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Princeton Tec MPLS
4/3/2012 1:27:59 PM
Can anyone tell me (or possibly have pics) of what kind of illumination the IR version provides? I realize it's not meant to be a tactical illuminator but I'm trying to ascertain how useful it may be as an IR task light while using NOD's.
4/4/2012 1:45:07 AM
Originally Posted By cowman71:
Can anyone tell me (or possibly have pics) of what kind of illumination the IR version provides? I realize it's not meant to be a tactical illuminator but I'm trying to ascertain how useful it may be as an IR task light while using NOD's.
Can anyone tell me (or possibly have pics) of what kind of illumination the IR version provides? I realize it's not meant to be a tactical illuminator but I'm trying to ascertain how useful it may be as an IR task light while using NOD's.
This is an excellent light. It provides plenty of IR light for close-in tasks, while wearing NOD's and it is bright enough to light up a target at about 25 yards, with a gentle "flood" effect. I have the white and IR version and its been worth every penny.
4/4/2012 9:54:15 AM
Hi Tech Rancher is spot on about the IR version. It works very well out to 25 yards as a soft IR light.
The MPLS Switch is a great unit and I use one on my helmet. Here is something to consider:
What do you want out of an IR task IR Task Light? For me, I have several requirements for hands free illumination. I want to have IR illumination for viewing close and long distance while wearing NVG's. I want to have visible illumination for task lighting (maps, talking to people, SSE, etc. I want to have lighting that can be bright, but also the option to be somewhat subtle, to help mask it from detection. I prefer the MPLS Switch with the white/red combo.
The reason for this is simple. IR "task lighting" can be performed relatively easily with the internal IR illuminator in the NVG. I also have a Surefire M1 IR Illuminator mounted on my helmet for reaching out to 75-100 yards. This is also very useful for short-mid range. So, having the IR light in the MPLS is redundant. Instead, I have the red visible light for low-detection. It allows me to keep my natural night vision and is less detectable at range. Then, the white light (which is surprisingly bright) can be used as an area light when stealth is not a factor. I ran the IR/white version for a little while and found out I didn't like it as much. Not only was it redundant, but it ate through batteries like a mutha.
It functions like this:
One tap= low IR
Two taps= high IR
Three taps= turns off
Press/Hold- White
Tap again= turns off
So, you have to cycle through the IR modes to turn it off. Problem is, you have to remember how many taps gave it to make sure you turn it off properly if you are not wearing NVG's. This is practically impossible. So, I would have the damn thing turned on without even knowing a lot of the time (believe it or not: I'm not always wearing NVG's). And, of course: the batteries would be dead before I knew it.
Because of this, I prefer to use the visible light version of the MPLS and leave the IR to the other devices already on my helmet.
The MPLS Switch is a great unit and I use one on my helmet. Here is something to consider:
What do you want out of an IR task IR Task Light? For me, I have several requirements for hands free illumination. I want to have IR illumination for viewing close and long distance while wearing NVG's. I want to have visible illumination for task lighting (maps, talking to people, SSE, etc. I want to have lighting that can be bright, but also the option to be somewhat subtle, to help mask it from detection. I prefer the MPLS Switch with the white/red combo.
The reason for this is simple. IR "task lighting" can be performed relatively easily with the internal IR illuminator in the NVG. I also have a Surefire M1 IR Illuminator mounted on my helmet for reaching out to 75-100 yards. This is also very useful for short-mid range. So, having the IR light in the MPLS is redundant. Instead, I have the red visible light for low-detection. It allows me to keep my natural night vision and is less detectable at range. Then, the white light (which is surprisingly bright) can be used as an area light when stealth is not a factor. I ran the IR/white version for a little while and found out I didn't like it as much. Not only was it redundant, but it ate through batteries like a mutha.
It functions like this:
One tap= low IR
Two taps= high IR
Three taps= turns off
Press/Hold- White
Tap again= turns off
So, you have to cycle through the IR modes to turn it off. Problem is, you have to remember how many taps gave it to make sure you turn it off properly if you are not wearing NVG's. This is practically impossible. So, I would have the damn thing turned on without even knowing a lot of the time (believe it or not: I'm not always wearing NVG's). And, of course: the batteries would be dead before I knew it.
Because of this, I prefer to use the visible light version of the MPLS and leave the IR to the other devices already on my helmet.
4/4/2012 2:09:23 PM
Originally Posted By TNVC_Clasky:
Hi Tech Rancher is spot on about the IR version. It works very well out to 25 yards as a soft IR light.
The MPLS Switch is a great unit and I use one on my helmet. Here is something to consider:
What do you want out of an IR task IR Task Light? For me, I have several requirements for hands free illumination. I want to have IR illumination for viewing close and long distance while wearing NVG's. I want to have visible illumination for task lighting (maps, talking to people, SSE, etc. I want to have lighting that can be bright, but also the option to be somewhat subtle, to help mask it from detection. I prefer the MPLS Switch with the white/red combo.
The reason for this is simple. IR "task lighting" can be performed relatively easily with the internal IR illuminator in the NVG. I also have a Surefire M1 IR Illuminator mounted on my helmet for reaching out to 75-100 yards. This is also very useful for short-mid range. So, having the IR light in the MPLS is redundant. Instead, I have the red visible light for low-detection. It allows me to keep my natural night vision and is less detectable at range. Then, the white light (which is surprisingly bright) can be used as an area light when stealth is not a factor. I ran the IR/white version for a little while and found out I didn't like it as much. Not only was it redundant, but it ate through batteries like a mutha.
It functions like this:
One tap= low IR
Two taps= high IR
Three taps= turns off
Press/Hold- White
Tap again= turns off
So, you have to cycle through the IR modes to turn it off. Problem is, you have to remember how many taps gave it to make sure you turn it off properly if you are not wearing NVG's. This is practically impossible. So, I would have the damn thing turned on without even knowing a lot of the time (believe it or not: I'm not always wearing NVG's). And, of course: the batteries would be dead before I knew it.
Because of this, I prefer to use the visible light version of the MPLS and leave the IR to the other devices already on my helmet.
Hi Tech Rancher is spot on about the IR version. It works very well out to 25 yards as a soft IR light.
The MPLS Switch is a great unit and I use one on my helmet. Here is something to consider:
What do you want out of an IR task IR Task Light? For me, I have several requirements for hands free illumination. I want to have IR illumination for viewing close and long distance while wearing NVG's. I want to have visible illumination for task lighting (maps, talking to people, SSE, etc. I want to have lighting that can be bright, but also the option to be somewhat subtle, to help mask it from detection. I prefer the MPLS Switch with the white/red combo.
The reason for this is simple. IR "task lighting" can be performed relatively easily with the internal IR illuminator in the NVG. I also have a Surefire M1 IR Illuminator mounted on my helmet for reaching out to 75-100 yards. This is also very useful for short-mid range. So, having the IR light in the MPLS is redundant. Instead, I have the red visible light for low-detection. It allows me to keep my natural night vision and is less detectable at range. Then, the white light (which is surprisingly bright) can be used as an area light when stealth is not a factor. I ran the IR/white version for a little while and found out I didn't like it as much. Not only was it redundant, but it ate through batteries like a mutha.
It functions like this:
One tap= low IR
Two taps= high IR
Three taps= turns off
Press/Hold- White
Tap again= turns off
So, you have to cycle through the IR modes to turn it off. Problem is, you have to remember how many taps gave it to make sure you turn it off properly if you are not wearing NVG's. This is practically impossible. So, I would have the damn thing turned on without even knowing a lot of the time (believe it or not: I'm not always wearing NVG's). And, of course: the batteries would be dead before I knew it.
Because of this, I prefer to use the visible light version of the MPLS and leave the IR to the other devices already on my helmet.
Clasky,
I just made an order with you guys for IR/white version MPLS but may want to change it to red/white after reading your input. Could you elaborate some on the IR that's built into the PVS-14 (I just ordered one of those from you as well)? How is it activated and how bright is it compared to the MPLS version? Thanks.
4/5/2012 10:40:44 AM
Built in IR illuminators in NVG's are not all that powerful. In my experience, they are best used for close-in observation (out to about 15 yards) and tend to drop off rather quickly. They are really meant for lighting up close spaces during SSE (Sensitive Sight Exploitation), like going through boxes, drawers, looking into crawl spaces, etc.
4/5/2012 7:50:07 PM
Originally Posted By TNVC_Clasky:
Built in IR illuminators in NVG's are not all that powerful. In my experience, they are best used for close-in observation (out to about 15 yards) and tend to drop off rather quickly. They are really meant for lighting up close spaces during SSE (Sensitive Sight Exploitation), like going through boxes, drawers, looking into crawl spaces, etc.
Built in IR illuminators in NVG's are not all that powerful. In my experience, they are best used for close-in observation (out to about 15 yards) and tend to drop off rather quickly. They are really meant for lighting up close spaces during SSE (Sensitive Sight Exploitation), like going through boxes, drawers, looking into crawl spaces, etc.
+ 1
We use the built in IR illuminators occasionally, while walking, in extreme dark conditions. One can simply turn on the built-in, on their PVS-14, while wearing the helmet, and then it lights up a path just in front of your feet. Its a rather diffuse flood. You don't have to point a separate light as the built-in is aligned with the FOV out of the PVS-14. I also have an M1IR on my helmet, but I don't use it that often because its not quite bright enough for spotting hogs at > 100 yards, and a little too bright for indoors or when simply looking down at the ground. ETA: having said that, its just about the only "mid-range" IR illuminator on the market, built at that level of quality. We still have a little gap in IR light performance, but this is closing with the addition of the MPLS, Streamlight SuperTac IR, Inforce light and the totally awesome LDI SPIR.
The built in is especially useful when the terrain is really uneven / rough, i.e holes created by animals, cracks in the ground (drought), traversing ditches, levees, etc. It is just about the right brightness for these tasks. The MPLS is just about perfect when I am using the HELGA and a magnified PVS-14 and am not wearing the helmet. I can sweep the head of the light around on the stalk to wherever I need it, including onto an adjacent hunter that might be making me nervous with his trigger discipline (or lack thereof)
