Yet another year has passed, Christmas, New Year and the summer holidays are here again. Soon, the cicadas will hum followed by the onset of autumn.
Whether you hang up your hunting gear until cooler weather, or hunt or go boating over summer, now is a good chance to ensure that your Pulsar optics are in tip-top working condition. This is as important regardless of if your Pulsar is a few years old or 10 years old or more.
Here is a list of easy maintenance tasks to keep your Pulsar thermal or night vision optic in optimal condition.
- Batteries
Rechargeable batteries must be always charged. If your battery is run flat, make sure it is recharged as soon as practically possible. Storing discharged Lithium-Ion batteries uncharged can lead to problems because the integral protection circuitry thinks that the battery is damaged. All Pulsar batteries are made in Europe and fitted with protection circuitry for safety. If your battery won’t charge, turn on and off your charger until there is enough charge to initiate a full recharge. Be persistent, it may take a while. Better still, store your batteries with around 70% charge for prolonged periods.
- Cleaning lenses
If your lenses become dirty with fingerprints, blood, dust, salt or other more dubious whatever’s, they need cleaning to optimise image quality. Remove loose dirt and grit with a blower brush or soft lens wipe with VERY LIGHT motion towards the outside of the lens. Once you are satisfied that no abrasive material is on the lens, use a lens cloth to carefully clean the lens. Breathing on the lens and cleaning from the centre to the edge is a technique that I’ve used for many years on a variety of different lenses.
- Storage
When packing your device away for a while, always removed batteries and store in a dry environment. Remember that the waterproof IPX7 rating only applies to devices when the battery fitted. Clean the body of the device with a damp cloth, then wipe dry.
- Spare parts
Spare parts such as lens caps, eyepiece rubbers, straps and batteries are available from Advanced Optics. Get your device into top condition well before it is needed.
Many of our customers still use Pulsar thermals that were manufactured from 2013. A Pulsar thermal provides many years of trouble-free service. We stock many spares and batteries for these older models.
- Going on water?
Warm weather is great for water sports of all types including fishing, but did you know that the summer holiday period is New Zealand Coastguard’s busiest period for rescue emergencies? Always be careful and prepared and remember to lookout for others who may be in distress.
We always carry a set of binoculars and a thermal imager on our boat as a minimum. These are items that at the very least add to our enjoyment and at worst may save our lives. Our Coastguard New Zealand sponsorship means that we take an active interest in their activities and hear many stories about rescues caused by everything from not checking weather forecasts to engine failures. The volunteers work tirelessly, often putting their own lives at risk. Spare them a thought this summer or better still, make a donation. Every dollar helps.
- News
I recently had two helicopter trips with the Department of Conservation on a goat cull over the Kahurangi and Takaka Hill areas. The trips were both exciting and challenging. Look out for future stories and videos that I am currently producing about the Pulsar thermals used and other gear that make these trips so successful.
The Fishing Paper and Hunting News special prize draw.
