Fraser has 'lost the plot' again and bought an antique :) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2022, 07:47:53 pm
content: Those who know me will know that I collect interesting thermal imaging systems as a hobby. I stopped buying so many thermal imaging related items once i ceased full time working but every now and then I still buy the odd curio or interesting cameraI bought an IRISYS IRI-1011 low resolution camera a while ago and thought then that I had 'lost the plot' as it is a pretty terrible performerI have gone one step further this time and bought a camera that will likely never be operational again. Why ? Well its required Liquid Nitrogen to produce a thermal image ! Not a chemical I normally have lying around my labI bought myself a complete AGA 782 thermal imaging systemIt dates back to the 1980's and uses spinning Germanium prisms to produce the raster image on the control unit. It works on the same principle as my huge AGA 680 camera but is more compact (thank goodness). I was NOT looking to buy a complete AGA 780 series system any time soon as it is bulky and unuseable. The reason for my purchasing this particular 782 system was the contents of the package.... it is the most complete system that I have come across and there is a hidden gem in the package that sealed the deal for me. More of that another timeI placed a sensible bid in view of the equipments 'antique' status and won it. Oh heck I thought.... what have I gone and done nowThe complete package includes the following parts:1. AGA 782 cooled thermal camera2. AGA 782 controller for the camera with integrated display3. Power Supply for the system4. 12.5 Degree FOV Germanium Lens for the camera5. Portable Colour Monitor with integrated analogue colourisation feature6. SLR camera and associated hood for still image captures from display7. Polaroid camera and associated hood for still image capture from display8. Sun hood for display9. Original heavy duty transit casesThere may be another lens present but this is not confirmed.I found the portable colour monitor of particular interest because it is far more than just a monitor.The portable monitor contains a video signal level slicer that may be used to apply colour to defined levels of image brightness (luminance level) in the image received from the camera. There are 10 colours available to be applied to the monochrome image to convert it to a false colour image. This is all being done in the analogue domain ! On the side of the monitor there is a set of 10 slider controls to set the colour that is applied to a certain level of luminance (0% to 100% luminance). I have not seen this form of false colour application to a monochrome input signal before and I must say it looks a fun idea, even if very limited in terms of colour levels and its analogue nature.So sometime this week two large transit cases should arrive on my doorstep and it will be a job hiding those from my long suffering angel of a wife I can tell you ! Direct placement in the garage sounds like a plan thoughThe full operation and maintenance (Service) manual is available for free on the FLIR legacy product download pageMore on this antiquated thermal imaging system once I have had a play with it to see if anything still works on it !It did not cost a lot of money which is just as well as I still think I have gone slightly mad by buying it !Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2022, 07:50:45 pm
content: There is a YouTube teardown video of one of these systems here:https://youtu.be/7TVTTKtlLcEFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2022, 07:55:21 pm
content: Pictures of another 782 system

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2022, 12:20:34 am
content: Just read the whole of the AGA 782 Maintenance manualWow that thing is detailed ! Excellent explanations of circuit function, signals expected and alignment. Then there are the many block diagrams, circuit extracts and full schematic diagrams. Just like early VCR manuals from the likes of Sony and FergusonThese scanning thermal cameras may be very old technology now, but as a Tech of a certain age, I love the technology within them. Simple to understand and equally simple to fault trace…. No VLSI silicon SoC nightmares hereIt is such a pity that I will not be able to feed it with Liquid Nitrogen. I do have a Ex AGEMA THV470 SPRITE thermoelectrically cooled sensor though ….. if I had the time and incentive, I might graft the SPRITE into the 782 or even install the spare Stirling Cooled sensor from the AGEMA THV900 that I still have. In my younger days I would just dive in and do it. These days I lack the same level of drive to do such experiments. I must be getting old !Fraser

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2022, 12:27:21 am
content: My very first experience using a thermal camera was with this camera. I used it to look at an RF PA that I had designed, and we even had decapped the main RF transistor and an RF map module, so we could look for hot spots. It lived in it's very own lab with a big Dewar of LN2, and we had to bring all our other equipment to operate the PA under various stresses and conditions.I still have my Polaroids! It was my very first real-world commercial design.Thanks for the chance to reminisce.John

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2022, 12:51:46 am
content: I came into thermal imaging with an AGEMA Thermovision 880 cooled MWIR Scanning camera that had been upgraded from Liquid Nitrogen cooling to a Stirling Cooler version. Compared to todays thermal imaging cameras these things were large and anything but portable.They got an important job done though and I was impressed with what could be achieved with the technology. What did not impress me though was the cost of the hardware ! More than a 3 bedroom detached house cost at the time.It is nice to reminisce sometimes and it help to remind me of how far the technology has come and how fortunate we are to have access to far more advanced thermal imaging systems these daysFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2022, 12:52:46 am
content: For those unaware… AGA became AGEMA who, in turn, became part of FLIRAGA and AGEMA were Swedish companies so these were European thermal imaging specialist manufacturers. They made some great products with excellent performance.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2022, 02:28:50 pm
content: The AGA complete system arrived today. The owner delivered it personally to my home…over 70 miles distance.The system is in good condition considering it’s age and comprises many parts….1. AGA 782 MWIR camera2. AGA 12.5 Degree f1.8 MWIR lens for 782 camera3. AGA 782 Camera controller c/w internal monochrome monitor4. AGA/Colorado Video Inc. CM703 colour monitor with built in false colour generator5. AGA Polaroid custom “Oscilloscope” cameras - Quantity 26. Camera adapter & viewing hood for AGA 782 controller monitor7. Camera adapter for CM703 colour monitor8. Canon AE-1 SLR camera9. Canon 50mm f1.8 FD SLR lens10. AGA 782 Power Supply for 782 controller/camera11. AGA battery pack and charger chassis in leather case for 782 controller - Quantity 312. AGA handle for 782 camera13. AGA umbilical cables for 782 camera and monitor14. AGA original tool kit for 782 system maintenance15. AGA user and maintenance manuals for 782 system and CM703 colour monitor16. Original transit cases for 782 system and CM703 monitor17. HEWLETT PACKARD 41CV Programmable Alpha-numeric calculator in case18. HEWLETT PACKARD 82104A program card reader for HP41CV calculator19. AGA program cards for HP41CV calculator20. All manuals and box for HP41CV calculator and card reader21. Pile of miscellaneous cables and connectors - to be identified !So there you have it…quite a collection of kit. I previously mentioned a Gem in this collection of units…. Can you see what it is from the list above ?The nice colour monitor with integrated false colour generator is great, but not the Gem for many readers…. Nope, it is the HEWLETT PACKARD 41CV Alpha-numeric programmable calculator. It is in ‘as new” condition and comes with the card reader, programme cards (programmed by AGA for 782 system calculations) plus the original calculator box and all manualsI think collectors of HP calculators might be interested in such a unit. I may have to find a new home for this calculator as I will not use it and a collector of such technology will appreciate it more. The Canon AE-1 SLR camera is also very nice and there still seems to be demand for it, despite its age and 35mm film technology. I am more interested in the thermal camera side of the system.So that is it for the moment. Not bad for £64Fraser

author: Chanc3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2022, 08:05:34 pm
content: Glad you won the auction! I spotted that on eBay with a bid on it and said to myself "I bet that's Fraser!". I was tempted, but alas I'm not in the thermal imaging game much anymore and don't have the space!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2022, 09:28:29 pm
content: Hi Chance3,I did have to think about it for a while as I had not intended buying another antique camera ! I decided that if the price stayed low enough it was worth adding to the collection. A bit of a space hog but I feel sure I can find room for itSo you are no longer working so deeply in the realm of thermal imaging ? Sorry to hear that but I hope you are doing a job that you enjoyFraser

author: Chanc3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2022, 09:46:26 pm
content: I had the same thought, but rather it went to someone who can utilise and educate others about it.I am still about to an extent - TI is only a small element of what I do now, which is mostly drones and associated tech. Although, I did buildwww.thermoconverter.comas I got fed up of one of the major manufacturers using a proprietary image format, when I was so invested in FLIR software.