Its finally happened - Chinese thermal cameras.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: JBaughb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 08:38:44 am
content: I went searching for these a couple weeks ago and no luck. Now, all of a sudden they're all over aliexpress and eBay.http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4-in-Color-Display-Infrared-Thermal-Imager-Thermal-Imaging-Camera-Thermometer-/371315639405For the price, you're better off buying the Flir thermal thermometer.

author: JBaughb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:14:16 am
content: If I had to guess, I would say this uses the same sensor as the low end Flir cameras (80x60 lepton).

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:21:09 am
content: The Flir TG165 is cheaper!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:54:53 am
content: This is the cheapest I've seen thesehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IR-INFRARED-THERMAL-IMAGER-VISIBLE-LIGHT-CAMERA-3600-PIXELS-20-300-C-6Hz-/111630657336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19fdb4a738There has been at least one Chinese maker of thermal imaging sensors for a while, though they used older, expensive hermetic enclosures.It would be interesting to see what sensor this one uses. And even if it really is the resolution they claim and not interpolated.

author: mzzj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 10:25:28 am
content: Guide in china has been making thermal cameras for a while already but their products or prices don't seem really competitive.Apparently they have E4 model. Sounds somehow familiarGood luck with the company name, I guarantee plenty of hits from google

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:09:21 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 28, 2015, 09:21:09 amThat isn't an IR camera! Read the specs carefully!

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:50:04 am
content: Waiting for Aurora to add to his collection.

author: -jeffB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 03:01:10 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 28, 2015, 11:09:21 amThe online datasheethttp://flir.com/uploadedFiles/Instruments/Products/TG165/FLIR-TG165-Datasheet.pdfsays it's got a Lepton in it, 80x60, and the images seem to bear it out. What am I missing?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 04:52:29 pm
content: "imagerie thermique" go figure...http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/TG165-flir-imagerie-thermique-infrarouge-80x60-pixels-TG-165-camera-thermique-/131338537416?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_71&hash=item1e946309c8

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 06:00:29 pm
content: Quote from: -jeffB on April 28, 2015, 03:01:10 pmA calibrated temperature gradient image!The TG165 is basically an IR spot thermometer with a lepton sensor for an uncalibrated temperature gradient image. There is no way to tell what temperature a certain area is exactly. IMHO pretty much useless for any real work.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 06:14:14 pm
content: In the dark old days we had to put calibrated black bodies in the FOV when we wanted to do "serious work". Seems like that is still an option if time is more plentiful in your world than cash. That said, there are lots of interesting things to do with uncalibrated images. If your interest is just in seeing where there is little visible illumination, or where transmission is better in the LWIR than in the visible you don't need calibration.

author: -jeffB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 08:22:00 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 28, 2015, 06:00:29 pmI don't know, seems quite a narrow definition of "real work" to me. And if it's displaying an image in which each pixel's color corresponds (however uncalibrated-ly) to scene temperature, I'm at a loss to understand in what sense it "isn't an IR camera".

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:10:28 pm
content: Let's say you have a printed circuit board. With a real thermal camera you can see that a resistor is at -say- 50 degrees and the rest of the board is at -say- 30 degrees. The TG165 will tell you the board is at 35 degrees and the resistor is hotter than the rest. My finger can give me the same information and I got 10 of those for free from my mom & dad.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:10:53 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 28, 2015, 09:10:28 pmBut after burning blisters on those ten mom given temp sensors you have to stop testing for a few days.

author: -jeffB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 11:26:05 pm
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on April 28, 2015, 11:10:53 pmLonger than that, perhaps, if the devices you're examining are 440V contacts.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2015, 12:57:43 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on April 28, 2015, 11:10:53 pmI have a different instrument for that (also free from mom & dad). If something smells like it is burning it is not wise to touch it.