Thermal Imaging help

TomBsnr · Apr 30, 2012

Hello guys,

Can I pick your brains on this one. One of my lads has managed to get a thermal imaging tool on demo. I though he was just going to use if for looking at the girl over the road once it is dark, but it turns out to be a good bit of kit for looking at circuits. Its an Irwin tool and looks pretty good.

As I have never used one for real work, could you give me any advice on whether or not it is a valued tool, or an expensive toy? I think it will be good for periodics, but would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance

Tom

bugsy · Apr 30, 2012

Good for commercial / industrial periodics to give indication of hot spots and possible loose connections / overloading ( most have software to allow you download and stamp images )

Farmelectrics · Apr 30, 2012

there a great tool to have we have a guy on site that does it all in data centres

and on all db across the group its a monthly ppm but has found plenty of hot spots that can be corrected before any possible disaster

Sparky Ninja · Apr 30, 2012

If you scan the flir site you can find lots of downloadable reference info, some of which is really informative with regards to emissivity, blackbodies, reflectance and all the basics.

Darkwood · Apr 30, 2012

Yes it a good bit of kit and can be positive for business, you could do a preventative maintenance scheme and charge for it or just use it while on site and hi-lite the issues it brings up to the customer and get the extra work. Its probably overkill if domestic as just sticking your finger on the cable or mcb will tell you the same thing if its warm, commercial and industrial is the place where this device shows its glory.

Guest111 · Apr 30, 2012

fluke will send you a free book called "principles of thermography" just request one from their website very interesting and informative.

MarkieSparkie · May 1, 2012

The free book from Fluke is a good introduction, there are also some excellent application notes amplifying things in specific areas.

TomBsnr · May 2, 2012

Thanks guys, I am leaning towards getting one. I think it will be either a Flir or a Fluke, we had a great laugh in the pub with it the other night looking at people walking in, but when we started looking at circuits we decided to move pubs, for safety's sake. Think I'll drop a quote in soon to sort the wiring out, there were hot spots everywhere!!!

Anyone recommend either make? Do you know anywhere I could rent one of each to trial?

Thanks again everyone, your help is appreciated

Tom

Engineer54 · May 2, 2012

Anything under 3 grand isn't worth buying is a good rule of thumb with such units. Unless your work involves industrial or the larger commercial sectors then it will be more of an expensive toy, rather than a useful asset to your business... Also If you have never used Thermal Imaging devices before, then you really do need to go on a short training course, they are not as easy to read, as first meets the eye... lol!!!