Power Is a Design Decision,
Not an Afterthought

Image intensifier tubes and thermal cores are sensitive to voltage fluctuation, environmental extremes, and cell safety. When your device ships with an unstable or underperforming battery, the failure gets attributed to your brand — not the battery inside it. XTAR works with night vision and thermal optics manufacturers to specify, test, and supply the exact cell chemistry and charging profile each device category needs.

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Voltage Stability

Devices with battery-detection circuitry rely on a predictable discharge curve.

XTAR regulated 1.5V Li-ion designs are engineered to keep output stable through most of runtime, then provide a detectable low-voltage phase near depletion. The CLR 4300 uses a constant + linear discharge profile: stable 1.5V through roughly the first two-thirds of capacity, followed by a gradual decline toward 1.0V so compatible devices can provide a low-battery warning.

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Cold-Weather Reliability

For manufacturers shipping to northern climates, hunting regions, or law enforcement/tactical channels, cold performance isn't optional.

XTAR cells are validated from -20°C to +60°C — outperforming typical NiMH cells that lose up to 50% capacity at the same temperature.

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Safety & Liability

A leaking or thermally unstable battery inside a $2,000+ thermal scope is a warranty claim, a returned unit, and a damaged reputation — for you, not just the cell manufacturer.

Every XTAR protected cell includes overcharge, over-discharge, overcurrent and thermal-shutdown protection, with 100% capacity grading and batch IC/MOSFET testing.

Choose the Right Cell by Device Category

Different optics place different demands on a cell. Find your device type below.

01

Thermal Weapon Scopes & Riflescopes

Digital thermal scopes, clip-on thermal add-ons

High-current thermal core draw shortens runtime; cheap cells' oversized heat-shrink wrap causes battery bay fitment issues.

RECOMMENDED XTAR 18650 4000mAh

"In a field-tested digital riflescope, XTAR 18650 4000mAh delivered ~7–7.25 hours of runtime (6.25–6.75 hours in cold conditions) — outperforming the previously used same-spec cell." — Field Review ↗
See the full 18650 4000mAh spec & lab test →

02

Thermal Imaging Monoculars & Binoculars

Handheld thermal monoculars, thermal binoculars

Continuous-record / constant-on modes are the most power-hungry use case; users report competitor batteries falling short in extreme conditions.

RECOMMENDED XTAR 18650 4000mAh

"On a thermal imaging monocular in constant-on + recording mode — the most demanding power draw scenario — a single XTAR 18650 4000mAh sustained over 3 hours of continuous runtime." — Field Review ↗
"XTAR 18650 4000mAh raw cells confirmed compatible and delivering longer runtime than stock cells in a thermal binocular." — Field Review ↗
A KOL reviewing a thermal monocular explicitly warned viewers against using cheap batteries in this device category and recommended XTAR 4000mAh. — Field Review ↗

03

Handheld & Head-Mounted Night Vision

Gen 2/3 tube-based monoculars, binoculars, goggles, clip-on NV systems

Compact form factor; many devices historically spec'd for CR123A or AA primary cells, but users increasingly want rechargeable without giving up performance.

RECOMMENDED 1.5V AA (CLR 4300) for AA-slot devices · 16340 as a rechargeable option for compatible CR123A/16340-format devices

"An ADNV G14SE monocular ran over 16 hours on an XTAR 18650 4000mAh, compared to just over 5 hours on a CR123A cell." — Field Review ↗ This field test compares 18650 and CR123A runtime; compatibility with a rechargeable 16340 must be confirmed separately for each device. When is a rechargeable 16340 suitable for a CR123A-format device? →

04

Confirmed Night Vision Devices (Direct Model Compatibility)

NVMD, ATN and similar consumer/prosumer NV scopes

RECOMMENDED XTAR 18650 4000mAh

"18650 4000mAh Raw confirmed working reliably in an NVMD C200 night vision device." — Field Review ↗
Featured as the recommended power source in a review of the ATN X-Sight 5 LRF 5-25x Night Vision Scope. — Field Review ↗

05

IR Illuminators & Laser/Rangefinder Modules

Clip-on IR illuminators, laser aiming devices, rangefinders

RECOMMENDED 18650 for standard illuminators · 16340 for compact/pistol-mounted units

06

Professional & Mil-Spec Devices (PVS-14 and similar)

AA-slot professional/tactical night vision devices

A long-standing (and largely outdated) belief in the NVD community that rechargeable batteries risk over-voltage damage to mil-spec devices. This is one of the highest-value, highest-trust segments — but also the most skeptical audience.

RECOMMENDED XTAR 1.5V AA Li-ion

An independent NVD community reviewer benchmarked four AA chemistries — alkaline, primary lithium, NiMH, and XTAR rechargeable lithium-ion — including a freezer test at 0°C for 12 hours. XTAR was the only battery that showed zero voltage drop after freezing (1.5V fully charged → 1.5V after freeze test), while also being lighter (19g) than Eneloop NiMH (28g) — a meaningful difference for helmet-mounted counterweight systems. The reviewer also directly addressed the over-voltage myth, noting that mil-spec devices such as the PVS-14 include over-voltage protection, making rechargeable AA safe in practice. — Full independent test ↗

07

Devices with Non-Removable / Built-In Batteries

Rangefinders and scopes without a swappable battery bay

Users can't just carry spare cells; they need a way to power/recharge the device itself in the field.

SOLUTION XTAR PB2SL V2 — hybrid battery charger + power bank

Unlike a standard power bank, the PB2SL V2 lets users swap the internal cell themselves, and its built-in display shows charging progress, voltage and current in real time. It also works as a standalone charger. For devices with a non-removable internal battery — such as some rangefinders or night vision scopes — it can power the device directly, even with just one cell installed. · See PB2SL V2 full specifications →

Recommended Cell by Application

Three field-proven cell platforms cover the majority of night vision and thermal optics applications — with custom options for OEM programs.

Top Pick · Thermal

XTAR 18650 4000mAh

Max Power! 10A max continuous discharge, 3.6V rechargeable Li-ion.

Field-proven in thermal scopes (7+ hrs), thermal monoculars (3+ hrs continuous record) and night vision monoculars (16+ hrs).

Explore Spec Sheet →

Top Pick · Night Vision

XTAR 1.5V AA (CLR 4300)

Constant 1.5V output through most of the discharge, followed by a gradual linear decline near depletion for low-battery indication. 2700mAh / 4300mWh, rated for -20°C to +60°C.

A strong fit for compatible AA-slot night vision devices that benefit from stable 1.5V power and advance low-battery warning.

Explore Spec Sheet →

Rechargeable Option · CR123A Format

XTAR 16340 900mAh USB-C

900mAh capacity, 3.6V nominal voltage, up to 2.7A max discharge, and USB-C direct charging in about 2.8 hours.

A compact rechargeable option for compatible night vision gear, IR illuminators and other devices that explicitly support rechargeable 16340 / RCR123-class cells.

Explore Spec Sheet →

Verified Compatibility — Real Devices, Real Field Data

Real-world validation matters more than lab claims alone. The following results come from independent field reviewers and hunting/optics content creators — not internal marketing tests.

Runtime at a Glance — ADNV G14SE Monocular

XTAR 18650 4000mAh

16h+

CR123A primary

5h+

Watch on YouTube

ADNV G14SE Runtime Comparison

Watch the Field Tests

Watch on YouTube

Thermal Monocular Continuous Recording Test

3+ hours continuous recording
with XTAR 18650 4000mAh

Watch on YouTube

Thermal Riflescope Runtime Test

7–7.25 hours in field use
6.25–6.75 hours in cold conditions

Watch on YouTube

XANB30 Binocular Runtime Testing

Uses 8x AA 4150 – Runtime: 5 hours 19 minutes

A Charging Ecosystem Built for Field Use

Field users need compact charging solutions, while distributors and retailers need reliable tools for bulk testing and inventory management. XTAR covers both with portable chargers, hybrid charger/power-bank solutions and multi-bay grading tools.

VX4

UNIVERSAL

One charger covers both AA 1.5V Li-ion and 18650 lines, plus 3.2V LiFePO4 — for users carrying multiple device types.

PB2SL V2 ★

CHARGER + POWER BANK

Swappable internal cells, live voltage/current display, magnetic case. Powers non-removable-battery devices directly — even with a single cell installed.

VC8S

8-BAY DESKTOP

Capacity grading + storage mode. Built for distributors and retailers handling bulk inventory testing and charging.

FC2

POCKET 2-BAY

Lightweight everyday-carry charging solution; SC2 / MC2 available as budget alternatives per channel.

See the Full XTAR Charger Lineup →

Wholesale Battery & Charging Partner for Optics Manufacturers

XTAR is more than a cell supplier — we're a battery and charging systems partner for optics, tactical gear, and outdoor electronics brands. For over two decades, we've helped manufacturers specify, validate, and scale battery systems for demanding field applications.