Question about Zeiss EDF dirty (1 Viewer)

[rodrigator]

Hi guys. I have this Carl Zeiss. How dangerous can it be to try to open it on the side that contains the gas?
The binocular has some dirt on that side, I think it's on the prism.
How difficult and dangerous can it be to take it apart?
I have taken apart many Japanese and Chinese porros and some roofs. But this one looks more complex. Anyway, I would dare to do it if it weren't dangerous for my health.
Does anyone have experience with this model?
The other side is very clean.

 

[Harry Stottle]

It will probably contain Tritium gas which is radioactive and hazardous to the health. The first link contains health hazard information, scroll down to find it.

https://academic.oup.com/jrr/article/62/4/557/6256015?login=false

Can The Tritium in An ACOG Be Replaced? - PassionateHunter

Trijicon ACOG sights are some of the most popular and reliable optics on the market. However, like all things, they eventually need to be serviced. One of the most common maintenance tasks for ACOG sights is tritium replacement. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is used to power...

passionatehunter.com

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi rodrigator,

Specifically regarding the tritium capsule in the EDF units, see posts #4 and 5 at: CZJ EDF 7x40 Roof Prism Binoculars

The problem for you would be if:
a) it's a unit that was pilfered from the military before the post-reunification removal of the tritium capsule, and;
b) the capsule has leaked the contents.
So . . .

I used Google Translate to produce an English version of Guido Thürnagel's comments, and for convenience I've attached a copy.


John

 

[etudiant]

Hi rodrigator,

Specifically regarding the tritium capsule in the EDF units, see posts #4 and 5 at: CZJ EDF 7x40 Roof Prism Binoculars

The problem for you would be if:
a) it's a unit that was pilfered from the military before the post-reunification removal of the tritium capsule, and;
b) the capsule has leaked the contents.
So . . .

For convenience, I used Google Translate to produce an English version of Guido Thürnagel comments,
and have attached a copy.


John

It will probably contain Tritium gas which is radioactive and hazardous to the health. The first link contains health hazard information, scroll down to find it.

https://academic.oup.com/jrr/article/62/4/557/6256015?login=false

Can The Tritium in An ACOG Be Replaced? - PassionateHunter

Trijicon ACOG sights are some of the most popular and reliable optics on the market. However, like all things, they eventually need to be serviced. One of the most common maintenance tasks for ACOG sights is tritium replacement. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is used to power...

passionatehunter.com

Tritium is not dangerous as long as it is encapsulated, as it was in the EDF.
The tritium half life is 12 years, so these glasses are now three half lives away from their last production. What is left is one eight of the initial radioactivity.
Imho, you're not in danger from messing with this glass; even if it has broken bits inside the danger is minimal. (Tritium is much lighter than air and will diffuse upward, not linger around people height).
The bigger problem imho is that this is a roof prism design, so much more finicky than a porro would be. I'd not dare touch it, I know my limitations...

 

[Maljunulo]

Quoted from Wikipedia.

“Beta particles from tritium can penetrate only about 6.0 millimetres (0.24 in) of air, and they are incapable of passing through the dead outermost layer of human skin.”

You probably don’t want to breathe it.