In the summer, when it is warm outside, few people think about the need to insulate an apartment or a private house. Meanwhile, with the advent of winter, it begins to bleed so through from under the windows or along the walls that you have to get heaters from the pantry and wrap yourself in a blanket. And now the owner would be happy to insulate the room, but it is not known where the problem areas are in the walls and windows, where the heat leaves and cold air comes from. A thermal imager can help with this issue. How to use such a device, on what principle it works - this is the topic that today's article will talk about.
What is a similar device
The thermal imager is a device capable of capturing surface temperature and displaying data about it on the screen. It works according to a similar algorithm with a night vision device (NVD) based on infrared radiation, which is converted into a signal displayed on the display. The picture is displayed on the screen in different colors,from red (hot) to blue (cold). Anticipating the question of how a thermal imager differs from a night vision device, it should be noted that night vision devices capture the reflected signal, while the device under consideration today “catches” infrared radiation coming from objects.
The first such devices appeared in the thirties of the last century. Of course, they were bulky and had practically nothing to do with modern similar devices. The only exception is infrared radiation. It was it that drew the "temperature map" on the photo target. The principle of operation of thermal imagers of those years could be compared with a cathode ray tube.
Fields of application of thermal imagers in everyday life and at work
This device is really unique. Inspection of the house with a thermal imager will give a concrete picture of problem areas where there are leaks. This will allow you to insulate exactly those places where it is needed, which will save you from unnecessary, unnecessary expenses. Thermal imagers are also convenient when examining a home electrical network - all poorly made contacts will be in full view, because their temperature is much higher. Overloaded wires are also heated, which means that the device will help to identify them.
The device is widely used in the defense industry. With its help, multiple launch rocket guidance systems, aviation and missile sighting systems work. Recently, thermal imagers have also been used in the sights of small arms.
The device is of great use in search operations,when you need to find people under the rubble. It will also not be useless for firefighters - it can be used to find the hearths remaining under a layer of ash or logs and prevent re-ignition. Medical, industrial, automotive and even astronomy - the thermal imager finds its application in every field.
Hunting thermal imager and its features
These are quite compact devices, which does not prevent them from having almost the same functionality as a full-fledged professional device. With its help, in the forest, you can see the animal at a distance of several hundred meters. Hunting thermal imagers also draw outlines, so it is impossible to confuse an animal with a person. They work both in the dark, at dusk, and in a snowstorm or downpour. A problematic issue when purchasing such equipment can only be the cost, which is quite high.
Types of similar devices
Such devices can be divided into 2 main groups:
- Stationary - used in the shops of enterprises to control the operating modes of electric motors and other equipment. All data is displayed on the monitors of the duty officer, who controls the indicators. These are quite powerful thermal imagers that require separate cooling for normal operation. For these purposes, liquid nitrogen is most often used. The temperature range of indicators measured by such devices ranges from -50 ˚С to +2000 ˚С.
- Portable (mobile) - convenient devices with a built-in screen that allow real-timetime to see a leak or heat source by pointing the device at the area being checked. Most often, they have the ability to connect to a personal computer to process the received data, and the connection can be either wired or via Wi-Fi, which is also very convenient. All data goes through cloud storage. How to make such switching, you can find out from the instructions for the thermal imager.
What to look for when choosing
When purchasing such a device, it should be understood that rather expensive equipment is being bought, and a mistake will cost a rather impressive amount. Therefore, the choice should be approached carefully, thoughtfully and carefully, paying attention to some parameters.
Very important is the temperature range of measurement. As it grows, so will the price. But the step should be as small as possible. The second thing to consider is the resolution of the IR detector and screen. This determines how accurate the readings taken and the visible changes will be.
Displaying, transferring, saving data is another story. A thermal imager with built-in memory or a storage option is ideal. But overpaying twice the amount, despite the fact that the device already costs a lot, for a Wi-Fi module is unjustified waste.
Do I need additional lenses: expert opinion
Professionals believe that such an acquisition is justified only in the case of a home inspection with a thermal imagerorganizations. They can be of two types. Telescopic cameras help when shooting the upper floors of a high-rise building, giving additional clarity to the picture, while wide-angle ones allow you to see the whole building when there is no way to step back.
For domestic use, there is no need for such lenses. After all, the owner of the apartment does not need to shoot the entire house as a whole - just their windows are enough. And even if they are located high enough, such a device is quite capable of showing heat leakage.
Requirements for a specialist working with similar equipment
It is worth mentioning right away that this topic applies to employees of organizations that carry out audits. Requirements are determined by regulatory documents - SNiP and GOST. According to their position, the rules for checking are as follows:
- the inspector must know in detail how the thermal imager works, be able to use it, have all the permits and licenses on hand;
- before inspecting buildings, the device must be verified, which is noted in its technical passport;
- it is forbidden to work with a thermal imager in rain or snow - the readings may be incorrect;
- mandatory temperature difference in the room and outside, if it is absent, the device will not be able to catch any leaks;
- when making repeated measurements from a different angle, make sure that the distance to the object is the same;
- in the production of paid audits, the auditor's admission must include the costservices.
Production conditions for checking the building for thermal leaks
Don't think that all you need to make accurate measurements is to know how to use a thermal imager. This is enough for a household check for personal purposes. But if complex measurements are required, it is necessary to take into account some natural factors.
Wind speed. This parameter should not exceed 7 m/s. Otherwise, there may be a shift in the heat leak, which will not allow you to point to it with an accuracy of up to a centimeter. The structure itself should not be in the area of direct sunlight during the period of 12 hours before the measurement. It is for this reason that such checks are carried out late at night or early in the morning, at dawn.
Device for self-measurement: an overview of thermal imagers and which one is better to buy
For such purposes, you should not choose too expensive equipment. After all, it will have many functions that the home master will not use, which means that it makes no sense to overpay for them. But too cheap option is not suitable here. If the device costs less than 20,000 rubles, you should not pay attention to it. After all, low cost is a reason to think about whether the thermal imager will work longer than 10 minutes. or fail the first time the button is pressed.
Normal devices of the middle price category are devices costing from 50,000 rubles. up to 200,000 rubles, not counting additional lenses (if required). If we talk about professional thermal imagers with a wide range of functions, then for themwill have to pay more than half a million (the cost is indicated as of December 2018).
Learn more about thermal cameras in the video below.
Some noteworthy models
There are a lot of manufacturers of such products. Therefore, it makes sense to superficially consider some of their models.
For domestic use, the RGK TL-70 device is perfect, costing about 60,000 rubles. It will not be difficult to figure out how to use a thermal imager - the instructions are clearly, understandably and without unnecessary, unnecessary information. The measurement range is small - from -20 ˚С to +150 ˚С, however, this is quite enough for household measurements of both heat leakage and heating of contacts and cables of the home electrical network.
Another device worth considering is the Fluke TiS10. Its cost is slightly higher - about 69,000 rubles, but at the same time it is much easier to use the device. There is no need to focus here, everything is done automatically. The temperature range is from -20 ˚С to +250 ˚С. Has a built-in memory of 4 Gb + support for removable media up to 4 Gb.
Can a smartphone replace a thermal imager
Today, the Web offers a lot of programs and devices that allow, according to the manufacturer, to turn an ordinary pocket gadget into a device for detecting thermal leaks. Additional equipment connected to a smartphone will cost the consumer 20,000-25,000 rubles, but for the quality of shooting and the correctness of measurements, hardly anyonevouch for. Whatever promises the manufacturer makes, such a device is very far from a conventional thermal imager. Even if for comparison you choose a cheap option with a cost not exceeding 25,000 rubles.
In conclusion
The purchase of such a device is not a cheap pleasure. However, in some cases, such a purchase will be justified. After all, having figured out how to use a thermal imager, you can help others solve heat leakage issues, and, perhaps, not for free. In any case, if funds allow, a thermal imager is worth buying - it definitely won’t lie dead in the pantry.
