How to Mount a Thermal Monocular to a Spotlight for Scanning

Mounting a thermal monocular to your spotlight turns a one-handed scan into a steady, two-handed sweep — and lets you switch from heat detection to white light for the shot without ever putting the unit down. It's one of the most popular pest-control setups in Australia, and every part you need is purpose-built and locally made. This guide covers why it works, the mount options, and how to keep your thermal powered all night.

Quick answer

A thermal monocular detects heat and a spotlight throws white light — mount the two together and you can scan a paddock on thermal, then flick the light on to confirm and take the shot. The simplest path is a Powa Beam 7" spotlight with the SmartRest Rimtop mount pre-installed, which is riveted to accept a thermal monocular with no drilling. For more adjustment or all-night power, step up to a Wild Game Innovations bracket or a Powa Beam 9" QH kit with a built-in DC converter. All of these mount a thermal monocular — not a riflescope.

Why mount a thermal monocular to a spotlight

A handheld thermal monocular is brilliant for scanning, but holding it up while you also manage a light and a rifle gets old fast. Fixing the monocular to the spotlight solves that:

• One unit does the scanning — sweep with the light handle and watch the thermal at the same time.
• Heat to confirm, light to shoot — detect a warm animal on thermal, then bring the white light up to identify and take an ethical shot where it's legal to do so.
• Steadier picture — a two-handed light handle is far more stable than a monocular held at arm's length.
• Built for the vehicle or the field — these mounts are designed for scanning from a ute, a boat or on foot.

One thing worth being clear about: a thermal monocular sees heat and does not need the spotlight to work. The light is there as a scanning handle and for white-light confirmation — not to help the thermal see.

The mount options

1. Powa Beam 7" with pre-installed SmartRest Rimtop mount — the simplest start

This is the easiest way in. The SmartRest Rimtop thermal mount is riveted to a Powa Beam 7" spotlight in-house and aligned to accept a thermal monocular straight away — no drilling, no modifications. The 7" is Powa Beam's most popular size, a balanced mix of power and portability that suits farmers, pest controllers and recreational shooters scanning from a vehicle or boat.

2. Wild Game Innovations Thermal Mount Bracket 1.0 — fit it to your light

Designed and made in Australia, the WGI Thermal Mount Bracket 1.0 securely holds a thermal monocular and fits a range of popular spotlight handles — Powa Beam, Hellfyr, Night Eater and Spotfyr. It's the pick if you already own a compatible light and just want to add a monocular mount to it.

3. Powa Beam 9" QH kit and WGI Spotlight Bracket 9" (Version II) — power all night

For long sessions, the bigger 9" options solve the battery problem. The Powa Beam 9" QH spotlight comes with a built-in thermal mount, a quick-release adaptor and a DC-DC 12/24V converter with a USB-C output for constant power. The Wild Game Innovations Thermal Spotlight Bracket 9" (Version II) is a fully balanced, adjustable unit that suits all spotlight handles, includes a custom quick-release mount to suit your thermal, and carries its own 12/24V-to-5V DC converter so you can run your thermal off the vehicle and stay out all night without charging.

Powering your thermal all night

The single biggest limit on a long scanning session is battery life. The 9" Powa Beam kit and the WGI 9" Version II bracket both build in a DC-DC converter that steps a 12V or 24V vehicle supply down to a USB-C/5V output, feeding your thermal continuously. If you scan from a vehicle regularly, a built-in converter is the difference between a full night out and a flat battery at midnight.

Which setup should you choose?

What thermal monocular should I mount?

Any modern thermal monocular suits these mounts. HIKMICRO's monocular range — the Condor and Habrok families among them — is a popular choice for scanning thanks to wide fields of view and long-throw versions with built-in rangefinders. When you choose, remember the field-of-view rule: for scanning, a wider field of view (which a larger sensor gives at the same lens) helps you find game and keep moving animals in frame, while a longer lens reaches further through a narrower window. Browse the options in our HIKMICRO and thermal monocular collections below.

FAQ

Can I mount a thermal riflescope to a spotlight instead?

These mounts are designed for thermal monoculars. If you specifically want a remote-mounted thermal that runs off the vehicle and streams to a screen, look at a purpose-built remote unit like the Nocpix NOVA — see our remote-mount thermal scope guide.

Do I need the spotlight on to use the thermal?

No. A thermal monocular detects heat and works in complete darkness without any light. The spotlight is the scanning handle and your white-light source for confirming and taking the shot — it doesn't help the thermal see.

How do I keep the thermal powered for a whole night?

Choose a setup with a built-in DC converter — the Powa Beam 9" kit and the WGI 9" Version II bracket both step a 12/24V vehicle supply down to USB-C/5V for constant power, so you're not relying on the monocular's internal battery.

Will the mount fit my spotlight?

The Rimtop comes pre-installed on a Powa Beam 7". The WGI Bracket 1.0 fits Powa Beam, Hellfyr, Night Eater and Spotfyr handles, and the WGI 9" Version II suits all spotlight handles. Match the bracket to the light you own or buy them together.

Related: SmartRest mounts · Spotlights · HIKMICRO Australia · Thermal Monoculars · Remote-Mount Thermal Scope (Nocpix NOVA) · How Thermal Imaging Works