Flir E40 vs E40BX differences? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2020, 11:02:32 pm
content: google was of no help & Flir site either (both models discontinued btw)found a 2nd hand e40bxbut is it same as e40? (same core?)what's the main differences between the 2?all the differences, for that matter

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2020, 02:32:20 am
content: Calel,You need to improve your Google search skillsI searched on "FLIR E40 PDF" and "FLIR E40bx PDF" and found the attached sales brochures in secondsI will leave it to you to compare specifications, but basically it is a difference in temperature measurement range. The "E40bx" was intended to be used for building thermography and was a little bit cheaper than the E40.And before you ask, yes the E40bx can be upgraded to the E60bx specification and beyond. The temperature range restriction remains however. There is a way to access the temperature range settings using the service menu found on Mk1 models but not on the Mk2. The Mk2 Exx series cameras have MSX capability but the service menu was deleted from their firmware build.There is no guarantee that a particular E40bx camera will have the required calibration tables in it to enable a greater temperature measurement range, even if enabled in the Service menu.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2020, 02:36:55 am
content: E40bx datasheets......

author: calel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2020, 02:37:35 am
content: and I thought I was google savvymuch to learn I still haveanyway thx for the infoso same core? (they dont mention cores in the tech sheets)and I reckon those calibration tables you speak of, are hardware-encoded? (can't be changed by a firmware update?)

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2020, 02:41:03 am
content: Nope, they are created by the cameras Factory calibration routine that also resides in the Service Menu, but you need suitable BlackBody calibration sources to carry out the calibration.Fraser

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2020, 03:02:16 am
content: For info.The E40 has two temperature ranges covering -20C to +120C and +120C to +650C, a total measurement capability of -20C to +650C.The E40bx has one temperature range covering -20C to +120C. Range two is not enabled.Range two can be enabled via the service menu but some users have found that this only adds +120C to +350C to the camera.Others have found that the Range two calibration table has not been created so Range two is useless. From memory I do not think anyone has achieved -20C to +650C coverage on an E40bx model. I could be wrong about that however.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2020, 12:20:42 am
content: The E40 can be extended to Range 3 with max of 1200°C via service menu also. I enabled the extension so the option is selectable in the menu on mine but haven't been able to calibrate it. It does make higher temperature stuff more visible though - when viewing something at very high temperature on the max 650°C screen, if the object is above the scale it will be washed out and lost in the high end of the scale, switching to the 1200°C option lets me see detail, but of course the temperature numbers can't be used. Not sure how they calibrate that range - most things at that temperature would be more of awhitebody!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2020, 12:14:37 pm
content: eKretz,You need a high temperature cavity Blackbody to calibrate the higher temperature ranges for best accuracy.I now own two such high temperature Blackbodies for that reason. Both are capable of >1000COf course the cameras internal calibration routine must also be present to carry out the range calibration.It is also possible to make Direct viewing high temperature filament temperature sources using NiCr wire and an adjustable power supply. The filament is temperature profiled for emissivity and emitted radiance using an accurate IR spot thermometer and a Current to Celcius graph produced. Definitely a DIY possibility but I prefer cavity sources built by people who know what they are doing at such high temperatures.An interesting mathematical look at NiCr wirehttp://www.brysonics.com/heating-a-nichrome-wire-with-math/Fraser

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2020, 04:39:37 pm
content: Quote from: eKretz on September 20, 2020, 12:20:42 amAs well as the sources that Fraser has mentioned, higher temperatures can simply be calculated if a ~10% accuracy is good enough. Bolometers are linear in scene radiance, and if you know the response of the sensor/optics (as a manufacturer does) it is just applying those factors to the Planck curve over the 7-12µm passband.Absolute values are not relevant, it is comparing the radiance changes of say 1200°C and 50°C from ambient.There are small errors down to heating of the pixels changing their response, but that can be allowed for with a 3 point measurement (the usual 20 & 50 °C plus say 250°C).Worth doing even with guesses to see it is a surprisingly steep curve, and it also shows why so many cameras stop at 600°C !Bill