Word is out that FLIR has announced the new Extech i5 camera for just under $3000. I have not seen the specs yet but it has an 80x80 array, fixed focus and a limited temperature range. While it is being advertised in some home inspection catalogs, a mistake in my opinion, it seems much better suited to close range condition monitoring work. Clearly this won't be a product for everyone but it WILL open up new parts of the market and challenge others, including training companies like ours, in new ways.

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

The Press Release is:

"Waltham, MA — Extech Instruments (a FLIR company) has introduced the Extech i5 compact IR camera, an easy-to-use, affordable trouble-shooting tool for high quality thermal imaging, high accuracy, focus free viewing, with a 5000 image miniSD card storage. The lightweight unit is able to monitor and detect the thermal condition of electrical system components to address problem areas before failures occur.

It can inspect areas that can't be reached with thermocouples or other contact-based instruments. High resolution thermal images instantly pinpoint problems in need of repair, critical for condition monitoring of thermally sensitive targets. The instrument reportedly delivers high accuracy of 2 percent and thermal sensitivity of 0.18°F/0.1°C, which provides compliance to NETA testing requirements.

The i5 allows users to check for overheating in electrical panels and transformers, to spot electrical faults before it is too late, and to identify faults in cooling and heating systems, and problems with motors, fans and bearings. The instrument's QuickReport PC software makes it easy to download standard JPEG thermal images with radiometric data, and to generate reports, analyze, and document findings.

The lightweight instrument weighs just 12 oz., resulting in less user fatigue. With its pocket-sized, fully automatic design, even first-time users will find ease of operation, making it suitable for general use. It has a focus-free lens for convenient viewing, along with a 2.8-in. (71mm) high resolution color LCD. Its double-molded, rugged design with easy-grip handle construction meets IP43 dust/splashproof standards and its 5-hour continuous operation on a single charge allows for uninterrupted inspections.

The instrument comes with a 512MB miniSD Card with adaptor, Li-Ion rechargeable battery with 100-240VAC adaptor/charger, QuickReport PC software with USB cable and built-in lens shutter and hand strap.

________________________________
Contact: Extech Instruments, 285 Bear Hill Rd., Waltham, MA 02451-1064 781-890-7440 fax: 781-890-7864 E-mail: extech@extech.com Web: http://www.extech.comhttp://www.extech.com "

Hmmm.  I am still painfully new when it comes to thermal imaging, but in the other areas of my field, using too coarse a measurement can bite you.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the liability of an inspector who uses an instrument with too low a resolution for the work, so either misses a critical fault that goes on to cause damage, or calls a fault based on what they see, only to find the resolution led to a false positive.  Should there be (or is there already) a minimum spec on IR sensor performance for certain roles?

 Thanks for your work on this forum.  An excellent spot!

-John

Thanks, John. In fact the standards that exist (ASTM, ISO) do specify minimum resolution, both spatial and measurement. The manufacturers do not even show the specifications for measurement resolution. Worse, spatial resolution specifications, which are typically given, are not really based on reality but rather a projection of the pixel onto the target—useful but not real!

 

I fully expect we will be seeing more and more "thermographers" hauled into court over technical issues like this or more basic ones like "certification"—especially now that we have $500 online versions available! Honestly, I'd welcome the opportunity to have the public see the difference between good work and bad. I only hope it doesn't cause too much damage to the profession in the process.

 

Clearly, ALL infrared cameras have limitations within which we must work. I don't know what the field of view of this particular new camera is but, assuming it is 24 degrees, at ten feet the spatial resolution is greater than 1/2" and the measurement resolution would probably be nearly 2". At half that distance, it should work well for many condition monitoring applications. At twice that distance, typical of many building applications, I don't think it—or any similarly specified product of any brand—will work but I reserve judgement until I try it in the field.

 

These are exciting times—and, potentially, dangerous ones as well! Regardless, the ship has left the dock and the ride is interesting. 

 

 

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

The spec sheet I saw today lists the field of view as 17 degrees x 17 degrees so the spatial and measurement resolution values I calculated would be pretty close: at 10' you should, theoretically, be able to see a .5" target and measure a 1.5" target; at 5', those values would be half and at 20' they would be double. Clearly NOT a system for use in substations or home inspections, but could work well for electrical in-plant maintenance.  I look forward to getting one and putting it through its paces.

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

If you are in the home inspection/building diagnostic business, we all know you can NOT be without an imager in today's business climate. We have the Extech, Flir, Palmer Wahl and Fluke thermal imagers.

We can also help on the pricing. Just call in or send me an email for additional information. We have the "best" pricing as well as the best service.

Here is a link to the new i5 for more information on it:
http://www.tequipment.net/ExtechI5.html

 

Rick Bridges

rbridges@tequipment.net

 

 

"If you are in the home inspection/building diagnostic business, we all know you can NOT be without an imager in today's business climate. We have the Extech, Flir, Palmer Wahl and Fluke thermal imagers.

We can also help on the pricing. Just call in or send me an email for additional information. We have the "best" pricing as well as the best service."

Regardless of the price, or manufacturer, a camera MUST be able to do the job at hand. I would never suggest people purchase on price alone and I would urge all readers here to that same caution. Every camera has a set of limitations and we work hard to have folks understand them and work within them.

Despite the marketing hype surrounding it, and I use that phrase advisedly, the FLIR i5 appears to have constraints on spatial and measurement resolution that are severe enough that it probably cannot be used successfully for buildings work. I would suggest all home inspectors steer clear of purchasing it until they have proven to themselves that it will meet their needs. That said, I too have not yet used it for buildings work and look forward to doing so. I expect it may work well for many PdM applications.

 We remain independent of the sales of all cameras, neutral with regard to endorsing a particular brand and devoted to the needs of our customers so that they get the camera they need and understand how to use if fully (including knowing what it won't do!). 

  

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

"We can also help on the pricing. Just call in or send me an email for additional information. We have the "best" pricing as well as the best service."

 

Rick,

Please keep sales-related postings like this on the CLASSIFIED portion of IRTalk.com where they are certainly welcomed and appreciated. Thanks. 

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820

John,

I apologize for the message. I wasn't aware of the rules of the board.

 

Rick Bridges         

Apologies accepted. Not to worry. The "rules" are not so obvious Iguess. 

We are usually pretty easy to get along with around here but we do speak our minds and encourage readers to do so as well, especially when those are based on their experiences.The decisions IRTalk.com readers are making every single day using infrared involve not only literally billions of dollars but also human life—so we take it all very seriously.

Readers here also tend to be a pretty sophisticated group who know they have some amazing choices in cameras these days as the attached clearly shows. Many of the "old timers" used to pay $30,000-60,000 for a single system (really only a few years ago!) so prices alone today don't phase us so much. More often we are looking for the camera that will really do the job at hand AND a relationship with a camera supplier who will stand by us when we need service after the sale. 

We look forward to your contributions of information about equipment, here as appropriate, or on the CLASSIFIED board if it is more about selling. Without camera sales people, after all, we'd all be in the dark!

 

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Thermally Yours,

John
ASNT NDT Level III #48166
The Snell Group
www.thesnellgroup.com
www.thermalsolutions.org
800-636-9820