Thermal camera teardown - I bought fifty Dewalt DCT-416 cameras ! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 06:51:51 pm
content: The opportunity arose to purchase fifty incomplete Dewalt DCT-416 thermal cameras. I jumpedat the chance and bought them for £56 (about £1 each !). They are worth that to me in cases and parts.The cameras are ex FLUKE, Germany and are believed to be new and unused. Some are dusty andlook to have been in storage for a while.The cameras have been stripped of their front panel, Visible light camera, Chalcogenidelens, chopper wheel, CR3032 lithium cell and sadly the REDEYE-6A detector array. Thedetector and lens are relatively high value items so I am not surprised that FLUKErecovered them from the cameras before bulk disposal. They will likely use them in thehigher specification cameras such as the FLUKE VT04 as they are the same parts.The DCT-416 is actually a FLUKE(IRISYS) VT02 thermal camera in a different case with aslightly different PCB layout. The core design remains the same however. The camera has aresolution of 16x16 pixels courtesy of the IRISYS Redeye-6A thermopile detector array.Clever interpolation is used to create a higher resolution image on the LCD screen.TheRedeye-6A is in fact a 31x31 pixel array but only 16x16 are used in this model. There maybe potential to release the extra pixels to upgrade the camera to the FLUKE VT04specification. A worthwhile improvement if achievable.I already own a pair of complete IRISYS prototypes for the FLUKE VT02, so I am familiarwith the design. The missing parts can be transplanted into the DCT-416 units for testingpurposes as the VT02 parts are the same.What are my plans for these units ?Well I have more than I need so some will go to new homes to recover some of my investment.Others will likely become cases for handheld projects. one will form a neat handle assemblyform my mobile phone and FLIR F1G2 thermal camera. The rubberised hand grip is verycomfortable and will convert the F1G2 into a format similar to my E4's. For approx £1 each,these units were good value for money. They can be restored to operation with the additionof a REDEYE-6A, visible light camera, a simple metal chopper wheel and a simple lens. Acheap ZnSe lens assembly may even be possible. I may experiment with the DCT-416 toestablish whether it provides a better image than my VT04 prototypes and whether upgrade to31x31 pixels is possible. For now I am just happy to have these in stock for future use.The chipset is listed below. I will update it with the full ID of the chips as and when I can.DCT-416 ChipsetRedeye-6A 31x31 pixel pyro electric detector array with integral ASIC readout chipSTM32F207 ARM based MCU - 32 bit CORTEX M3 CPU 120 MHz24LC641 Microchip 64K EEPROM9801M Microchip MCP 9801-M High accuracy 2-wire temperature sensor. -55C to +125CAAT242 MaximAAY236 MaximAFR239 MaximD3WF2PHMHSUQHW4TL4PL8CVCLTGF Linear Tech LT1761ES5-3.3V LDO regulatorOAVQ TI OA365 Op-AmpP8W1A360 TPictures follow........Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:02:37 pm
content: Internal pictures........ Several posts worth !

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:07:39 pm
content: More internal pictures.........

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:12:56 pm
content: Pictorial comparison between DCT-416 and the FLUKE VT-02 on which it is based.The first picture shows a disassembled FLUKE VT02 in its storage box.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:16:52 pm
content: One possible use for the case.... a quality handle for the FLIR F1G2 and my Motorola MOTO G phone.My 3D printer can make the required panels and brackets to hold the F1G2 camera and the phone.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:20:17 pm
content: Close-ups of DCT-416 main PCBThat's all for now folksFraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 07:32:00 pm
content: My teardown of the prototype FLUKE VT02 camera is to be found here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/fluke-vt02-thermal-camera-visual-thermometer-teardown/msg467641/#msg467641Fraser