This project diagrams the build of cheap but effective night-vision "goggles" elsewhere sold at twice the price. These pick up near-infrared light emmited from a bunch of IR LEDS. All the parts can be bought from Amazon.com for about $50, minus the enclosure. This thing is great for campouts, hunting, party tricks, night paintball and much more.

Sorry, but I do not have any pictures of the real thing, as it broke in a 20 foot fall out of my window. Suprisingly, the camera and LEDs survived, but the monitor and box did not.

This is a submission to the "Make it Real" and "Spy" contests.

Step 1: Materials:

First you need to buy or find the materials. All are avaliable on Amazon.com.
1 x automotive backup camera (avaliable at http://www.amazon.com/Koolertron-License-Plate-Backup-Camera/dp/B0049LBJ56/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1338242181&sr=1-1) $13.1

1 x automotive backup monitor (avaliable at http://www.amazon.com/3-5-Inch-TFT-Monitor-Automobile/dp/B0045IIZKU/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b) $21.7

1 x 9.6V RC car battery (avaliable at http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-2000mAh-NT8S600B-Transmiter-Airplanes/dp/B00384JI3K/ref=sr_1_13?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1338242492&sr=1-13) $8.75

1 x box, I used 6-1/2" x 5" x 3", but anything that fits all the components will work. I made mine from leftover acrylic spray painted black, so cost is neligible.

1 x power switch, avaliable on amazon, or radioshack. $0.5

1 x IR led array (avaliable at http://www.amazon.com/Board-Plate-CCTV-Security-Camera/dp/B0057DPXI4/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1338242899&sr=1-11) $5.6

total price: 49.65

Step 2: Cutting Mustard

The first step is to cut the box.
You will need to cut 2 eyeholes near one side. Make sure they line up with the eyes of whoever will be using them.
Make a nose cutout between and below the eyes.
Cut a hole for the power switch
Cut a 1/8" hole in the front and back of the box, one for the power to the camera and IR LEDS, and for the charging connector in the back.

Step 3: Fill Er' Up

All of the electrical connections are fairly simple. Connect the video wire from the camera to the video in on the monitor. Cut the battery leads halfway between the connector and battery, then connect the battery - to one switch connection, and the - of the LEDs, monitor, and camera to the other and connect the + of the monitor, camera, and LEDs to the + of the battery. finially, run the wires from the battery connector to the inside of the box, and to the + and - of the battery. Make sure the connector itself stays outside the box.

Charge the battery if it is not, and turn on the power. You should see an image on the LCD screen coming from the camera.  The IR LEDs should also light up if you go into a dark room. If they do not, cover the photoresistor with some electrical tape. The photoresistor is the rubber thing on the board that sticks up and has a red-tinted piece of glass on the top.

If the LEDs still do not turn on, check your connections.  They will glow dull red to the naked eye, bright pinkish purple to a normal camera, and white to the car backup camera.

If the monitor and/or camera doesn't work, check your connections.

Step 4: You're Almost There.

Now, peel off the cover on the bottom of the monitor and stick it to the bottom of the box, all the way at the back. Glue down the battery and power connectors. Use wire cutters, a dremel, or just snap off the projections on the side of the camera, but make sure not to damage the little box that houses the actual thing. Glue it to the front of the box between the eyeholes. Finially, glue the IR LEDS to the box and mount the switch in place.

Test it one last time, glue all the wires in place, and seal up the box.

Step 5: You're Done!

Now, wait until darkness strikes, and calmly flip the switch. Now, look through the eyeholes and see everything. This really impresses people, especially when they find out you built it yourself! Spy on your enemies, watch nocturnal animals, suprise people, escape the zombie apocolypse, or just amuse people. For a good "spy" look, paint it camouflage with leaves and some varrying greens and greys (like in the picture, or flat black (like I did). (Credit for the picture goes to Kipkay, from his video for the L.A.W.)

Notice that though the camera claims to be "infrared" it is actually near-infrared. It will not act as a thermal camera, as heat emits very low-frequency infrared, well below what silicon camera sensors can pick up, even with the IR filter removed.