Night Vision External power with AGM StingIR

[mikefraz]

I’m really tired of picking up my StingIR and either:
-Finding out the batteries had parasitic drain since the last time I used the thermal and they’re dead

Or

-having to take out the battery after every use and put it back in every time I want to use my thermal.

This seems like the dumbest thing. I fully realize that leaving batteries in my thermal will result in parasitic drain or possible corrosion, which is bad, but I just feel like this isn’t serious equipment if it can’t just be picked up and turned on when I need it.

So…I want to run my StingIR from an external battery/battery bank. The catch is that I want it to be something that attaches to the StingIR itself and not the rifle or a helmet. This is because I use my StingIR as a clip on and as a handheld. So the battery has to be capable and of easily moving from one to the other.

My initial searches brought up the Anker Nano, which plugs directly into the StingIR’s USB-C port and is about the width of an IPhone screen. This seems like it could work, but is definitely on the bulky side compared to the size of the StingIR. Plus I have worries about its durability and ability to withstand recoil without damaging the StingIR or the battery bank.

Are there other options? I’m not against attaching a battery bank to the side of the StingIR in some way if that’s the way to go.

 

[GrandeJake]

I’m really tired of picking up my StingIR and either:
-Finding out the batteries had parasitic drain since the last time I used the thermal and they’re dead

Or

-having to take out the battery after every use and put it back in every time I want to use my thermal.

This seems like the dumbest thing. I fully realize that leaving batteries in my thermal will result in parasitic drain or possible corrosion, which is bad, but I just feel like this isn’t serious equipment if it can’t just be picked up and turned on when I need it.

So…I want to run my StingIR from an external battery/battery bank. The catch is that I want it to be something that attaches to the StingIR itself and not the rifle or a helmet. This is because I use my StingIR as a clip on and as a handheld. So the battery has to be capable and of easily moving from one to the other.

My initial searches brought up the Anker Nano, which plugs directly into the StingIR’s USB-C port and is about the width of an IPhone screen. This seems like it could work, but is definitely on the bulky side compared to the size of the StingIR. Plus I have worries about its durability and ability to withstand recoil without damaging the StingIR or the battery bank.

Are there other options? I’m not against attaching a battery bank to the side of the StingIR in some way if that’s the way to go.

I know this is old, I just picked one of these up at Wally World and was immediately thinking the same thing. Did you find a good solution?

My first thought is to just use a “Ranger Band” to keep it secure and not wallow out the StingIR’s charging port. I’m on the road a couple states away so I can’t really mess with the practicality of this.

Using a Ravyn rail to run dualband with a PVS-14, would use as a clip on if my LS321 wasn’t three stories tall lmao.

 

[mikefraz]

You were able to buy a StingIR at Walmart?

But I reached out to AGM to see if they were aware of the parasitic drain, and if there was anything I could do about it, or if they had any recommendations for battery banks. The response I got was that I was doing the shutdown sequence wrong when powering down the unit. How I was powering down the StingIR was holding the menu button until the “shutting down in 3…2…1” text appeared.

Apparently, you’re supposed to hold down the menu button continuously even after the countdown text appears until the screen turns black. There’s absolutely nothing in the manual about it, so who freaking knows how you’re supposed to figure that one out.

Anecdotally, I feel like rechargeable batteries aren’t as susceptible to parasitic drain, so I’ve just been sticking with the rechargeable CR123’s and 18650’s.

 

[GrandeJake]

You were able to buy a StingIR at Walmart?

But I reached out to AGM to see if they were aware of the parasitic drain, and if there was anything I could do about it, or if they had any recommendations for battery banks. The response I got was that I was doing the shutdown sequence wrong when powering down the unit. How I was powering down the StingIR was holding the menu button until the “shutting down in 3…2…1” text appeared.

Apparently, you’re supposed to hold down the menu button continuously even after the countdown text appears until the screen turns black. There’s absolutely nothing in the manual about it, so who freaking knows how you’re supposed to figure that one out.

Anecdotally, I feel like rechargeable batteries aren’t as susceptible to parasitic drain, so I’ve just been sticking with the rechargeable CR123’s and 18650’s.

Ah, yeah, uh, at the register by the gum, they sell StingIR’s since the Chyna ban.
Haha, no I meant that little Nano power pack dealio, sorry!

It’s so much easier to swap a USB C pack out than unscrew a cap and put a new 123 or 18650 in and screw it back on in the dark.


That’s great to know about the shutdown sequence because I have been doing the same thing! Just to be cautious about corrosion etc I remove my batteries every use and have been using Energizer CR123’s so far.

When I get home this weekend, if KY weather doesn’t get stupid, I will see about plugging this Nano USB C pack into it and what kind of retention it might need to stay snug and not damage anything.

 

[mikefraz]

Ah, yeah, uh, at the register by the gum, they sell StingIR’s since the Chyna ban.
Haha, no I meant that little Nano power pack dealio, sorry!

It’s so much easier to swap a USB C pack out than unscrew a cap and put a new 123 or 18650 in and screw it back on in the dark.


That’s great to know about the shutdown sequence because I have been doing the same thing! Just to be cautious about corrosion etc I remove my batteries every use and have been using Energizer CR123’s so far.

When I get home this weekend, if KY weather doesn’t get stupid, I will see about plugging this Nano USB C pack into it and what kind of retention it might need to stay snug and not damage anything.

Do you have a link to the battery pack you bought?

 

[GrandeJake]

Do you have a link to the battery pack you bought?

Loading…

www.anker.com

In tactical black of course.

 

[mikefraz]

Loading…

www.anker.com

In tactical black of course.

I saw that and was tempted to buy one. I’d love to see if it stands up to recoil.

 

[GrandeJake]

I saw that and was tempted to buy one. I’d love to see if it stands up to recoil.

If I can get it secured somewhat safely I’ll report back. It wobbles a little in my phone so I’m not super confident.