Night Vision Coti battery packs

[Totdoc]

So I've been looking for a pas29 coti battery pack...
The old coti and the ecoti use a different connector, right?
I feel like this is one of those situations where a 3d printer could be really helpful.
Has anyone had any success making their own connectors, or sourcing connectors?
Or does anyone have a pack around they are willing to part with?

To be clear, I'm not looking for a y cable...I just want to power the coti

 

[cschastain2]

I spoke with NVD Night Vision Devices engineer and he was developing a Y Cable for the Coti PAS-29A or the E-Coti (Not sure which one or both?)

 

[cschastain2]

http://nvdevices.com/

 

[RTH1800]

@wigwamitus

 

[Totdoc]

Oh... or if someone could make a coti to Fischer adapter... that might be cool

 

[WhereNow&How]

Yep someone needs to manufacture a professional quality solution to external power for the COTI.

The threads on the battery cap and battery housing are all the same on the Nivisys Tacs M, Pas 29A COTI and ECOTI.

An Anker Candi Bar will power one for 20 hrs.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Upgraded-Candy-Bar-High-Speed-Technology/dp/B06XS9RMWS

Per my conversations with these guys, they are on the verge of making a decision on building a COTI version similar to what they have done for the DTNVG.


Maybe if everyone sent them an email requesting a COTI external power system that would help them make their final decision.

DTNVG Battery Pack Adapter | Executive Training

The DTNVG Integrated Cable Connector, lovingly known as the DICC was created to extend the life of the DTNVG and utilize a battery pack for functional counterweighting of the helmet. The DICC has been in development for over a year, evolving and improving in both design and materials. The DICC...

www.executive-firearms.com

 

[WhereNow&How]

Oh... or if someone could make a coti to Fischer adapter... that might be cool

A COTI to USB is MO BETTA.

Then you aren't stuck having to buy way overpriced, poor performing, OEM battery packs that can't support rechargeable batteries.

 

[GreenMushroom]

Or if someone could make a battery extension like they do for the breach or nox. While its not as nice as being able to plug it into an anker it seems like something that could easily get made if enough people showed interest. The 18650 are too large but I believe a 16650 would work. I'm a knuckle dragger so have no idea about the electronic side of it though. My nox extender is just a piece of tube with threads and an o ring groove machined into it.

That cap above would be awesome. Some of the candy bars have multiple outputs so I could power my nox and coti off the same pack. If in the 500$ range I'd be interested.

 

[NHPiper]

I have spent a lot of time talking with the guys at Optics 1 (great guys by the way). The ECOTI uses a 4 pin connector to the ECOTI housing where the COTI uses a 2 pin connector.

I have a long thread on Y cable issues here, in case you find it helpful. @SierraLima has talked about coming up with some cable options at some point.

Night Vision - PVS1531 + COTI Battery Issues (with and w/o battery pack)

So I have one of the L3 sets of PVS1531 goggles. Always had short battery life, like 1-2ish hours max. One time when I was out I swapped 3 batteries in 15 minutes. Come to find out, I haven’t been using lithium AA’s, just regular alkaline. @WillHugh had had no problem with his and a quality...

www.snipershide.com

 

[GreenMushroom]

I have spent a lot of time talking with the guys at Optics 1 (great guys by the way). The ECOTI uses a 4 pin connector to the ECOTI housing where the COTI uses a 2 pin connector.

I have a long thread on Y cable issues here, in case you find it helpful. @SierraLima has talked about coming up with some cable options at some point.

Night Vision - PVS1531 + COTI Battery Issues (with and w/o battery pack)

So I have one of the L3 sets of PVS1531 goggles. Always had short battery life, like 1-2ish hours max. One time when I was out I swapped 3 batteries in 15 minutes. Come to find out, I haven’t been using lithium AA’s, just regular alkaline. @WillHugh had had no problem with his and a quality...

www.snipershide.com

I read most of that thread and wow what a shit show. You are a man of infinite patience. I'd be pissed for what you spent to get screwed like that. This just can't be that hard. My nox will run off of any 10$ Amazon battery pack for hours.

 

[NHPiper]

I read most of that thread and wow what a shit show. You are a man of infinite patience. I'd be pissed for what you spent to get screwed like that. This just can't be that hard. My nox will run off of any 10$ Amazon battery pack for hours.

Yeah, poor design by the manufacturer unfortunately.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Or if someone could make a battery extension like they do for the breach or nox. While its not as nice as being able to plug it into an anker it seems like something that could easily get made if enough people showed interest. The 18650 are too large but I believe a 16650 would work. I'm a knuckle dragger so have no idea about the electronic side of it though. My nox extender is just a piece of tube with threads and an o ring groove machined into it.

That cap above would be awesome. Some of the candy bars have multiple outputs so I could power my nox and coti off the same pack. If in the 500$ range I'd be interested.

16650 comes off battery charger at 4.20 volts. Too much voltage for COTI. There is no way to step the 16650 battery down to 3.2 Volts.

3.2 Volts is where you need to be for COTI. Warning label on COTI says Max Voltage 3.5 V.

When you come off of the Anker battery it is at 5.18 V and you use a step down buck regulator to step it down to 3.2 Volts.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Yeah, poor design by the manufacturer unfortunately.

So, NH Piper if you can use your connections with the Engineers over at Safran/Optics 1 to find out who makes this connector and what the name model number of it is or find a source for these connectors I can easily make everyone's life much happier with the COTI.

This is the latch type 2 pin connector that fits the Pas 29A COTI's.

 

[GreenMushroom]

Gotcha. I've read a bit about the voltages of the different batteries but honestly its over my head. I use my coti as an always on early warning sensor so auxiliary power would be great. That device you outlined seems pretty straightforward. I know its going to be expensive for what it is because of the low volume. Hopefully under 500. 1000 would be kinda hard to stomach for for some wires and a cap.

 

[Jong]

A COTI to USB is MO BETTA.

Then you aren't stuck having to buy way overpriced, poor performing, OEM battery packs that can't support rechargeable batteries.

Is there an issue with using rechargeable AA batteries?

 

[WhereNow&How]

Is there an issue with using rechargeable AA batteries?

I tried to run some high quality AA rechargeable batteries in a OEM Battery Box and Cable and they will only register 0.80 volts coming out of the end of the cable.

The positive and negative prongs at the end of the cable are so small I am not able to attach the positive and negative of my voltmeter and at the same time have my 3rd hand take a photo.

 

[Jong]

I just put energizer rechargeable batteries in my pack and they worked fine. I didn't even think it'd be an issue. Should I not have done that? I haven't had the time to use it for a length of time to test the run time.

 

[WhereNow&How]

I just put energizer rechargeable batteries in my pack and they worked fine. I didn't even think it'd be an issue. Should I not have done that? I haven't had the time to use it for a length of time to test the run time.

Is that will the same exact OEM battery pack as above which has the snap on fitting or with a different set up that has the newer style latch fitting that attaches to the Pas 29A COTI.

 

[Jong]

Is that will the same exact OEM battery pack as above which has the snap on fitting or with a different set up that has the newer style latch fitting that attaches to the Pas 29A COTI.

I bought it off of Sierra Lima. It's the top battery pack in the picture.

 

[SierraLima]

Jong, yours is the same plug as the one wherenow&how in his pic.

Hope that thing is treating you well.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Yes, Sierra Lima is correct. It is the same exact as what I showed in the picture. The Blackube rechargeables do not work in it but they do have the rechargeable micro port in them and I have seen them do funny things in other devices as well. Might need to try a different rechargeable AA in that OEM Battery pack.

 

[Jong]

Yes, Sierra Lima is correct. It is the same exact as what I showed in the picture. The Blackube rechargeables do not work in it but they do have the rechargeable micro port in them and I have seen them do funny things in other devices as well. Might need to try a different rechargeable AA in that OEM Battery pack.

The energizer rechargeables have worked fine so far, but as I said I haven't had the opportunity to use it that much. I will be using it a lot in June but the batteries will be provided by Uncle Sam so will just use those batteries.

 

[SierraLima]

WhereNow&How, there was a good video on youtube on a channel called Project Farm for rechargeable AAs. He compared a lot of brands and put them through various tests with lots if data gathered, was very informative. If I recall correctly the Eneloop batteries and a specific Amazon Prime battery did the best overall

I dont remember usb rechargeables tested but i think it was due to his test and charging stations being able to measure the individual battery capacities.

 

[WhereNow&How]

WhereNow&How, there was a good video on youtube on a channel called Project Farm for rechargeable AAs. He compared a lot of brands and put them through various tests with lots if data gathered, was very informative. If I recall correctly the Eneloop batteries and a specific Amazon Prime battery did the best overall

I dont remember usb rechargeables tested but i think it was due to his test and charging stations being able to measure the individual battery capacities.

Yep, I saw that review. Excellent review.

The USB rechargeables will act a little different if in series or parallel sequence due to the protections in the USB built in charging protections.

Still and all, my Anker Candi Bars give me a 20 hour run time so it was not imperative that I get the OEM battery pack working with rechargeables but when I get a chance I will check out non USB rechargeable AA in the OEM battery pack and see what is up.

 

[SierraLima]

10-4 gotcha, havent messed wkth that type of rechargeable yet, but yes very good video.

I have been looking as well for that coti plug, I think NHPiper is our only hope on finding a source. Will let you know if I do, and i will let you know once I finally get around to that little project we discussed. Im way behind on doing one for NHPiper/Skyscraping but my work should be slowing down very soon and give me the time I need

 

[GreenMushroom]

Yep, I saw that review. Excellent review.

The USB rechargeables will act a little different if in series or parallel sequence due to the protections in the USB built in charging protections.

Still and all, my Anker Candi Bars give me a 20 hour run time so it was not imperative that I get the OEM battery pack working with rechargeables but when I get a chance I will check out non USB rechargeable AA in the OEM battery pack and see what is up.

This. Ankers please. I'm not paying 500 dollars to hook my coti up to some AAs. After using the nox setup I'm amazed they send our troops out in the field with that junk but I suppose I shouldn't be.

If I remember right you have a functional prototype but the guy wasn't sure if he was going to make more?

 

[WhereNow&How]

Correct on the functioning prototype and the guy has some health issues preventing him from making any more.

 

[WhereNow&How]

I'm not paying 500 dollars to hook my coti up to some AAs. After using the nox setup I'm amazed they send our troops out in the field with that junk but I suppose I shouldn't be.

Well, the OEM manufacturer was charging Uncle Sugar around $1,600 I think for the Pas 29A complete battery and cable assembly.

And they wonder why we are $31 Trillion in debt (likely much higher but they won't admit it). Yeah boy, glad we have good stewards of the taxpayers money.

Imagine what it would be if we had some bad ones.

 

[Jong]

Probably because Uncle Sugar got burned before by having unique batteries for equipment is why AA batteries are used. My unit has a Melios lrf that's completely useless because we can't get batteries for it anymore.

 

[SierraLima]

NHPiper just listed his in the classifieds for anyone looking.

 

[GreenMushroom]

Probably because Uncle Sugar got burned before by having unique batteries for equipment is why AA batteries are used. My unit has a Melios lrf that's completely useless because we can't get batteries for it anymore.

Which is why they should be using USB power supply. Anker type are cheap enough to be used as disposable or recharged if that is an option. Also extensions for 18650 in place of the cr123 is a no brainer. Again issue them charged and throw away when discharged or recharge if available. Anker type and 18650s have to be produced in the millions per year and are available everywhere. N-vision did this with there noxs at an affordable price for the civilian market so there's no reason the military can't do it with the resources they have available.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Also extensions for 18650 in place of the cr123 is a no brainer.

You might want to rethink that one over. Appears fingers got in motion before brain.

Trying to fit a 18650 battery into a CR123 hole is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

 

[Jong]

Which is why they should be using USB power supply. Anker type are cheap enough to be used as disposable or recharged if that is an option. Also extensions for 18650 in place of the cr123 is a no brainer. Again issue them charged and throw away when discharged or recharge if available. Anker type and 18650s have to be produced in the millions per year and are available everywhere. N-vision did this with there noxs at an affordable price for the civilian market so there's no reason the military can't do it with the resources they have available.

COTIs didn't just come to the market. I'm not a complete expert but those type of power supplies probably weren't that popular back then. DOD is a huge bureaucracy and it isn't easy to just change something that really has a limited use. AAs are used in so many different uses and as of now there's only so many units that use battery packs for NVGs. The biggest thing about DOD is logistics and making it as simple as possible. DOD is a complex beast.

 

[WhereNow&How]

The biggest thing about DOD is logistics and making it as simple as possible. DOD is a complex beast.

I chewed on that for a few minutes, and it just kept getting bigger.

 

[Default.mp3]

I could see water and dust egress issues being a big reason why the use of a USB battery pack doesn't make much sense, while an 18650 in a COTI would be a decent amount of additional bulk up front.

 

[WhereNow&How]

I could see water and dust egress issues being a big reason why the use of a USB battery pack doesn't make much sense, while an 18650 in a COTI would be a decent amount of additional bulk up front.

A 18650 battery is to wide to fit into the CR123 battery compartment on a COTI. A 16650 would with a battery extender BUUUUUT wrong voltage.

Well, I've been powering COTI's for over a year with Anker Candy Bar batteries with zero issues. It is pretty easy to encase an Anker Candi Bar battery in a waterproof dustproof holder. I have not had a reason to do that yet, but would be simple.

I do not know any other power system out there that can run a COTI for 20 hrs. Sure is nice.

 

[GreenMushroom]

The nox does cr123/18650/usb. I know the old coti compartment is to narrow but there's no reason the ecoti couldn't have been designed for one.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Nivisys Tacs M COTI, Pas 29A COTI and ECOTI all share the same exact battery cap and battery compartment dimensions.

So CR123 battery width ONLY.

Hecque, I think someone said the ECOTI OEM battery pack and cables are like north of $3,000.00

That is highway robbery.

 

[GreenMushroom]

I'd read the ecoti was the same and the battery back is supposedly shit. Thats my point. It seems it could have been easily improved. I know the guys at N-vision are smart but I find it hard to believe the people that designed the ecoti couldn't have come up with something similar. Speaking of the original coti is it not of a similar vintage technology wise to the breach and you run battery extensions on those. The only conclusion I can come to is they're gonna get our tax dollars either way so they just don't give a shit. To be clear I'm a knuckle dragging end user and I'm not trying to make a technical point only venting at the absurdity of the situation.

 

[WhereNow&How]

I'd read the ecoti was the same and the battery back is supposedly shit. Thats my point. It seems it could have been easily improved. I know the guys at N-vision are smart but I find it hard to believe the people that designed the ecoti couldn't have come up with something similar.

Yep, you would have thunk they would have improved the battery situation on an improved ECOTI.

Especially considering the "New Improved Price"

Speaking of the original coti is it not of a similar vintage technology wise to the breach and you run battery extensions on those.

The original COTI and Breach are not similar vintage technology.

The Pas 29 COTI has 25 micron pitch sensors. The Breach has 12 micron pitch sensors.

But here is the substantive big difference between the two devices.

The COTI is projecting a thermal image into your NV and to be honest, only White Outline is what matters. Full Thermal Mode or Patrol Thermal Mode are basically useless for the task the COTI excels at and was designed for.

The Breach is a stand alone device that produces a full thermal image of everything it sees.

They truly are completely different devices that are each suited better for their assigned roll. It is not proper IMHO to really compare them against each other.

Thermal sensor size and micron pixel pitch which scope or monocular is right for me?​

 

[DutyRanger]

Email out to the Executive Firearms outfit listed above. They responded back with a very non-committal we're thinking about it type of email. Basically they just said to sign up for their email notification list to be kept up to date on pending projects. I'm not a fan of that so I decided just to check their site on occasion. I just tried to link to their site and got a domain not attached to a website notification. Hopefully they're not belly up. I got my coti back from repair and it looks like run times in the cold might still be a problem so I need a longer lasting run time solution.

 

[Smeeg]

Please someone post when there’s a cap made for anker type battery’s or another solution wish I was smart enough to make myself.

 

[WhereNow&How]

Please someone post when there’s a cap made for anker type battery’s or another solution wish I was smart enough to make myself.

Hang in there. Just got off the phone with the man that can make it happen a few minutes ago. Not at liberty to say who it is, but he said things are in the works. Maybe in a couple of months they may be available again.

This is solid hope. He was the man that made it happen in the past.

Also, FYI his system works very very well. An Anker Candy Bar will power a COTI for 20 hours at around 70 degrees fahrenheit.

 

[Smeeg]

16650 comes off battery charger at 4.20 volts. Too much voltage for COTI. There is no way to step the 16650 battery down to 3.2 Volts.

3.2 Volts is where you need to be for COTI. Warning label on COTI says Max Voltage 3.5 V.

When you come off of the Anker battery it is at 5.18 V and you use a step down buck regulator to step it down to 3.2 Volts.

View attachment 7621886

I have a stand alone coti battery pack as well as a coti Y cable with pvs31 battery pack and both read 5.4 volts FYI
I also read what you stated in the manual
“The coti system uses a maximum of 3.7v DC in the internal battery compartment”
Must be the external charging port is designed to handle 5.4 volts

 

[WhereNow&How]

Must be the external charging port is designed to handle 5.4 volts

Yes, that appears to be correct per my voltage testing of the regular Pas 29 COTI battery pack and cable that hooks onto the external port. Apparently it must have a step down voltage regulator attached to it.

I do not think that the internal battery bay is also attached to a step down voltage regulator. Not 100% on that as I have not had the balls to insert a 4.2 V RCR 123 to try it out and possibly fry a unit.

 

[Smeeg]

Yes, that appears to be correct per my voltage testing of the regular Pas 29 COTI battery pack and cable that hooks onto the external port. Apparently it must have a step down voltage regulator attached to it.

I do not think that the internal battery bay is also attached to a step down voltage regulator. Not 100% on that as I have not had the balls to insert a 4.2 V RCR 123 to try it out and possibly fry a unit.

Alright someone pop in a 4.2v RCR for science lol

 

[WhereNow&How]

Alright someone pop in a 4.2v RCR for science lol

Four large shots of Jagermeister and you will be good to go.

Imagine the fame of being the pioneer to discover the truth.

Instant Hide fame and glory to bask in.

 

[GreenMushroom]

I'm assuming there's no way to tell with your gizmos?

 

[WhereNow&How]

I'm assuming there's no way to tell with your gizmos?

No I can not.

But if you RTFM (Read The Fancy Manual)- love that term coined by our well respected member Wig, you will see that they are NOT supposed to harm the COTI.

Give it a whirl and report back.

 

[101stAirborne20]

Gents, just following up to see if any progress was made with the external battery cables packs for the COTI?