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  • imagers
  • jake
  • infrared
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Thermal Imaging - What, Why, and How

Former Member
Former Member over 11 years ago

     Hello and welcome to a discussion all about thermal imaging, also called thermography, from FLUKE. Recently, Fluke released new infrared cameras, also known as thermal imagers, to the consumer market. The purpose of thermography is simple; precise preventative maintenance. In many industries, including basic machinery, HVAC, utilities, etc., temperature plays a huge factor in performance and quality. Using an infrared camera provides an image with a color scheme overlaying it to show the difference in temperature in the area your image is focused on. Example: you use the infrared camera to take a picture of a fuse box. A fuse that has more current flowing though it (to power more equipment) is going to be a "hotter" color because the higher the current, the hotter the fuse:

image

Some of Fluke's infrared cameras can also capture video! This is just a simple one I took of a toaster heating up:

 

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     Hearing about all of this is nice, but many people ask, "Why would I use a Fluke infrared camera?" Well simply put, Fluke is a proven brand that you can trust. Since 1948, Fluke has manufactured the most rugged, durable, and accurate test and measurement equipment on the market. Ask anyone who has ever used any type of handheld test equipment and they'll tell you, Fluke is top of the line. That's no different with their infrared cameras. There are more practical uses for an infared camera than you might think. If you need to monitor peak operating temperature, find cold spots in roofing or HVAC for repair, abnormal hot spots in pipelines, leaks of any kind that could be detrimental, current overload, liquid/gas/air backup, or anything similar, you might want to consider looking into getting an infrared camera.

 

     In addition to the name, they also come with many other features. You already know they capture pictures and video with thermal color schemes overlaying the image. I will say that there are way too many specs to cover in the space that I have so I'll touch on the best ones. First, like a regular camera, there are interchangeable lenses to add magnification or widen the field of view. You can select picture-in-picture, none, minimal, moderate, or maximum thermal overlay, depending on what you want to see. They have manual and auto focus on top of an already high resolution image. The newer imagers come standard with Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities. That means if you use a CNX 3000 wireless multimeter, they'll connect with it! Sure, you can connect to your computer via USB, and now via WiFi as well. But what if there's no WiFi network available? No problem. The infrared camera also acts as a WiFi hotspot! Fluke didn't just add in this hardware for no reason; they made their SmartViewRegistered software mobile so you can upload them to your Apple device while you're still in the field! To see more specs and info on Fluke's thermography tools, check out the link below:

 

http://www.newark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?catalogId=15003&mf=100225&showResults=true&categoryId=800000005903&langId=-1&storeId=10194n

 

Also, if you're sold on infrared cameras but not the price, check out the VT02 and VT04, both recently marked down over 40%!:

 

http://www.newark.com/MarketingProductList?storeId=10194&catalogId=15003&langId=-1&orderCode=99W5465,43W5367&ICID=HP-NPI-Fluke

 

     Learning how to use an infrared camera and the principles of thermography is easy. Fluke offers a wide range of educational sources to learn about thermography. You can check them out at http://www.fluke.com. Click on the Training/Education tab at the top of the page and find the source of training that's right for you. Fluke also has a YouTube page, http://www.youtube.com/user/FlukeCorporation, with many helpful videos covering all of Fluke's fantastic products including their infared cameras.

 

I will be checking this thread at least twice a day, at 9:30am EDT and 5:00pm EDT. Please feel free to add comments, ask questions, or even contact me directly with your question(s) or for a quote. My email is jrapp@newark.com. Also note that anything with infrared technology is non-exportable. In the near future I will be posting discussions about emissivity and how it effects thermal imaging, Fluke's fantastic and free SmartViewRegistered software, and the differences in meter calibration. Thanks for reading!

 

-Jake W. Rapp

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to michaelkellett +1
    Hello Michael and thank you for your question! The purpose of the VT02 and VT04 is not for high resolution images, but rather to see the area the IR thermometer is measuring as opposed to using the laser…
  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 11 years ago

    Why don't Fluke quote the resolution of VT02, VT04 products in pixels so we can tell what they can really do instead of vague statements like "4x sharper image".

    The resolution is quoted for the more expensive products.


    MK


    I

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to michaelkellett

    Hello Michael and thank you for your question! The purpose of the VT02 and VT04 is not for high resolution images, but rather to see the area the IR thermometer is measuring as opposed to using the laser on the other IR thermometers. That way you can record the temperature with visual proof instead of laser pointing each spot and writing the temps down in your notebook. If you want/need high resolution images and video, a thermal imager or infrared camera would be the way to go. You can capture an image with any percent of thermal overlay on the VT02/04 (0, 25, 50, 75, 100) and change it in Fluke's free SmartView software (image below of a fuse box) as well as use markers to pin point the temperature of other spots in the image, same as you could do with the higher end models. Think of it like using your cell phone as a camera. It gets the job done, takes nice pictures, and is convenient, but it's not going to be the same as a picture taken with a professional Nikkon high dollar camera.    

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    HI Jake,

    Who is the "user for the VT02,VT04 product line?

    Why should  users switch from the units they are currently utiilizing and what is wrong with staying with an older model?

    Why change?


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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    The customers who are going to be looking at the VT02 and VT04 are smaller businesses/contractors like HVAC, building contractors (roofing, insulation, electrical, etc.), companies who want predictive maintenance but don't have a large budget, and companies who want predictive maintenance but only need all the basic functions without sacrificing a whole lot of quality.

     

    Right now Fluke has a "Trade in, Trade up" program in place, where if you decide you want to upgrade to some of the newer features and maybe a higher image resolution, Fluke will give you a 20% cash back rebate of the retail value of the new imager purchased. This program EXCLUDES the VT02/04, but if you have another brand of infrared camera or thermal imager, they are accepting those with the program.

     

    That being said, the main reasons why someone would want to upgrade or switch brands is all about the features. Just like with anything else, going up the model numbers there are going to be more features added. Most notably the image resolution and clarity of Fluke's IR FusionRegistered technology in all their imagers. Then you get into things like adding video, wireless capabilities, touch screen, faster refresh rate, wider temperature range, changes in field of view, and a handful of other fantastic features.

     

    There's absolutely nothing wrong with staying with an older model. Fluke thermal imagers, as with the rest of their products, are built to last. However, with all of the new technologies coming out, including Fluke's mobile software that can only connect with the Ti125 or higher, you'd at least want to look at all the features of the different models and consider taking advantage of the "Trade in, Trade up" program while it's still in place.

     

    Thank you for your question and as always, if you have anything further, please don't hesitate to ask! - Jake

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