Gun Magnet Effect On Red Dots

[Mot45acp]

Was wondering if anyone in the THR community has used magnetic mounts for your handguns equipped with red dots?

Specifically if the magnets have had any ill effects on the red dot. Whether circuitry, zero, battery etc. I have placed the magnet in various positions on the optic to no effect, but am wondering about long term.

I recently bought a couch with the flip up hidey hole arm rests and have set up a magnetic mount to keep the pistol in an optimal presentation position. I currently have my Gen 4 G20, but I would like to put either my Gen 5 MOS or X-Ten which or both equipped with optics.

Thanks!

 

[gobsauce]

I'm looking at a bunch of circuit diagrams for sights, and I can't see a reason why any of them would be affected.

None of them seem to have any inductors or relays, no reason why any red dot should have Hall effect sensors, I don't think any of them use CRT's. No inductors essentially means no interaction with any possible logic gates , transistors aren't really affected by magnets.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Could a magnet affect shake awake and/or prevent the optic from going into auto shutoff and run down the battery?

 

[Mot45acp]

Could a magnet affect shake awake and/or prevent the optic from going into auto shutoff and run down the battery?

Good question! Didn't think about that. That got me thinking about the mechanical components that adjust zero as well.

 

[gobsauce]

Could a magnet affect shake awake and/or prevent the optic from going into auto shutoff and run down the battery?

None of the accelerometers I have are magnetic (I decided to test them after reading). That's how most shake'n'wake systems work, they have a little component that basically wakes up a timer module to start working.

However, even if they were magnetic, I doubt residual magnetism would be strong enough to not allow such components to move.

NiCad might have issues, but since I don't have any red dots, I can't say what batteries they have.

But I don't think a magnet can affect the hardware. Unless it has a a powerful computer, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[gobsauce]

Good question! Didn't think about that. That got me thinking about the mechanical components that adjust zero as well.

The mechanical components are very similar to "analog " scopes, they use a set of screws to move the dots to your zero. It's a mechanical bond.

Edit: sorry if I sound rude, I'm an electrical engineering student, I've been messing with electronics since I was a boy. I just have a lot of experience with these things.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Good info! A great asset to THR,,,,,thanks for helping,

 

[Mot45acp]

Not taking anything as rude at all. I greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

This pretty much clinches it. I will be swapping out the Gen 4 for the Gen 5 once I confirm zero on the Holosun SCS. I think I decided I want more rounds on the X-Ten before I press it into service. (No issues, just not many rounds on it yet)

Edit to add, batteries are lithium 2032 and 1632 coin style.

 

[FAS1]

Instead of a magnet, you could mount a holster in there.

 

[Mot45acp]

I may still do that. I was just using what I had on hand. The magnet acts as a spacer allowing me to get a full grip. The TLR-1 sticks out past the muzzle, so the weight of the gun is resting on the bottom of the compartment. The magnet pretty much just keeps the pistol orientated correctly.

 

[shoobe01]

I forget all the technical terms for this, but magnets can be (and are) designed to have a short distance of influence. They aren't magnetic field creators, but are optimized for grabbing things, only.

There are even scientific (mostly medical) papers on this about preventing or mitigating influence from the increasingly common rare earth magnets on medical devices like pacemakers. Maximum influence distance was 3 cm. So even if you had an unshielded device that was easily messed with by magnetism, just clip it on slightly further away on the gun

 

[chicharrones]

Instead of a magnet, you could mount a holster in there.

I may still do that. I was just using what I had on hand. The magnet acts as a spacer allowing me to get a full grip. The TLR-1 sticks out past the muzzle, so the weight of the gun is resting on the bottom of the compartment. The magnet pretty much just keeps the pistol orientated correctly.

You could use a OWB paddle holster, which should space off the wall of the compartment enough for a good grip.

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[Mot45acp]

I have a safe in my truck that I bought a closed cell ammo can insert for. Nothing in it now as I'm at work andwork in foreign trade zones and am subject to search.

 

[gobsauce]

Edit to add, batteries are lithium 2032 and 1632 coin style.

So, in order to explain my answer, we need a little background.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not current that interacts with components to make them work, but the electric field caused by a voltage source. This is how Tesla Coils work.

As such, a magnetic field can cause interactions between components that require an electric field. Some components, like inductors, store energy in the form of current in a magnetic field. Relays , for example, use electromagnets to functions.

Batteries supply voltage (NOT CURRENT), which in turn helps generate electric fields.

Fluctuations in a magnetic field near a battery may cause it to run down. However, the amount is negligible. The magnets used to hold guns for example, while powerful are not powerful enough to damage anything, and as such, the magnetic field should not be powerful enough t disrupt any processes.

Besides, suppose you gave your gun on the magnet for three weeks straight: that means no fluctuations, the magnetic field remains constant. No damage.