What do you use thermal imaging equipment for ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2021, 09:20:18 pm
content: Just a little poll to gain an idea of the cross section of thermal technology users on this forum. This information is for interest only and will not be used for any form of commercial activity. Knowing your audience sometimes helps contributors to this excellent forum when it comes to deciding upon what to post and what detail to include.

author: Lambda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 12:41:03 am
content: Hello Fraser.Thank you for this initiativeI dare to open the dance... third choice as a keen experimenter (beginner, not yet really skilled for sure, but in constant learning process thanks to this community:D )My field of interest, here, is more dedicated to night vision applications, preferably for terrestrial long range monitoring and astronomy.Best regards.Stéphane

author: boB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 12:44:40 am
content: I use it mainly at work for power electronics measurement... Transformers, capacitors, power transistors/FETs, etc...We have several FLIRS at work for production test as well as engineering.I also find it handy in the winter to see where my heat leaks are at the house.boB

author: alexwhittemore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 01:01:15 am
content: I regularly use my gear for general diagnostics and experiments and whatnot, and frequently for board bring up as well (spot the short, the thing burning unexpected power, etc).

author: SG-1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 01:20:24 am
content: Using a Flir multimeterElectrical troubleshooting, investigating, experimenting.Finding loose or lost animals at night. Most recently the horses, they were giving my wife the slip.

author: Vipitis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 03:35:05 am
content: Strongly interested in the technology to the point where I trying to modify and repair some devices. also lenses.Goal is to create art and also use the technology outside it's day to day us, such as the astrophotography endeavours a few other members share with me.I also like to contribute to the forum with some threads for example featuring artistic use. Which will hopefully get a new post soon as I found a place to buy some of the books and might make a post about them.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 03:53:42 am
content: I've used my hacked E4 for high current PCB design work. That was the reason for buying it.But have also used it to- Find where studs/nogs are inside the walls for nailing things up (The nogs and studs are at a different temp due to being in contact with plasterboard vs the air gaps. This works better at midday when temp change is the biggest or you can turn on the heatpump.- Check the oven temp matches the thermostat when baking things that are very temp sensitive.- Find where the cat is hiding outside at night- Check the house for any cold spots where external air is leaking through.- Showing someone how some plastic bags are transparent in IR- Checking my soldering iron tip temp.- Walking around the house figuring out which standby device is wasting the most energy.Also a friend wants to check the tire temp on his racecar after a few laps, but we've not tried that yet.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 11:56:27 am
content: Thanks for the votes and comments guys. This is really useful stuffKeep the comments coming folksFraser

author: IR_Geek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2021, 12:31:24 pm
content: Mostly radiometric for work and pretty much 'geek out' for stuff around the home.

author: IwuzBornanerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2021, 07:15:25 am
content: Strictly hobby since I'm retired.Primarily surveillance, both animal & human/vehicle. But also the usual stuff around the house and as needed for looking for thermal issues in circuit designs. I haven't needed it for troubleshooting yet.

author: AkiTaiyo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2021, 10:57:21 am
content: Design and use software and cameras for high temperature radiometric applications.

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 07:50:29 am
content: Mainly for making pretty pictures, but I also have a considerable interest in the technical side. I also have a couple of thermal cameras set up as permanent security installations.

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 12:08:06 pm
content: I used to make / design them for a living, and now do it for fun and to make some older stuff (ie the collected 'scrap'!) into useful saleable kits for those interested in playing about.There's a lot of why not fit this to that to try out as per the F1G2 lens thread.Somehow getting the 100mm on a Raytheon BST is the ultimate.....Still repairing older stuff from EEV/Marconi/e2v as well on a private basis

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 12:29:28 pm
content: I use it for a mix of both hobby and professional.I don't have my own thermal camera, but i sometimes borrow the ThermalExpect Q1 from work. Comes in useful for finding faults in electronics. It's also really nice for testing high power electronics to follow the temperature of everything during a stress test, be it the power transistors, PCB tracks, connectors, cables etc...Rarely also used for checking insulation or HVAC. I found you can even find studs in drywall using a thermal camera if its low noise enough.

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 02:48:09 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on August 11, 2021, 12:29:28 pmLike this?

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 04:00:21 pm
content: Quote from: Ultrapurple on August 11, 2021, 02:48:09 pmYep. Those are showing up even clearer.Then again going by the resolution that is probably also a pretty fancy thermal camera.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 04:13:29 pm
content: As my cute little Flir TG130 has no storage capability, I exclusively use it for finding hot components during troubleshooting and general household stuff too (following pipe routes etc). Still going strong by the way, and lasts forever on NiMH batteries.I wish I'd had access to something small and handheld like this years ago, when I was doing professional electronics. The only thermal camera I ever had partial access to was a liquid Nitrogen cooled one on a tripod, which would have been totally impractical to use for small board level work.

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 09:38:06 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on August 11, 2021, 04:13:29 pmThat was one big advantage in making them, could always use one to help fix another

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2021, 10:25:32 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on August 11, 2021, 04:00:21 pmI found it helps if you turn on and run the air conditioner or furnice ( depending on time of year) for 20min before taking shots, that seems to improve image contrastThe point is to raise differential temperature between the studs and drywall so it is easier for the thermal imager to detect.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2021, 01:44:59 am
content: Apart from a lot of fun, the best thing I've used my Seek Thermal XR for so far was to find a breaker in the panel that was running way too hot... changed it, and everything is good.It seems to be an excellent general purpose fault finding tool for automotive, electric, electronic, HVAC, house insulation, dampness, etc., type stuff.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2021, 05:35:11 am
content: Quote from: Bud on August 11, 2021, 10:25:32 pmAh neat trick, yeah the studs are going to take some time to warm up compared to the air behind drywall.I didn't actually use it for finding studs, i was just pointing the camera around and noticed a pattern visible on the wall, so i looked at it more closely and noticed its actually the studs. But it does work well enough to find a stud if needed.

author: Ultrapurple
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2021, 08:06:34 am
content: You can also often see where the contractors just glued the wall lining in place. I don't think there's much insulation under this example!

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2021, 10:36:57 am
content: Quote from: Ultrapurple on August 12, 2021, 08:06:34 amCharmingly known in the industry as 'Dot and dab'. Just plasterboard on top of the blockworkIf you'rereallylucky you can snake a thin (eg. A/V) cable up behind the plasterboard, but the gap is very variable.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2021, 02:54:49 pm
content: Also ceiling joists can be found.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2021, 01:58:21 am
content: Hacked E4 (heatpump on for few hours heating)

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2021, 04:54:56 am
content: For many years I was heavily involved in infrared equipment design and use. Became much less actively involved in the technical side of that about twenty years ago. Now I am a casual hobby user who dabbles in both images and measurements. It is not currently at the center of my hobby activities.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2021, 09:31:30 am
content: One other thing I used my thermal camera for the other day.I never would have noticed it if I had not used the thermal camera to check over the PCB out of curiosity.I found a lone resistor on my the PCB that was getting warm when it shouldn't have been.This led me to discover a firmware bug where I had forgot to idle state the outputs going to the 2 transistors driving the piezo beeper, so the timer kept them in opposition even when the beeper was not running and the transistor on one side was always held on drawing power in the pullup.

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2021, 10:24:57 pm
content: I use for construction heating / cooling , electronics repair , automotive diagnostics and because I heard from others - looking for roof leaks water & snow melt .Between older , & not able to work past trades , using Flir E4 for helping others diagnose as many issues as can get paid for , social security is not enough .And then there is my TOOL JONES , love of tools addiction

author: thermalengineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2022, 02:08:15 am
content: Thermal would be great for locating where my house leaks heat (winter is coming), and looking for overheated electric fuses connections. And the most fun, looking for wild animals in darkness. I have several InfiRay gadgets for different applications. Those literally help me a lot in my daily life!

author: dalittle
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 02:21:03 am
content: I have a couple of old ISGs sitting around gathering dust. Occasionally after several pints with friends on my deck overlooking the backyard, I will wow guests with what you can see at night. And I have also been known to engage in what’s known in the industry as “stupid flir tricks.”I once observed my annual termite inspector having a look at my walls with a low rez FLIR camera. Looking over a low delta scene for tiny temperature deltas with the camera set on the most obnoxious rainbow-looking color palette that acted more like a filter to mask any possible useful information. I asked him - what the hell are you looking at with that thing? He said – looking for termites! He then proceeded to tell me all kinds of fascinating things about thermal imaging – mostly wrong. I asked him if he could see through all that color – of which he said yes absolutely. Well, ok then.I never did tell him we used to manufacture those things.

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 10:06:22 am
content: I do not think I would have resisted getting my own camera out and looking as well, with a 'try a proper camera' thrown inespecially if there was anything there (not that i wish you any termites)I let my local gas fitter borrow one when he needs one, things like leaking underfloor heating is a big problem for them. Will be useful again next week as I'm getting some radiators changed so will need to check the bleeding and flows.regardsBill

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 10:24:05 am
content: The termite story reminds me of the review I did on the DYT CA-10 PCB thermal analysis camera some time ago.I love all wildlife, including insects so decided to include some in my review ! The CA-10 is sub QVGA but the images of insects still proved interesting to me. I should try the same tests with a better resolution camera.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/review-dianyang-technology-ca10-circuit-board-thermal-analyzer-repair-rd/75/At the end of the day, a thermal camera is just a clever tool that must be used correctly to get the best from it…. Like all tools. Some owners are novices learning about the technology, whilst others choose their camera for pretty pictures or maybe some hard core thermography. Sadly I have witnessed some users employing a thermal camera just to impress the client and justify the high cost of the jobSuch a tool can be very impressive in the hands of a charlatan! The situation is not helped by Hollywood showing a FLIR Ex5 being used to look through steel doors at people within a room beyond ! (Hobbs & Shaw)With regard to colour palettes, I was trained to use monochrome thermography but I do like the hot Iron palette. Some people swear by the rainbow high contrast palette but I find it too garish for my tastes. I trained on the cooled AGEMA THV880 and military thermal imagers that provided their best imagery in the monochrome (black and white) palette. When I think back to the thermal imaging technology I cut my teeth on I see how far this technology has come in the years since. I used to be happy with 128 x 128 cooled pixels or a raster display produced by the Magnavox military version of the AGEMA 210 single axis scanning camera. I bought an AGEMA THV510 to reminisce about the ‘good old days’ of early portable thermal imaging…… the THV510 is a single axis scanning thermal imager but produces far better imagery than I remember coming from the older AGEMA 210. I even used an AGA 110 (AGA became AGEMA) and that was quite an experience in low resolution thermographyFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 10:55:56 am
content: The AGA 110, AGEMA THV880, AGEMA 210 and the AGEMA THV510 cameras that I used to use in my early days of thermographic analysis. I wish people who complain about the low resolution and cost of thermal imaging equipment could have a play with these very expensive pieces of thermal imaging history. They do not know how fortunate they are these days !For anyone interested in the single axis scanning camera technology (a single scanning mirror plus linear thermal detector array) I did a teardown and commentary here….https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/agema-thermovision-510-a-look-under-her-clothes-by-fraser/

author: Liam G
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 11:29:12 am
content: I don't know if it's too late to add options to the poll, but if not, I think any future polls should include an option for people who have little-or-no interest in electronics, and are mainly into the home-insulation side of things. This option would best describe me, and I'm sure I'm not alone here, as this seems to be the onlyactivethermal-cam community on the whole internet at the moment. Before arriving here I tried r/Thermal on Reddit which wasdead as a dodo.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 11:48:02 am
content: We are indeed fortunate that Dave L Jones responded so positively to a request to create a thermal imaging area to his forum. It has long been a place for like minded people and even thermal camera manufacturers/designers to ‘meet’. I know of no other thermal imaging related forum of this quality on the internet. It is the members of the forum that make it such a useful place to meet though. We are indeed fortunate to have input from some very knowledgeable people hereI take your comment on board regarding the user profile for thermal imaging. It used to be very much the preserve of engineers, scientists and the military. With the increase in availability of the technology and significant decrease in the cost of ownership, the technology has become far more widespread in our daily lives. This thread is relatively old and reflects a period when thermal imaging was still a little bit specialist and unusual. The pandemic has brought thermal imaging technology into the public spotlight and lead to the release of some very interesting consumer grade (and priced) cameras from ChinaI think your usage case is covered in the poll by:“Hobbyist - Casual user interested in both Measurement and good images”If carrying out professional thermal surveys of buildings, the poll covers that in the first “Professional” heading :“Professional Applications only (Industrial, Trade, Science, Surveys etc)”Fraser

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 10:11:29 pm
content: There's an interesting possible automotive application: finding phantom power leaks... Sometimes, one of the many subsystems in a car can fail in a way where they don't shut down, or only partially shut down, which eventually results in the battery draining so it cannot be started when the user returns after an extended period of time. It can be very tedious and time consuming to trace these kinds of faults with traditional meters.Looking for "glowing" fuses in fuse panels that carry larger currents with a thermal camera is well known, but this application would require the camera to be able to "see" extremely small differences in heat (e.g. a fuse panel where one of the fuses has a current of say, 30mA)....Not sure that is even theoretically possible? - if so, what type of camera would be best?

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 11:55:15 pm
content: I have a FLIR attachment for my Android phone, and I use it for electronics and around the home. At home we have in-floor hot-water heating and occasionally a valve goes bad. The FLIR lets me easily see which sector is cold, and the temperature of the various under-house water pipes and valves. Much easier to fix stuff when you can isolate the problem. This is how I convinced my wife that we needed the camera (but she knew why I really wanted it.)For electronics I use the FLIR to look at the temperature of components. The image here shows a 1.5W class-E power amplifier, running at 10 MHz. Everything felt fairly cool to the touch, but I could see that a ferrite choke was heating up by about 10 degrees C. The two power-FETS (2N7002, SOT-23 package) were running much cooler. The FLIR is combining the IR image with the phone camera image, and because I was quite close to the board the parallax shows up. I can turn off the image combining, and when the camera is further from the target the alignment is good.I also used the FLIR to see how uneven the heat was on an electric skillet I used for reflow, and when evaluating a toaster-oven for reflow use.

author: thermalengineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2022, 01:25:44 am
content: Mix of Professional Applications and Hobby use

author: Alinas
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 10, 2022, 01:45:15 am
content: Well for me I would say thermal imaging equipment was supposed to be used in science and medical.. But nowadays with the development of technology we consumers can also use these equipments to dectct home, building, or outdoor exploring and hunting also!

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2022, 02:56:35 am
content: I like finding power resistors that are running fine and having it lead me on wild goose chases with PCB repairs.

author: SharpBananas
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 12, 2022, 10:21:44 pm
content: Excluding diagnosing dT*/dt on certain 3d print sections, pretty much nothing.... I just really wanted one since I was a kid.Its totally a toy for me.

author: bostwickenator
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 12:25:38 am
content: Mainly for diagnostics on motors and electrical systems. Sometimes insulation.