Amprobe IRC-110 Thermal Camera

[Doege]

http://www.amprobe.com/amprobe/usen/HVAC-Tools/Infrared-Thermometers/AMP-IRC-110-Thermal-Camera.htm?PID=82016

These seem to sell for about 250-300€ at Farnel and Elfa (ex VAT)

Anyone has any experience on this model?

[Bill W]

Badge engineered Fluke judging by the link URL :

http://support.fluke.com/find-sales/Download/Asset/6009623_0000_ENG_B_W.PDF

Turns up in many different guises, eg
http://martindale-electric.co.uk/martindale-irc325-spot-thermal-camera-p-1930.html
https://cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk/test-equipment-hire?id_attachment=1085

it is a 128x128 thermal, 33° FoV.  No further indications of the origin, assume Chinese.

[Fraser]

I advise caution........

The example images remind me of those produced by very low resolution thermal sensors such as the 16x16, 32x32 and 47x47 pixel FPA pyroelectric types from Irisys (now owned by Fluke). Such were used in the low resolution Fluke VT series. The Irisys RedEye sensors have an unusual 1:1 HxV ratio.

The specifications appear ambiguous to my eyes.

The "visual" and "display" resolution are detailed. In my experience "Visual" means nothing as that can mean the image displayed on the LCD after interpolation or even just the visible light camera image resolution onto which a lower resolution thermal image is overlaid  ! You need a specification stating the true optical Thermal resolution. Of note is the fact that Irisys produced thermal cameras that used 16 x 16 sensors that were then interpolated up to 128 x 128 pixels for display. Sound familiar ?

The example pictures tell me this is more of a visual thermometer than a true thermal camera. I cannot recommend such for anything but the lowest performance needs. Note the blurred rounded edges to the thermal images. Classic very low pixel count sensor images with high levels of interpolation. I would expect to find a RedEye 6A or similarly low resolution sensor array in that camera.

Amprobe are part of Fluke and sell ranges of more budget friendly equipment.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Look here for my teardown of the Fluke (Irisys designed and built) VT02 "visual thermometer"

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/fluke-vt02-thermal-camera-visual-thermometer-teardown/msg467641/#msg467641

Fraser

[Fraser]

I just took a close look at the various spec sheets for the unit. As suspected, it IS a very low resolution sensor array that is interpolated up to 128 x 128 pixel resolution for display. Take a close look at the Martindale spec sheet. There is the infamous asterisk after the 128 x 128 pixel spec. The small print then says "interpolation pixels". The thermal sensitivity of 150mK looks typical of a of a RedEye sensor based camera as well.

http://martindale-electric.co.uk/specifications/specMARIRC325.pdf

Expect a 16x16 or possibly a 32x32 pixel thermal imaging sensor to be inside the unit. Irisys tend to use the Redeye6A 32 x 32 pixel sensor and window it down to 16x16 pixels on lower spec cameras like the VT02. The VT04 had basically the same electronics hardware but was not windowed so provided 32x32 pixel imaging interpolated for display.

I note the new sensor name on the Martindale data sheet. It could well be the latest development in the Irisys sensors that are actually made in the UK not far from me. Irisys are still a major player in the people counting and tracking sensor market. They use their thermal sensors to monitor human targets in shops for analysis of footfall and behaviour. They are likely continuing to develop their low resolution sensor technology.

Fraser

[TopLoser]

Interesting cheap little sensor 32x24 range -40 to +300 degrees C

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14768

[Fraser]

Toploser,

Yes these Melexis sensors are very neat. They have been growing in resolution and becoming more useful. It is surprising what can be achieved with relatively few pixels plus some decent interpolation.

Fire detection cameras have been developed that need only 80 x 80 pixel thermal sensors to 'recognise' the shape of a fire starting at quite some distance (100m or so)

Fraser

[Fraser]

Further to my previous comments. The Martindale data sheet provides some interesting information on the thermal sensor array.

It is named the "IR-EX" and it is described as a thermal imaging sensor combined with a CMOS imaging chip. To quote the datasheet "Integrated IR array sensor with CMOS sensor"

That's new ! So it could be a ceramic substrate with side by side visible light and thermal wavelength sensors, each with its own optical block, or another approach is co-axial optics lluminating some form of combined thermal and visible light sensor array on a single Die. Hmmmm I will need to look into this to see whether this is truly a new thermal/visible sensor array format. It could just be interesting wording for a normal thermal and separate visible light camera in one camera housing 

Fraser

[Fraser]

Well the unit uses standard adjacent thermal and visible light optics. What sits behind this optics is not known. It could be separate sensor modules or a combined sensor module of some sort.

The manual shows the separate lenses.....

https://dam-assets.fluke.com/s3fs-public/9034675_ENG_A_W.PDF

Fraser

[Fraser]

More 'advanced' models are available as well.....

http://martindale-electric.co.uk/manuals/manMARIRC327.pdf

Fraser

[Fraser]

Similar camera from the same OEM....... a YouTube video

http://www.bot4u.pl/recenzje/kamera-termowizyjna-tg-301/

Fraser

[Fraser]

Sefram manual....

https://bkpmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/manuals/en-us/9830_manual.pdf

I cannot find the UK or USA Trade Mark documents for the term "EX-TM" It may be a Chinese Trade Mark.

[Fraser]

FLEX manual......

http://m.testlink.co.kr/download/etc/TG-201%20301BOOKLET%20final%20version.pdf


This thermal camera appears to be some mass produced Chinese product that all and sundry stick their name on. Certainly does not appear to be a Amprobe(Fluke), or associted companies, product. The thermal sensor could be anything but it is low resolution.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Just use Google to search on the term "IR-EXTM" and you find loads of versions of this unit.

EazyIR manual....

https://www.morssmitt.com/uploads/files/catalog/products/manual-eazyir-v1-1.pdf


Many manuals are poorly edited copies of an original provided by the OEM and they omit the statement about the thermal resolution being 128x128 pixels via interpolation. Very bad form as this camera will not perform anywhere near as well as a true physical 128x128 pixel camera.

Fraser