Night Vision Gen 2+ intensifier tubes for the PVS-4 ???

[One-Eyed Jack]

I'm looking at buying a PVS-4 with a "Gen 2+" tube. The seller says it's an L3 tube and not Russian. However, I read somewhere that all Gen 2+ tubes were Russian.

Did L3 make Gen 2+ tubes for the PVS-4? I've asked the seller to open his PVS-4 but he is reluctant to disasemble it.

 

[cj7hawk]

Re: Gen 2+ intensifier tubes for the PVS-4 ???

No one makes Gen2+ for the PVS-4.

You have a choice between Gen2 or Gen3

All Gen2 inverters are roughly equivalent, though some detail changes - resolution and gain.

As long as the tube is working well, you should be fine.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of good tubes came from Europe and would be very good replacements. They are also likely to be newer than US tubes, so maybe a foreign tube isn't such a bad thing.

Regards
David

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Gen 2+ intensifier tubes for the PVS-4 ???

Thanks David, the absence of Gen 2+ is consistent with everything I've read, which is why I wanted a NV expert to chime in.

I believe L3 in the US make Gen 2 replacements for the PVS-4 (or at least up until a year or two ago). I don't know whether these L3 tubes have an extended life, or if they are similar to the older Gen 2 tubes in that regard.

 

[cj7hawk]

Re: Gen 2+ intensifier tubes for the PVS-4 ???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks David, the absence of Gen 2+ is consistent with everything I've read, which is why I wanted a NV expert to chime in.

I believe L3 in the US make Gen 2 replacements for the PVS-2 (or at least up until a year or two ago). I don't know whether these L3 tubes have an extended life, or if they are similar to the older Gen 2 tubes in that regard. </div></div>

I don't think L3 have ever made PVS-2 tubes, so I'll assume you meant to say PVS-4.

Yes, PVS-4 tubes are still made though mostly in Gen3. The Gen2 tubes get made from time to time, but I couldn't tell you when they were last made, though contracts are current as of last month for the mx9644.

Lifespan is 2000 hours, though because of the anode cone, they could well exceed 10,000 hours life. They have a nearly perfect ion barrier naturally built in. It also eliminates any halo.

The Gen3 and Gen2 tubes are available on Ebay at the moment. Neither is particularly cheap, but I expect both are cheaper than you'll get from the manufacturer.

Regards
David

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Gen 2+ intensifier tubes for the PVS-4 ???

Yes, I meant PVS-4 and not PVS-2.