How can I modify a soviet era battery charger to work with a US wall plug?

Factual Questions
1

I picked up a soviet era night vision scope the other day and I’m wondering how to use the battery charger on a US wall plug.

Here is a picture I found on the internet of what I have:

http://www.gunart.net/pncharger.jpg

The cord on my unit has had the end modified to what looks like a lighter plug not unlike a car cell phone charger. Problem is, the lighter socket in my car doesn’t work.

The charger itself has two round plugs, both of which are splt down the middle. You can see them on the black box in the picture. I have no idea if this plug type was designed to plug into a regular old Soviet era wall, or if it is something special, and the unit was designed to require the cord.

One option would be to find a wall plug to car charger adapter, as I’m sure those exist, but could I use a regular travel plug adapter and plug the thing into my wall without a transformer? I really don’t want to burn this thing up, because a replacement is going to be tough to find without making a trip to Moscow.

Also, there is a switch on the front of the charger labeled 27B and 12B. Would this be voltage? I would guess I would want it on “12B” but you have to unscrew a cap to change the setting, like the maker didn’t really want people fooling around with the switch willy-nilly, so I want to make sure I have it set right.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

2

Quite possible that you want to flip it to 12B. In American, electronics- especially camera or imaging stuff- runs 12vdc or 24vdc ( nominally. Most 12vdc electronics are safe to fire up off of a battery that’s hot off the charger showing 16vdc… )

Find a language translator and make sure. Also try to find out the milliamps or amps being output. For example, if the nightvision device needs 12vdc at 750 milliamps and you find a modern ac/dc adaptor that only provides 12vdc at 400 milliamps, ya got enough voltage but not enough current. Capice?

If you can determine the voltage, and how many milliamps the thing needs, then ditch the ancient ac/dc adaptor and buy the proper one at Radio Shack !!

Then, find a way to do a continuity test or find markings on the connector that show you which side is 12v + and 12v - . Wire up the modern plug to fit and you will be good to go.

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