:57:12 pm
content: I actualy have CCTV camera's from the 90s with a higher low light gain than my GEN1 tube [Sadly they are 240V], but as you say my tube is way beond its service life. Suprisingly the screen burned bit does actualy still work.I did email that website about a lens for my PHILIPS tube but they never got back to me so I will probaly have to use a standard camera lens m42 mount lens, I am guessing the rounded element inside is where the electrons are generated. I will do some testing before I decide on a lens to use, plenty with barrel distortion.If you have any sugestions good lenses to use, let me know, otherwise I will basicly though shitb at the wall untill something sticks.

author: LesioQ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2020, 07:14:39 am
content: Don't be so overly critical about the XX1080 tubes. These are probably best Gen. 1 tubes out there and with proper optics give excellent results.As opposed to higher generations of night vision (2-3) and all the 'sensored' ones - CCD, CMOS, etc. - they have no pixel limitations (or MCP channels)so image plane resolution is often superior to others.I often use a XX1080 bino - cut out of military tank viewer, and aside it's still high weight - is an excellent setup.Perhaps big part of the positive expirience comes from two-eye setup, making gazing waaaaay more relaxing to face muscles.And it's power drain is almost less than a self-loss of battery used.