Trouble with Fluke PTi120 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 04:24:47 pm
content: Good day to everyone,as I'm sure there are some Fluke afficionados here, I'm sharing a story about my purchase of PTi120 thermal camera. It is a low end camera, which I believe competes with such models as FLIR C2 and C3. Everything in this price range is just a basic thermal imager, but that was enough for me. And I wanted standalone device, not these smartphone things. So I bought exactly what I wanted, knowing all the limitations of low resolution, fixed focus, etc. That is all fine.What was unexpected was firmware, software, and support experience. Camera itself is not working properly (in my opinion), Fluke product registration was not working, Fluke Connect windows app was rubbish. It installed 500MB of "something" on my pc, takes same amount of startup time as Altium Designer and keeps crashing. No way I expected this from Fluke. Is it a bad dream? After trying to contact support by email with no success, I went slightly ballistic on their review section (under the name of Vincent). Link below:https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/thermal-cameras/pocket-pti120I did not write everything very accurately, or nicely, a little cocky, so any kind of criticism is welcome. I just want some opinions. What is going on? Is it a new standard for Fluke? Seriously, some chinese equipment have more polished software experience than this. So out of principle I started digging this situation to try to help not only myself but also other PTi120 owners. What is your thoughts?Thank you.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 04:56:38 pm
content: Sounds like an awful experience but be aware that FLUKE, as you know them, do not make thermal cameras. They are made by companies that they bought or potentially farmed out as projects from China. As such the quality of the product and support can be patchy ! This is not what we expect of FLUKE of course and it does them no credit.Where does your camera say it was made ? That of course is not a true indicator of where it’s component parts or design came from. Assembled in USA is a classic way of importing from China and trying to pass off an item as of American origin.Sadly I cannot help with your issues with the product but it looks like a product line that was outsourced to a third party company and the result is far from acceptable. I can only suggest pursuing a full refund on the grounds of ‘not fit for purpose’.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:06:41 pm
content: Please look at the label on your camera and tell me the FCC approval shown for its Wi-Fi transceiver. From that I may be able to tell who likely made it. I do not see it listed under the FLUKE FCC ID of “T68”Fraser

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:14:02 pm
content: Assembled in China. Date sticker 2019.05FCC ID: XPYLILYWIIC: 8595A-LILYW1

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:20:42 pm
content: For info, many FLUKE thermal cameras are made by what was Infrared Solutions of Plymouth USA.Here is the news report of the coming acquisition. (Note that the Ti30 mentioned in the articles was made by Raytek and acquired by Fluke before the Infrared Solutions acquisition).......SEPTEMBER 28--The board of directors of Infrared Solutions Inc. (Plymouth, MN) has agreed to the sale of the company to Fluke Electronics Corporation, an electronics manufacturer based in Everett, WA. Infrared Solutions was founded in 1994 by a group of former Honeywell scientists and engineers who first developed infrared sensors for the US military. Today, Infrared Solutions is recognized as an innovator in the application of infrared (IR) technology for commercial and industrial use. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a broad range of thermal-imaging products for applications across a number of channels including predictive and preventative maintenance. The company's products include the IR FlexCam and the IR-InSight, which are rugged, easy-to-use, portable thermographic cameras with advanced analysis reporting software. For more information about Infrared Solutions visitwww.infraredsolutions.com. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2005, following satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.Fluke is a leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, and metrologists who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control. Fluke introduced its first thermography product earlier this year with the release of the Fluke Ti30.For more information on Fluke Corporation and its products and services, visitwww.fluke.com, or contact Fluke Corporation at (888) 308-5277, fax (425) 446-5116, or e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:24:44 pm
content: Sadly the Pti120 is just using a ‘building block’ pre approved UBlox “Lily’ Wi-Fi module so that does not help identify the true manufacturer of the camera. The “Assembled in China” information is likely a clue to it being a ‘farmed out’ design.Fraser

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:42:56 pm
content: Thanks for information, that is something to dig on a free time.I still use this camera, because technically speaking "it works", it just get me nervous all the time.I guess the best description of the feeling is when my friend called and said "oh, I know you have some new Fluke thermal imager, can I borrow for a day?" And I'm like "yeah... sure... ok..." and I feel how shame is filling me

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2020, 05:54:11 pm
content: Whats is surprising, that a carrying case, brochures, usb cable and materials used for device itself feels top quality. Really. It even has a hermetic seal for usb port. If only someone can leak full source code, I promise to spend time and make the best thermal imager in this market segment and publish update on github for everyone

author: hinofi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2020, 02:01:25 pm
content: OP, could you post some sample picture from the device? I think you are the first one here actually have that camera...I wonder what sensor it have, I guess a lepton-like 160x120 one with crop/down-sampling.

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2020, 03:12:59 pm
content: Quote from: hinofi on March 30, 2020, 02:01:25 pmPlease describe what kind of picture you think will be most representative. What color palette, what object? I can do it a little later.

author: hinofi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2020, 05:05:26 pm
content: It's actually not only for me, it's for everyone in the forum ; )Personally I like black hot or white hot, with some wide/natural/complex scenery, however I think many people in the forum want a shot of a circuit board...

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2020, 05:54:25 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on March 30, 2020, 05:17:44 pmWell, because everyone makes mistakes. Actually I ordered Fluke in the early autumn 2019, got it late autumn. I will just live with that and keeping in mind how fast thermal imaging technology progress, after 2 years I will just upgrade to something even better. For now, it's ok...And actually I like equipment from good brands, even if specs are lower. Just this time it was clearly a mistake. Going for FLIR on the next upgrade for sure.

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2020, 06:00:21 pm
content: Some example pictures. I just found out another quirk - camera made JPG extension files, but it is actually PNG files by header. So I renamed. Strange.

author: hinofi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 01, 2020, 12:42:15 pm
content: Thank you!