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FLIR E4 User Manual

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
62 views90 pages

FLIR E4 User Manual

Uploaded by

Faruq Ghaffar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 90

User’s manual

FLIR Ex series
User’s manual
FLIR Ex series

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US iii


Table of contents

1 Disclaimers ......................................................................................1
1.1 Legal disclaimer ....................................................................... 1
1.2 Usage statistics ........................................................................ 1
1.3 Changes to registry ................................................................... 1
1.4 U.S. Government Regulations...................................................... 1
1.5 Copyright ................................................................................ 1
1.6 Quality assurance ..................................................................... 1
1.7 Patents ................................................................................... 1
1.8 EULA Terms ............................................................................ 1
1.9 EULA Terms ............................................................................ 1
2 Safety information .............................................................................2
3 Notice to user ...................................................................................5
3.1 User-to-user forums .................................................................. 5
3.2 Calibration............................................................................... 5
3.3 Accuracy ................................................................................ 5
3.4 Disposal of electronic waste ........................................................ 5
3.5 Training .................................................................................. 5
3.6 Documentation updates ............................................................. 5
3.7 Important note about this manual.................................................. 5
4 Customer help ..................................................................................6
4.1 General .................................................................................. 6
4.2 Submitting a question ................................................................ 6
4.3 Downloads .............................................................................. 7
5 Quick Start Guide ..............................................................................8
5.1 Procedure ............................................................................... 8
6 Description .......................................................................................9
6.1 Camera parts ........................................................................... 9
6.1.1 Figure .......................................................................... 9
6.1.2 Explanation................................................................... 9
6.2 Keypad................................................................................... 9
6.2.1 Figure .......................................................................... 9
6.2.2 Explanation................................................................... 9
6.3 Connectors ........................................................................... 10
6.3.1 Figure ........................................................................ 10
6.3.2 Explanation................................................................. 10
6.4 Screen elements .................................................................... 11
6.4.1 Figure ........................................................................ 11
6.4.2 Explanation................................................................. 11
7 Operation ....................................................................................... 12
7.1 Charging the battery ................................................................ 12
7.1.1 Charging the battery using the FLIR power supply ............... 12
7.1.2 Charging the battery using the FLIR stand-alone battery
charger. ..................................................................... 12
7.1.3 Charging the battery using a USB cable ............................ 12
7.2 Turning on and turning off the camera.......................................... 12
7.3 Saving an image ..................................................................... 13
7.3.1 General...................................................................... 13
7.3.2 Image capacity ............................................................ 13
7.3.3 Naming convention....................................................... 13
7.3.4 Procedure .................................................................. 13
7.4 Recalling an image.................................................................. 13
7.4.1 General...................................................................... 13
7.4.2 Procedure .................................................................. 13
7.5 Deleting an image ................................................................... 13

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US v


Table of contents

7.5.1 General...................................................................... 13
7.5.2 Procedure .................................................................. 13
7.6 Deleting all images.................................................................. 14
7.6.1 General...................................................................... 14
7.6.2 Procedure .................................................................. 14
7.7 Measuring a temperature using a spotmeter ................................. 14
7.7.1 General...................................................................... 14
7.7.2 Procedure .................................................................. 14
7.8 Measuring the hottest temperature within an area .......................... 14
7.8.1 General...................................................................... 14
7.8.2 Procedure .................................................................. 14
7.9 Measuring the coldest temperature within an area.......................... 14
7.9.1 General...................................................................... 14
7.9.2 Procedure .................................................................. 14
7.10 Hiding measurement tools ........................................................ 15
7.10.1 Procedure .................................................................. 15
7.11 Changing the color palette ........................................................ 15
7.11.1 General...................................................................... 15
7.11.2 Procedure .................................................................. 15
7.12 Working with color alarms ......................................................... 15
7.12.1 General...................................................................... 15
7.12.2 Image examples .......................................................... 15
7.12.3 Procedure .................................................................. 16
7.13 Changing image mode ............................................................. 16
7.13.1 General...................................................................... 16
7.13.2 Procedure .................................................................. 17
7.14 Changing the temperature scale mode ........................................ 17
7.14.1 General...................................................................... 17
7.14.2 When to use Lock mode ................................................ 18
7.14.3 When to use Manual mode............................................. 18
7.14.4 Procedure .................................................................. 19
7.15 Setting the emissivity as a surface property .................................. 19
7.15.1 General...................................................................... 19
7.15.2 Procedure .................................................................. 19
7.16 Setting the emissivity as a custom material ................................... 19
7.16.1 General...................................................................... 19
7.16.2 Procedure .................................................................. 19
7.17 Changing the emissivity as a custom value ................................... 20
7.17.1 General...................................................................... 20
7.17.2 Procedure .................................................................. 20
7.18 Changing the reflected apparent temperature ............................... 20
7.18.1 General...................................................................... 20
7.18.2 Procedure .................................................................. 20
7.19 Changing the distance between the object and the camera .............. 20
7.19.1 General...................................................................... 20
7.19.2 Procedure .................................................................. 20
7.20 Performing a non-uniformity correction (NUC) ............................... 21
7.20.1 What is a non-uniformity correction?................................. 21
7.20.2 When to perform a non-uniformity correction? .................... 21
7.20.3 Procedure .................................................................. 21
7.21 Changing the settings .............................................................. 21
7.21.1 General...................................................................... 21
7.21.2 Procedure .................................................................. 22
7.22 Updating the camera ............................................................... 22
7.22.1 General...................................................................... 22

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US vi


Table of contents

7.22.2 Procedure .................................................................. 22


8 Technical data ................................................................................. 23
8.1 Online field-of-view calculator .................................................... 23
8.2 Note about technical data ......................................................... 23
8.3 FLIR E4 ................................................................................ 24
8.4 FLIR E5 ................................................................................ 27
8.5 FLIR E6 ................................................................................ 30
8.6 FLIR E8 ................................................................................ 33
9 Mechanical drawings ....................................................................... 36
10 Declaration of conformity ................................................................. 38
11 Cleaning the camera ........................................................................ 39
11.1 Camera housing, cables, and other items..................................... 39
11.1.1 Liquids....................................................................... 39
11.1.2 Equipment .................................................................. 39
11.1.3 Procedure .................................................................. 39
11.2 Infrared lens .......................................................................... 39
11.2.1 Liquids....................................................................... 39
11.2.2 Equipment .................................................................. 39
11.2.3 Procedure .................................................................. 39
12 Application examples....................................................................... 40
12.1 Moisture & water damage ......................................................... 40
12.1.1 General...................................................................... 40
12.1.2 Figure ........................................................................ 40
12.2 Faulty contact in socket ............................................................ 40
12.2.1 General...................................................................... 40
12.2.2 Figure ........................................................................ 40
12.3 Oxidized socket...................................................................... 41
12.3.1 General...................................................................... 41
12.3.2 Figure ........................................................................ 41
12.4 Insulation deficiencies.............................................................. 42
12.4.1 General...................................................................... 42
12.4.2 Figure ........................................................................ 42
12.5 Draft .................................................................................... 43
12.5.1 General...................................................................... 43
12.5.2 Figure ........................................................................ 43
13 About FLIR Systems ........................................................................ 44
13.1 More than just an infrared camera .............................................. 45
13.2 Sharing our knowledge ............................................................ 45
13.3 Supporting our customers......................................................... 45
13.4 A few images from our facilities .................................................. 46
14 Glossary ........................................................................................ 47
15 Thermographic measurement techniques .......................................... 50
15.1 Introduction .......................................................................... 50
15.2 Emissivity.............................................................................. 50
15.2.1 Finding the emissivity of a sample .................................... 50
15.3 Reflected apparent temperature................................................. 53
15.4 Distance ............................................................................... 53
15.5 Relative humidity .................................................................... 53
15.6 Other parameters.................................................................... 53
16 History of infrared technology........................................................... 55
17 Theory of thermography................................................................... 58
17.1 Introduction ........................................................................... 58
17.2 The electromagnetic spectrum................................................... 58

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US vii


Table of contents

17.3 Blackbody radiation................................................................. 58


17.3.1 Planck’s law ................................................................ 59
17.3.2 Wien’s displacement law................................................ 60
17.3.3 Stefan-Boltzmann's law ................................................. 61
17.3.4 Non-blackbody emitters................................................. 62
17.4 Infrared semi-transparent materials............................................. 64
18 The measurement formula................................................................ 65
19 Emissivity tables ............................................................................. 69
19.1 References............................................................................ 69
19.2 Tables .................................................................................. 69

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US viii


1 Disclaimers

1.1 Legal disclaimer 1.7 Patents


All products manufactured by FLIR Systems are warranted against defective One or several of the following patents and/or design patents may apply to
materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the delivery date the products and/or features. Additional pending patents and/or pending de-
of the original purchase, provided such products have been under normal sign patents may also apply.
storage, use and service, and in accordance with FLIR Systems instruction.
000279476-0001; 000439161; 000499579-0001; 000653423; 000726344;
Uncooled handheld infrared cameras manufactured by FLIR Systems are 000859020; 001106306-0001; 001707738; 001707746; 001707787;
warranted against defective materials and workmanship for a period of two 001776519; 001954074; 002021543; 002058180; 002249953; 002531178;
(2) years from the delivery date of the original purchase, provided such prod- 0600574-8; 1144833; 1182246; 1182620; 1285345; 1299699; 1325808;
ucts have been under normal storage, use and service, and in accordance 1336775; 1391114; 1402918; 1404291; 1411581; 1415075; 1421497;
with FLIR Systems instruction, and provided that the camera has been regis- 1458284; 1678485; 1732314; 2106017; 2107799; 2381417; 3006596;
tered within 60 days of original purchase. 3006597; 466540; 483782; 484155; 4889913; 5177595; 60122153.2;
602004011681.5-08; 6707044; 68657; 7034300; 7110035; 7154093;
Detectors for uncooled handheld infrared cameras manufactured by FLIR
7157705; 7237946; 7312822; 7332716; 7336823; 7544944; 7667198;
Systems are warranted against defective materials and workmanship for a
7809258 B2; 7826736; 8,153,971; 8018649 B2; 8212210 B2; 8289372;
period of ten (10) years from the delivery date of the original purchase, pro-
8354639 B2; 8384783; 8520970; 8565547; 8595689; 8599262; 8654239;
vided such products have been under normal storage, use and service, and
8680468; 8803093; D540838; D549758; D579475; D584755; D599,392;
in accordance with FLIR Systems instruction, and provided that the camera
D615,113; D664,580; D664,581; D665,004; D665,440; D677298; D710,424
has been registered within 60 days of original purchase.
S; DI6702302-9; DI6903617-9; DI7002221-6; DI7002891-5; DI7002892-3;
Products which are not manufactured by FLIR Systems but included in sys- DI7005799-0; DM/057692; DM/061609; EP 2115696 B1; EP2315433; SE
tems delivered by FLIR Systems to the original purchaser, carry the warranty, 0700240-5; US 8340414 B2; ZL 201330267619.5; ZL01823221.3;
if any, of the particular supplier only. FLIR Systems has no responsibility ZL01823226.4; ZL02331553.9; ZL02331554.7; ZL200480034894.0;
whatsoever for such products. ZL200530120994.2; ZL200610088759.5; ZL200630130114.4;
ZL200730151141.4; ZL200730339504.7; ZL200820105768.8;
The warranty extends only to the original purchaser and is not transferable. It
ZL200830128581.2; ZL200880105236.4; ZL200880105769.2;
is not applicable to any product which has been subjected to misuse, neglect,
ZL200930190061.9; ZL201030176127.1; ZL201030176130.3;
accident or abnormal conditions of operation. Expendable parts are excluded
ZL201030176157.2; ZL201030595931.3; ZL201130442354.9;
from the warranty.
ZL201230471744.3; ZL201230620731.8.
In the case of a defect in a product covered by this warranty the product must
not be further used in order to prevent additional damage. The purchaser
shall promptly report any defect to FLIR Systems or this warranty will not 1.8 EULA Terms
apply.
• You have acquired a device (“INFRARED CAMERA”) that includes soft-
FLIR Systems will, at its option, repair or replace any such defective product ware licensed by FLIR Systems AB from Microsoft Licensing, GP or its
free of charge if, upon inspection, it proves to be defective in material or work- affiliates (“MS”). Those installed software products of MS origin, as well
manship and provided that it is returned to FLIR Systems within the said one- as associated media, printed materials, and “online” or electronic docu-
year period. mentation (“SOFTWARE”) are protected by international intellectual
FLIR Systems has no other obligation or liability for defects than those set property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE is licensed, not sold. All
forth above. rights reserved.
• IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
No other warranty is expressed or implied. FLIR Systems specifically dis- (“EULA”), DO NOT USE THE DEVICE OR COPY THE SOFTWARE. IN-
claims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular STEAD, PROMPTLY CONTACT FLIR Systems AB FOR INSTRUC-
purpose. TIONS ON RETURN OF THE UNUSED DEVICE(S) FOR A REFUND.
FLIR Systems shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or ANY USE OF THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
consequential loss or damage, whether based on contract, tort or any other USE ON THE DEVICE, WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR AGREEMENT TO
legal theory. THIS EULA (OR RATIFICATION OF ANY PREVIOUS CONSENT).
• GRANT OF SOFTWARE LICENSE. This EULA grants you the following
This warranty shall be governed by Swedish law. license:
Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this war- • You may use the SOFTWARE only on the DEVICE.
ranty, shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the • NOT FAULT TOLERANT. THE SOFTWARE IS NOT FAULT TOL-
Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. The place of ar- ERANT. FLIR Systems AB HAS INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINED
bitration shall be Stockholm. The language to be used in the arbitral proceed- HOW TO USE THE SOFTWARE IN THE DEVICE, AND MS HAS
ings shall be English. RELIED UPON FLIR Systems AB TO CONDUCT SUFFICIENT
TESTING TO DETERMINE THAT THE SOFTWARE IS SUITABLE
FOR SUCH USE.
1.2 Usage statistics • NO WARRANTIES FOR THE SOFTWARE. THE SOFTWARE is
provided “AS IS” and with all faults. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO
FLIR Systems reserves the right to gather anonymous usage statistics to help
SATISFACTORY QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCURACY, AND
maintain and improve the quality of our software and services.
EFFORT (INCLUDING LACK OF NEGLIGENCE) IS WITH YOU.
ALSO, THERE IS NO WARRANTY AGAINST INTERFERENCE
WITH YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE SOFTWARE OR AGAINST
1.3 Changes to registry INFRINGEMENT. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY WARRANTIES
The registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet REGARDING THE DEVICE OR THE SOFTWARE, THOSE WAR-
\Control\Lsa\LmCompatibilityLevel will be automatically changed to level 2 if RANTIES DO NOT ORIGINATE FROM, AND ARE NOT BINDING
the FLIR Camera Monitor service detects a FLIR camera connected to the ON, MS.
computer with a USB cable. The modification will only be executed if the • No Liability for Certain Damages. EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY
camera device implements a remote network service that supports network LAW, MS SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT,
logons. SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PER-
FORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE. THIS LIMITATION SHALL
1.4 U.S. Government Regulations APPLY EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PUR-
POSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
This product may be subject to U.S. Export Regulations. Please send any in- AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF U.S. TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOL-
quiries to [email protected]. LARS (U.S.$250.00).
• Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Dis-
assembly. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disas-
1.5 Copyright semble the SOFTWARE, except and only to the extent that such
activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding
© 2014, FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No parts of the this limitation.
software including source code may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed • SOFTWARE TRANSFER ALLOWED BUT WITH RESTRIC-
or translated into any language or computer language in any form or by any TIONS. You may permanently transfer rights under this EULA only
means, electronic, magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise, without the prior as part of a permanent sale or transfer of the Device, and only if
written permission of FLIR Systems. the recipient agrees to this EULA. If the SOFTWARE is an up-
The documentation must not, in whole or part, be copied, photocopied, re- grade, any transfer must also include all prior versions of the
produced, translated or transmitted to any electronic medium or machine SOFTWARE.
readable form without prior consent, in writing, from FLIR Systems. • EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. You acknowledge that SOFTWARE is
subject to U.S. export jurisdiction. You agree to comply with all ap-
Names and marks appearing on the products herein are either registered plicable international and national laws that apply to the SOFT-
trademarks or trademarks of FLIR Systems and/or its subsidiaries. All other WARE, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, as
trademarks, trade names or company names referenced herein are used for well as end-user, end-use and destination restrictions issued by U.
identification only and are the property of their respective owners. S. and other governments. For additional information see http://
www.microsoft.com/exporting/.

1.6 Quality assurance


The Quality Management System under which these products are developed
1.9 EULA Terms
and manufactured has been certified in accordance with the ISO 9001 Qt4 Core and Qt4 GUI, Copyright ©2013 Nokia Corporation and FLIR Sys-
standard. tems AB. This Qt library is a free software; you can redistribute it and/or mod-
FLIR Systems is committed to a policy of continuous development; therefore ify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
we reserve the right to make changes and improvements on any of the prod- by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your
ucts without prior notice. option) any later version. This library is distributed in the hope that it will be
useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU Lesser General Public License, http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.
html. The source code for the libraries Qt4 Core and Qt4 GUI may be re-
quested from FLIR Systems AB.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 1


2 Safety information

WARNING

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not disassemble or do a modification to the battery. The battery contains safety and protection devi-
ces which, if damage occurs, can cause the battery to become hot, or cause an explosion or an ignition.

WARNING

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


If there is a leak from the battery and you get the fluid in your eyes, do not rub your eyes. Flush well with
water and immediately get medical care. The battery fluid can cause injury to your eyes if you do not do
this.

WARNING

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not continue to charge the battery if it does not become charged in the specified charging time. If
you continue to charge the battery, it can become hot and cause an explosion or ignition. Injury to per-
sons can occur.

WARNING

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Only use the correct equipment to remove the electrical power from the battery. If you do not use the
correct equipment, you can decrease the performance or the life cycle of the battery. If you do not use
the correct equipment, an incorrect flow of current to the battery can occur. This can cause the battery
to become hot, or cause an explosion. Injury to persons can occur.

WARNING

Make sure that you read all applicable MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) and warning labels on con-
tainers before you use a liquid. The liquids can be dangerous. Injury to persons can occur.

CAUTION

Do not point the infrared camera (with or without the lens cover) at strong energy sources, for example,
devices that cause laser radiation, or the sun. This can have an unwanted effect on the accuracy of the
camera. It can also cause damage to the detector in the camera.

CAUTION

Do not use the camera in temperatures more than +50°C (+122°F), unless other information is specified
in the user documentation or technical data. High temperatures can cause damage to the camera.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not attach the batteries directly to a car’s cigarette lighter socket, unless FLIR Systems supplies a
specific adapter to connect the batteries to a cigarette lighter socket. Damage to the batteries can
occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not connect the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery to each other with a metal
object (such as wire). Damage to the batteries can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not get water or salt water on the battery, or permit the battery to become wet. Damage to the bat-
teries can occur.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 2


2 Safety information

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not make holes in the battery with objects. Damage to the battery can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not hit the battery with a hammer. Damage to the battery can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not put your foot on the battery, hit it or cause shocks to it. Damage to the battery can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not put the batteries in or near a fire, or into direct sunlight. When the battery becomes hot, the built-
in safety equipment becomes energized and can stop the battery charging procedure. If the battery be-
comes hot, damage can occur to the safety equipment and this can cause more heat, damage or igni-
tion of the battery.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not put the battery on a fire or increase the temperature of the battery with heat. Damage to the bat-
tery and injury to persons can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not put the battery on or near fires, stoves, or other high-temperature locations. Damage to the bat-
tery and injury to persons can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not solder directly onto the battery. Damage to the battery can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Do not use the battery if, when you use, charge, or put the battery in storage, there is an unusual smell
from the battery, the battery feels hot, changes color, changes shape, or is in an unusual condition.
Speak with your sales office if one or more of these problems occurs. Damage to the battery and injury
to persons can occur.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Only use a specified battery charger when you charge the battery. Damage to the battery can occur if
you do not do this.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


The temperature range through which you can charge the battery is ±0°C to +45°C (+32°F to +113°F),
unless other information is specified in the user documentation or technical data. If you charge the bat-
tery at temperatures out of this range, it can cause the battery to become hot or to break. It can also de-
crease the performance or the life cycle of the battery.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 3


2 Safety information

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


The temperature range through which you can remove the electrical power from the battery is -15°C to
+50°C (+5°F to +122°F), unless other information is specified in the user documentation or technical
data. If you operate the battery out of this temperature range, it can decrease the performance or the life
cycle of the battery.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


When the battery is worn, apply insulation to the terminals with adhesive tape or equivalent materials
before you discard it. Damage to the battery and injury to persons can occur if you do not do this.

CAUTION

Applicability: Cameras with one or more batteries.


Remove any water or moisture on the battery before you install it. Damage to the battery can occur if
you do not do this.

CAUTION

Do not apply solvents or equivalent liquids to the camera, the cables, or other items. Damage to the bat-
tery and injury to persons can occur.

CAUTION

Be careful when you clean the infrared lens. The lens has an anti-reflective coating which is easily dam-
aged. Damage to the infrared lens can occur.

CAUTION

Do not use too much force to clean the infrared lens. This can cause damage to the anti-reflective
coating.

NOTE

The encapsulation rating is only applicable when all the openings on the camera are sealed with their
correct covers, hatches, or caps. This includes the compartments for data storage, batteries, and
connectors.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 4


3 Notice to user

3.1 User-to-user forums


Exchange ideas, problems, and infrared solutions with fellow thermographers around the
world in our user-to-user forums. To go to the forums, visit:
http://www.infraredtraining.com/community/boards/

3.2 Calibration
We recommend that you send in the camera for calibration once a year. Contact your lo-
cal sales office for instructions on where to send the camera.

3.3 Accuracy
For very accurate results, we recommend that you wait 5 minutes after you have started
the camera before measuring a temperature.

3.4 Disposal of electronic waste

As with most electronic products, this equipment must be disposed of in an environmen-


tally friendly way, and in accordance with existing regulations for electronic waste.
Please contact your FLIR Systems representative for more details.

3.5 Training
To read about infrared training, visit:
• http://www.infraredtraining.com
• http://www.irtraining.com
• http://www.irtraining.eu

3.6 Documentation updates


Our manuals are updated several times per year, and we also issue product-critical notifi-
cations of changes on a regular basis.
To access the latest manuals and notifications, go to the Download tab at:
http://support.flir.com
It only takes a few minutes to register online. In the download area you will also find the
latest releases of manuals for our other products, as well as manuals for our historical
and obsolete products.

3.7 Important note about this manual


FLIR Systems issues generic manuals that cover several cameras within a model line.
This means that this manual may contain descriptions and explanations that do not apply
to your particular camera model.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 5


4 Customer help

4.1 General
For customer help, visit:
http://support.flir.com

4.2 Submitting a question


To submit a question to the customer help team, you must be a registered user. It only
takes a few minutes to register online. If you only want to search the knowledgebase for
existing questions and answers, you do not need to be a registered user.
When you want to submit a question, make sure that you have the following information
to hand:

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 6


4 Customer help

• The camera model


• The camera serial number
• The communication protocol, or method, between the camera and your device (for ex-
ample, HDMI, Ethernet, USB, or FireWire)
• Device type (PC/Mac/iPhone/iPad/Android device, etc.)
• Version of any programs from FLIR Systems
• Full name, publication number, and revision number of the manual

4.3 Downloads
On the customer help site you can also download the following:
• Firmware updates for your infrared camera.
• Program updates for your PC/Mac software.
• Freeware and evaluation versions of PC/Mac software.
• User documentation for current, obsolete, and historical products.
• Mechanical drawings (in *.dxf and *.pdf format).
• Cad data models (in *.stp format).
• Application stories.
• Technical datasheets.
• Product catalogs.

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5 Quick Start Guide

5.1 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Charge the battery. You can do this in three different ways:
• Charge the battery using the FLIR stand-alone battery charger.
• Charge the battery using the FLIR power supply.
• Charge the battery using a USB cable connected to a computer.

NOTE

Charging the camera using a USB cable connected to a computer takes considerably longer
than using the FLIR power supply or the FLIR stand-alone battery charger.

2. Push the On/off button to turn on the camera.


3. Open the lens cap by pushing the lens cap lever.
4. Aim the camera toward your target of interest.
5. Pull the trigger to save an image.
(Optional steps)
6. Install FLIR Tools on your computer.
7. Start FLIR Tools.
8. Connect the camera to your computer, using the USB cable.
9. Import the images into FLIR Tools.
10. Create a PDF report in FLIR Tools.

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6 Description

6.1 Camera parts

6.1.1 Figure

6.1.2 Explanation
1. Digital camera lens.
2. Infrared lens.
3. Lever to open and close the lens cap.
4. Trigger to save images.
5. Battery.

6.2 Keypad

6.2.1 Figure

6.2.2 Explanation
1. Camera screen.

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6 Description

2. Archive button .
Function:
• Push to open the image archive.
3. Navigation pad.
Function:
• Push left/right or up/down to navigate in menus, submenus, and dialog boxes.
• Push the center to confirm.
4. Cancel button .
Function:
• Push to cancel a choice.
• Push to go back into the menu system.

5. On/off button
Function:
• Push the button to turn on the camera.
• Push and hold the button for less than 5 seconds to put the camera in standby
mode. The camera then automatically turns off after 48 hours.
• Push and hold the button for more than 10 seconds to turn off the camera.

6.3 Connectors

6.3.1 Figure

6.3.2 Explanation
The purpose of this USB mini-B connector is the following:
• Charging the battery using the FLIR power supply.
• Charging the battery using a USB cable connected to a computer.

NOTE

Charging the camera using a USB cable connected to a computer takes considerably longer than
using the FLIR power supply or the FLIR stand-alone battery charger.

• Moving images from the camera to a computer for further analysis in FLIR Tools.

NOTE

Install FLIR Tools on your computer before you move the images.

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6 Description

6.4 Screen elements

6.4.1 Figure

6.4.2 Explanation
1. Main menu toolbar.
2. Submenu toolbar.
3. Spotmeter.
4. Result table.
5. Status icons.
6. Temperature scale.

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7 Operation

7.1 Charging the battery

7.1.1 Charging the battery using the FLIR power supply


Follow this procedure:
1. Connect the power supply to a wall outlet.
2. Connect the power supply cable to the USB connector on the camera.

NOTE

The charging time for a fully depleted battery is 2 hours.

7.1.2 Charging the battery using the FLIR stand-alone battery charger.
Follow this procedure:
1. Connect the stand-alone battery charger to a wall outlet.
2. Remove the battery from the camera.

3. Put the battery into the stand-alone battery charger.

NOTE

• The charging time for a fully depleted battery is 2 hours.


• The battery is being charged when the blue LED is flashing.
• The battery is fully charged when the blue LED is continuous.

7.1.3 Charging the battery using a USB cable


Follow this procedure:
1. Connect the camera to a computer using a USB cable.

NOTE

• To charge the camera, the computer must be turned on.


• Charging the camera using a USB cable connected to a computer takes considerably longer than
using the FLIR power supply or the FLIR stand-alone battery charger.

7.2 Turning on and turning off the camera

• Push the button to turn on the camera.


• Push and hold the button for less than 5 seconds to put the camera in standby
mode. The camera then automatically turns off after 48 hours.
• Push and hold the button for more than 10 seconds to turn off the camera.

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7 Operation

7.3 Saving an image

7.3.1 General
You can save multiple images to the internal camera memory.

7.3.2 Image capacity


Approximately 500 images can be saved to the internal camera memory.

7.3.3 Naming convention


The naming convention for images is FLIRxxxx.jpg, where xxxx is a unique counter.

7.3.4 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. To save an image, pull the trigger.

7.4 Recalling an image

7.4.1 General
When you save an image, it is stored in the internal camera memory. To display the im-
age again, you can recall it from the internal camera memory.

7.4.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:

1. Push the Archive button .


2. Push the navigation pad left/right or up/down to select the image you want to view.
3. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays the selected image.
4. To return to live mode, push the Cancel button repeatedly or push the Archive
button .

7.5 Deleting an image

7.5.1 General
You can delete one or more images from the internal camera memory.

7.5.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:

1. Push the Archive button .


2. Push the navigation pad left/right or up/down to select the image you want to view.
3. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays the selected image.
4. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.

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7 Operation

5. On the toolbar, select Delete .

7.6 Deleting all images

7.6.1 General
You can delete all images from the internal camera memory.

7.6.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select Device settings. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Reset options. This displays a dialog box.
5. In the dialog box, select Delete all saved images.

7.7 Measuring a temperature using a spotmeter

7.7.1 General
You can measure a temperature using a spotmeter. This will display the temperature at
the position of the spotmeter on the screen.

7.7.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Measurement . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select Center spot .
The temperature at the position of the spotmeter will now be displayed in the top left
corner of the screen.

7.8 Measuring the hottest temperature within an area

7.8.1 General
You can measure the hottest temperature within an area. This displays a moving spot-
meter that indicates the hottest temperature.

7.8.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Measurement . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select Auto hot spot .

7.9 Measuring the coldest temperature within an area

7.9.1 General
You can measure the coldest temperature within an area. This displays a moving spot-
meter that indicates the coldest temperature.

7.9.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Measurement . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select Auto cold spot .

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7 Operation

7.10 Hiding measurement tools

7.10.1 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Measurement . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select No measurements .

7.11 Changing the color palette

7.11.1 General
You can change the color palette that the camera uses to display different temperatures.
A different palette can make it easier to analyze an image.

7.11.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Color . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select a new color palette.

7.12 Working with color alarms

7.12.1 General
By using color alarms (isotherms), anomalies can easily be discovered in an infrared im-
age. The isotherm command applies a contrasting color to all pixels with a temperature
above or below the specified temperature level.

7.12.2 Image examples


This table explains the different color alarms (isotherms).

Color alarm Image

Below alarm

Above alarm

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7 Operation

7.12.3 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Color . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select the type of alarm:

• Below alarm .
• Above alarm .
4. Push the center of the navigation pad. The threshold temperature is displayed at the
bottom of the screen.
5. To change the threshold temperature, push the navigation pad up/down.

7.13 Changing image mode

7.13.1 General
The camera can operate in five different image modes:
• Thermal MSX (Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging): The camera displays an infrared im-
age where the edges of the objects are enhanced.

• Thermal: The camera displays a fully thermal image.

• Picture-in-picture: The camera displays a digital camera image with a superimposed


infrared image frame.

• Thermal blending: The camera displays a blended image that uses a mix of infrared
pixels and digital photo pixels. The mixing level can be adjusted.

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7 Operation

• Digital camera: The camera displays a digital camera image.

To display a good fusion image (Thermal MSX, Picture-in-picture, and Thermal blending
modes), the camera must make adjustments to compensate for the small difference in
position between the digital camera lens and the infrared lens. To adjust the image accu-
rately, the camera requires the alignment distance (i.e., the distance to the object).

7.13.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Image mode . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select one of the following:

• Thermal MSX .
• Thermal .
• Picture-in-picture .
• Thermal blending . This displays a dialog box where you can select the mixing
level.
• Digital camera .
4. If you have selected the Thermal MSX, Picture-in-picture, or Thermal blending mode,
also set the distance to the object by doing the following:

• On the Image mode toolbar, select Alignment distance . This displays a dialog
box.
• In the dialog box, select the distance to the object.

7.14 Changing the temperature scale mode

7.14.1 General
The camera can, depending on the camera model, operate in different temperature scale
modes:
• Auto mode: In this mode, the camera is continuously auto-adjusted for the best image
brightness and contrast.
• Lock mode: In this mode, the camera locks the temperature span and the temperature
level.

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7 Operation

• Manual mode: This mode allows manual adjustments of the temperature span and
the temperature level.

7.14.2 When to use Lock mode


A typical situation where you would want to use Lock mode is when looking for tempera-
ture anomalies in two items with a similar design or construction.
For example, if you are looking at two cables, where you suspect one is overheated,
working in Lock mode will clearly show that one is overheated. The higher temperature in
that cable would create a lighter color for the higher temperature.
If you use Auto mode instead, the color for the two items will appear the same.

7.14.3 When to use Manual mode

7.14.3.1 Example 1
This figure shows two infrared images of cable connection points. In the left image, a cor-
rect analysis of the circled cable is difficult if you only auto-adjust the image. You can an-
alyze this cable in more detail if you:
• Change the temperature scale maximum limit.
• Change the temperature scale minimum limit.
• Change the temperature scale maximum and minimum limits.
In the left image, the image is auto-adjusted. In the right image, the maximum and mini-
mum temperature levels have been changed to temperature levels near the object. On
the temperature scale to the right of each image you can see how the temperature levels
were changed.

7.14.3.2 Example 2
This figure shows two infrared images of an isolator in a power line.
In the left image, the cold sky and the power line structure are recorded at a minimum
temperature of –26.0°C (–14.8°F). In the right image, the maximum and minimum tem-
perature levels have been changed to temperature levels near the isolator. This makes it
easier to analyze the temperature variations in the isolator.

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7 Operation

7.14.4 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Temperature scale . This displays a toolbar.
3. On the toolbar, select one of the following:

• Auto .
• Lock .
• Manual .
4. To change the temperature span and the temperature level in Manual mode, do the
following:
• Push the navigation pad left/right to select (highlight) the maximum and/or mini-
mum temperature.
• Push the navigation pad up/down to change the value of the highlighted
temperature.

7.15 Setting the emissivity as a surface property

7.15.1 General
To measure temperatures accurately, the camera must know what kind of surface you
are measuring. You can choose between the following surface properties:
• Matt.
• Semi-matt.
• Semi-glossy.
For more information about emissivity, see section 15 Thermographic measurement
techniques, page 50.

7.15.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity. This displays a dialog box.
5. In the dialog box, select one of the following:
• Matt.
• Semi-matt.
• Semi-glossy.

7.16 Setting the emissivity as a custom material

7.16.1 General
Instead of specifying a surface property as matt, semi-matt or semi-glossy, you can spec-
ify a custom material from a list of materials.
For more information about emissivity, see section 15 Thermographic measurement
techniques, page 50.

7.16.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity. This displays a dialog box.

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7 Operation

5. In the dialog box, select Custom material. This displays a list of materials with known
emissivities.
6. In the list, select the material.

7.17 Changing the emissivity as a custom value

7.17.1 General
For very precise measurements, you may need to set the emissivity, instead of selecting
a surface property or a custom material. You also need to understand how emissivity and
reflectivity affect measurements, rather than just simply selecting a surface property.
Emissivity is a property that indicates how much radiation originates from an object as
opposed to being reflected by it. A lower value indicates that a larger proportion is being
reflected, while a high value indicates that a lower proportion is being reflected.
Polished stainless steel, for example, has an emissivity of 0.14, while a structured PVC
floor typically has an emissivity of 0.93.
For more information about emissivity, see section 15 Thermographic measurement
techniques, page 50.

7.17.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Emissivity. This displays a dialog box.
5. In the dialog box, select Custom value. This displays a dialog box where you can set
a custom value.

7.18 Changing the reflected apparent temperature

7.18.1 General
This parameter is used to compensate for the radiation reflected by the object. If the
emissivity is low and the object temperature significantly different from that of the re-
flected temperature, it will be important to set and compensate for the reflected apparent
temperature correctly.
For more information about reflected apparent temperature, see section 15 Thermo-
graphic measurement techniques, page 50.

7.18.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Reflected apparent temperature. This displays a dialog box
where you can set a value.

7.19 Changing the distance between the object and the camera

7.19.1 General
To measure temperatures accurately, the camera requires the distance between the
camera and the object.

7.19.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.

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7 Operation

2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.


3. In the dialog box, select Measurement parameters. This displays a dialog box.
4. In the dialog box, select Distance. This displays a dialog box where you can select a
distance.

7.20 Performing a non-uniformity correction (NUC)

7.20.1 What is a non-uniformity correction?


A non-uniformity correction is an image correction carried out by the camera software to
compensate for different sensitivities of detector elements and other optical and geomet-
rical disturbances1.

7.20.2 When to perform a non-uniformity correction?


The non-uniformity correction process should be carried out whenever the output image
becomes spatially noisy. The output can become spatially noisy when the ambient tem-
perature changes (such as from day to night operation, and vice versa).

7.20.3 Procedure

To perform a non-uniformity correction, push and hold the Image archive button for
more than 2 seconds.

7.21 Changing the settings

7.21.1 General
You can change a variety of settings for the camera.
The Settings menu includes the following:
• Measurement parameters.
• Save options.
• Device settings.

7.21.1.1 Measurement parameters


• Emissivity.
• Reflected temperature.
• Distance.

7.21.1.2 Save options


• Photo as separate JPEG: When this menu command is selected, the digital photo
from the visual camera is saved at its full field of view as a separate JPEG image.

7.21.1.3 Device settings


• Language, time & units:
• Language.
• Temperature unit.
• Distance unit.
• Date & time.
• Date & time format.
• Reset options:
• Reset default camera mode.
• Reset device settings to factory default.
• Delete all saved images.

1. Definition from the impending international adoption of DIN 54190-3 (Non-destructive testing – Thermographic
testing – Part 3: Terms and definitions).

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7 Operation

• Auto power off.


• Display intensity.
• Demonstration mode: This menu command provides a camera mode that displays
various images without any user interventions. The camera mode is intended for dem-
onstration purposes or when displaying the camera in a store.
• Off.
• Electrical applications.
• Building applications.
• Camera information: This menu command displays various items of information about
the camera, such as the model, serial number, and software version.

7.21.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Push the center of the navigation pad. This displays a toolbar.
2. On the toolbar, select Settings . This displays a dialog box.
3. In the dialog box, select the setting that you want to change and use the navigation
pad to display additional dialog boxes.

7.22 Updating the camera

7.22.1 General
To take advantage of our latest camera firmware, it is important that you keep your cam-
era updated. You update your camera using FLIR Tools.

7.22.2 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Start FLIR Tools.
2. Start the camera.
3. Connect the camera to the computer using the USB cable.
4. On the Help menu in FLIR Tools, click Check for updates.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

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8 Technical data

8.1 Online field-of-view calculator


Please visit http://support.flir.com and click the FLIR Ex camera for field-of-view tables
for all lens–camera combinations in this camera series.

8.2 Note about technical data


FLIR Systems reserves the right to change specifications at any time without prior notice.
Please check http://support.flir.com for latest changes.

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8 Technical data

8.3 FLIR E4

P/N: 63901-0101
Rev.: 22369
General description

The FLIR Ex series cameras are point-and-shoot infrared cameras that give you access to the infrared
world. A FLIR Ex series camera is an affordable replacement for an infrared thermometer, providing a
thermal image with temperature information in every pixel. The new MSX and visual formats make the
cameras incomparably easy to use.
The FLIR Ex series cameras are user-friendly, compact, and rugged, for use in harsh environments.
The wide field of view makes them the perfect choice for building applications.

Benefits:

• Easy to use: The FLIR Ex series cameras are fully automatic and focus-free with an intuitive inter-
face for simple measurements in thermal, visual, or MSX mode.
• Compact and rugged: The FLIR Ex series cameras’ low weight of 0.575 kg and the accessory belt
pouch make them easy to bring along at all times. Their rugged design can withstand a 2 m drop
test, and ensures reliability, even in harsh environments.
• Ground breaking affordability: The FLIR Ex series cameras are the most affordable infrared cameras
on the market.

Imaging and optical data

IR resolution 80 × 60 pixels

Thermal sensitivity/NETD <0.15°C (0.27°F) / <150 mK

Field of view (FOV) 45° × 34°

Minimum focus distance 0.5 m (1.6 ft.)

Spatial resolution (IFOV) 10.3 mrad


F-number 1.5
Image frequency 9 Hz

Focus Focus free

Detector data
Detector type Focal plane array (FPA), uncooled
microbolometer
Spectral range 7.5–13 µm

Image presentation

Display 3.0 in. 320 × 240 color LCD


Image adjustment Automatic adjust/lock image

Image presentation modes

Image modes Thermal MSX, Thermal, Thermal blending, Digital


camera.
Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) IR image with enhanced detail presentation

Measurement
Object temperature range –20°C to +250°C (–4°F to +482°F)

Accuracy ±2°C (±3.6°F) or ±2% of reading, for ambient tem-


perature 10°C to 35°C (+50°F to 95°F) and object
temperature above +0°C (+32°F)

Measurement analysis

Spotmeter Center spot


Emissivity correction Variable from 0.1 to 1.0
Emissivity table Emissivity table of predefined materials

Reflected apparent temperature correction Automatic, based on input of reflected


temperature

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8 Technical data

Set-up

Color palettes Black and white, iron and rainbow

Set-up commands Local adaptation of units, language, date and time


formats

Storage of images

File formats Standard JPEG, 14-bit measurement data


included

Data communication interfaces


Interfaces USB Micro: Data transfer to and from PC and
Mac device

Power system
Battery type Rechargeable Li Ion battery

Battery voltage 3.7 V

Battery operating time Approx. 4 hours at +25°C (+77°F) ambient tem-


perature and typical use

Charging system Battery is charged inside the camera or in specific


charger.

Charging time 2.5 hours to 90% capacity in camera. 2 hours in


charger.

Power management Automatic shut-down

AC operation AC adapter, 90–260 VAC input, 5 VDC output to


camera

Environmental data
Operating temperature range –15°C to +50°C (+5°F to +122°F)

Storage temperature range –40°C to +70°C (–40°F to +158°F)

Humidity (operating and storage) IEC 60068-2-30/24 h 95% relative humidity

EMC
• WEEE 2012/19/EC
• RoHs 2011/65/EC
• C-Tick
• EN 61000-6-3
• EN 61000-6-2
• FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class B
Encapsulation IP 54 (IEC 60529)

Shock 25 g (IEC 60068-2-27)

Vibration 2 g (IEC 60068-2-6)

Drop 2 m (6.6 ft.)

Physical data

Camera weight, incl. battery 0.575 kg (1.27 lb.)

Camera size (L × W × H) 244 × 95 × 140 mm (9.6 × 3.7 × 5.5 in.)

Color Black and gray

Certifications
Certification UL, CSA, CE, PSE and CCC

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8 Technical data

Shipping information

Packaging, type Cardboard box


List of contents
• Infrared camera
• Hard transport case
• Battery (inside camera)
• USB cable
• Power supply/charger with EU, UK, US and
Australian plugs
• User documentation CD-ROM
• Printed documentation
• FLIR Tools download card
Packaging, weight 2.9 kg (6.4 lb.)

Packaging, size 385 × 165 × 315 mm (15.2 × 6.5 × 12.4 in.)

EAN-13 4743254000995
UPC-12 845188004941
Country of origin Estonia

Supplies & accessories:


• T911093; Tool belt
• T198528; Hard transport case FLIR Ex-series
• T198530; Battery
• T198531; Battery charger incl power supply
• T198532; Car charger
• T198534; Power supply USB-micro
• T198529; Pouch FLIR Ex and ix series
• T198533; USB cable Std A <-> Micro B
• T198583; FLIR Tools+ (license only)

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8 Technical data

8.4 FLIR E5

P/N: 63905-0501
Rev.: 22369
General description

The FLIR Ex series cameras are point-and-shoot infrared cameras that give you access to the infrared
world. A FLIR Ex series camera is an affordable replacement for an infrared thermometer, providing a
thermal image with temperature information in every pixel. The new MSX and visual formats make the
cameras incomparably easy to use.
The FLIR Ex series cameras are user-friendly, compact, and rugged, for use in harsh environments.
The wide field of view makes them the perfect choice for building applications.

Benefits:

• Easy to use: The FLIR Ex series cameras are fully automatic and focus-free with an intuitive inter-
face for simple measurements in thermal, visual, or MSX mode.
• Compact and rugged: The FLIR Ex series cameras’ low weight of 0.575 kg and the accessory belt
pouch make them easy to bring along at all times. Their rugged design can withstand a 2 m drop
test, and ensures reliability, even in harsh environments.
• Ground breaking affordability: The FLIR Ex series cameras are the most affordable infrared cameras
on the market.

Imaging and optical data

IR resolution 120 × 90 pixels

Thermal sensitivity/NETD <0.10°C (0.27°F) / <100 mK

Field of view (FOV) 45° × 34°

Minimum focus distance 0.5 m (1.6 ft.)

Spatial resolution (IFOV) 6.9 mrad


F-number 1.5
Image frequency 9 Hz

Focus Focus free

Detector data
Detector type Focal plane array (FPA), uncooled
microbolometer
Spectral range 7.5–13 µm

Image presentation

Display 3.0 in. 320 × 240 color LCD


Image adjustment Automatic adjust/lock image

Image presentation modes

Image modes Thermal MSX, Thermal, Thermal blending, Digital


camera.
Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) IR image with enhanced detail presentation

Measurement
Object temperature range –20°C to +250°C (–4°F to +482°F)

Accuracy ±2°C (±3.6°F) or ±2% of reading, for ambient tem-


perature 10°C to 35°C (+50°F to 95°F) and object
temperature above +0°C (+32°F)

Measurement analysis

Spotmeter Center spot


Area Box with max./min.
Emissivity correction Variable from 0.1 to 1.0

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8 Technical data

Measurement analysis
Emissivity table Emissivity table of predefined materials

Reflected apparent temperature correction Automatic, based on input of reflected


temperature

Set-up

Color palettes Black and white, iron and rainbow

Set-up commands Local adaptation of units, language, date and time


formats

Storage of images

File formats Standard JPEG, 14-bit measurement data


included

Data communication interfaces


Interfaces USB Micro: Data transfer to and from PC and
Mac device

Power system
Battery type Rechargeable Li Ion battery

Battery voltage 3.7 V

Battery operating time Approx. 4 hours at +25°C (+77°F) ambient tem-


perature and typical use

Charging system Battery is charged inside the camera or in specific


charger.

Charging time 2.5 hours to 90% capacity in camera. 2 hours in


charger.

Power management Automatic shut-down

AC operation AC adapter, 90–260 VAC input, 5 VDC output to


camera

Environmental data
Operating temperature range –15°C to +50°C (+5°F to +122°F)

Storage temperature range –40°C to +70°C (–40°F to +158°F)

Humidity (operating and storage) IEC 60068-2-30/24 h 95% relative humidity

EMC
• WEEE 2012/19/EC
• RoHs 2011/65/EC
• C-Tick
• EN 61000-6-3
• EN 61000-6-2
• FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class B
Encapsulation IP 54 (IEC 60529)

Shock 25 g (IEC 60068-2-27)

Vibration 2 g (IEC 60068-2-6)

Drop 2 m (6.6 ft.)

Physical data

Camera weight, incl. battery 0.575 kg (1.27 lb.)

Camera size (L × W × H) 244 × 95 × 140 mm (9.6 × 3.7 × 5.5 in.)

Color Black and gray

Certifications
Certification UL, CSA, CE, PSE and CCC

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 28


8 Technical data

Shipping information

Packaging, type Cardboard box


List of contents
• Infrared camera
• Hard transport case
• Battery (inside camera)
• USB cable
• Power supply/charger with EU, UK, US and
Australian plugs
• User documentation CD-ROM
• Printed documentation
• FLIR Tools download card
Packaging, weight 2.9 kg (6.4 lb.)

Packaging, size 385 × 165 × 315 mm (15.2 × 6.5 × 12.4 in.)

EAN-13 4743254001114
UPC-12 845188005146
Country of origin Estonia

Supplies & accessories:


• T911093; Tool belt
• T198528; Hard transport case FLIR Ex-series
• T198530; Battery
• T198531; Battery charger incl power supply
• T198532; Car charger
• T198534; Power supply USB-micro
• T198529; Pouch FLIR Ex and ix series
• T198533; USB cable Std A <-> Micro B
• T198583; FLIR Tools+ (license only)

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 29


8 Technical data

8.5 FLIR E6

P/N: 63902-0202
Rev.: 22369
General description

The FLIR Ex series cameras are point-and-shoot infrared cameras that give you access to the infrared
world. A FLIR Ex series camera is an affordable replacement for an infrared thermometer, providing a
thermal image with temperature information in every pixel. The new MSX and visual formats make the
cameras incomparably easy to use.
The FLIR Ex series cameras are user-friendly, compact, and rugged, for use in harsh environments.
The wide field of view makes them the perfect choice for building applications.

Benefits:

• Easy to use: The FLIR Ex series cameras are fully automatic and focus-free with an intuitive inter-
face for simple measurements in thermal, visual, or MSX mode.
• Compact and rugged: The FLIR Ex series cameras’ low weight of 0.575 kg and the accessory belt
pouch make them easy to bring along at all times. Their rugged design can withstand a 2 m drop
test, and ensures reliability, even in harsh environments.
• Ground breaking affordability: The FLIR Ex series cameras are the most affordable infrared cameras
on the market.

Imaging and optical data

IR resolution 160 × 120 pixels

Thermal sensitivity/NETD <0.06°C (0.11°F) / <60 mK

Field of view (FOV) 45° × 34°

Minimum focus distance 0.5 m (1.6 ft.)

Spatial resolution (IFOV) 5.2 mrad


F-number 1.5
Image frequency 9 Hz

Focus Focus free

Detector data
Detector type Focal plane array (FPA), uncooled
microbolometer
Spectral range 7.5–13 µm

Image presentation

Display 3.0 in. 320 × 240 color LCD


Image adjustment Automatic/Manual

Image presentation modes

Image modes Thermal MSX, Thermal, Picture-in-Picture, Ther-


mal blending, Digital camera.

Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) IR image with enhanced detail presentation

Picture in Picture IR area on visual image

Measurement
Object temperature range –20°C to +250°C (–4°F to +482°F)

Accuracy ±2°C (±3.6°F) or ±2% of reading, for ambient tem-


perature 10°C to 35°C (+50°F to 95°F) and object
temperature above +0°C (+32°F)

Measurement analysis

Spotmeter Center spot


Area Box with max./min.
Emissivity correction Variable from 0.1 to 1.0

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 30


8 Technical data

Measurement analysis
Emissivity table Emissivity table of predefined materials

Reflected apparent temperature correction Automatic, based on input of reflected


temperature

Set-up

Color palettes Black and white, iron and rainbow

Set-up commands Local adaptation of units, language, date and time


formats

Storage of images

File formats Standard JPEG, 14-bit measurement data


included

Data communication interfaces


Interfaces USB Micro: Data transfer to and from PC and
Mac device

Power system
Battery type Rechargeable Li Ion battery

Battery voltage 3.7 V

Battery operating time Approx. 4 hours at +25°C (+77°F) ambient tem-


perature and typical use

Charging system Battery is charged inside the camera or in specific


charger.

Charging time 2.5 hours to 90% capacity in camera. 2 hours in


charger.

Power management Automatic shut-down

AC operation AC adapter, 90–260 VAC input, 5 VDC output to


camera

Environmental data
Operating temperature range –15°C to +50°C (+5°F to +122°F)

Storage temperature range –40°C to +70°C (–40°F to +158°F)

Humidity (operating and storage) IEC 60068-2-30/24 h 95% relative humidity

EMC
• WEEE 2012/19/EC
• RoHs 2011/65/EC
• C-Tick
• EN 61000-6-3
• EN 61000-6-2
• FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class B
Encapsulation IP 54 (IEC 60529)

Shock 25 g (IEC 60068-2-27)

Vibration 2 g (IEC 60068-2-6)

Drop 2 m (6.6 ft.)

Physical data

Camera weight, incl. battery 0.575 kg (1.27 lb.)

Camera size (L × W × H) 244 × 95 × 140 mm (9.6 × 3.7 × 5.5 in.)

Color Black and gray

Certifications
Certification UL, CSA, CE, PSE and CCC

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 31


8 Technical data

Shipping information

Packaging, type Cardboard box


List of contents
• Infrared camera
• Hard transport case
• Battery (inside camera)
• USB cable
• Power supply/charger with EU, UK, US and
Australian plugs
• User documentation CD-ROM
• Printed documentation
• FLIR Tools download card
Packaging, weight 2.9 kg (6.4 lb.)

Packaging, size 385 × 165 × 315 mm (15.2 × 6.5 × 12.4 in.)

EAN-13 4743254001008
UPC-12 845188004958
Country of origin Estonia

Supplies & accessories:


• T911093; Tool belt
• T198528; Hard transport case FLIR Ex-series
• T198530; Battery
• T198531; Battery charger incl power supply
• T198532; Car charger
• T198534; Power supply USB-micro
• T198529; Pouch FLIR Ex and ix series
• T198533; USB cable Std A <-> Micro B
• T198583; FLIR Tools+ (license only)

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 32


8 Technical data

8.6 FLIR E8

P/N: 63903-0303
Rev.: 22369
General description

The FLIR Ex series cameras are point-and-shoot infrared cameras that give you access to the infrared
world. A FLIR Ex series camera is an affordable replacement for an infrared thermometer, providing a
thermal image with temperature information in every pixel. The new MSX and visual formats make the
cameras incomparably easy to use.
The FLIR Ex series cameras are user-friendly, compact, and rugged, for use in harsh environments.
The wide field of view makes them the perfect choice for building applications.

Benefits:

• Easy to use: The FLIR Ex series cameras are fully automatic and focus-free with an intuitive inter-
face for simple measurements in thermal, visual, or MSX mode.
• Compact and rugged: The FLIR Ex series cameras’ low weight of 0.575 kg and the accessory belt
pouch make them easy to bring along at all times. Their rugged design can withstand a 2 m drop
test, and ensures reliability, even in harsh environments.
• Ground breaking affordability: The FLIR Ex series cameras are the most affordable infrared cameras
on the market.

Imaging and optical data

IR resolution 320 × 240 pixels

Thermal sensitivity/NETD <0.06°C (0.11°F) / <60 mK

Field of view (FOV) 45° × 34°

Minimum focus distance 0.5 m (1.6 ft.)

Spatial resolution (IFOV) 2.6 mrad


F-number 1.5
Image frequency 9 Hz

Focus Focus free

Detector data
Detector type Focal plane array (FPA), uncooled
microbolometer
Spectral range 7.5–13 µm

Image presentation

Display 3.0 in. 320 × 240 color LCD


Image adjustment Automatic/Manual

Image presentation modes

Image modes Thermal MSX, Thermal, Picture-in-Picture, Ther-


mal blending, Digital camera.

Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) IR image with enhanced detail presentation

Picture in Picture IR area on visual image

Measurement
Object temperature range –20°C to +250°C (–4°F to +482°F)

Accuracy ±2°C (±3.6°F) or ±2% of reading, for ambient tem-


perature 10°C to 35°C (+50°F to 95°F) and object
temperature above +0°C (+32°F)

Measurement analysis

Spotmeter Center spot


Area Box with max./min.
Emissivity correction Variable from 0.1 to 1.0

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 33


8 Technical data

Measurement analysis
Emissivity table Emissivity table of predefined materials

Reflected apparent temperature correction Automatic, based on input of reflected


temperature

Set-up

Color palettes Black and white, iron and rainbow

Set-up commands Local adaptation of units, language, date and time


formats

Storage of images

File formats Standard JPEG, 14-bit measurement data


included

Data communication interfaces


Interfaces USB Micro: Data transfer to and from PC and
Mac device

Power system
Battery type Rechargeable Li Ion battery

Battery voltage 3.7 V

Battery operating time Approx. 4 hours at +25°C (+77°F) ambient tem-


perature and typical use

Charging system Battery is charged inside the camera or in specific


charger.

Charging time 2.5 hours to 90% capacity in camera. 2 hours in


charger.

Power management Automatic shut-down

AC operation AC adapter, 90–260 VAC input, 5 VDC output to


camera

Environmental data
Operating temperature range –15°C to +50°C (+5°F to +122°F)

Storage temperature range –40°C to +70°C (–40°F to +158°F)

Humidity (operating and storage) IEC 60068-2-30/24 h 95% relative humidity

EMC
• WEEE 2012/19/EC
• RoHs 2011/65/EC
• C-Tick
• EN 61000-6-3
• EN 61000-6-2
• FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class B
Encapsulation IP 54 (IEC 60529)

Shock 25 g (IEC 60068-2-27)

Vibration 2 g (IEC 60068-2-6)

Drop 2 m (6.6 ft.)

Physical data

Camera weight, incl. battery 0.575 kg (1.27 lb.)

Camera size (L × W × H) 244 × 95 × 140 mm (9.6 × 3.7 × 5.5 in.)

Color Black and gray

Certifications
Certification UL, CSA, CE, PSE and CCC

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 34


8 Technical data

Shipping information

Packaging, type Cardboard box


List of contents
• Infrared camera
• Hard transport case
• Battery (2x)
• USB cable
• Power supply/charger with EU, UK, US and
Australian plugs
• Battery charger
• User documentation CD-ROM
• Printed documentation
• FLIR Tools download card
Packaging, weight 3.13 kg (6.9 lb.)

Packaging, size 385 × 165 × 315 mm (15.2 × 6.5 × 12.4 in.)

EAN-13 4743254001015
UPC-12 845188004965
Country of origin Estonia

Supplies & accessories:


• T911093; Tool belt
• T198528; Hard transport case FLIR Ex-series
• T198530; Battery
• T198531; Battery charger incl power supply
• T198532; Car charger
• T198534; Power supply USB-micro
• T198529; Pouch FLIR Ex and ix series
• T198533; USB cable Std A <-> Micro B
• T198583; FLIR Tools+ (license only)

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 35


© 2012, FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this drawing may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without written permission from FLIR Systems, Inc. Specifications subject to change without further notice. Dimensional data is based on nominal values. Products may be subject to regional market considerations. License procedures may apply.
Product may be subject to US Export Regulations. Please refer to [email protected] with any questions. Diversion contrary to US law is prohibited.
B
A

H
E

F
D

G
1

1
2

7,41in 2,17in
188,3mm 55,2mm
3

3
Camera with built-in IR lens f=6,5 mm (45°)

IR optical axis
Visual optical axis

0,53in
13,5mm
108
4

4
,
7in
4,2 6mm

250
,
9,8 4mm
6in
48,
3,08in
78,3mm

in
3m
1,9 m
5

5
5,52in
140,1mm

60,
7
9in
2,3 mm
6

6
9,59in
243,5mm
7

7
1,7in

3,73in
94,8mm
43,1mm
Optical axis

2,2in
56mm
8

-
Modified

Denomination
2013-03-25
Check
CAHA
9

Drawn by

Basic dimensions FLIR Ex


R&D Thermography
Size

Scale
1:2
A2

Drawing No.
10

T127831
Size
Sheet

A
1(2)
D

F
B
A

E
C

G
© 2012, FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this drawing may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without written permission from FLIR Systems, Inc. Specifications subject to change without further notice. Dimensional data is based on nominal values. Products may be subject to regional market considerations. License procedures may apply.
Product may be subject to US Export Regulations. Please refer to [email protected] with any questions. Diversion contrary to US law is prohibited.
F
E
B
A

H
D
C

G
1

1
1,96in
49,9mm
2

3,52in
89,5mm
0,87in
2,6in 22,1mm
66mm
Charger and Power pack
3

3
1,66in
1,41in
0,84in

42,3mm
35,8mm
21,4mm

0
R1 ,41
0,5 in
mm
4

4
5

5
3,21in
81,5mm
6

6
2,29in
58,3mm
4,13in
105mm
7

-
Modified

Denomination
2013-03-25
Check
8

CAHA
2,56in
65mm

Drawn by

Basic dimensions FLIR Ex


9

R&D Thermography
Size

Scale
1:2
A3

Drawing No.
10

T127831
Size
Sheet

A
2(2)
F
E
B
A

D
C

G
10 Declaration of conformity

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 38


11 Cleaning the camera

11.1 Camera housing, cables, and other items

11.1.1 Liquids
Use one of these liquids:
• Warm water
• A weak detergent solution

11.1.2 Equipment
A soft cloth

11.1.3 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Soak the cloth in the liquid.
2. Twist the cloth to remove excess liquid.
3. Clean the part with the cloth.

CAUTION

Do not apply solvents or similar liquids to the camera, the cables, or other items. This can cause
damage.

11.2 Infrared lens

11.2.1 Liquids
Use one of these liquids:
• A commercial lens cleaning liquid with more than 30% isopropyl alcohol.
• 96% ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH).

11.2.2 Equipment
Cotton wool

11.2.3 Procedure
Follow this procedure:
1. Soak the cotton wool in the liquid.
2. Twist the cotton wool to remove excess liquid.
3. Clean the lens one time only and discard the cotton wool.

WARNING

Make sure that you read all applicable MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) and warning labels on con-
tainers before you use a liquid: the liquids can be dangerous.

CAUTION

• Be careful when you clean the infrared lens. The lens has a delicate anti-reflective coating.
• Do not clean the infrared lens too vigorously. This can damage the anti-reflective coating.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 39


12 Application examples

12.1 Moisture & water damage

12.1.1 General
It is often possible to detect moisture and water damage in a house by using an infrared
camera. This is partly because the damaged area has a different heat conduction prop-
erty and partly because it has a different thermal capacity to store heat than the sur-
rounding material.

NOTE

Many factors can come into play as to how moisture or water damage will appear in an infrared image.
For example, heating and cooling of these parts takes place at different rates depending on the material
and the time of day. For this reason, it is important that other methods are used as well to check for
moisture or water damage.

12.1.2 Figure
The image below shows extensive water damage on an external wall where the water
has penetrated the outer facing because of an incorrectly installed window ledge.

12.2 Faulty contact in socket

12.2.1 General
Depending on the type of connection a socket has, an improperly connected wire can re-
sult in local temperature increase. This temperature increase is caused by the reduced
contact area between the connection point of the incoming wire and the socket , and can
result in an electrical fire.

NOTE

A socket’s construction may differ dramatically from one manufacturer to another. For this reason, differ-
ent faults in a socket can lead to the same typical appearance in an infrared image.
Local temperature increase can also result from improper contact between wire and socket, or from dif-
ference in load.

12.2.2 Figure
The image below shows a connection of a cable to a socket where improper contact in
the connection has resulted in local temperature increase.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 40


12 Application examples

12.3 Oxidized socket

12.3.1 General
Depending on the type of socket and the environment in which the socket is installed, ox-
ides may occur on the socket's contact surfaces. These oxides can lead to locally in-
creased resistance when the socket is loaded, which can be seen in an infrared image
as local temperature increase.

NOTE

A socket’s construction may differ dramatically from one manufacturer to another. For this reason, differ-
ent faults in a socket can lead to the same typical appearance in an infrared image.
Local temperature increase can also result from improper contact between a wire and socket, or from
difference in load.

12.3.2 Figure
The image below shows a series of fuses where one fuse has a raised temperature on
the contact surfaces against the fuse holder. Because of the fuse holder’s blank metal,
the temperature increase is not visible there, while it is visible on the fuse’s ceramic
material.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 41


12 Application examples

12.4 Insulation deficiencies

12.4.1 General
Insulation deficiencies may result from insulation losing volume over the course of time
and thereby not entirely filling the cavity in a frame wall.
An infrared camera allows you to see these insulation deficiencies because they either
have a different heat conduction property than sections with correctly installed insulation,
and/or show the area where air is penetrating the frame of the building.

NOTE

When you are inspecting a building, the temperature difference between the inside and outside should
be at least 10°C (18°F). Studs, water pipes, concrete columns, and similar components may resemble
an insulation deficiency in an infrared image. Minor differences may also occur naturally.

12.4.2 Figure
In the image below, insulation in the roof framing is lacking. Due to the absence of insula-
tion, air has forced its way into the roof structure, which thus takes on a different charac-
teristic appearance in the infrared image.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 42


12 Application examples

12.5 Draft

12.5.1 General
Draft can be found under baseboards, around door and window casings, and above ceil-
ing trim. This type of draft is often possible to see with an infrared camera, as a cooler
airstream cools down the surrounding surface.

NOTE

When you are investigating draft in a house, there should be sub-atmospheric pressure in the house.
Close all doors, windows, and ventilation ducts, and allow the kitchen fan to run for a while before you
take the infrared images.
An infrared image of draft often shows a typical stream pattern. You can see this stream pattern clearly
in the picture below.
Also keep in mind that drafts can be concealed by heat from floor heating circuits.

12.5.2 Figure
The image below shows a ceiling hatch where faulty installation has resulted in a strong
draft.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 43


13 About FLIR Systems

FLIR Systems was established in 1978 to pioneer the development of high-performance


infrared imaging systems, and is the world leader in the design, manufacture, and mar-
keting of thermal imaging systems for a wide variety of commercial, industrial, and gov-
ernment applications. Today, FLIR Systems embraces five major companies with
outstanding achievements in infrared technology since 1958—the Swedish AGEMA In-
frared Systems (formerly AGA Infrared Systems), the three United States companies In-
digo Systems, FSI, and Inframetrics, and the French company Cedip.
Since 2007, FLIR Systems has acquired several companies with world-leading expertise
in sensor technologies:
• Extech Instruments (2007)
• Ifara Tecnologías (2008)
• Salvador Imaging (2009)
• OmniTech Partners (2009)
• Directed Perception (2009)
• Raymarine (2010)
• ICx Technologies (2010)
• TackTick Marine Digital Instruments (2011)
• Aerius Photonics (2011)
• Lorex Technology (2012)
• Traficon (2012)
• MARSS (2013)
• DigitalOptics micro-optics business (2013)

Figure 13.1 Patent documents from the early 1960s

The company has sold more than 350,000 infrared cameras worldwide for applications
such as predictive maintenance, R & D, non-destructive testing, process control and au-
tomation, and machine vision, among many others.
FLIR Systems has three manufacturing plants in the United States (Portland, OR, Bos-
ton, MA, Santa Barbara, CA) and one in Sweden (Stockholm). Since 2007 there is also a
manufacturing plant in Tallinn, Estonia. Direct sales offices in Belgium, Brazil, China,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and the USA
—together with a worldwide network of agents and distributors—support our internation-
al customer base.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 44


13 About FLIR Systems

FLIR Systems is at the forefront of innovation in the infrared camera industry. We antici-
pate market demand by constantly improving our existing cameras and developing new
ones. The company has set milestones in product design and development such as the
introduction of the first battery-operated portable camera for industrial inspections, and
the first uncooled infrared camera, to mention just two innovations.

Figure 13.2 LEFT: Thermovision Model 661 from 1969. The camera weighed approximately 25 kg
(55 lb.), the oscilloscope 20 kg (44 lb.), and the tripod 15 kg (33 lb.). The operator also needed a 220 VAC
generator set, and a 10 L (2.6 US gallon) jar with liquid nitrogen. To the left of the oscilloscope the Polaroid
attachment (6 kg/13 lb.) can be seen. RIGHT: FLIR One, which was launched in January 2014, is a slide-
on attachment that gives iPhones thermal imaging capabilities. Weight: 90 g (3.2 oz.).

FLIR Systems manufactures all vital mechanical and electronic components of the cam-
era systems itself. From detector design and manufacturing, to lenses and system elec-
tronics, to final testing and calibration, all production steps are carried out and
supervised by our own engineers. The in-depth expertise of these infrared specialists en-
sures the accuracy and reliability of all vital components that are assembled into your in-
frared camera.

13.1 More than just an infrared camera


At FLIR Systems we recognize that our job is to go beyond just producing the best infra-
red camera systems. We are committed to enabling all users of our infrared camera sys-
tems to work more productively by providing them with the most powerful camera–
software combination. Especially tailored software for predictive maintenance, R & D,
and process monitoring is developed in-house. Most software is available in a wide varie-
ty of languages.
We support all our infrared cameras with a wide variety of accessories to adapt your
equipment to the most demanding infrared applications.

13.2 Sharing our knowledge


Although our cameras are designed to be very user-friendly, there is a lot more to ther-
mography than just knowing how to handle a camera. Therefore, FLIR Systems has
founded the Infrared Training Center (ITC), a separate business unit, that provides certi-
fied training courses. Attending one of the ITC courses will give you a truly hands-on
learning experience.
The staff of the ITC are also there to provide you with any application support you may
need in putting infrared theory into practice.

13.3 Supporting our customers


FLIR Systems operates a worldwide service network to keep your camera running at all
times. If you discover a problem with your camera, local service centers have all the
equipment and expertise to solve it within the shortest possible time. Therefore, there is
no need to send your camera to the other side of the world or to talk to someone who
does not speak your language.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 45


13 About FLIR Systems

13.4 A few images from our facilities

Figure 13.3 LEFT: Development of system electronics; RIGHT: Testing of an FPA detector

Figure 13.4 LEFT: Diamond turning machine; RIGHT: Lens polishing

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 46


14 Glossary

absorption The amount of radiation absorbed by an object relative to the re-


(absorption ceived radiation. A number between 0 and 1.
factor)
atmosphere The gases between the object being measured and the camera, nor-
mally air.
autoadjust A function making a camera perform an internal image correction.
autopalette The IR image is shown with an uneven spread of colors, displaying
cold objects as well as hot ones at the same time.
blackbody Totally non-reflective object. All its radiation is due to its own
temperature.
blackbody An IR radiating equipment with blackbody properties used to cali-
radiator brate IR cameras.
calculated at- A transmission value computed from the temperature, the relative
mospheric humidity of air and the distance to the object.
transmission
cavity radiator A bottle shaped radiator with an absorbing inside, viewed through
the bottleneck.
color The temperature for which the color of a blackbody matches a spe-
temperature cific color.
conduction The process that makes heat diffuse into a material.
continuous A function that adjusts the image. The function works all the time,
adjust continuously adjusting brightness and contrast according to the im-
age content.
convection Convection is a heat transfer mode where a fluid is brought into mo-
tion, either by gravity or another force, thereby transferring heat from
one place to another.
dual isotherm An isotherm with two color bands, instead of one.
emissivity The amount of radiation coming from an object, compared to that of
(emissivity a blackbody. A number between 0 and 1.
factor)
emittance Amount of energy emitted from an object per unit of time and area
(W/m2)
environment Objects and gases that emit radiation towards the object being
measured.
estimated at- A transmission value, supplied by a user, replacing a calculated one
mospheric
transmission
external optics Extra lenses, filters, heat shields etc. that can be put between the
camera and the object being measured.
filter A material transparent only to some of the infrared wavelengths.
FOV Field of view: The horizontal angle that can be viewed through an IR
lens.
FPA Focal plane array: A type of IR detector.
graybody An object that emits a fixed fraction of the amount of energy of a
blackbody for each wavelength.
IFOV Instantaneous field of view: A measure of the geometrical resolution
of an IR camera.

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 47


14 Glossary

image correc- A way of compensating for sensitivity differences in various parts of


tion (internal or live images and also of stabilizing the camera.
external)
infrared Non-visible radiation, having a wavelength from about 2–13 μm.
IR infrared
isotherm A function highlighting those parts of an image that fall above, below
or between one or more temperature intervals.
isothermal A bottle-shaped radiator with a uniform temperature viewed through
cavity the bottleneck.
Laser LocatIR An electrically powered light source on the camera that emits laser
radiation in a thin, concentrated beam to point at certain parts of the
object in front of the camera.
laser pointer An electrically powered light source on the camera that emits laser
radiation in a thin, concentrated beam to point at certain parts of the
object in front of the camera.
level The center value of the temperature scale, usually expressed as a
signal value.
manual adjust A way to adjust the image by manually changing certain parameters.
NETD Noise equivalent temperature difference. A measure of the image
noise level of an IR camera.
noise Undesired small disturbance in the infrared image
object A set of values describing the circumstances under which the meas-
parameters urement of an object was made, and the object itself (such as emis-
sivity, reflected apparent temperature, distance etc.)
object signal A non-calibrated value related to the amount of radiation received by
the camera from the object.
palette The set of colors used to display an IR image.
pixel Stands for picture element. One single spot in an image.
radiance Amount of energy emitted from an object per unit of time, area and
angle (W/m2/sr)
radiant power Amount of energy emitted from an object per unit of time (W)
radiation The process by which electromagnetic energy, is emitted by an ob-
ject or a gas.
radiator A piece of IR radiating equipment.
range The current overall temperature measurement limitation of an IR
camera. Cameras can have several ranges. Expressed as two
blackbody temperatures that limit the current calibration.
reference A temperature which the ordinary measured values can be com-
temperature pared with.
reflection The amount of radiation reflected by an object relative to the re-
ceived radiation. A number between 0 and 1.
relative Relative humidity represents the ratio between the current water va-
humidity pour mass in the air and the maximum it may contain in saturation
conditions.
saturation The areas that contain temperatures outside the present level/span
color settings are colored with the saturation colors. The saturation colors
contain an ‘overflow’ color and an ‘underflow’ color. There is also a
third red saturation color that marks everything saturated by the de-
tector indicating that the range should probably be changed.

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14 Glossary

span The interval of the temperature scale, usually expressed as a signal


value.
spectral (radi- Amount of energy emitted from an object per unit of time, area and
ant) emittance wavelength (W/m2/μm)
temperature A value which is the result of a subtraction between two temperature
difference, or values.
difference of
temperature.
temperature The current overall temperature measurement limitation of an IR
range camera. Cameras can have several ranges. Expressed as two
blackbody temperatures that limit the current calibration.
temperature The way in which an IR image currently is displayed. Expressed as
scale two temperature values limiting the colors.
thermogram infrared image
transmission Gases and materials can be more or less transparent. Transmission
(or transmit- is the amount of IR radiation passing through them. A number be-
tance) factor tween 0 and 1.
transparent An isotherm showing a linear spread of colors, instead of covering
isotherm the highlighted parts of the image.
visual Refers to the video mode of a IR camera, as opposed to the normal,
thermographic mode. When a camera is in video mode it captures
ordinary video images, while thermographic images are captured
when the camera is in IR mode.

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15 Thermographic measurement
techniques

15.1 Introduction
An infrared camera measures and images the emitted infrared radiation from an object.
The fact that radiation is a function of object surface temperature makes it possible for
the camera to calculate and display this temperature.
However, the radiation measured by the camera does not only depend on the tempera-
ture of the object but is also a function of the emissivity. Radiation also originates from
the surroundings and is reflected in the object. The radiation from the object and the re-
flected radiation will also be influenced by the absorption of the atmosphere.
To measure temperature accurately, it is therefore necessary to compensate for the ef-
fects of a number of different radiation sources. This is done on-line automatically by the
camera. The following object parameters must, however, be supplied for the camera:
• The emissivity of the object
• The reflected apparent temperature
• The distance between the object and the camera
• The relative humidity
• Temperature of the atmosphere

15.2 Emissivity
The most important object parameter to set correctly is the emissivity which, in short, is a
measure of how much radiation is emitted from the object, compared to that from a per-
fect blackbody of the same temperature.
Normally, object materials and surface treatments exhibit emissivity ranging from approx-
imately 0.1 to 0.95. A highly polished (mirror) surface falls below 0.1, while an oxidized
or painted surface has a higher emissivity. Oil-based paint, regardless of color in the visi-
ble spectrum, has an emissivity over 0.9 in the infrared. Human skin exhibits an emissiv-
ity 0.97 to 0.98.
Non-oxidized metals represent an extreme case of perfect opacity and high reflexivity,
which does not vary greatly with wavelength. Consequently, the emissivity of metals is
low – only increasing with temperature. For non-metals, emissivity tends to be high, and
decreases with temperature.

15.2.1 Finding the emissivity of a sample

15.2.1.1 Step 1: Determining reflected apparent temperature


Use one of the following two methods to determine reflected apparent temperature:

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15 Thermographic measurement techniques

15.2.1.1.1 Method 1: Direct method


Follow this procedure:
1. Look for possible reflection sources, considering that the incident angle = reflection
angle (a = b).

Figure 15.1 1 = Reflection source

2. If the reflection source is a spot source, modify the source by obstructing it using a
piece if cardboard.

Figure 15.2 1 = Reflection source

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15 Thermographic measurement techniques

3. Measure the radiation intensity (= apparent temperature) from the reflecting source
using the following settings:
• Emissivity: 1.0
• Dobj: 0
You can measure the radiation intensity using one of the following two methods:

Figure 15.3 1 = Reflection source

NOTE

Using a thermocouple to measure reflected apparent temperature is not recommended for two impor-
tant reasons:
• A thermocouple does not measure radiation intensity
• A thermocouple requires a very good thermal contact to the surface, usually by gluing and covering
the sensor by a thermal isolator.

15.2.1.1.2 Method 2: Reflector method


Follow this procedure:
1. Crumble up a large piece of aluminum foil.
2. Uncrumble the aluminum foil and attach it to a piece of cardboard of the same size.
3. Put the piece of cardboard in front of the object you want to measure. Make sure that
the side with aluminum foil points to the camera.
4. Set the emissivity to 1.0.
5. Measure the apparent temperature of the aluminum foil and write it down.

Figure 15.4 Measuring the apparent temperature of the aluminum foil.

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15 Thermographic measurement techniques

15.2.1.2 Step 2: Determining the emissivity


Follow this procedure:
1. Select a place to put the sample.
2. Determine and set reflected apparent temperature according to the previous
procedure.
3. Put a piece of electrical tape with known high emissivity on the sample.
4. Heat the sample at least 20 K above room temperature. Heating must be reasonably
even.
5. Focus and auto-adjust the camera, and freeze the image.
6. Adjust Level and Span for best image brightness and contrast.
7. Set emissivity to that of the tape (usually 0.97).
8. Measure the temperature of the tape using one of the following measurement
functions:
• Isotherm (helps you to determine both the temperature and how evenly you have
heated the sample)
• Spot (simpler)
• Box Avg (good for surfaces with varying emissivity).
9. Write down the temperature.
10. Move your measurement function to the sample surface.
11. Change the emissivity setting until you read the same temperature as your previous
measurement.
12. Write down the emissivity.

NOTE

• Avoid forced convection


• Look for a thermally stable surrounding that will not generate spot reflections
• Use high quality tape that you know is not transparent, and has a high emissivity you are certain of
• This method assumes that the temperature of your tape and the sample surface are the same. If
they are not, your emissivity measurement will be wrong.

15.3 Reflected apparent temperature


This parameter is used to compensate for the radiation reflected in the object. If the
emissivity is low and the object temperature relatively far from that of the reflected it will
be important to set and compensate for the reflected apparent temperature correctly.

15.4 Distance
The distance is the distance between the object and the front lens of the camera. This
parameter is used to compensate for the following two facts:
• That radiation from the target is absorbed by the atmosphere between the object and
the camera.
• That radiation from the atmosphere itself is detected by the camera.

15.5 Relative humidity


The camera can also compensate for the fact that the transmittance is also dependent
on the relative humidity of the atmosphere. To do this set the relative humidity to the cor-
rect value. For short distances and normal humidity the relative humidity can normally be
left at a default value of 50%.

15.6 Other parameters


In addition, some cameras and analysis programs from FLIR Systems allow you to com-
pensate for the following parameters:
• Atmospheric temperature – i.e. the temperature of the atmosphere between the cam-
era and the target
• External optics temperature – i.e. the temperature of any external lenses or windows
used in front of the camera

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15 Thermographic measurement techniques

• External optics transmittance – i.e. the transmission of any external lenses or windows
used in front of the camera

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16 History of infrared technology

Before the year 1800, the existence of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spec-
trum wasn't even suspected. The original significance of the infrared spectrum, or simply
‘the infrared’ as it is often called, as a form of heat radiation is perhaps less obvious to-
day than it was at the time of its discovery by Herschel in 1800.

Figure 16.1 Sir William Herschel (1738–1822)

The discovery was made accidentally during the search for a new optical material. Sir
William Herschel – Royal Astronomer to King George III of England, and already famous
for his discovery of the planet Uranus – was searching for an optical filter material to re-
duce the brightness of the sun’s image in telescopes during solar observations. While
testing different samples of colored glass which gave similar reductions in brightness he
was intrigued to find that some of the samples passed very little of the sun’s heat, while
others passed so much heat that he risked eye damage after only a few seconds’
observation.
Herschel was soon convinced of the necessity of setting up a systematic experiment,
with the objective of finding a single material that would give the desired reduction in
brightness as well as the maximum reduction in heat. He began the experiment by ac-
tually repeating Newton’s prism experiment, but looking for the heating effect rather than
the visual distribution of intensity in the spectrum. He first blackened the bulb of a sensi-
tive mercury-in-glass thermometer with ink, and with this as his radiation detector he pro-
ceeded to test the heating effect of the various colors of the spectrum formed on the top
of a table by passing sunlight through a glass prism. Other thermometers, placed outside
the sun’s rays, served as controls.
As the blackened thermometer was moved slowly along the colors of the spectrum, the
temperature readings showed a steady increase from the violet end to the red end. This
was not entirely unexpected, since the Italian researcher, Landriani, in a similar experi-
ment in 1777 had observed much the same effect. It was Herschel, however, who was
the first to recognize that there must be a point where the heating effect reaches a maxi-
mum, and that measurements confined to the visible portion of the spectrum failed to lo-
cate this point.

Figure 16.2 Marsilio Landriani (1746–1815)

Moving the thermometer into the dark region beyond the red end of the spectrum, Her-
schel confirmed that the heating continued to increase. The maximum point, when he
found it, lay well beyond the red end – in what is known today as the ‘infrared
wavelengths’.

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16 History of infrared technology

When Herschel revealed his discovery, he referred to this new portion of the electromag-
netic spectrum as the ‘thermometrical spectrum’. The radiation itself he sometimes re-
ferred to as ‘dark heat’, or simply ‘the invisible rays’. Ironically, and contrary to popular
opinion, it wasn't Herschel who originated the term ‘infrared’. The word only began to ap-
pear in print around 75 years later, and it is still unclear who should receive credit as the
originator.
Herschel’s use of glass in the prism of his original experiment led to some early contro-
versies with his contemporaries about the actual existence of the infrared wavelengths.
Different investigators, in attempting to confirm his work, used various types of glass in-
discriminately, having different transparencies in the infrared. Through his later experi-
ments, Herschel was aware of the limited transparency of glass to the newly-discovered
thermal radiation, and he was forced to conclude that optics for the infrared would prob-
ably be doomed to the use of reflective elements exclusively (i.e. plane and curved mir-
rors). Fortunately, this proved to be true only until 1830, when the Italian investigator,
Melloni, made his great discovery that naturally occurring rock salt (NaCl) – which was
available in large enough natural crystals to be made into lenses and prisms – is remark-
ably transparent to the infrared. The result was that rock salt became the principal infra-
red optical material, and remained so for the next hundred years, until the art of synthetic
crystal growing was mastered in the 1930’s.

Figure 16.3 Macedonio Melloni (1798–1854)

Thermometers, as radiation detectors, remained unchallenged until 1829, the year Nobili
invented the thermocouple. (Herschel’s own thermometer could be read to 0.2 °C
(0.036 °F), and later models were able to be read to 0.05 °C (0.09 °F)). Then a break-
through occurred; Melloni connected a number of thermocouples in series to form the
first thermopile. The new device was at least 40 times as sensitive as the best thermome-
ter of the day for detecting heat radiation – capable of detecting the heat from a person
standing three meters away.
The first so-called ‘heat-picture’ became possible in 1840, the result of work by Sir John
Herschel, son of the discoverer of the infrared and a famous astronomer in his own right.
Based upon the differential evaporation of a thin film of oil when exposed to a heat pat-
tern focused upon it, the thermal image could be seen by reflected light where the inter-
ference effects of the oil film made the image visible to the eye. Sir John also managed
to obtain a primitive record of the thermal image on paper, which he called a
‘thermograph’.

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16 History of infrared technology

Figure 16.4 Samuel P. Langley (1834–1906)

The improvement of infrared-detector sensitivity progressed slowly. Another major break-


through, made by Langley in 1880, was the invention of the bolometer. This consisted of
a thin blackened strip of platinum connected in one arm of a Wheatstone bridge circuit
upon which the infrared radiation was focused and to which a sensitive galvanometer re-
sponded. This instrument is said to have been able to detect the heat from a cow at a
distance of 400 meters.
An English scientist, Sir James Dewar, first introduced the use of liquefied gases as cool-
ing agents (such as liquid nitrogen with a temperature of -196 °C (-320.8 °F)) in low tem-
perature research. In 1892 he invented a unique vacuum insulating container in which it
is possible to store liquefied gases for entire days. The common ‘thermos bottle’, used
for storing hot and cold drinks, is based upon his invention.
Between the years 1900 and 1920, the inventors of the world ‘discovered’ the infrared.
Many patents were issued for devices to detect personnel, artillery, aircraft, ships – and
even icebergs. The first operating systems, in the modern sense, began to be developed
during the 1914–18 war, when both sides had research programs devoted to the military
exploitation of the infrared. These programs included experimental systems for enemy
intrusion/detection, remote temperature sensing, secure communications, and ‘flying tor-
pedo’ guidance. An infrared search system tested during this period was able to detect
an approaching airplane at a distance of 1.5 km (0.94 miles), or a person more than 300
meters (984 ft.) away.
The most sensitive systems up to this time were all based upon variations of the bolome-
ter idea, but the period between the two wars saw the development of two revolutionary
new infrared detectors: the image converter and the photon detector. At first, the image
converter received the greatest attention by the military, because it enabled an observer
for the first time in history to literally ‘see in the dark’. However, the sensitivity of the im-
age converter was limited to the near infrared wavelengths, and the most interesting mili-
tary targets (i.e. enemy soldiers) had to be illuminated by infrared search beams. Since
this involved the risk of giving away the observer’s position to a similarly-equipped enemy
observer, it is understandable that military interest in the image converter eventually
faded.
The tactical military disadvantages of so-called 'active’ (i.e. search beam-equipped) ther-
mal imaging systems provided impetus following the 1939–45 war for extensive secret
military infrared-research programs into the possibilities of developing ‘passive’ (no
search beam) systems around the extremely sensitive photon detector. During this peri-
od, military secrecy regulations completely prevented disclosure of the status of infrared-
imaging technology. This secrecy only began to be lifted in the middle of the 1950’s, and
from that time adequate thermal-imaging devices finally began to be available to civilian
science and industry.

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17 Theory of thermography

17.1 Introduction
The subjects of infrared radiation and the related technique of thermography are still new
to many who will use an infrared camera. In this section the theory behind thermography
will be given.

17.2 The electromagnetic spectrum


The electromagnetic spectrum is divided arbitrarily into a number of wavelength regions,
called bands, distinguished by the methods used to produce and detect the radiation.
There is no fundamental difference between radiation in the different bands of the elec-
tromagnetic spectrum. They are all governed by the same laws and the only differences
are those due to differences in wavelength.

Figure 17.1 The electromagnetic spectrum. 1: X-ray; 2: UV; 3: Visible; 4: IR; 5: Microwaves; 6:
Radiowaves.

Thermography makes use of the infrared spectral band. At the short-wavelength end the
boundary lies at the limit of visual perception, in the deep red. At the long-wavelength
end it merges with the microwave radio wavelengths, in the millimeter range.
The infrared band is often further subdivided into four smaller bands, the boundaries of
which are also arbitrarily chosen. They include: the near infrared (0.75–3 μm), the middle
infrared (3–6 μm), the far infrared (6–15 μm) and the extreme infrared (15–100 μm).
Although the wavelengths are given in μm (micrometers), other units are often still used
to measure wavelength in this spectral region, e.g. nanometer (nm) and Ångström (Å).
The relationships between the different wavelength measurements is:

17.3 Blackbody radiation


A blackbody is defined as an object which absorbs all radiation that impinges on it at any
wavelength. The apparent misnomer black relating to an object emitting radiation is ex-
plained by Kirchhoff’s Law (after Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, 1824–1887), which states that
a body capable of absorbing all radiation at any wavelength is equally capable in the
emission of radiation.

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17 Theory of thermography

Figure 17.2 Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887)

The construction of a blackbody source is, in principle, very simple. The radiation charac-
teristics of an aperture in an isotherm cavity made of an opaque absorbing material rep-
resents almost exactly the properties of a blackbody. A practical application of the
principle to the construction of a perfect absorber of radiation consists of a box that is
light tight except for an aperture in one of the sides. Any radiation which then enters the
hole is scattered and absorbed by repeated reflections so only an infinitesimal fraction
can possibly escape. The blackness which is obtained at the aperture is nearly equal to
a blackbody and almost perfect for all wavelengths.
By providing such an isothermal cavity with a suitable heater it becomes what is termed
a cavity radiator. An isothermal cavity heated to a uniform temperature generates black-
body radiation, the characteristics of which are determined solely by the temperature of
the cavity. Such cavity radiators are commonly used as sources of radiation in tempera-
ture reference standards in the laboratory for calibrating thermographic instruments,
such as a FLIR Systems camera for example.
If the temperature of blackbody radiation increases to more than 525°C (977°F), the
source begins to be visible so that it appears to the eye no longer black. This is the incipi-
ent red heat temperature of the radiator, which then becomes orange or yellow as the
temperature increases further. In fact, the definition of the so-called color temperature of
an object is the temperature to which a blackbody would have to be heated to have the
same appearance.
Now consider three expressions that describe the radiation emitted from a blackbody.

17.3.1 Planck’s law

Figure 17.3 Max Planck (1858–1947)

Max Planck (1858–1947) was able to describe the spectral distribution of the radiation
from a blackbody by means of the following formula:

where:

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17 Theory of thermography

Wλb Blackbody spectral radiant emittance at wavelength λ.


c Velocity of light = 3 × 108 m/s

h Planck’s constant = 6.6 × 10-34 Joule sec.


k Boltzmann’s constant = 1.4 × 10-23 Joule/K.
T Absolute temperature (K) of a blackbody.

λ Wavelength (μm).

NOTE

The factor 10-6 is used since spectral emittance in the curves is expressed in Watt/m2, μm.

Planck’s formula, when plotted graphically for various temperatures, produces a family of
curves. Following any particular Planck curve, the spectral emittance is zero at λ = 0,
then increases rapidly to a maximum at a wavelength λmax and after passing it ap-
proaches zero again at very long wavelengths. The higher the temperature, the shorter
the wavelength at which maximum occurs.

Figure 17.4 Blackbody spectral radiant emittance according to Planck’s law, plotted for various absolute
temperatures. 1: Spectral radiant emittance (W/cm2 × 103(μm)); 2: Wavelength (μm)

17.3.2 Wien’s displacement law


By differentiating Planck’s formula with respect to λ, and finding the maximum, we have:

This is Wien’s formula (after Wilhelm Wien, 1864–1928), which expresses mathemati-
cally the common observation that colors vary from red to orange or yellow as the tem-
perature of a thermal radiator increases. The wavelength of the color is the same as the
wavelength calculated for λmax. A good approximation of the value of λmax for a given
blackbody temperature is obtained by applying the rule-of-thumb 3 000/T μm. Thus, a
very hot star such as Sirius (11 000 K), emitting bluish-white light, radiates with the peak
of spectral radiant emittance occurring within the invisible ultraviolet spectrum, at wave-
length 0.27 μm.

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17 Theory of thermography

Figure 17.5 Wilhelm Wien (1864–1928)

The sun (approx. 6 000 K) emits yellow light, peaking at about 0.5 μm in the middle of
the visible light spectrum.
At room temperature (300 K) the peak of radiant emittance lies at 9.7 μm, in the far infra-
red, while at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77 K) the maximum of the almost insignif-
icant amount of radiant emittance occurs at 38 μm, in the extreme infrared wavelengths.

Figure 17.6 Planckian curves plotted on semi-log scales from 100 K to 1000 K. The dotted line represents
the locus of maximum radiant emittance at each temperature as described by Wien's displacement law. 1:
Spectral radiant emittance (W/cm2 (μm)); 2: Wavelength (μm).

17.3.3 Stefan-Boltzmann's law


By integrating Planck’s formula from λ = 0 to λ = ∞, we obtain the total radiant emittance
(Wb) of a blackbody:

This is the Stefan-Boltzmann formula (after Josef Stefan, 1835–1893, and Ludwig Boltz-
mann, 1844–1906), which states that the total emissive power of a blackbody is propor-
tional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature. Graphically, Wb represents the
area below the Planck curve for a particular temperature. It can be shown that the radiant
emittance in the interval λ = 0 to λmax is only 25% of the total, which represents about the
amount of the sun’s radiation which lies inside the visible light spectrum.

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17 Theory of thermography

Figure 17.7 Josef Stefan (1835–1893), and Ludwig Boltzmann (1844–1906)

Using the Stefan-Boltzmann formula to calculate the power radiated by the human body,
at a temperature of 300 K and an external surface area of approx. 2 m2, we obtain 1 kW.
This power loss could not be sustained if it were not for the compensating absorption of
radiation from surrounding surfaces, at room temperatures which do not vary too drasti-
cally from the temperature of the body – or, of course, the addition of clothing.

17.3.4 Non-blackbody emitters


So far, only blackbody radiators and blackbody radiation have been discussed. However,
real objects almost never comply with these laws over an extended wavelength region –
although they may approach the blackbody behavior in certain spectral intervals. For ex-
ample, a certain type of white paint may appear perfectly white in the visible light spec-
trum, but becomes distinctly gray at about 2 μm, and beyond 3 μm it is almost black.
There are three processes which can occur that prevent a real object from acting like a
blackbody: a fraction of the incident radiation α may be absorbed, a fraction ρ may be re-
flected, and a fraction τ may be transmitted. Since all of these factors are more or less
wavelength dependent, the subscript λ is used to imply the spectral dependence of their
definitions. Thus:
• The spectral absorptance αλ= the ratio of the spectral radiant power absorbed by an
object to that incident upon it.
• The spectral reflectance ρλ = the ratio of the spectral radiant power reflected by an ob-
ject to that incident upon it.
• The spectral transmittance τλ = the ratio of the spectral radiant power transmitted
through an object to that incident upon it.
The sum of these three factors must always add up to the whole at any wavelength, so
we have the relation:

For opaque materials τλ = 0 and the relation simplifies to:

Another factor, called the emissivity, is required to describe the fraction ε of the radiant
emittance of a blackbody produced by an object at a specific temperature. Thus, we
have the definition:
The spectral emissivity ελ= the ratio of the spectral radiant power from an object to that
from a blackbody at the same temperature and wavelength.
Expressed mathematically, this can be written as the ratio of the spectral emittance of
the object to that of a blackbody as follows:

Generally speaking, there are three types of radiation source, distinguished by the ways
in which the spectral emittance of each varies with wavelength.
• A blackbody, for which ελ = ε = 1
• A graybody, for which ελ = ε = constant less than 1

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17 Theory of thermography

• A selective radiator, for which ε varies with wavelength


According to Kirchhoff’s law, for any material the spectral emissivity and spectral absorp-
tance of a body are equal at any specified temperature and wavelength. That is:

From this we obtain, for an opaque material (since αλ + ρλ = 1):

For highly polished materials ελ approaches zero, so that for a perfectly reflecting materi-
al (i.e. a perfect mirror) we have:

For a graybody radiator, the Stefan-Boltzmann formula becomes:

This states that the total emissive power of a graybody is the same as a blackbody at the
same temperature reduced in proportion to the value of ε from the graybody.

Figure 17.8 Spectral radiant emittance of three types of radiators. 1: Spectral radiant emittance; 2: Wave-
length; 3: Blackbody; 4: Selective radiator; 5: Graybody.

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17 Theory of thermography

Figure 17.9 Spectral emissivity of three types of radiators. 1: Spectral emissivity; 2: Wavelength; 3: Black-
body; 4: Graybody; 5: Selective radiator.

17.4 Infrared semi-transparent materials


Consider now a non-metallic, semi-transparent body – let us say, in the form of a thick flat
plate of plastic material. When the plate is heated, radiation generated within its volume
must work its way toward the surfaces through the material in which it is partially ab-
sorbed. Moreover, when it arrives at the surface, some of it is reflected back into the inte-
rior. The back-reflected radiation is again partially absorbed, but some of it arrives at the
other surface, through which most of it escapes; part of it is reflected back again.
Although the progressive reflections become weaker and weaker they must all be added
up when the total emittance of the plate is sought. When the resulting geometrical series
is summed, the effective emissivity of a semi-transparent plate is obtained as:

When the plate becomes opaque this formula is reduced to the single formula:

This last relation is a particularly convenient one, because it is often easier to measure
reflectance than to measure emissivity directly.

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18 The measurement formula

As already mentioned, when viewing an object, the camera receives radiation not only
from the object itself. It also collects radiation from the surroundings reflected via the ob-
ject surface. Both these radiation contributions become attenuated to some extent by the
atmosphere in the measurement path. To this comes a third radiation contribution from
the atmosphere itself.
This description of the measurement situation, as illustrated in the figure below, is so far
a fairly true description of the real conditions. What has been neglected could for in-
stance be sun light scattering in the atmosphere or stray radiation from intense radiation
sources outside the field of view. Such disturbances are difficult to quantify, however, in
most cases they are fortunately small enough to be neglected. In case they are not negli-
gible, the measurement configuration is likely to be such that the risk for disturbance is
obvious, at least to a trained operator. It is then his responsibility to modify the measure-
ment situation to avoid the disturbance e.g. by changing the viewing direction, shielding
off intense radiation sources etc.
Accepting the description above, we can use the figure below to derive a formula for the
calculation of the object temperature from the calibrated camera output.

Figure 18.1 A schematic representation of the general thermographic measurement situation.1: Sur-
roundings; 2: Object; 3: Atmosphere; 4: Camera

Assume that the received radiation power W from a blackbody source of temperature
Tsource on short distance generates a camera output signal Usource that is proportional to
the power input (power linear camera). We can then write (Equation 1):

or, with simplified notation:

where C is a constant.
Should the source be a graybody with emittance ε, the received radiation would conse-
quently be εWsource.
We are now ready to write the three collected radiation power terms:
1. Emission from the object = ετWobj, where ε is the emittance of the object and τ is the
transmittance of the atmosphere. The object temperature is Tobj.

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18 The measurement formula

2. Reflected emission from ambient sources = (1 – ε)τWrefl, where (1 – ε) is the reflec-


tance of the object. The ambient sources have the temperature Trefl.
It has here been assumed that the temperature Trefl is the same for all emitting surfa-
ces within the halfsphere seen from a point on the object surface. This is of course
sometimes a simplification of the true situation. It is, however, a necessary simplifica-
tion in order to derive a workable formula, and Trefl can – at least theoretically – be giv-
en a value that represents an efficient temperature of a complex surrounding.
Note also that we have assumed that the emittance for the surroundings = 1. This is
correct in accordance with Kirchhoff’s law: All radiation impinging on the surrounding
surfaces will eventually be absorbed by the same surfaces. Thus the emittance = 1.
(Note though that the latest discussion requires the complete sphere around the ob-
ject to be considered.)
3. Emission from the atmosphere = (1 – τ)τWatm, where (1 – τ) is the emittance of the at-
mosphere. The temperature of the atmosphere is Tatm.
The total received radiation power can now be written (Equation 2):

We multiply each term by the constant C of Equation 1 and replace the CW products by
the corresponding U according to the same equation, and get (Equation 3):

Solve Equation 3 for Uobj (Equation 4):

This is the general measurement formula used in all the FLIR Systems thermographic
equipment. The voltages of the formula are:
Table 18.1 Voltages

Uobj Calculated camera output voltage for a blackbody of temperature


Tobj i.e. a voltage that can be directly converted into true requested
object temperature.
Utot Measured camera output voltage for the actual case.

Urefl Theoretical camera output voltage for a blackbody of temperature


Trefl according to the calibration.

Uatm Theoretical camera output voltage for a blackbody of temperature


Tatm according to the calibration.

The operator has to supply a number of parameter values for the calculation:
• the object emittance ε,
• the relative humidity,
• Tatm
• object distance (Dobj)
• the (effective) temperature of the object surroundings, or the reflected ambient tem-
perature Trefl, and
• the temperature of the atmosphere Tatm
This task could sometimes be a heavy burden for the operator since there are normally
no easy ways to find accurate values of emittance and atmospheric transmittance for the
actual case. The two temperatures are normally less of a problem provided the surround-
ings do not contain large and intense radiation sources.
A natural question in this connection is: How important is it to know the right values of
these parameters? It could though be of interest to get a feeling for this problem already
here by looking into some different measurement cases and compare the relative

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18 The measurement formula

magnitudes of the three radiation terms. This will give indications about when it is impor-
tant to use correct values of which parameters.
The figures below illustrates the relative magnitudes of the three radiation contributions
for three different object temperatures, two emittances, and two spectral ranges: SW and
LW. Remaining parameters have the following fixed values:
• τ = 0.88
• Trefl = +20°C (+68°F)
• Tatm = +20°C (+68°F)
It is obvious that measurement of low object temperatures are more critical than measur-
ing high temperatures since the ‘disturbing’ radiation sources are relatively much stron-
ger in the first case. Should also the object emittance be low, the situation would be still
more difficult.
We have finally to answer a question about the importance of being allowed to use the
calibration curve above the highest calibration point, what we call extrapolation. Imagine
that we in a certain case measure Utot = 4.5 volts. The highest calibration point for the
camera was in the order of 4.1 volts, a value unknown to the operator. Thus, even if the
object happened to be a blackbody, i.e. Uobj = Utot, we are actually performing extrapola-
tion of the calibration curve when converting 4.5 volts into temperature.
Let us now assume that the object is not black, it has an emittance of 0.75, and the trans-
mittance is 0.92. We also assume that the two second terms of Equation 4 amount to 0.5
volts together. Computation of Uobj by means of Equation 4 then results in Uobj = 4.5 /
0.75 / 0.92 – 0.5 = 6.0. This is a rather extreme extrapolation, particularly when consider-
ing that the video amplifier might limit the output to 5 volts! Note, though, that the applica-
tion of the calibration curve is a theoretical procedure where no electronic or other
limitations exist. We trust that if there had been no signal limitations in the camera, and if
it had been calibrated far beyond 5 volts, the resulting curve would have been very much
the same as our real curve extrapolated beyond 4.1 volts, provided the calibration algo-
rithm is based on radiation physics, like the FLIR Systems algorithm. Of course there
must be a limit to such extrapolations.

Figure 18.2 Relative magnitudes of radiation sources under varying measurement conditions (SW cam-
era). 1: Object temperature; 2: Emittance; Obj: Object radiation; Refl: Reflected radiation; Atm: atmos-
phere radiation. Fixed parameters: τ = 0.88; Trefl = 20°C (+68°F); Tatm = 20°C (+68°F).

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18 The measurement formula

Figure 18.3 Relative magnitudes of radiation sources under varying measurement conditions (LW cam-
era). 1: Object temperature; 2: Emittance; Obj: Object radiation; Refl: Reflected radiation; Atm: atmos-
phere radiation. Fixed parameters: τ = 0.88; Trefl = 20°C (+68°F); Tatm = 20°C (+68°F).

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19 Emissivity tables

This section presents a compilation of emissivity data from the infrared literature and
measurements made by FLIR Systems.

19.1 References
1. Mikaél A. Bramson: Infrared Radiation, A Handbook for Applications, Plenum press,
N.Y.
2. William L. Wolfe, George J. Zissis: The Infrared Handbook, Office of Naval Research,
Department of Navy, Washington, D.C.
3. Madding, R. P.: Thermographic Instruments and systems. Madison, Wisconsin: Uni-
versity of Wisconsin – Extension, Department of Engineering and Applied Science.
4. William L. Wolfe: Handbook of Military Infrared Technology, Office of Naval Research,
Department of Navy, Washington, D.C.
5. Jones, Smith, Probert: External thermography of buildings..., Proc. of the Society of
Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, vol.110, Industrial and Civil Applications of
Infrared Technology, June 1977 London.
6. Paljak, Pettersson: Thermography of Buildings, Swedish Building Research Institute,
Stockholm 1972.
7. Vlcek, J: Determination of emissivity with imaging radiometers and some emissivities
at λ = 5 µm. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.
8. Kern: Evaluation of infrared emission of clouds and ground as measured by weather
satellites, Defence Documentation Center, AD 617 417.
9. Öhman, Claes: Emittansmätningar med AGEMA E-Box. Teknisk rapport, AGEMA
1999. (Emittance measurements using AGEMA E-Box. Technical report, AGEMA
1999.)
10. Matteï, S., Tang-Kwor, E: Emissivity measurements for Nextel Velvet coating 811-21
between –36°C AND 82°C.
11. Lohrengel & Todtenhaupt (1996)
12. ITC Technical publication 32.
13. ITC Technical publication 29.

NOTE

The emissivity values in the table below are recorded using a shortwave (SW) camera. The values
should be regarded as recommendations only and used with caution.

19.2 Tables
Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference

1 2 3 4 5 6
3M type 35 Vinyl electrical < 80 LW ≈ 0.96 13
tape (several
colors)
3M type 88 Black vinyl electri- < 105 LW ≈ 0.96 13
cal tape
3M type 88 Black vinyl electri- < 105 MW < 0.96 13
cal tape

3M type Super 33 Black vinyl electri- < 80 LW ≈ 0.96 13


+ cal tape
Aluminum anodized sheet 100 T 0.55 2
Aluminum anodized, black, 70 SW 0.67 9
dull
Aluminum anodized, black, 70 LW 0.95 9
dull
Aluminum anodized, light 70 SW 0.61 9
gray, dull

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Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Aluminum anodized, light 70 LW 0.97 9
gray, dull

Aluminum as received, plate 100 T 0.09 4


Aluminum as received, 100 T 0.09 2
sheet
Aluminum cast, blast 70 SW 0.47 9
cleaned
Aluminum cast, blast 70 LW 0.46 9
cleaned
Aluminum dipped in HNO3, 100 T 0.05 4
plate
Aluminum foil 27 10 µm 0.04 3
Aluminum foil 27 3 µm 0.09 3
Aluminum oxidized, strongly 50–500 T 0.2–0.3 1

Aluminum polished 50–100 T 0.04–0.06 1


Aluminum polished plate 100 T 0.05 4
Aluminum polished, sheet 100 T 0.05 2
Aluminum rough surface 20–50 T 0.06–0.07 1

Aluminum roughened 27 10 µm 0.18 3

Aluminum roughened 27 3 µm 0.28 3

Aluminum sheet, 4 samples 70 SW 0.05–0.08 9


differently
scratched
Aluminum sheet, 4 samples 70 LW 0.03–0.06 9
differently
scratched
Aluminum vacuum 20 T 0.04 2
deposited
Aluminum weathered, 17 SW 0.83–0.94 5
heavily
Aluminum bronze 20 T 0.60 1
Aluminum powder T 0.28 1
hydroxide
Aluminum oxide activated, powder T 0.46 1
Aluminum oxide pure, powder T 0.16 1
(alumina)
Asbestos board 20 T 0.96 1
Asbestos fabric T 0.78 1
Asbestos floor tile 35 SW 0.94 7
Asbestos paper 40–400 T 0.93–0.95 1
Asbestos powder T 0.40–0.60 1
Asbestos slate 20 T 0.96 1
Asphalt paving 4 LLW 0.967 8

Brass dull, tarnished 20–350 T 0.22 1


Brass oxidized 100 T 0.61 2
Brass oxidized 70 SW 0.04–0.09 9
Brass oxidized 70 LW 0.03–0.07 9
Brass oxidized at 600°C 200–600 T 0.59–0.61 1

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Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Brass polished 200 T 0.03 1
Brass polished, highly 100 T 0.03 2

Brass rubbed with 80- 20 T 0.20 2


grit emery

Brass sheet, rolled 20 T 0.06 1


Brass sheet, worked 20 T 0.2 1
with emery
Brick alumina 17 SW 0.68 5
Brick common 17 SW 0.86–0.81 5
Brick Dinas silica, 1100 T 0.85 1
glazed, rough

Brick Dinas silica, 1000 T 0.66 1


refractory

Brick Dinas silica, un- 1000 T 0.80 1


glazed, rough

Brick firebrick 17 SW 0.68 5


Brick fireclay 1000 T 0.75 1

Brick fireclay 1200 T 0.59 1

Brick fireclay 20 T 0.85 1

Brick masonry 35 SW 0.94 7


Brick masonry, 20 T 0.94 1
plastered
Brick red, common 20 T 0.93 2
Brick red, rough 20 T 0.88–0.93 1

Brick refractory, 1000 T 0.46 1


corundum
Brick refractory, 1000–1300 T 0.38 1
magnesite

Brick refractory, 500–1000 T 0.8–0.9 1


strongly radiating

Brick refractory, weakly 500–1000 T 0.65–0.75 1


radiating

Brick silica, 95% SiO2 1230 T 0.66 1


Brick sillimanite, 33% 1500 T 0.29 1
SiO2, 64% Al2O3
Brick waterproof 17 SW 0.87 5

Bronze phosphor bronze 70 SW 0.08 9

Bronze phosphor bronze 70 LW 0.06 9


Bronze polished 50 T 0.1 1
Bronze porous, rough 50–150 T 0.55 1

Bronze powder T 0.76–0.80 1

Carbon candle soot 20 T 0.95 2


Carbon charcoal powder T 0.96 1

Carbon graphite powder T 0.97 1

Carbon graphite, filed 20 T 0.98 2


surface
Carbon lampblack 20–400 T 0.95–0.97 1

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Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Chipboard untreated 20 SW 0.90 6

Chromium polished 50 T 0.10 1

Chromium polished 500–1000 T 0.28–0.38 1


Clay fired 70 T 0.91 1

Cloth black 20 T 0.98 1


Concrete 20 T 0.92 2
Concrete dry 36 SW 0.95 7

Concrete rough 17 SW 0.97 5

Concrete walkway 5 LLW 0.974 8

Copper commercial, 20 T 0.07 1


burnished
Copper electrolytic, care- 80 T 0.018 1
fully polished

Copper electrolytic, –34 T 0.006 4


polished

Copper molten 1100–1300 T 0.13–0.15 1

Copper oxidized 50 T 0.6–0.7 1

Copper oxidized to T 0.88 1


blackness
Copper oxidized, black 27 T 0.78 4

Copper oxidized, heavily 20 T 0.78 2

Copper polished 50–100 T 0.02 1

Copper polished 100 T 0.03 2

Copper polished, 27 T 0.03 4


commercial
Copper polished, 22 T 0.015 4
mechanical
Copper pure, carefully 22 T 0.008 4
prepared surface

Copper scraped 27 T 0.07 4

Copper dioxide powder T 0.84 1

Copper oxide red, powder T 0.70 1

Ebonite T 0.89 1
Emery coarse 80 T 0.85 1

Enamel 20 T 0.9 1
Enamel lacquer 20 T 0.85–0.95 1
Fiber board hard, untreated 20 SW 0.85 6
Fiber board masonite 70 SW 0.75 9
Fiber board masonite 70 LW 0.88 9
Fiber board particle board 70 SW 0.77 9

Fiber board particle board 70 LW 0.89 9


Fiber board porous, untreated 20 SW 0.85 6

Gold polished 130 T 0.018 1


Gold polished, carefully 200–600 T 0.02–0.03 1

Gold polished, highly 100 T 0.02 2

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Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Granite polished 20 LLW 0.849 8

Granite rough 21 LLW 0.879 8

Granite rough, 4 different 70 SW 0.95–0.97 9


samples

Granite rough, 4 different 70 LW 0.77–0.87 9


samples

Gypsum 20 T 0.8–0.9 1

Ice: See Water


Iron and steel cold rolled 70 SW 0.20 9
Iron and steel cold rolled 70 LW 0.09 9
Iron and steel covered with red 20 T 0.61–0.85 1
rust
Iron and steel electrolytic 100 T 0.05 4
Iron and steel electrolytic 22 T 0.05 4

Iron and steel electrolytic 260 T 0.07 4


Iron and steel electrolytic, care- 175–225 T 0.05–0.06 1
fully polished
Iron and steel freshly worked 20 T 0.24 1
with emery
Iron and steel ground sheet 950–1100 T 0.55–0.61 1

Iron and steel heavily rusted 20 T 0.69 2


sheet
Iron and steel hot rolled 130 T 0.60 1
Iron and steel hot rolled 20 T 0.77 1
Iron and steel oxidized 100 T 0.74 4
Iron and steel oxidized 100 T 0.74 1
Iron and steel oxidized 1227 T 0.89 4
Iron and steel oxidized 125–525 T 0.78–0.82 1
Iron and steel oxidized 200 T 0.79 2
Iron and steel oxidized 200–600 T 0.80 1
Iron and steel oxidized strongly 50 T 0.88 1

Iron and steel oxidized strongly 500 T 0.98 1

Iron and steel polished 100 T 0.07 2


Iron and steel polished 400–1000 T 0.14–0.38 1
Iron and steel polished sheet 750–1050 T 0.52–0.56 1
Iron and steel rolled sheet 50 T 0.56 1
Iron and steel rolled, freshly 20 T 0.24 1

Iron and steel rough, plane 50 T 0.95–0.98 1


surface
Iron and steel rusted red, sheet 22 T 0.69 4
Iron and steel rusted, heavily 17 SW 0.96 5

Iron and steel rusty, red 20 T 0.69 1


Iron and steel shiny oxide layer, 20 T 0.82 1
sheet,
Iron and steel shiny, etched 150 T 0.16 1

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19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Iron and steel wrought, carefully 40–250 T 0.28 1
polished
Iron galvanized heavily oxidized 70 SW 0.64 9

Iron galvanized heavily oxidized 70 LW 0.85 9

Iron galvanized sheet 92 T 0.07 4

Iron galvanized sheet, burnished 30 T 0.23 1

Iron galvanized sheet, oxidized 20 T 0.28 1

Iron tinned sheet 24 T 0.064 4


Iron, cast casting 50 T 0.81 1

Iron, cast ingots 1000 T 0.95 1

Iron, cast liquid 1300 T 0.28 1


Iron, cast machined 800–1000 T 0.60–0.70 1
Iron, cast oxidized 100 T 0.64 2
Iron, cast oxidized 260 T 0.66 4
Iron, cast oxidized 38 T 0.63 4
Iron, cast oxidized 538 T 0.76 4
Iron, cast oxidized at 600°C 200–600 T 0.64–0.78 1
Iron, cast polished 200 T 0.21 1
Iron, cast polished 38 T 0.21 4
Iron, cast polished 40 T 0.21 2
Iron, cast unworked 900–1100 T 0.87–0.95 1
Krylon Ultra-flat Flat black Room tempera- LW ≈ 0.96 12
black 1602 ture up to 175

Krylon Ultra-flat Flat black Room tempera- MW ≈ 0.97 12


black 1602 ture up to 175
Lacquer 3 colors sprayed 70 SW 0.50–0.53 9
on Aluminum
Lacquer 3 colors sprayed 70 LW 0.92–0.94 9
on Aluminum
Lacquer Aluminum on 20 T 0.4 1
rough surface

Lacquer bakelite 80 T 0.83 1


Lacquer black, dull 40–100 T 0.96–0.98 1
Lacquer black, matte 100 T 0.97 2
Lacquer black, shiny, 20 T 0.87 1
sprayed on iron

Lacquer heat–resistant 100 T 0.92 1


Lacquer white 100 T 0.92 2
Lacquer white 40–100 T 0.8–0.95 1
Lead oxidized at 200°C 200 T 0.63 1
Lead oxidized, gray 20 T 0.28 1

Lead oxidized, gray 22 T 0.28 4

Lead shiny 250 T 0.08 1


Lead unoxidized, 100 T 0.05 4
polished

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19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Lead red 100 T 0.93 4
Lead red, powder 100 T 0.93 1
Leather tanned T 0.75–0.80 1
Lime T 0.3–0.4 1
Magnesium 22 T 0.07 4

Magnesium 260 T 0.13 4

Magnesium 538 T 0.18 4

Magnesium polished 20 T 0.07 2

Magnesium T 0.86 1
powder
Molybdenum 1500–2200 T 0.19–0.26 1

Molybdenum 600–1000 T 0.08–0.13 1


Molybdenum filament 700–2500 T 0.1–0.3 1

Mortar 17 SW 0.87 5
Mortar dry 36 SW 0.94 7

Nextel Velvet Flat black –60–150 LW > 0.97 10 and


811-21 Black 11
Nichrome rolled 700 T 0.25 1
Nichrome sandblasted 700 T 0.70 1
Nichrome wire, clean 50 T 0.65 1
Nichrome wire, clean 500–1000 T 0.71–0.79 1
Nichrome wire, oxidized 50–500 T 0.95–0.98 1
Nickel bright matte 122 T 0.041 4

Nickel commercially 100 T 0.045 1


pure, polished
Nickel commercially 200–400 T 0.07–0.09 1
pure, polished
Nickel electrolytic 22 T 0.04 4

Nickel electrolytic 260 T 0.07 4


Nickel electrolytic 38 T 0.06 4
Nickel electrolytic 538 T 0.10 4

Nickel electroplated on 22 T 0.045 4


iron, polished
Nickel electroplated on 20 T 0.11–0.40 1
iron, unpolished
Nickel electroplated on 22 T 0.11 4
iron, unpolished
Nickel electroplated, 20 T 0.05 2
polished
Nickel oxidized 1227 T 0.85 4
Nickel oxidized 200 T 0.37 2
Nickel oxidized 227 T 0.37 4
Nickel oxidized at 600°C 200–600 T 0.37–0.48 1
Nickel polished 122 T 0.045 4
Nickel wire 200–1000 T 0.1–0.2 1
Nickel oxide 1000–1250 T 0.75–0.86 1

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19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Nickel oxide 500–650 T 0.52–0.59 1
Oil, lubricating 0.025 mm film 20 T 0.27 2

Oil, lubricating 0.050 mm film 20 T 0.46 2

Oil, lubricating 0.125 mm film 20 T 0.72 2

Oil, lubricating film on Ni base: 20 T 0.05 2


Ni base only

Oil, lubricating thick coating 20 T 0.82 2

Paint 8 different colors 70 SW 0.88–0.96 9


and qualities
Paint 8 different colors 70 LW 0.92–0.94 9
and qualities
Paint Aluminum, vari- 50–100 T 0.27–0.67 1
ous ages

Paint cadmium yellow T 0.28–0.33 1


Paint chrome green T 0.65–0.70 1

Paint cobalt blue T 0.7–0.8 1


Paint oil 17 SW 0.87 5
Paint oil based, aver- 100 T 0.94 2
age of 16 colors

Paint oil, black flat 20 SW 0.94 6


Paint oil, black gloss 20 SW 0.92 6

Paint oil, gray flat 20 SW 0.97 6

Paint oil, gray gloss 20 SW 0.96 6

Paint oil, various colors 100 T 0.92–0.96 1


Paint plastic, black 20 SW 0.95 6

Paint plastic, white 20 SW 0.84 6

Paper 4 different colors 70 SW 0.68–0.74 9

Paper 4 different colors 70 LW 0.92–0.94 9

Paper black T 0.90 1


Paper black, dull T 0.94 1
Paper black, dull 70 SW 0.86 9

Paper black, dull 70 LW 0.89 9


Paper blue, dark T 0.84 1
Paper coated with black T 0.93 1
lacquer
Paper green T 0.85 1
Paper red T 0.76 1
Paper white 20 T 0.7–0.9 1
Paper white bond 20 T 0.93 2
Paper white, 3 different 70 SW 0.76–0.78 9
glosses

Paper white, 3 different 70 LW 0.88–0.90 9


glosses

Paper yellow T 0.72 1


Plaster 17 SW 0.86 5

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19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Plaster plasterboard, 20 SW 0.90 6
untreated
Plaster rough coat 20 T 0.91 2

Plastic glass fibre lami- 70 SW 0.94 9


nate (printed circ.
board)
Plastic glass fibre lami- 70 LW 0.91 9
nate (printed circ.
board)
Plastic polyurethane iso- 70 LW 0.55 9
lation board
Plastic polyurethane iso- 70 SW 0.29 9
lation board
Plastic PVC, plastic floor, 70 SW 0.94 9
dull, structured
Plastic PVC, plastic floor, 70 LW 0.93 9
dull, structured
Platinum 100 T 0.05 4
Platinum 1000–1500 T 0.14–0.18 1
Platinum 1094 T 0.18 4
Platinum 17 T 0.016 4
Platinum 22 T 0.03 4
Platinum 260 T 0.06 4
Platinum 538 T 0.10 4
Platinum pure, polished 200–600 T 0.05–0.10 1
Platinum ribbon 900–1100 T 0.12–0.17 1
Platinum wire 1400 T 0.18 1
Platinum wire 500–1000 T 0.10–0.16 1
Platinum wire 50–200 T 0.06–0.07 1
Porcelain glazed 20 T 0.92 1

Porcelain white, shiny T 0.70–0.75 1

Rubber hard 20 T 0.95 1


Rubber soft, gray, rough 20 T 0.95 1

Sand T 0.60 1
Sand 20 T 0.90 2
Sandstone polished 19 LLW 0.909 8
Sandstone rough 19 LLW 0.935 8

Silver polished 100 T 0.03 2


Silver pure, polished 200–600 T 0.02–0.03 1

Skin human 32 T 0.98 2


Slag boiler 0–100 T 0.97–0.93 1

Slag boiler 1400–1800 T 0.69–0.67 1

Slag boiler 200–500 T 0.89–0.78 1

Slag boiler 600–1200 T 0.76–0.70 1

Snow: See Water


Soil dry 20 T 0.92 2

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19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Soil saturated with 20 T 0.95 2
water
Stainless steel alloy, 8% Ni, 18% 500 T 0.35 1
Cr
Stainless steel rolled 700 T 0.45 1
Stainless steel sandblasted 700 T 0.70 1
Stainless steel sheet, polished 70 SW 0.18 9

Stainless steel sheet, polished 70 LW 0.14 9


Stainless steel sheet, untreated, 70 SW 0.30 9
somewhat
scratched
Stainless steel sheet, untreated, 70 LW 0.28 9
somewhat
scratched
Stainless steel type 18-8, buffed 20 T 0.16 2

Stainless steel type 18-8, oxi- 60 T 0.85 2


dized at 800°C
Stucco rough, lime 10–90 T 0.91 1

Styrofoam insulation 37 SW 0.60 7

Tar T 0.79–0.84 1
Tar paper 20 T 0.91–0.93 1
Tile glazed 17 SW 0.94 5

Tin burnished 20–50 T 0.04–0.06 1


Tin tin–plated sheet 100 T 0.07 2
iron
Titanium oxidized at 540°C 1000 T 0.60 1
Titanium oxidized at 540°C 200 T 0.40 1
Titanium oxidized at 540°C 500 T 0.50 1
Titanium polished 1000 T 0.36 1
Titanium polished 200 T 0.15 1
Titanium polished 500 T 0.20 1
Tungsten 1500–2200 T 0.24–0.31 1

Tungsten 200 T 0.05 1

Tungsten 600–1000 T 0.1–0.16 1

Tungsten filament 3300 T 0.39 1

Varnish flat 20 SW 0.93 6


Varnish on oak parquet 70 SW 0.90 9
floor
Varnish on oak parquet 70 LW 0.90–0.93 9
floor
Wallpaper slight pattern, 20 SW 0.85 6
light gray

Wallpaper slight pattern, red 20 SW 0.90 6

Water distilled 20 T 0.96 2


Water frost crystals –10 T 0.98 2

Water ice, covered with 0 T 0.98 1


heavy frost
Water ice, smooth 0 T 0.97 1

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 78


19 Emissivity tables

Table 19.1 T: Total spectrum; SW: 2–5 µm; LW: 8–14 µm, LLW: 6.5–20 µm; 1: Material; 2: Specification;
3:Temperature in °C; 4: Spectrum; 5: Emissivity: 6:Reference (continued)

1 2 3 4 5 6
Water ice, smooth –10 T 0.96 2
Water layer >0.1 mm 0–100 T 0.95–0.98 1
thick
Water snow T 0.8 1
Water snow –10 T 0.85 2
Wood 17 SW 0.98 5
Wood 19 LLW 0.962 8
Wood ground T 0.5–0.7 1

Wood pine, 4 different 70 SW 0.67–0.75 9


samples
Wood pine, 4 different 70 LW 0.81–0.89 9
samples
Wood planed 20 T 0.8–0.9 1
Wood planed oak 20 T 0.90 2
Wood planed oak 70 SW 0.77 9

Wood planed oak 70 LW 0.88 9


Wood plywood, smooth, 36 SW 0.82 7
dry

Wood plywood, 20 SW 0.83 6


untreated
Wood white, damp 20 T 0.7–0.8 1
Zinc oxidized at 400°C 400 T 0.11 1
Zinc oxidized surface 1000–1200 T 0.50–0.60 1
Zinc polished 200–300 T 0.04–0.05 1
Zinc sheet 50 T 0.20 1

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 79


A note on the technical production of this publication
This publication was produced using XML — the eXtensible Markup Language. For more information
about XML, please visit http://www.w3.org/XML/
A note on the typeface used in this publication
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LOEF (List Of Effective Files)
T501027.xml; en-US; 18043; 2014-10-01
T505552.xml; en-US; 9599; 2013-11-05
T505551.xml; en-US; 9354; 2013-10-15
T505469.xml; en-US; 8097; 2013-06-11
T505013.xml; en-US; 9229; 2013-10-03
T505545.xml; en-US; 9045; 2013-09-19
T505547.xml; en-US; 16980; 2014-09-05
T505550.xml; en-US; 17257; 2014-09-18
T505470.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505012.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505007.xml; en-US; 21877; 2014-12-08
T505004.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505000.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505005.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505001.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505006.xml; en-US; 12154; 2014-03-06
T505002.xml; en-US; 18260; 2014-10-06

#T559828; r.18043/22369; en-US 80


last page Headquarters
Corporate
FLIR Systems, Inc.
27700 SW Parkway Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
USA
Telephone: +1-503-498-3547
Website
http://www.flir.com
Customer support
http://support.flir.com
Copyright
© 2014, FLIR Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Disclaimer
Specifications subject to change without further notice. Models and accessories subject to regional market considerations. License procedures may apply.
Products described herein may be subject to US Export Regulations. Please refer to [email protected] with any questions.

Publ. No.: T559828


Commit: 18043
Head: 22369
Language: en-US
Modified: 2014-10-01
Formatted: 2014-12-22

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