PVS-14 User Manual
User Manual
PVS-14 Standard
Gen 2+ analog night vision monocular with manual gain, 40 degree field of view, G24 helmet mount and J-arm.
Read this before you take the unit out. The five rules below prevent almost every failure we see. Everything after them is detail.
The five rules
- Never point it at the sun, a laser, or any bright light while powered on. This burns the tube permanently and is not covered by warranty.
- Keep the lens cap closed whenever you are not looking through it. It protects the glass from scratches, oil and chemicals.
- Take the battery out for storage. A leaking cell destroys the battery compartment.
- Do not open the housing. No user serviceable parts, and it voids your warranty.
- Do not touch the glass with your fingers.
01Specifications
| Configuration | Monocular |
| Image intensifier | Gen 2+ |
| Field of view | 40 degrees, plus or minus 2 |
| Magnification | 1x, plus or minus 5 percent |
| Gain control | Manual |
| Focus range | 250mm to infinity |
| Diopter adjustment | -6 to +2 |
| Objective lens | f/1.2 |
| Eyepiece focal length | 25mm |
| Power | 1x AA, 1.2V to 1.5V |
| Controls | Off, on, infrared, manual gain |
| Infrared illuminator | 850nm |
| Safety features | Flip-up auto shutoff |
| Runtime | Approximately 40 hours |
| Dimensions | 109 x 58 x 74mm |
| Weight | Under 265g without battery |
| Operating temperature | -40C to +50C |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
How this differs from the PRO
The Standard has a 40 degree field of view against the PRO's 50, and an 850nm illuminator against the PRO's 930nm. An 850nm source shows a faint red glow at the emitter that is visible to the naked eye up close, where 930nm does not. In exchange you get roughly 40 hours of runtime instead of 15, and a wider operating temperature range.
02In The Box
- PVS-14 Standard monocular
- G24 helmet mount
- J-arm mount
- Eyecup
- Lens cloth
- Carrying case
Check this against your order confirmation as soon as the parcel arrives. If anything is missing or damaged in transit, email us straight away and keep the packaging.
03Know Your Unit
| Objective lens ring | Focuses the scene at your working distance |
| Objective lens cap | Protects the glass. Keep it fitted when not observing |
| Eyepiece ring | Diopter adjustment for your eyesight |
| Rotary switch | Off, on and infrared. Also sets manual gain |
| Gain control knob | Adjusts image brightness |
| Battery compartment | Takes a single AA cell |
| Bracket mounting port | Accepts the J-arm |
04Fitting The Battery
- Rotate the battery compartment cover anticlockwise and remove it.
- Insert a single AA cell with the positive terminal facing the cover.
- Rotate the cover clockwise until it seats fully. That seal is what gives you the IP67 rating.
05Mounting
- Set the helmet mount to unlock and push the latch across so the lock core retracts.
- Align the mount with the shroud on your helmet, then push the latch firmly the other way so the lock core seats and grips.
- Align the J-arm with the mount slot and push until you hear a click.
- Pull on the unit to confirm it is locked before you move.
Fitting to your face
- Height. Rotate the height adjuster to unlock, set the eyepiece height, then rotate back to lock.
- Fore and aft. Press the adjuster on both sides at once, slide to the right distance from your eye, then release to lock.
- Tilt. Rotate the pitch adjuster for fine angle changes until the image sits square in your vision.
Swapping eyes and flipping up
Loosen the knob on the L-shaped arm to unlock the eye swap, rotate the unit to the eye you want, then tighten to lock it. To stow the unit temporarily, flip it up onto the helmet. It locks with a click and powers off automatically. Flip it back down and it locks in the working position and powers back on.
06Operation
- Power on. The unit is off by default. Rotate the switch clockwise once.
- Set the diopter. Pick a target with moderate brightness, then rotate the eyepiece ring until the image is sharpest for your eyesight. Set this once and leave it alone.
- Focus the objective. Open the lens cap, aim at your target, then rotate the objective ring until the scene is sharp. Refocus whenever your working distance changes.
- Set gain. Use the lowest setting that gives you a usable picture.
- Infrared, only if you need it. In complete darkness, pull the knob out first, then rotate it clockwise to switch the illuminator on.
- Power off. Return the switch to off. Remove the battery if you are storing the unit.
Infrared gives away your position
Use it only in genuine darkness where the unit cannot form an image on its own. Anyone else running night vision will see the beam clearly, and at 850nm there is a faint red glow at the emitter visible even to the naked eye up close.
The indicator light means two different things
There is one indicator and it does two jobs. Learn the difference.
| Indicator | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Solid | Infrared illuminator is ON | Nothing. Switch it off when you no longer need it. |
| Flashing | Battery is low | Roughly two hours left. Swap the battery. |
07Care And Storage
- Clean only when there is visible contamination
- Use optical grade cloth with purified water or isopropyl alcohol
- Handle it as the precision instrument it is
- Store dry, despite the waterproof rating
- Remove the battery for long storage
- Use paper towel or an abrasive brush on the glass
- Wipe the shield with wet lens paper, or while it is wet
- Scratch the lens or leave fingerprints on the optics
- Expose it to dust, strong light or impact in storage
- Disassemble it for any reason
08Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Check | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Will not power on | Battery direction and charge. Battery cover for damage or wear. | Reinstall or replace the battery. Clean the cover threads. If the cover is damaged, email support. |
| Battery cap hard to remove | Whether the cover is damaged or cross threaded. | Do not force it. Email support. |
| Infrared will not come on | Did you pull the knob out before rotating? | Pull out, then rotate. Test in a dark area. If nothing happens, email support. |
| Poor image quality | Objective and eyepiece focus. Fog or dirt on the lens. | Reset the diopter, then refocus the objective. Clean the lens. |
| Eyepiece ring will not adjust | Whether the ring is bent or broken. | Do not force it. Email support. |
| Powers off by itself | Is the unit flipped up? | That is the flip-up shutoff working. Flip it back down. |
| Indicator flashing | Battery charge. | Low battery. Roughly two hours left. |
09Warranty And Support
Your unit is covered for 3 months from delivery as standard. If you bought Operator Care, coverage extends to 12 months. We sell direct, so warranty and support come straight from us with no dealer in between. Have your order number ready.
Not covered
- Tube damage from the sun, lasers or other bright light sources while powered on
- Any damage after the housing has been opened
- Corrosion from a battery left in during storage
- Physical damage from drops or crushing
Night Operators PVS-14 Standard user manual, revision 1.1. Specifications may change without notice as the product is updated. The current version of this manual is always available at nightoperators.com.